I was excited. I'd just become a qualified teacher and I'd got my first job - supply teacher at a secondary school with a sixth form. Not bad for a twenty-three-year-old.
When the head of English was off sick, I was told I had to take her A-level literature class. I revised everything I could about the Wife of Bath and was ready for the lessons. Teaching about Chaucer might be difficult but I'm up for a challenge.
I took a deep breath and walked into the classroom. That's when I first saw Adam. He was lounging in his seat, chatting with friends. Handsome, tall, confident. He was eighteen years old but looked older.
I walked in and said, "Settle down."
I introduced myself, Mr. Atkinson, and said we were going to look at the plot of the Wife of Bath first.
Adam said, "We've done that, sir." The way he said "sir" made it sound sarcastic, as if it were in speech marks.
I mumbled something and then said we'd be looking at it again and so I began my first lesson with the class.
Adam looked at me intently whenever I was talking. A bit too intently. It made me uneasy. He was clearly bright and a bit conceited. I learned later that he was a star on the school's rugby team.
In the next lesson with the class, I got into my stride and thought things were going well. I tried not to look at Adam. He was still looking intently at me. When I did catch his eye, he moved his tongue around his lips as he looked directly at me. I blushed.
During the third lesson, he was lounging as he normally did but kept touching his crotch, moving it. I'd had enough. I told him I wanted a word with him after class.
At the end of class, he came up to the front. I stood up. I'm 5ft 8ins. He towered over me at 6ft 3ins. At my eyeline, I could see a mass of chest hair under his shirt. He had the body of a man much older than he was.
I said, "You were behaving inappropriately earlier. I saw you constantly, er, adjust yourself."
He replied, "I'm sorry 'sir'. I was just getting comfortable. I mean we all have to do it sometimes."
Then he looked down at my crotch. "Actually, perhaps you don't," he said, grinning.
I didn't know what to do or say. This student was intimidating me in so many ways. I couldn't deny I found him attractive but I knew I had to be professional. Nevertheless, I blushed again. I said something about not doing it again and then left the room.
I began to dread the class's next lesson but Adam behaved. He smiled at me and still looked intently at me. It was only when I got home that I found a used jockstrap in my briefcase. I knew it must have been his. I had no evidence, of course. I was sick with worry. How could I control this young man?
The next day I didn't have to teach his class and as I went to work I was relieved, I have to say. I'd been trying not to think about Adam but he was never far from my mind. The night before, my husband could see I was distracted but I told him it was nothing.
During that day, however, I got the biggest surprise from Adam. I was walking down a corridor when I felt a hand grab one of my buttocks. I turned around. Adam held it. He smiled and said, "Good morning, 'sir'!" and then let go.
I couldn't catch my breath. I dropped my books. I stumbled. Adam just smiled at me, winked, and walked off.
This had to stop but what could I do? A student was humiliating me. Could I tell the head teacher? What would I look like? Surely, as a trained teacher, I could sort this out myself. It was also turning me on so much.
I tried to concentrate on my other lessons and pupils. I was doing a good job with them all, I thought. I would have to come up with a way to control Adam.
But then I saw a note on my desk. It simply said, "4 pm, car park near library."
My mind raced. It was definitely from Adam. I knew that. What did he want? Was this my opportunity to tell him to stop or I'd take it further? Maybe threaten to get him expelled?
Four o'clock came and I went to the car park. From a distance, I could see Adam's tall, muscular form leaning against a car. I decided to be calm, to simply have it out with him.
As I got there, Adam nodded at the car and said, "Get in."
I replied that it was inappropriate to get into a student's car and that I shouldn't. He just hissed, "Nobody can see us. Just get in."
I knew I shouldn't have but I did. I sat down in the passenger seat. At that point, I tried to have a conversation about appropriate behaviour and my position as a teacher.