Robin noticed that Ms. Jefferson would often be required to help a student at his or her desk with a schoolwork problem. Ms. Jefferson would, without fail, lean on the student�s desk and consequently slide out of a pump, do a little shoe-shuffle, wiggle and spread, then return her foot to her shoe, shift her weight and start over with the other foot. Robin would request her assistance often�not that he needed it all the time�just to have her lean over his desk and allow him to sneak close-up glances at her toes.
One day, the class was to be working on some social studies paper concerning the Philippines. He had managed to scribble sown a few lines, but his attention kept being drawn away by the light click-clacking at the front of the class. Robin looked up at Ms. Jefferson, who was at her desk grading papers as her bare toes gripped absent-mindedly at the backs of her burgundy pumps. His eyes lingered a moment, before he reluctantly pulled his gaze back to his paper. This had to stop. He needed a good grade on this assignment. He resolved not to look up again until his paper was complete�no matter how much noise Ms. Jefferson made. There was an increase in the clatter coming from the front of the class. Robin gritted his teeth and furrowed his brow, but he did not look up, even though the clatter seemed to continue for about a minute straight. It was as though the woman was baiting him. Soon Robin was able to attain focus. Either Ms. Jefferson had stopped playing with her shoes or he was able to successfully block out the clatter. In any case, the words were finally flowing from his pen.
After about fifteen minutes, Robin had knocked out a good portion of his paper and was nearing the end as far as he was concerned. Feeling good about his position within his assignment, he felt it was safe to steal another glance up at Ms. Jefferson, however, upon doing so, he had to swallow a gasp as his eyes widened.