January Teacher Work Day: Before the afteroon was over Leah was confronted by someone...

As Leah was going through her emails she heard her door begin to open. Which was odd because she knew it was locked. She heard a rattle of keys and then the door swung open and she saw a face. An ebony face.

“Good afternoon’ Miss Leah!” It was Mr. “Bill” Booker Cobbs, the bus driver and part-time custodian.

“Oh hey Mr. Bill.” Leah said with a smile, calling him by the name he preferred than Mr. Cobb (which he loathed for some reason—too many jokes from military service days involving corn most suspected). “I didn’t think they made you come in today?”

“Oh yessss ma’am.” He nodded, as he stepped inside and let the door close behind him. “Some ones’ gotta keep this place clean.”

“That makes sense.” Leah hadn’t thrown so much as a napkin away since she had been in that morning. “I think I’m good on trash.” Mr. Bill would routinely clean with vigor and the clockwork of an old soldier, taking even the smallest of duties into great care and concern. He checked the small trash can by the door then walked closer to Leah’s desk. In Leah’s mind he meant to check the trash can she kept next to her work area. But Leah couldn't help but notice Mr. Bills' eyes lingering on her chest as she sat there at her desk. She crossed her arms self-consciously, suddenly feeling exposed in her low-cut blouse and tight skirt.

"Well, Miss Leah," he drawled, taking a step closer to her desk, "I 'spect there is somethin' you can do fo' me." His eyes glinted mischievously, and Leah's tilted her head to one side.

“Sure. What’s up?” Leah asked.

"I 'preciate all you done fo' me and dem kids dis past semester," he continued, his deep Southern accent thickening with each word, "Keptin' an eye on dem kids fo certain aint easy.”

“Thanks Mr. Bill.” Leah said with a smile, taking in the accolades which warmed her soul.

“But ya see.” He said crossing his arms. “I needs to talk to you bout somethin’ less than ac-a-dem-ic.” he enunciated the last word slowly and Leah’s mind began to slowly take warning. A sixth sense perhaps. “I wants to talk to you bout yous and Mr. Howard’s little fun you had on my bus back ahn that field trip.”

Leah's heart pounded in her chest as Mr. Bill's words sank in. She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, and her cheekbones burned with embarrassment. They had been so careful, or at least she had thought so. Had Mr. Bill seen them? She thought he had left with the students when she was on the bus with Mr. Howard. And Mr. Howard said the cameras on the bus didn’t work except when they were turned on. He would know—he was the one who had to watch the films whenever there was a fight or an incident report was filed by a bus driver. Her mind was a swirl.

"W-what do you mean, Mr. Bill?" she stuttered, trying to buy herself some time to think of a plausible explanation. Leah's heart raced.

"You sees Miss Leah them busses we got brand new—they…they don’t work like some of them old uns.” He smiled, a pearly white smile so vividly contrasted against his ebony skin. “Them cameras are mighty darn fancy too. They don’t need the engine runnin’ to re-cord. They got sensors in em and they will pick up things on the bus. ‘Cause you see some kids like to play pranks, trash the cheese wagons, or screw in the back if they gets a chance—like you and Mr. Howard.”

"I-I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Bill," Leah stammered, desperately trying to deny the accusation.

"Don't lie to me now, Miss Leah. I done seen it with my own eyes." Mr. Bill's expression didn't change, but his tone became more stern. “I gots a friend in the central office and well-lets just say he owes me. He told me my bus had some activity goin’ on and he had to check the tapes. Its a hole-brand spankin’ new system they gots, so he says he is gonna show me how it all works. We was goin’ through that film. And O-lordy Miss Leah! When I saw yous and Mr. Howard we was both shook to da bones.”

Leah's heart sank as she realized there was no point in denying it any longer. She had been caught red-handed and there was no way out of it. She felt a wave of shame wash over her, knowing that Mr. Bill would never see her the same way again.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, her voice barely audible she didn’t know what else to say as she looked away in shame and defeat. Mr. Bill continued as he leaned against her desk. He knew he had her dead to rights.

“Miss Leah—it sure lord aint right what yous was doing with Mr. Howard on that bus. And yous is supposed to be gettin’ married too. Can’t believe yous is havin’ an affair with Mr. Howard. And his po wife. Good lord.” he shook his head as if he truly cared about the infidelity going on. The pit in Leah’s stomach grew with the mention of her fiancé. Mr. Bill must have assumed that Leah and Mr. Howard were having an affair—a natural assumption. The thought horrified her. But it was more horrifying if he knew the truth about her past stint in the adult film industry.

"So,sorry ain't gonna cut it." Mr. Bill said, his tone now laced with mixture of disappointment and menace. Leah hung her head in shame.

“Please don’t tell anyone.” Leah said, looking up finally, her voice weak as a kitten.

“Oh I dun already talked to Mr. Howard.” Mr. Bill said, Leah’s eyes widening. “He knows I knows. Like I says—my friend in the central office—he owes me. So he gave me the only copy of that film. I gots it. I done talk’d to Mr. Howard before school let out for Chritmas. And let me tells you Miss Leah Oh lord lets me tells you. I won’t be havin’ to clean no mo bathrooms. No sir. And I’ll keep my brand new bus and the best routes when I wan’em. You sees he had to pays to keep me quite. So…hows you gonna pay me to keeps quiet?” He leered at her.

Leah's knees trembled under her desk as the weight of the situation sank in. She was trapped, and Mr. Bill knew it. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized she was trapped in an unthinkable situation.

"Wh-what do you want from me, Mr. Bill?" she whispered, barely able to form the words, fighting back the tears.

"Well, Miss Leah," he drawled, his ebony face creasing into a lascivious grin. "I been watchin' you around school here for quite some time. You got a fine ass and them titties... Lord a'mighty. It ain't right how you drive an old man like me crazy." His tone changed so drastically. Leah had never imagined that the always well mannered older man would talk like that to her. He took a step closer, invading her personal space with his musky scent of aftershave and industrial-strength disinfectant. He turned his head to look back and ensured the door was closed. Leah almost threw up. She knew exactly how HE expected her to pay for his silence.

“I wants you to pray for me." he smiled wickedly. "I wants you to pray for me like you prayed for Mr. Howard on my bus when yous was on yo knees.” He leered at her.

Leah's face flushed a deep crimson as understanding dawned on her. The implication of Mr. Bill's words hit her like a ton of bricks, and she felt her stomach lurch. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. She was being blackmailed by yet another person. Her career, reputation, and wedding were on the line. Everything was on the line.

“Are you kidding me?” Leah said in dismay, hoping to shame Mr. Bill into withdrawing his demand.

“No ma’am, not At-all.” he continued to smile.

"I…I don’t know what to say.” Leah stumbled over her words.

“You aint got to say nuttin’ Miss Leah—gonna be hard to talk with your mouths full anyhow.” he grinned a wolfish smile.

“You want me do that! Here!?” she protested looking at him and then at the door.

“Don’t you worry Miss Leah. I locked the door as I came in har.” He crossed his arms. “So whats you say? Or should I lets everyone know the truths?”