16. A chance meeting
At first glance, Rob Collier seemed unremarkable. He had a pleasant face; most people who knew him considered his clear green eyes his best feature. He wore his dark hair short, and it was usually slightly mussed. You’d probably find a guy like Rob in every neighborhood of every district in Simworld.
But beneath this unprepossessing surface could be found a man who was exceptional in many ways. Rob was a Genius, particularly gifted in math and science. His teachers predicted nothing short of greatness for him. Would he be an award-winning Scientist? An innovative Engineer? A life-saving Doctor? Perhaps a bold, heroic Astronaut? Rob Collier's future seemed limitless.
Rob earned a full scholarship to Foxbury Institute. There, he accomplished something no student in recent memory had pulled off: he completed Distinguished Degrees in Biology and Physics without receiving lower than A+ in any class. The door to any STEM career Rob chose would undoubtedly be open to him. Which would he pick?
He surprised all but his closest friends and most treasured family members when he told them he was accepting a teaching position at Buckingham High School.
“I considered all the careers people had suggested to me,” Rob recalled. “At one time I was sure I would go into medicine, because I enjoy helping people and the thought of saving lives was very attractive to me. Then I remembered the teachers who gave so unselfishly of their time to help me and mentor me along the way. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be like them.”
Rob moved into a cozy house in the Bedrock Straits neighborhood of Oasis Springs. He loved teaching, and his students adored him.
“Mr. C is the best teacher I’ve ever had,” declared Colin Holt. “He knows so much, and he can make it understandable to us.”
Aspen Petersen agreed. “I’m graduating this year. I’m going to Foxbury, and I’m going to study Biology. Then, I’ll be either a teacher or a Scientist, and that’s because of Mr. Collier.”
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Aspen and Colin connecting with Mr. C
Rob’s dedication to his career meant that, while other guys might be at a café or a club, pursuing a relationship, he often found himself at home, planning lessons or grading homework.
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“I chose this life,” he admitted. “But it can be lonely sometimes.”
One Spring evening, Rob felt restless and bored. He decided to step outside his comfort zone and head over to the Pin & Juice Bowling Alley for an hour or two of diversion. He took a seat at the bar and began to chat with the mixologist while he thought about whether or not he’d like a drink.
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Rob was about to leave Pin & Juice and return home to the papers in his Padfolio when he heard the sound of footsteps. He looked up and saw a very pretty blonde woman approaching the bar.
Kelley Nash had felt equally restless that evening. Her son, Cooper, was spending the night at his friend Henrik Noble’s house. Her daughter, Sloane, was hanging out at Brindleton Family Park with a few other Teens. I haven’t been to Oasis Springs in a while, she said to herself. Pin & Juice is a pretty chill place to relax for a while. She walked in a moment before Rob Collier was about to walk out.
As comfortable as he was in front of a classroom, Rob turned shy when he met a woman he didn’t know…especially when she was as attractive as the one in front of him now.
The mixologist recognized her. She’d been there a few times before. “Hi, Kelley,” he greeted her.
“Hi, Keith,” she replied. Then she turned to Rob and smiled.
“Hello there. Is this seat taken?” She motioned to the stool beside him.
Rob’s stomach turned a pleasant little flip, and then another. “No, it’s not. Please join me,” he finally managed to say.
They introduced themselves and began to chat.
Kelley’s mother said of her daughter, “She came out of the womb flirting, and she hasn’t stopped yet.” Kelley wouldn’t necessarily have denied this statement.
“I can’t say I regret some of the choices I’ve made,” she said. “My kids are amazing, and they’re results of those choices. But I fell for the wrong people, and I fell hard. I’ve learned some lessons from that.” At this point in her life, dating held no interest whatsoever for Kelley.
Perhaps that’s why her conversation with Rob felt so natural. He wasn’t trying to impress her. She liked that.
“What do you do for a living, Rob?” Kelley asked, making small talk.
Here we go again, thought Rob.
More than once, women had seemed to like him until he mentioned his occupation. “I guess it doesn’t impress some people,” he said, with a shrug. “I don’t make a lot of money, and I can’t afford a luxurious lifestyle.”
“I’m a science teacher at Buckingham High School,” Rob replied.
Kelley smiled warmly when she heard Rob’s answer. When she was younger, men with glamorous-sounding careers turned her head. Those days were gone.
“I think that’s terrific,” she said, sincerely.
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Rob and Kelley talked for a bit, before Rob admitted he still had schoolwork to do. Kelley giggled. “Don’t let me be the reason why you didn’t get your homework done.”
Had Rob been a smoother operator, he might have come up with a clever, flirtatious reply. That wasn’t his style, so he simply laughed. “I’ve had fun tonight.”
“Me too, Rob. I hope I run into you again sometime soon.”
“I hope so, too. That would be great."
She’s way out of my league, thought Rob.
It’s wonderful to meet a real, down-to-earth guy, thought Kelley.
