As Theodore brought the car to a stop, the crisp voice of the GPS cut across his classical music, announcing his arrival. Gradually the monotonous hum of the engine died, and Theodore looked out the tinted glass window at his old school. It had been years since he had seen the place, and although he had considered visiting several times over the last few years, he had somehow never got around to it. He couldn't help but smile as he looked the place over. Some things never change. The school was exactly as he remembered it, a shining bastion of knowledge in an ignorant world, and Theodore's home away from home. He had spent more hours in the schoolhouse than he cared to admit, happily chatting away to his old teacher, Ms. Deville. An image of the kindly old woman flashed across Theodore's mind, and his smile faded to a frown. The letter had said she was dying, and Theodore realised this may be the last time he would ever speak to the woman. If only I had visited sooner. He doubted any of his former classmates had even thought of the woman in years, and thought it even less likely that any one of them would come and visit her in her last hours. They always had been more concerned with popularity rather than an education; that was their loss and Theodore's gain. 

Suddenly, Theodore was pulled from his thoughts by an almost demonic sounding vehicle that looked as though it had just been salvaged from a junk-yard. As he watched, a freckle-faced woman hurried up the steps to the grand house and stood beside another man. Eugene and Scott. Rising from the car, Theodore hoisted his satchel over his shoulder and grabbed some binders from the passenger side seat. He had brought a few bare necessities, but most of the belongings he carried were work-related; he had several long hours of research to do over the weekend. As he strode toward the house, he adjusted his dark green jumper which he wore over a plain white shirt, and straightened his tie. He was certain that in combination with h glasses, he looked a bigger geek that ever, but for Theodore this was the closest to casual wear he could get, having spent most of his career in suits and ties. Ascending the worn steps, Theodore noted the peeling paintwork on the house, and the weeds that sprouted in the cracks. Up close the old building was certainly less impressive, he had to admit. But still, the fond memories he had of the place trumped any exterior appearance. 

Reaching the summit of his ascent, Theodore arrived just as Ms. Deville finished her introduction. He was a little surprised at how ancient the once sprightly teacher looked, but he supposed she had aged just as badly as the building had. Stopping curtly beside his two classmates he gave a quick nod to both in recognition, and extended his hand to the frail creature before him, balancing his binders in the one hand he had free.

“Ms. Deville, a pleasure to see you again after all these years. It's Theodore Smith. I came as soon as I got your letter. Please may we come in?”