– Hello, sit down please! Nadia, what do we have today on schedule, Russian language or literature? Who is absent?

– We have literature today. Maxim is missing.

Teacher’s face changed when she heard it, but she got herself together:

– What is the reason he is missing? What happened?

– He broke his leg before the New Year. He got the gypsum removed recently. He’ll start attending classes when he starts walking.

– How will he study if he can’t come to school?

After this question Svetlana thought that students were aware of her call to Maxim. Seemed like they knew she told him of her not being able to visit him, because they answered her unwillingly. “I don’t think I can do it now either, – she thought. – It is even more difficult now…”

– Well, some lessons he is covering with teachers who visit him, and some he is studying independently to pass them in school later – answered Andrew, a friend of Max.

– How do you know about it, Andrew?

– I visited him recently, he feels better.

– That’s great!

Svetlana was not comfortable asking questions about Maxim. She could call him, even come over and find out herself…

That idea scared her. Becoming confused by these thoughts, she lost her an interest in teaching a class and even thought: “May be it is better just to talk to students? They can cover the topic independently. No, may be I should give a class? Probably the best thing to do is to ask the students directly”.

– I want to ask you weather you prefer to have a class, or just have a relaxing day and talk? I have not seen you in a long time and missed you.

Class was quite: everyone was silent and looked at Svetlana with surprise, amazed by her changes. She used to be strict and reserved, but at that moment she opened the door to her soul, shocking students so much that they could not even talk. Svetlana was looking at her students and thought that if Max was among them, he would give an answer. “Calm down, – she said to herself, – students are not used to my changes yet. They will be more comfortable soon…”

– Should we go over a new topic? Why are you so quite?

– Svetlana Victorovna, may I leave the class?

Alexander Kapustin did not change much, but it seemed that he gained more weight.

– Alex, where do you need to go?

– Oh, I just need to use the bathroom, it won’t take long.

– Usually when you ask to use the bathroom you. You have five minutes. Go.

Svetlana stood up from her table and started to walk around, watching Alexander leave the room.

– If no one can take a decision, I will take it. Please get the paper and pens out, and write a composition about your New Year’s Day. What I want to see, – she made a pause and waited for, – are the specific details from your holiday. If your compositions are short, you will have to re-write it.

The teacher took her sit and looked at the students with attention. They are still very immature. Gosh, when are they going to grow up?

– No one even mentioned that we have a literature class today. Does it mean you don’t care at all? You will have Russian language class today and literature tomorrow. Write down the task for tomorrow – creative work of Lermontov. You need to memorize one of his poems. Choose one for yourself. Is everything understood?!

No one answered Svetlana again – students were writing.

– Will anyone say a word to me today? – said Svetlana, looking at the clock. She did not get an answer again.

– All right. Take a rest on the break, and then keep on working during the second hour of class. Don’t leave before the class is over. Saveliev, please stay after the class; you’ll get some personal homework to do.

– Ok, – was the only thing Andrei answered.

Leaving the class, Svetlana felt how pressure was leaving. Why don’t students like her? She never noticed before, that students have a very negative attitude towards her. She has a very difficult task now. How do people call it nowadays, to change an image? She was about to go to the stairs, when she spotted Kapustin.

– Alex, I gave students a task so ask them what you need to do, ok.

– Yes, of course.

He proceeded to the class, and Svetlana went to the second floor and opened the doors to the geography class. There was only a teacher in the class.

– Svetlana, hello. Come in, I don’t have two classes in a row. – Ludmila Alexandrovna kissed her on the chick and gave her a hug. – Come in, sit down. Glad to see that you feel better.

– Thank you, Ludmila. How is it going with you?

– I am doing very well, how are you doing?

– I did not think it would be that hard. I don’t even know if I can make it.

– Come on, what are you talking about? I don’t recognize you! How can you not be there for your class graduation? I don’t even want to believe in that possibility. You have always been so strong, what happened now?

– You know I am a woman; I want some warmth. And all of the students keep quite and don’t want to say a word to me. Can you understand me?

– Dear, we are all different. I am different from you, and there is nothing we can do about it.

– Ludmila, you know that I want to change; you even know why I want it to happen. Can you help me with something?

– How can I help you? How can I make your students talk? How can I make them smile? I don’t have the answer to your problems. Since there is no answer, there is no problem…

– So your opinion that the problem is in me?!

– Of course, Svetlana! They have their own problems too, but you are the main reason why they act the way they do.

– Do you think they suspect something?

– If they feel intimidated, they understand something. I have no idea what do you mean by suspect, and what they can suspect.

– Ludmila, gives me an advice. How can I take it easy? May be I should not be paying attention at all?

– Svetlana, I can tell you only one thing. You need to make a decision and decide whether to change or not. But at first you need to change inside, to get rid of all unnecessary thoughts and sins, you need to strive for perfection. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Work on yourself, and you will get a result. If you pretend to be someone else you are not, it won’t take you anywhere. Don’t pay attention at all these little problems.

– I understand everything very well. But how can I not pay attention is hard to understand!

– Be yourself and don’t let negative feelings and emotions take a control over you. Think of it: what is emotion? It is nothing, right? Why do you let it take a control over you?

The bell rang, and students started to enter the geography class, greeting teachers…

– Thank you very much, Ludmila. I have to go now. See you soon.

As usual, no one entered her class without her permission. Svetlana passed by, concentrating on her thoughts. She asked Andrew:

– When are you going to see Max?

– Today or tomorrow, why?

– Let him know, that he needs to read Gorky’s novel “Mother” and write a paper on it. I will give him a literature grade based on this paper.

– Ok, I will let him know. Can I go now?

– Yes.

Andrew almost made it to the door when she said:

– Oh, there is something else, Andrew!

– Yes? – the student looked at her attentively.

– Sent him my greetings, and let him know that I wish him to get well soon! This is it, good – bye!

Doors of the room opened and Andrew entered the room. He was dressed modestly, but with a good taste. Max always liked the intelligent face of his friend, his unlimited aspiration for the best and proper. Andrew had dark rare hair, short haircut, blue eyes and olive skin. His facial features were accurate and attractive, and by looking at him it was easy to say that he was an intelligent person with good actions. Maxim liked how Andrew entered the room. He opened the doors, got in, put his bag down; then he returned back to door, closed it, and only after that approached Max. He pronounced assuredly and quietly: