Gemotions

The box smelled of expensive cologne. It was from Daniel Lee, a former student who’d always been a troublemaker. The gift? A high-end, noise-canceling headset. His note was concise: “Appreciate the patience.” Mr. Harding couldn't stop the twitch in his left eye.

He caught himself staring at the new, gleaming headphones in the staff room. He’d barely been able to afford a new pair of shoes. He muttered something about "overpriced consumerism."

He spent the rest of the day re-evaluating Daniel’s old disciplinary records, searching for anything he might have missed. He even pulled out the old detention log, comparing it to his current students, and their problems.