A and I went to a bag store today to try and find a teacher-like briefcase-type-deal for me. I don't want a briefcase, but I find that I have too many papers and folders to use a normal, stylish bag. I have another bag that my mom and I bought together which actually works pretty well, but it's big and bulky and sometimes I don't feel like lugging around such an extravagant contraption. Today, I saw A's bag and said, "That's just what I'm looking for!" and she said the store she bought it in was just a few blocks away. So off we went.
When we got there, we asked the help of a young man. A thought he was 14, but it came out in the course of conversation that he was 17. He was still waiting to go through puberty, but a charming character nonetheless.
He made a few jokes, showed us a few bags, learned some English. It was dandy. A was having a ball with the little jokster. As they started shooting the shit, he found out that both of us were English teachers and asked us in what high schools we taught. A said that she was in her little town outside Paris, and he said, "Really? I'm more near the north. In _______."
"Ha!" I interjected, "I teach in _________!"
"Where do you teach?"
"At ________ high school."
"Really? That's where I go to school!"
"No way! You're going to be my student then, soon!"
"Did you buy the school paper?" he asked, showing it to me.
"Yeah, of course I did! I bought it on Monday."
"I made the title."
"No way!"
"Yeah!"
So, yeah, that was a great coincidence. I can't believe he works in Paris and goes to school way out there. But then again, I live in Paris and work way out there, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised.
It turns out, though, that he won't be one of my students, because he goes to the other part of the school: the high school where I teach is half a general high school and half a technical school. I teach in the general school, he's a student in the technical school. They're in seperate buildings.
Still, it was a cool run-in. And maybe I'll see him walking through the main entrance sometime. I'll be sure to show him that I'm using the new bag he sold me.