"Well, other than when I got lost on the way to the health center, this week went rather well. My students are so energetic, and for the most part they all seem to be enjoying my class." I smiled, thinking about that afternoon. "My beginners' class is preparing monologues for our mock auditions next Friday. It's been fun finding monologues that my students can connect with. They all seem psyched about the monologues they've chosen—except for one of my students, Valerie. She's this tiny little thing, super shy. She’s bright and seems to enjoy theater, but I can't seem to get her to leave her shell. She loves improv games, but when it comes to her monologue she doesn't seem to fit with any of the parts. She can act, I’m almost sure, but she either doesn't have the confidence or she just can't relate to the parts I find for her," I sighed. "I just feel like I owe it to her to find something!"

"I’m sorry. I'm sure that must be frustrating." my dad said. He never really understood the 'theater thing', but he had heard enough of my rants throughout college to know how hard it could be. "What're you going to do?"

"Well, I could always ask the other theater teacher for help, but..."

"But you don't want to admit to Sebastian that you might not know how to handle this?" my dad asked knowingly.

"I just don't want to give him another reason to feel superior. I know that I can find something for Valerie. I'll just have to look harder. But, enough about that. How's Carole? How's the shop?" I asked, not so subtly changing the subject.

"Carole's great. She made that recipe you suggested the other night. The chicken thing?"

"Chicken cordon bleu?"

"Yeah, that's the one. Sure tasted great for something that sounds so fancy. But she said it was easy to make. Oh, and she started a Zumba class on Wednesday. She said it's nice, but she almost passed out after her first class." he chuckled. "Everything’s running smooth as usual at the shop. Finn's been helping out a lot, and I figure he'll be ready to take over in a year or so. Jake and the guys say hey. And Jake wants to know when you're gonna call him back. He said something about a baby shower?"

"He got roped into helping with Jennifer's baby shower. Which means he's been calling me nonstop for advice. Tell him I’ll call him on Sunday, okay?" Jake was one of my favorite employees at Hummel Tires and Lube. He had helped me practice for every show I had ever auditioned for in middle school, and I was thrilled to help him plan his daughter's baby shower. He was old enough to be my father, but somehow we had stayed close friends even after I had moved to live with my grandmother. "Speaking of babies, did I mention that Blaine has a daughter?"

"Only a dozen times! I'm surprised; kids have never really been your thing. But you seem pretty taken with this girl."

It was true. I had only seen Annabel on occasion before I left for work, but I already was quite attached. Blaine had invited me to movie night again the week before, but I had turned it down for a chance to catch up on some last minute lesson plans. I'd considered going tonight, but Blaine hadn't mentioned it. "She's just so precious that's hard not to! Yesterday I ran into her as she was getting back from her gymnastics lessons and she and Blaine were in a debate over whether or not Mulan was a real princess or not. She's so intelligent for a four year old it's incredible! I swear my life would be so much easier if my students were half as brilliant as she is! And Blaine is so good with her. They play this game where Annabel hides her face when they’re cuddling and Blaine pretends he can’t find her. She squeals and giggles, ‘I’m here, Daddy!’ and Blaine just plays off of it. It’s so adorable.”

“Seems like you’re taking to Blaine as well. Is there anything I should know?”

“Dad!” I yelped with a blush, “I’ve only known him for a few weeks! Of course there’s nothing going on.” My dad nodded, but I could tell that part of him still hoped that I would settle down. I knew that my dad only wanted the best for me, but that didn’t make his meddling any less annoying.

My father and I talked until Carole got back from work. It was nice to get to see him so happy. When I had moved to Boston sophomore year it had been necessary, but I still had felt guilty leaving my father alone in his poor health. If I had known about his heart problems then I never would have taken Grandmother's offer to live with her. Carole had been there for him every step of the way, though. It was so romantic: the story of the sweet nurse who had fallen for her patient as she helped him recover from his heart attack. Someday, I told myself when I got depressed, I would get the storybook romance that they had.

I juggled between watching a rerun of Say Yes to the Dress and searching for the perfect monologue for Valerie when I noticed how chilly the room had gotten. It had been moderately warm that afternoon, so I was shocked when I walked over to the thermostat next to the window. It was in the thirties—much too cold for early September. I was debating whether or not I should hide out in bed from the cold when I was interrupted by a knock at my door. I opened the door to a bubbly Annabel in Batman footie pajamas.

“Mr. Hummel! It’s cold outside, and Daddy’s making cocoa with kush-kush-kush! Do you want some?” She grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs. “It’s really yummy, and Daddy said we can use real milk because cocoa smells funky with the other stuff.”

“I thought you were vegan.” I asked Blaine when I entered the kitchen behind a bouncing Annabel. “And what’s kush-kush-kush?”

“We try to be. Annabel’s doctor said it might help with the hyperactivity, but I figure it’s alright to splurge once and again. And, kush-kush-kush is an Anderson family tradition. You’ll see in a minute. Be patient,” he said with a wink as he stirred the cocoa on the stove. I grinned as I realized that he was in matching Batman sleep pants and a Lake Vermont hoodie. I felt overdressed in my work clothes.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll run and change in to my pajamas too, okay?” I told Annabel. I ran upstairs and slipped on my warmest pair of pajamas that were presentable. I considered forgoing slippers, but it was chilly enough that I knew I would regret it.

“It’s like a slumber party!” Annabel squealed when I returned. “We can stay up all night and play dress up! But wait!” She pulled into the living room. “You need to meet Sparkle. He’s my puppy.” Curled up on the couch was the tiniest little ball of fur I’d ever seen. He had fluffy tan fur with dark brown ears. I knelt down to pet him and he jumped up. He licked at my fingers, wagging his small tail so hard that his entire body shook.

“Ah, I see Annabel introduced you to Spark.” Blaine said when he entered the room later with two mugs of cocoa.

“Daddy! That’s not his name and you know it.” Annabel pouted at Blaine. “Daddy doesn’t like Sparkle’s name. He said that it’s not a good dog name. But, I got to pick so it’s fair, and Sparkle likes his name.” Blaine chuckled and handed Annabel a plastic mug. “Daddy, where’s the kush-kush-kush?”

“Let me give Mr. Hummel his first, okay hun?” Blaine said as he handed me the other mug, a bright pink Hello Kitty mug with a glittery handle. He went back into the kitchen and returned with his mug and a can of Reddi Whip. “This,” he explained, gesturing to the can, “Is kush-kush-kush. Annabel hates Cool Whip, you know, the kind in a bowl? And so she was trying to tell me to get Reddi Whip instead once, but she forgot what it was called.”

“So, I said kush-kush-kush, ‘cause that’s what it sounds like when it comes out of the can!” Annabel exclaimed, obviously proud of her contribution to the story.

I giggled at the antidote and accepted the proffered squirt of Reddi Whip. Annabel and Blaine bantered over how much whipped cream she was allowed to have, until Blaine gave in and gave her a little extra, along with a dollop on her nose. She spent the next five minutes trying to lick it off, much to the amusement of Blaine and myself. It was so precious to watch him interact with Annabel. I could tell that she was his world by the way his eyes lit up every time she spoke to him and the way he curled her into his lap.

Annabel slurped up her cocoa, getting whipped cream all over her face. She chattered on and on about her school and her ice skating lessons. She gradually began talking slower and slower, until finally breaking off with a yawn. Blaine glanced at the clock on the mantle and said, “Bellaboo, it’s past your bedtime. Tell Mr. Hummel goodnight, okay?” Annabel pouted, but followed Blaine downstairs after giving me a hug goodnight. I gathered up the mugs and brought them to the sink. I hummed to myself as I washed the mugs and put them away. I was pouring the left over cocoa into a Tupperware container when Blaine returned after putting Annabel to bed. He popped into the kitchen with a smile. "I was right. The sugar knocked her out." He sat down on top of the counter and I couldn't help but giggle. Even on the counter he still had to look up at me. I finished putting away the cocoa and headed to the living room couch.

"I don't know about you, but I prefer sitting on a couch like a normal human," I teased. Blaine followed after me and flopped down on the couch next to me.

"So, how was your week? I never got to schedule a mentor meeting with you, so if you don't mind we could do that now." Blaine suggested.

"Sure, I wasn't planning on doing much else tonight. This week was fine, I suppose. I'm still trying to get used to the campus, but I'm getting a lot better with all of my student's names."

"I knew you would. It takes time but by next month you'll know more than you ever wanted to about your students," he said with chuckle. "Are you having any issues? Need any help?"

I sighed. I knew that as my mentor Blaine was there to help me, but that didn't make it any easier to admit that I was having problems. "There are a few things, but it's fine, really." I tried to escape his knowing glance.

"Kurt. Come on, just tell me." Blaine smiled at me, that little lopsided grin that did things to me that I tried to ignore. I might as well get it over with.

"I'm preparing my beginners class for future auditions by making them chose monologues to perform next week. I'm having trouble finding something for one of my students. It's like there's some sort of barrier that is preventing her from opening up. So that's been bothering me."

"Who is it?" Blaine asked, "Maybe I can help you figure something out."

"Valerie Bradley. She's in my beginner's class." Blaine's eyes widened in realization. He pursed his lips.

"I think I know a way you can help her. But I'm not sure if I can tell you. I'm the faculty advisor of a club that Valerie attended last year, and that's given me some insight, I suppose you could say. But the things she told me were told in confidence, so I don’t feel like I can tell you without breaking her trust. I have a feeling that it might have an effect on connecting with roles. Can you tell me what monologues you've tried with her?"

I quickly rambled off the dozen or so monologues we had worked with, and Blaine nodded.
"If you want, I'll ask her to talk to you about it. Either that, or I'd advise you to try and be observant in class."

"I don't want her to feel obligated to tell me anything. I'll just see if I can pick up anything on my own. Is there anything I should be worried about?"

"No. While the situation is a delicate one, I trust that you'll handle it well. But Valerie wasn't the only thing on your mind, was it?" Blaine leaned back into the couch, crossing his legs.

"You read me too well! I swear; it's like you’re my Dad or something. I just, I really want to try and handle this on my own." I had a feeling that Blaine wasn't going to let me drop the subject that easily. Sure enough, he was rolling his eyes as soon as the words left my lips.

"Kurt, don't be ridiculous. It's my job to help you. I swear, if I haven’t had Puck mentoring me I would have never survived my first year. As much as I hate the geezer, he made the transition so much easier for me." It was easy to imagine Puck lecturing Blaine about school regulations—and how to break them. I could only imagine at how interesting that must have been.

"Okay, okay. I'm just having issues with Sebastian Smythe again. Nothing serious, but it sure makes my work harder. How am I supposed to earn the respect of my students if the faculty thinks I'm a joke? I’ve only run into him a few times, apart from our weekly meetings, but he’s always giving me these looks. Like, you and I both know you don’t deserve your job.” I groaned, annoyed with myself for agreeing with him.

“That’s Sebastian for you. I know that he can be a tough person to deal with, but it’s understandable. Everyone thought that he had your job in the bag, so it was a pretty hug surprise when you showed up. I don’t think that he could have handled the job, but he doesn’t agree, obviously. I think that Sebastian, as well as the majority of the department, just need to realize that you do know what you’re doing. I’ve heard the kids talk about your class, Kurt. They love you. My advice? Find a way to bring together the department while you show that you’re capable. The faculty has lost its sense of community—bring it back.” Blaine smiled, and got up from the couch. “Is there anything else? Annabel has a playdate tomorrow, and I need to get the house presentable.”

“Not really. Thanks, Blaine. This was nice.”

“Anytime! Like I said, it’s great to have another adult in the house. Oh, and I’m going to warn you know, Annabel’s friend will be over by noon. I’ll try to keep the noise down, but you never know with that one.” He laughed.

“Thanks for the heads up. Goodnight.” I walked upstairs slowly. I had started to get an idea for how I could bring together the department. It would be complicated, and require a lot of effort, but I was sure Blaine would back me up on it. Now if I could only pass it by Sebastian, and the rest of my department. I hurried to my laptop and began planning. If this worked out, the next few weeks were going to be crazy busy!