Lunch with Cormier
The lunch bell rings while Wade Cormier, science teacher, admires the contrast of the muddled mass of red and blue Spider-Man merchandise to the assortment of clear beakers and flasks of his chemistry classroom.
While the remaining students file out of the room, his mind drifts as he absent-mindedly swings his gaze over the classroom. Craning his neck to the left side of his desk where a couple of photographs are displayed, Cormier’s eyes settle.
The first photo, decorated with a wooden frame of simple sandal sketches, displays the image of Cormier’s son, Quentin, proudly holding a plaque with the words “August 24, 2015: The First Day of Kindergarten.” The second picture, this one crafted with a border of flowing letters repeating “Father-Daddy”, showcases a grinning Cormier and an even more grinning Quentin, both facing the camera with matching Anaheim Angels t-shirts.
Cormier smiles fondly at the photos, his eyes wandering over the various memories, while also thinking that the“best memories are everyday” with his son.
Love can never be truly contained in one photograph. Cormier’s gaze stays on a family photo with his son and wife and guidance counselor, Jennifer Cormier. He wonders how it all began.
So Cormier first thinks of fishing. Born in Los Angeles, his family invested a special interest in the hobby when he was young. Fishing is familiar: He remembers how every weekend his parents would haul not only rods, baits, and hooks, but also his brothers, Chris, Clay, and Michael to a nearby lake to fish every weekend. The physical but rewarding toil of the task never failed to satisfy Cormier. However, the idea of California fishing was left behind when his family decided to move to Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
But Cormier soon came back to his roots. After receiving his high school diploma at Sardis Secondary High School, Cormier found himself readjusting to the sunny skies of California to attend Cal State University in San Bernardino. And it was here, soaking in the California heat and away from the comforting familiarity of Canada that Cormier would discover his true passion in life: teaching.
Creaks escape his black chair as Cormier rocks back and forth rhythmically, caught up in his musings about his childhood. A rapt knock on the door startles him.
A student shyly comes in to ask about a discrepancy with his grade. With the latest chemistry packet clutched tightly in his hands, he is clearly hoping to change his grade to the correct one. Cormier notices the boy’s nervous demeanor and reassures that he’ll change it. The student thanks him profusely in return and exits the classroom.
Waving goodbye to the student who leaves with a skip in his step, Cormier’s mind drifts back to memory lane.
He remembers how exactly he came to be a science teacher from a young child with a big love for fishing. Heavily influenced by a friend to try teaching, Cormier was still unsure about the specific subject he wished to teach. But it wasn’t until he was in the process of obtaining his Master’s of Education at National University in San Diego that Cormier became a certified substitute teacher. And from the moment he first filled in a substitute teacher for a science class, he knew that the path of chemistry was undoubtedly his calling.
The assortment of family photos catch Cormier’s eyes again unwittingly. He thinks that it’s been awhile since they’ve gone bowling for family night and resolves to make plans for that after school ends. Cormier reconsiders, maybe a dog walk in the afternoon or a trip to museum would be better? Unsure, Cormier taps his pen on the desk in a slow manner. Although the ink is already starting to spill from the ballpoint, he pays no heed, too consumed in his internal struggle. Then Cormier abruptly shoots up from his chair in glee, bright grin on his face. A solution comes to mind. Hopefully Quentin will come to like fishing.
The lunch bell rings, signalling the end of Cormier’s musings. He lets a stray thought of fishing linger before greeting the incoming streams of his fifth period students. And just like that, fishing becomes forgotten as Cormier focuses on another passion in life: teaching
