Let Jake go with a warning

Sure I was embarrassed, but also a little flattered and intrigued at the same time. I wondered how many other boys felt this way about me. I smiled at him. "Jake you know better than to pass notes around in class. I'm going to let you off with a warning this time. Next time, you might not be so lucky. Do we understand each other?"

Jake smiled back, and winked. "Oh, we understand each other perfectly. Loud and clear."

I could not help but flush red again at that comment. "Very good. So let me see what you have on Lady MacBeth so far."

Jake opened up his notebook to a blank page, and showed it to me. "I'm sorry. Shakespeare doesn't interest me. I find it all boring. It doesn't excite me, like some things do." he said all of this with a straight face while looking deep into my eyes. he knew I'd get the meaning behind what he was saying.

I took a deep breath and sighed. "Well, you have to learn the subject matter if you want to pass this class. I know Shakespeare can be dull at times, but his plays and his sonnets are timeless. So are the characters he created. How about trying to see the character of Lady MacBeth in a different way? Would there be a modern contemporary who reminds you of her? Just think about it. If you need my help, I'll be here. I'm glad to help any of my students."

"Okay, I'll give it a try," relented Jake. "But no promises on what I'll come up with."

"That's fair enough," I replied. "All I ask you to do is try."

After that, I went back up to my desk and took a seat. I looked at the note in my hand as I was getting ready to give it a toss. Foe some reason, I stopped myself, and slipped the note into my skirt pocket.

The rest of the period went well, and before long the bell rang, signaling the end of another school day. "Class dismissed," I said. "You have until next Monday to come up with your essay on Lady MacBeth. I expect to see some top notch work from most of you."

I watched as the class slowly filed out the door. Then I gathered my things, and prepared to leave for the day.