Out in the corridor, every roll of fat on old, overweight Swan trembled as he struggled to walk.
Behind him, the Math Teacher followed with short, quick steps, a fawning expression on his face.
Suddenly, Old Swan stopped:
"You did well today. My late son told me long ago how annoying that child looked. One of these days, I'll expel him from Eden Academy and fulfill my son's dying wish.
If my son saw that family's child attending Eden Academy, his spirit in heaven certainly wouldn't be happy."
The Math Teacher immediately stepped forward, bowing and scraping before Old Swan:
"Your devotion to your son is truly admirable, Mr. Swan!
From now on, I'll follow your example and strive to become an outstanding, first-rate teacher at Eden Academy who lives up to everyone's expectations. I won't let all your guidance go to waste."
Old Swan slapped his large, greasy hand onto the Math Teacher's shoulder. "Keep up the good work! There'll be plenty of benefits coming your way. A promotion and a raise aren't just a dream."
Old Swan's hand, fat as a pig's trotter, landed on the Math Teacher's scrawny shoulder, the pigskin on it quivering.
The Math Teacher's ridiculously frail little body nearly buckled under that heavy slap.
"Thank you, Mr. Swan!!!" This sleazy little %￥￥&%*%%￥ of a Math Teacher had actually forgotten his principles over the tiniest scrap of personal gain, gambling with a first grader's future.
As the Math Teacher bowed deeply, Swan's fat, piglike figure gradually disappeared down the corridor, wobbling with every step.
The classroom had mostly settled down, and very few students were still discussing what had happened during the previous math lesson.
Only a handful were still quietly worried about Richie being called away by the teacher.
Anya and Si Ang