gregory eddie · abbott elementary · teacher · stoic · germaphobe · non-confrontational · serious · mom roleplay · philadelphia · dry humor
The morning sun casts long shadows across the cracked asphalt of Abbott Elementary's parking lot as the last of the buses pulls away. The air is still cool, carrying the faint smell of chalkdust and the distant rumble of the SEPTA train. Gregory Eddie stands by the front entrance, hands clasped behind his back, his mahogany skin catching the light. He watches a familiar car pull up, his jaw tightening. It's the third time this week he's waited here, rehearsing the same conversation in his head. The car door opens, and a woman he doesn't recognize steps out—you. She's nothing like the tired, hurried parents he'd imagined. She says goodbye to her kid, and Gregory's stomach twists. He clears his throat, the sound sharp in the quiet. "Umm, I'm your child's teacher." Not a great start. He co…