Schooled (30 page)

My husband
: You are no Marcus Garrity. You are a compilation of Briggs and Leo, the perfect man. You believe in me, support me, and satisfy me. Without you, my puzzle would be missing many integral pieces. “There’s no way, I could make it without you.” (Alabama)

My children
: I want to give you the world, have you want for nothing. Eh, but I’m making a teacher’s salary. I needed to do something to supplement that piddling pence. Most importantly, I want you to grow up knowing that fulfilling your dreams is not only a possibility, but a must. Set your goals high, dare to achieve them, but hold on to the memories and cherish the moments. “I don’t know where the time goes, but it sure goes fast.” (Kenny Chesney)

My brother and sister
: My rocks, my foundation. Without you both, I still doubt I’d be here today to be the wife, mother, friend, teacher, and writer I am today. “I’m everything I am, because you loved me.” (Celine Dion)

My friends, especially the “adventurous” ones (you know who you are):
You fulfill my life, decorating my days with laughter and fun. Your stories have inspired much of this book. You all lived what I was afraid to live and embrace. “So much of me is made from what I learned from you/You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart.” (
Wicked
) Man, I love
Wicked
.

Kelli Maine:
Thank you for breaking through the barrier I was terrified to broach. You’re a warrior! Thank you for being my friend in every aspect of my life. Don’t puke in my car again! You get no lyrics, your lyrics are back up a notch with my friends. (Readers: You need to read
Taken
by Kelli Maine.)

My hand-picked and much appreciated slew of early readers and critics
: Thank you for helping me, critiquing my work, and being so supportive throughout this entire endeavor. I nicknamed you all, so you could feel like your name, although mysteriously cryptic, is in a book. You’ll each be able to figure out who you are. (Broadcast, Cummington, Pook-Moose, Aurora, Nacho, Big Yucky, Poop-Story Lover, Double D, Softball coach, and Sofia’s mom)

My graphic designer
(Sophie Chamberlain): My friend, always, no matter what your title is. It’s been a sad, long road, but you’ve always been there for me, cheering me on. You will forever have a special place in my heart, especially since you always laugh at my jokes. For anyone interested in a graphic designer, then please contact her at:
[email protected]
Tell her your friend, Deena, recommended her. Sophie is highly creative and imaginative! You’ll love her work.

Joan Swan
(Author of
Intimate Enemies, Fever,
and
Blaze
): Thank you for being such a fun “pen pal” and inspiring me to write more and be proud of my own work. You are truly a trip, making me laugh at all times. Your books are hot, steamy, and a great escape. I am lucky to have cyber-stalked you.

Olivia Cunning
(Author of
Backstage Pass
—Sinners on Tour Series): Damn girl, you can write. Your
Sinners
series has kept me (and my husband) quite happy. You can describe a man and a scene to perfection. Wow. Additionally, thank you for your kind words of wisdom, helping me to decide my future.

My beloved and thoroughly missed mother
: You gave me a love of literature. Watching you read, fly through book after book, is my clearest memory of you. There are many times when I wish we could go back to the days of you sitting on one end of the couch reading a monstrous-sized book, me on the other end, reading my Peggy Parrish chapter books. I’m not so sure that you’d love
Schooled
; you’d probably think it was garbage. However, you would be proud that I wrote book. You’d be happy to know that my protagonist, and I have very little in common. “Did you ever know that you’re my hero?/You’re everything I wish I could be.” (Bette Midler)

Dear My School District:

I love my teaching job. I love raising my kids here, being a part of this close-knit and outstanding community. I am proud to be here, honored and humbled to be a part of this district. Please don’t fire me! I’ve never slept with a student, not even remotely close. I love my students; they’re my kids, nothing more. We teach our students to dream big, work hard, and it will all pay off in the end. This was my “dream big.” I do work hard every day, inspiring the future of America, but they have in turn inspired me to reach my goals.

The general public, the political leaders, even many of the parents, have no idea what we see and deal with every day. This just isn’t about summers off and holidays breaks. It’s not about the high wages and great retirement (laughable). It’s about the kids, the kids whose lives we touch (not physically) every day. We have children under our watch who don’t have homes, who lose their parents to death and divorce, who watch their siblings overdose, who struggle financially to help raise their younger siblings, and this is a pretty affluent and respectable community. This building, this place, is a safe haven for many children, sometimes the only place they can call home. The teachers who really care, who want to really make a difference are dying out. The general public and politicians are ruining it for us. We have so few perks, and they’re all being ripped away, destroying the morale and spirit in teachers everywhere. I want to be here. I want to change lives, inspire kids.

Remember that when you read this.

Sincerely,

Deena Bright
Dedicated and Loyal Teacher

Deena Bright is every woman: a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister, and a teacher, nothing more, nothing less. She could be the woman next to you in line at the grocery store, the woman sitting next to you in church, or even, God forbid, your son’s teacher. If you’d like to know more about her, then just ask. She loves people and fun, and especially partaking in witty conversations. Look her up on Facebook or email her directly at:
[email protected]
. She wants to warn you though; she doesn’t take criticism well. You may reduce her to a crumbling, crying pile of tears, so tread lightly on your words of criticism and ridicule.