The 70s contained it’s own everyday horror to me every time it was time to go to school. I was in high school when this happened. We had no cell phones, power stirring in cars had not been invented to much earlier then that, and televisions were still big and sat on the floor on four legs like the chair and couch.

I had just learned how to drive. My dad purchased me a car for me to drive to school so that I could avoid the school , and all the kids who liked to pick on other people including me.

This was a new school year, and so I had all new classes. This was also my first year in the high school building. I didn’t know the building or any of the students in grades higher than mine. I was totally lost.

My first day went alright. I found my classes and my forever moving locker. I discovered where it was exactly at the bottom of the stairs after a few days. I figured out that there were stairs on each side of the building. My locker was near my History class not near my English class.

After a few weeks, in my first study hall class, the gym teacher, who was one of two teachers taking care of the class winked at me when I entered the room. I felt uncomfortable and looked away. I found my seat and sat down. As always, I started doing my homework so I wouldn’t have to take it home. He came over looked over my shoulder and watched me work.

I stopped working and looked at him. He winked again and offered me a piece of candy, which I refused. He walked away. I puzzled about that; but, let it go because I needed to finish my homework.

The next day the same thing happened, and continued to happen every time he saw me in study hall or in the hallway. He’d try to trap me against the wall in the hallway. If I saw him coming towards me I always either went into a classroom or moved as far from him as I could get before he saw me walking down the hall.

Oddly enough I never told anyone about it. I never reported him to the office. I never told my friends. I never told my parents. I was just in horror every time my feet hit the hallways looking for him to be around to torment me.

One time, and one time only, he followed me into an empty classroom and trapped me against a wall where he hugged me up against him. I struggled away and pretty much ran out into the crowded hallway. I felt safer with so many of my classmates around.

I was a kid, I honestly had no idea what it was he wanted. I just knew a teacher shouldn’t be treating a student as he was treating me. It got so bad that every time I had to go to that study hall I’d sign out to go to the library.

There were two teachers that managed that study hall and I’d always ask the other teacher to go. I figured if I asked him he’d say no. I was too scared of him to ask anyway.

He was after me that whole year up until I started dating my now ex-husband.

We were walking down the hall towards our classes and the gym teacher started towards me. I stepped behind my boyfriend like a frightened puppy. My boyfriend had no idea what was going on but he stood his ground. The gym teacher passed us by and never bothered me again. I never told my boyfriend what had been going on until we were much older and married.

I don’t know to this day why that happened. I had one other incident with a teacher in middle school. I have no idea what made them like me. Was I innocent looking, perhaps?