One Bullet Away

Fiorella knew she was plotting a dangerous course and that, as she strove to become a better and better teacher, the danger increased.

Students flock to good teachers because they are interesting, have solid academic backgrounds, and have figured out how to make hard subjects seem easy.  Good teachers also interact with their students--ALL their students, not just the stars.  And thereby lies the rub, because no one, no matter how caring, can be everything to everyone, and some students will resent that.  It's like Santa Claus letting them down.  How many times have news reports featured stories about a disgruntled student killing "the most popular teacher in the school?"

But Fio struck it lucky.  Ultimately, it was a jealous supervisor who took her down, not with a bullet, but by refusing her tenure.  But the wound soon healed as Fiorella launched a new career.  And look at her now: she's a contest diva, has a New York agent, and Honeysuckle Dreams is out to publishers for consideration. 

And she's a lot safer.