Difficult Lessons Read Online Free Page B

back to the car.
     
    ***
     
    “I can make some coffee if you want to come in for a bit.”  
    “I can’t,” Sara graciously declined. “I am meeting a friend in a little while. I need to get going.”
    “A male friend?” Her dad sounded hopeful.
    “You are a mess, Dad.” She playfully slapped his arm.
    “Okay. Okay. I give up!”
    “No you won’t, but I love you anyway.” Sara leaned over to kiss her father on the cheek. 
    He waved her on as he closed the car door, but she waited, not driving off until she saw the light on the porch go out. Sara glanced at her watch. She would make it to Mel’s right at nine. She hoped that Cynthia had not given up on her. 
     
    ***
     
    “I hope you haven’t been waiting long, “ Sara said as she stepped up on the sidewalk in front of Mel’s.
    “No. Actually I just got here. I was afraid you would give up on me and leave.”
    “Well damn! What is going on here?” Mel’s voice was unmistakable as Sara opened the door for Cynthia.
    “Mel you act like I never come here. Sheesh!”
    “Well you haven’t been here much lately and now two nights in a row. I am impressed. Is this the young lady that Kathy was telling me about last night?”
    “I don’t know. What was Kathy telling you?” Sara could not help the smile. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know. Mel, this is Cynthia Wesley. We met in here last night. She is from Mobile and it seems that she will be joining the math department at Mills in the fall. Cynthia, this loudmouth is Melanie Richards, the proprietor of this fine establishment.”
    Mel and Cynthia exchanged pleasantries and a couple of stories about Mobile before Sara ushered Cynthia on into the bar.
                  “If you let her, Mel will talk you to death,”
                  “I heard that, Sara!” Mel called after them.
                  The bar was not as crowded as it had been the night before. More people would come in later on. Saturday nights always seemed to get started later at Mel’s. Sara did not mind the lack of a crowd at all though. She was only interested in Cynthia having a good celebration, as she had called it. 
                  “How about a couple of cold beers, Kathy?”
                  “You got it.” Kathy winked as she set the beers down in front of them
    “These two are more set on getting me fixed up than my dad,” Sara commented to Cynthia.
    After the first beer was down, Cynthia asked Sara to dance. Sara hesitated but obliged after a little gentle prodding. It was a fast song and Sara was not very comfortable dancing to it, but she did not mind watching Cynthia move to the music. Her hips moved in perfect rhythm and Sara could not stop staring at them. Finally the song was over and they made their way back to the bar to order a second drink.
                  Sara looked up just in time to see two uniformed officers walk through the door.  She remembered the conversation that she had with Mel the night before and got her driver’s license out before they got around to her.
    The two finally approached them. Sara handed her license over to the older of the two officers when he asked. He was slightly overweight and had thinning hair.
    “Ms. Carson, don’t you teach at Mills High?”
    “Yes sir, I do.” She tried to answer politely, but she had this overwhelming feeling of doom.
    “I think my daughter is in one of your classes. Shelly Griffin?”
    “Yes. Shelly is in my first period. She’s a wonderful young lady. I really enjoy having her in my class.”
    “Well thanks. Her mother and I have tried to raise her properly.”
    “You have done an excellent job with that, Officer Griffin.”
    “You have a nice night, Ms. Carson.” Officer Griffin handed her license back to her and gave Cynthia a quick look before he walked off.
    “Well that was awkward,” Sara said with a hint of dread in her voice.
    “What was that all