Teacher Tales

Richard Adelman is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. He taught English, computer applications, and filmmaking in public high schools there for thirty-seven years. Besides teaching, Richard worked for many years in the Philadelphia area as a wedding photographer and in Atlantic City as a bartender and restaurant manager. He is previously unpublished. Retired now, he has been spending his literary efforts trying to learn enough French to read the classics. He has two grandchildren.

Possibly it's Miss Rigg's fault.


If it hadn't been for Miss Rigg appropriating his room during his lunch period, Mr. Kessler would never have suspected her of stealing his things. There wouldn't have been any reason to plot with Mr. Wood to surreptitiously videotape her classes. Wood wouldn't have started telling him all those tall tales about his old school, and Kessler probably wouldn't have secretly recorded their conversations. And if Wood hadn't talked so much about Kay, Kessler wouldn't have been so desperate to meet her, and he might have remained invisible forever....



For 40 years, Mr. Kessler has taught English in the Philadelphia school system the way he knows best: Keeping his head down, not making waves, and counting down the minutes before he's home enjoying a few generously poured martinis. But a series of new acquaintances and bad decisions in his final year before retirement brings his world crashing down around him--tragically and hilariously.