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      Tabloid Teacher

      by

      Dominique Butler

      Copyright © 2014 by Dominique Butler

      Tabloid Teacher is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, objects and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, organizations, and locales is entirely coincidental.

      All rights reserved.

      Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or any other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher.

      Published in the United States of America by:

      Lavender and Chamomile Press, LLC

      Florida

      ISBN-13: 978-0-9916-4201-4

      Cover Art Design by: Sarah Foster

      Chapter 1

      “Now what?” Sam sighed as she sat quietly on the floor between her two daughters. The question didn’t just refer to the puzzle, but to her life. Ellie, her youngest daughter, at the age of nine, suddenly smiled. She moved her small hand and quickly placed three pieces to the puzzle. Lexi, who was a year older, rolled her eyes.

      “This is so boring.” Lexi was doing her best impression of a rebellious teenager.

      “Did you have a better idea?” Sam stared at her.

      “Anything, but this.”

      This conversation was becoming more frequent. “Name something.” Sam challenged. She was growing tired of Lexi’s attitude. Ellie quietly continued to place more pieces to the puzzle.

      “Why can’t we just watch T.V?”

      “This is quality time for the three of us. We barely have any family time together and it’s important.” Why am I explaining myself to a ten year-old? Sam thought to herself. What happened to the days when kids just did what they were told?

      “Whatever.” Lexi replied in an exasperated tone. For a brief second Sam had to suppress the desire to reach over and smack her. She wanted to yell at her oldest daughter and remind her of all the hours that she had put working in the school teaching day and night to give her daughters a good life. However, either solution was sure to ruin the peaceful evening she had envisioned. All she wanted on her one night off was a nice evening with her girls, yet this is how it turned out. She stared hard at Lexi and was all too acutely aware of how much their personalities were alike. At ten, Lexi was just as stubborn and hard headed as Sam. In a way, Sam really liked that about her. That personality kept Sam away from drugs and sex though high school and college. Well, at least the drugs part. When she finally ventured into the world of sex in college, Lexi was the result. Sam never cared what other people thought of her, good or bad, if she wanted to do something no one could stop her and if she didn’t want to, no one could force her. Lexi was the same way.

      Ellie found five more pieces and looked up smiling. She would do anything to feel loved. Sam worried a lot about her. She was too much like her father in that regard. Sam smiled warmly at her. She chose to ignore Lexi for the moment until she could find a way to manipulate her back into the situation. After all, she graduated college with a degree in psychology and had spent the past ten years manipulating children into learning in the classroom. There must be a way to out smart this kid. She thought of the numerous strategies she would have used in the classroom and finally settled on one. “You’re really good at this, Ellie.” Sam picked up some pieces and stared at them. “What’s your secret?” She knew she hit a nerve with Lexi who hated to be outdone by Ellie.

      “Well, first I look at the colors and try to find the closest match. Then, I look at the shape, and last I look at the box. Actually, mom, I think I’m just a natural.” Ellie was amazing. She had an incredible self-esteem at least on the surface. She just expected to be the best. She jumped into everything she did with all the enthusiasm she could muster. Unfortunately, very few of those things were successful, but it never slowed her down. Lexi, on the other hand, had to be coaxed into everything she did and without fail would be the best at it. When a name was called in a raffle, it was Lexi. Trophies are handed out and Lexi gets one. The lead role in the school play, Lexi again. She didn’t even audition. However, puzzles suddenly seemed to be her kryptonite.

      “Personally, I think it’s too quiet in here. I would probably do better with some music. How about your new CD, Lexi?” Ah, hah! Lexi’s eyes widened. She had forgotten about her new CD. A flicker of a smile almost graced her lips, but she wouldn’t let her mom know she had scored a mild victory.

      “Fine.” She grumbled and slouched off to her room. Sam and Ellie continued to work on the puzzle. Lexi came back into the room and put in the CD. The sounds of the latest boy band filled the room. Sam winced at the cheesy lyrics, but smiled inwardly as Lexi reached down and placed a piece into the puzzle. Soon the three of them were singing along at the top of their lungs. Half an hour later, the puzzle was forgotten as the girls put on a dance show to their favorite songs.

      Sam watched with mixed emotions. This was the quality time she craved, a peaceful night at home, just the three of them. Now what, that nagging question floated back into her head. Life had been quiet, lately.

      Considering the past ten years, life had become too quiet. When she had learned she was expecting Lexi almost eleven years ago she quickly married Lexi’s father, Josh. They were both students. Lexi was born and shortly afterwards Sam was expecting Ellie. Sam was completely engrossed in her two girls from the beginning. So much so, that she hadn’t noticed how engrossed Josh was in other women. When Ellie was one, Josh’s unfaithful behavior could no longer be overlooked. The two divorced. During that time, she met a man who seemed to be the opposite of her longhaired, tattooed, first husband. They dated off and on for several years until he proposed and Sam accepted. The wedding was planned with painstaking detail and Sam was sure that once that milestone passed life would calm down again. She was wrong.

      Her second husband was a little too obsessed with her. He checked on her 24/7 and tried to control every aspect of their lives together. A year later, their marriage came to a sudden end. The divorce was messy and even included a restraining order. Once the divorce was finalized, he finally moved away. All of this had happened three years ago.

      Sam had come to the conclusion that life was never going to be quiet. Now, she was quite shaken by the fact that it had. Sure she was busy with work, and the girls, but no major drama, no unexpected pregnancies, weddings to plan, divorces to finalize. Nothing. Life had become routine. Sometimes Sam wondered if she had become addicted to those adrenaline rushes. However, she knew it was more than that. She had a theory, the quiet before the storm. Something would happen to change her world, either good or bad. She said a quiet prayer. God please take care of my girls. They are the most precious things you’ve given me and I’m so grateful. She prayed this prayer many times especially lately, as the quiet seemed to become more overwhelming.

      Chapter 2

      Jake Jameson stared at his wall-sized aquarium. The beautiful fish swam gracefully through the manicured plants and crystal clear water. Jake had actually caught most of the fish himself on various scuba diving adventures. It had become one of the many hobbies he picked up while working on a film. He sat in a black leather armchair that was part of a matching set. The two chairs adorned the center of the room that had no other visible furniture. Soft music was piped through hidden speakers as Jake closed his eyes “So now what?” The thought crept into his head as he opened his eyes and fanned the pages of the latest script of a romantic comedy. Lately, those had become the roles he was more prone to accept as well as be offered. Life had become extremely routine.

      Every sunrise he took his morning jog and was inevitably stopped by someone who knew who he was. He was invited to talk shows to promote the films that he starred in. He read movie scripts, and when offered a

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