Chapter 3

Tasha sat alone in her classroom listening to her tutor Mr. Farr drone on about American presidents. Tasha figured Mr. Farr was 30-something, with dark black hair that never had a strand out of place. He had a long narrow face that seemed to be about the three-quarters forehead. He always lectured in a gray three-piece suit accented with a white bow tie. The suit fitted so perfectly that it had to be designed especially for him.

Tasha felt a little strange sitting alone in a room with a dozen desks as Mr. Farr paraded back and forth in front of the whiteboard, jotting important points down while he lectured. He had a black marker in one hand and a laser pointer in the other.

“Jimmy Carter was the president when the US Embassy in Iran was taken over. Many experts believe that it was his soft handling of this crisis that propelled Ronald Reagan to victory in the 1980 elections as the American people saw him as a strong powerful leader.”

Tasha had her laptop open to take notes if needed. Mr. Farr noticed though that her fingers weren’t moving. “Don’t you think that’s worth noting, Tasha?” Mr. Farr asked.

“I’ll remember it,” Tasha said. She shrugged. “It is kind of obvious.”

Mr. Farr looked at Tasha, nodded, and continued. “The hostages were released right before Reagan took office. Showing that not only did the American people think he was a strong leader, but so did the Iranians.”

“Well, he was an actor,” Tasha said.

Mr. Farr pointed at her, “Very good point.”

***

Joe sat in the fourth-period study hall, surfing the web with his phone. The third-period English had not gone well. Mr. P, the English teacher, threw a surprise grammar quiz. Grammar quizzes are bad enough when you know about them and are prepared and in the right frame of mind. Sure, he did (most likely) well enough to pass, but his mom was never thrilled with just passing. Truthfully, Joe disappointed himself. Sure, the quiz caught him off guard, but Joe had let what Steve and Curt said to get to him.

They did make some good points. After all, Joe had been chatting with Tasha for a few months now and still had no idea what she looked like. In that time, he had grown close to her, closer than he was to anyone. They had chatted and shared about everything, well, almost everything. Yet he didn’t know what she looked like. Hell, he didn’t even know the sound of Tasha’s voice. That seemed screwed up.

He trusted Tasha. He truly did. She seemed to understand him like no one else. She would often complete his texts before he did. She understood his humor. Was she really a 15-year-old Ukrainian girl training for the Olympics? Even if that were so, why couldn’t she use the camera on her laptop? Why couldn’t they at least use voice? Come on, how hard could it be for her to get a cheap camera and to call?

Joe had to know more. He popped open his chat app.

***

Tasha leaned on her desk, trying so hard not to look bored. A chat window popped open on her screen.

Big-J> You there?

Big-J> Tash?

Big-J> You there?

Tasha looked down at the messages and then back up at Mr. Farr. Natasha had been very specific about her chatting rules with Joe only on Wednesday nights and Saturdays and only for 20 minutes. Tasha tried very hard not to break those rules even though she could do so occasionally.

The messages continued.

Big-J> Please....

Big-J> I really need to talk in person 2 the real u....

Tasha closed her laptop. No, she couldn’t do this now. Her laptop continued to beep. Each beep signaled that Joe really wanted her attention. The beeping attracted Mr. Farr’s attention. He stopped lecturing on Ronald Reagan and looked over at Tasha.

“What’s going on, Tasha?” he asked. “Why is your computer beeping?”

Tasha awkwardly put her hand over the computer top as if that would muffle the beeping.

“I hope you’re not checking email or watching a video during class time.” He stopped to think and then said, “Who would be sending you an email during class time anyhow? Your e-mail is restricted to officers and trainers only. They all know not to email you during these hours. After all, nothing is as important as your education.”

Meanwhile, the beeping continued. Tasha looked up at Mr. Farr.

“It’s nothing,” she said. “One of my keys got stuck while taking notes.”

“I didn’t see you take any notes,” Mr. Farr leaned towards her.

The beeping continued.

“It’s NOTHING!” Tasha said. “And you have to use the bathroom.”

Mr. Farr turned back to the notes he had written on the board. He took out his laser pointer. His eyes popped wide open. He crossed his legs. He pointed the laser pointer at one of the facts he had written about Reagan. The one about him being governor of California for eight years. His arm wavered. The red from the laser pointer shimmied along the board. Mr. Farr hated to leave his post while teaching. During Tasha’s two years with him, she had never seen him take a break.

“You look like you have to go really badly,” Tasha whispered.

Mr. Farr’s forehead started to sweat. The laser pointer jumped from point to point. His legs crossed tighter now.

“I’m, I’m okay...” he said, shaking.

“You know having an accident in front of me would be way worse than leaving me for a moment,” Tasha said. She didn’t push or bend him. There are times when common sense works just as well.

Mr. Farr nodded. “You’re right.” He bolted towards the door and out of the room.

Tasha popped open her computer. She saw. 

Big-J> Tash?

Big-J> Tash?

Big-J> Tash?

Big-J> Tash?

Big-J> Tash?

UkrainianGirl> I’m here, though I shouldn’t be. We’re not supposed to talk until 8

Big-J> Sorry but something is really bugging me

UkrainianGirl> K....

Big-J> Why can’t we at least talk?

UkrainianGirl> We r talking.

Big-J> I mean with words.

UkrainianGirl> Joe these r words. :)

Big-J> I want to hear your voice.

Big-J> ?

Big-J> ?

Big-J> ?

UkrainianGirl> I’m not 2 b txting. My trainers say it breaks my concentration. If they heard me talking, they would take away my computer.

Tasha stared at her computer screen. Then she stared at the door. It wouldn’t be long until Mr. Farr returned. No reply from Joe yet.

Big-J> I understand…

Big-J> I guess…

UkrainianGirl> Thnks.

UkrainianGirl> I will talk to them. Maybe I can take a little break sometime?

Big-J> Really? :)

UkrainianGirl> I will try. XX

Tasha lowered her laptop screen a few seconds before Mr. Farr walked back into the room. He took a deep breath and smiled. 

“Sorry about that, Tasha,” Mr. Farr said, straightening his bow tie. “I have no idea what came over me.”

Tasha smiled at him. “I understand, Mr. Farr. Sometimes, when you gotta go, you gotta go.”