No Distance Between
by
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Checking her permanent record card back in early May---I don't remember why, but for whatever reason---I was ill prepared for what I found---more properly, what I didn't find. One trimester of American History, a course she needed to satisfy the State requirements for a high school diploma, was missing. I could have strangled Janis. The Seminar teachers had been carefully reminded that it was their responsibility to review the card and schedule of each of their seniors to make certain that all credit and course requirements had been met or were scheduled. Janis either hadn't checked or had fucked it up. Either way, Ann was screwed.
It didn't make any sense to go after Janis. There was nothing she could do, so I went after Ann. She was furious when I told her what I had to do, but I had little choice. I established an independent study course, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Happy Years," and I tutored her. She bitched and moaned for the full three weeks I made her read books, write reports, take tests, do homework, and keep a notebook, learning more history in three weeks, I believe, than she had learned in the previous three years. At first she begged for relief.
"C'mon, Charlie, gimme a break, will ya?"
"Ya wanna graduate?"
"Yeah, but---"
"So read the next twenty-five pages for tomorrow, and don't give me a hard time. I'll give you a quiz at lunchtime."
"You know what I have to do tonight?"
"Yeah, read twenty-five pages."
"Fuck!"
"Not before the quiz."
After a week she knew I was serious, but her effort to convince me to back off and let things slide lingered half-heartedly.
"Hey, I know this answer," she erupted in the middle of a test late one afternoon in the lounge. " 'Speak softly and carry a big stick,' right?" she beamed.
"Right. That was an easy one. I hope that's not the only answer you know."
"You gotta big stick for me?" she whispered. "Let's sneak into the bathroom, and I'll show ya where to stick your stick."
"You drop your pants around here," I threatened with false malice, "and I'll pull out every hair, one by one."
"I was sorta hoping you'd put me over your knee."
"Finish the test, asshole."
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About the Book
* A non-fiction, first-person account of human frailties falling victim to circumstance, this book is bristling in the vernacular, sexually explicit, and graphically descriptive in parts.
* A married, 36-year old male teacher is falsely accused of having an affair with Ann, an 18-year old female student, in an Alternative School setting.
* The involvement between this unlikely pair simmers in the heat of false accusation before bursting into a torrid love relationship.
* The unknowing couple are stunned to learn they are not alone; the path they have traveled is neither unique nor novel, but a quite heavily traversed and well-worn thoroughfare.
* The story ends in tragedy as Ann, stalked by Misfortune for most of her life, falls victim to a final adversity, an inoperable brain tumor.
* Ann dies, the memories remain, and the love lives on.
About the Author
Charles A. Sullivan did his undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate studies at Montclair State College in New Jersey where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees as well as his secondary teacher's, counselor's, supervisor's and principal's certifications. Prior to this, he attended Dumont High School in New Jersey where he was elected a member of the National Honor Society and was Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper.
Mr. Sullivan initially taught social studies, English, and journalism in the Northern Valley Regional High School District in New Jersey where he was a class advisor, tennis coach, newspaper advisor, and president of the 140-member teacher association.
Leaving public education for a four-year period, Mr. Sullivan became the assistant executive director of St. John's Guild Floating Hospital, an independent, non-sectarian social services organization providing clinical, recreational, and educational services for children and mothers from the low income areas of New York City. In this capacity, Mr. Sullivan directed the program, public relations, budget, social services, and personnel activities of the Floating Hospital including the recruitment, development, and supervision of an interracial staff of 70-plus college student trainees in social service, ship household and crew members, nurses, physicians, dentists, oral hygienists, and psychologists. During this time, Mr. Sullivan also served as a member of the Board of Directors and was elected secretary of the Bergen County Association for Mental Health, a member of the Westwood Interracial Council, a member of the regional Narcotics Education and Prevention Committee, and a member of the North Bergen County Council of the Boy Scouts of America Explorer Steering Committee, all in New Jersey. He also was a camp and education evaluator for Jeffgo Evaluative Services, Inc., New York City Board of Education Title I summer camp program, on location, Hunter, New York; assistant director of a day camp and swim club in Old Tappan, New Jersey, and administrative assistant and tennis instructor/coach at a day camp in Spring Valley, New York.
Mr. Sullivan returned to public school education as a counselor in Teaneck, New Jersey. He was a counselor there for 30 years and was a member of the Principal's Cabinet, the "Who Cares?" Human Relations Committee, the Principal's Awards Committee, the Morton Scholarship Committee, and the Superintendent's Guidance Task Force Committee. He also was faculty advisor for the National Honor Society, chairperson of the Middle States Self-Evaluation Committee on Student Services, editor of the Teaneck High School Guidance Bulletin, a member of the Middle States Evaluation Visiting Committee for Piscataway High School in Piscataway, New Jersey, and twice served in an administrative role as Acting Director of Guidance in Teaneck.
Mr. Sullivan was a co-founder and first Coordinator of Teaneck's Alternative School, designed as a small learning community of 105 students, six full-time and several part-time certified teachers, and numerous community resource people. The A-School was characterized by individualized and student-centered learning experiences based on pre-determined goals and objectives.
Now retired, Mr. Sullivan lives with his wife, Lynn, in Boynton Beach, Florida.