Chapter 13
Frozen Nipples
Two more days in the morgue, then I move to my new classroom.
I had settled into teaching when the unexpected happened.
Jeff raised his hand. “Jeff?”
“Yes, I have a question, can you come here please?”
Jeff was not a quiet student.
For Jeff to request desk side service and say please was a red flag.
I managed to walk at a normal pace to stand next to him.
“Jeff? Are you okay?”
“I have a question.
I know you won’t want to answer it…
but I don’t have anyone else.”
“Jeff, just ask. All I can say is no.”
“Well… when I come into this classroom… my nipples hurt.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know,” he said in a whisper.
“I can’t go to the nurse because my parents will find out.
I pierced my nipples over the weekend.
Every time I come in here, they hurt, bad!”
“I need you to look at them.”
“No.”
“Ma’am, you are the only one I trust.
Just tell me if they are infected.”
“OK. Listen Jeff.
If you make a deal with me, I will look.
If they look infected, you go to the nurse, deal?”
He shook his head in agreement.
“You’re good. No infection.”
“Why do they hurt so bad?
And only in this room?”
He said that and his words were literally encased in frost.
“It’s the cold.
Tuck your arms into your shirt.
Hold your arms against your chest and they will warm up.
In ten minutes, they should stop hurting.”
“I can’t write like that.”
“Don’t work today.
Just listen.
If you don’t have a jacket to wear tomorrow, it won’t matter.
I’ll have one for you.
After that, I’m moving to a warmer classroom.”
“Really?”
“Really! Now, you keep an eye on your piercings.
If things start to streak red, you need to talk to your parents.
Will you do that?”
“Can I show you first?”
“No. I’m so out of this. Talk to your parents.”
“Yes Ma’am.” When the bell rang, Jeff scurried out, still clutching his chest to stay warm.
Daniel's Den 