Some teachers ducked out quickly and did lesson planning from home. Olivia found she had the most confidence in her lessons when she walked out of school fully prepared for the next day. This was partly because procrastination had never worked for her, but also because of how she savored the peace and quiet of her classroom after dismissal.

She’d decorated the walls with a few dozen inspirational posters when she took over the class this January. From Einstein, Voltaire, and Carl Jung to Helen Keller, Jane Austen, and a handful of others, she’d acquired an eclectic variety of poster quotes that spoke to her in one way or another, and she loved the way her students connected with individual ones as well. Nerdy as it might be, surrounded by a sea of motivational quotes, Olivia was, well, more motivated to be the best version of herself that she could be.

This afternoon, there’d be no time for after-school lesson planning. And it was unlikely she’d have time tonight either. That meant tomorrow morning she’d be winging her lessons until she had time to catch up in fourth hour, her open planning time.

Regardless of the little bit of stress she’d face tomorrow, this afternoon’s escapade with Ava was worth it. Olivia had been counting the minutes till the bell rang for more than one reason. First, at five thirty tonight, that beautiful pointer would’ve been held for seventy-two hours, and he’d be cleared for relocating to a shelter.

Ava’s favorite animal rescue and adoption center, the High Grove Animal Shelter, had heard his story and had agreed to take him in. And since Ava had reassured Olivia that High Grove would find him the perfect home where he’d be loved and cared for and not dead-bolted in a pen, Olivia was crossing her fingers no owner came forward at this late hour.

Second, as of last night, her car was ready for pickup. Hopefully, $843 later, her little Cruze would be repair-free for a while, and she could go another several months without having to trade it in for something newer. Third, even though Rhonda had looked and hadn’t found it, Olivia wanted a chance to scour Milton’s Feed Store parking lot for her missing phone. Not knowing if Gabe had been trying to call her was driving her batty.

If she didn’t find it tonight, she’d head to the phone store after work tomorrow and sign a contract on a new one. She’d been overdue to do so anyway. And while it would be another unexpected knock in her budget this month, at least she’d know if Gabe was calling.