For an entire week, Catherine and I were treating ourselves to feeling how Amazons must feel every day of their lives: In control. At ease. Normal.

Catherine was still giving me side-eye, tinged by good humor though it was. “Sorry, Catherine,” I said. In all honesty, I was not sorry. Not even a little.

“It’s true, though,” Tarnia said. “Amazons are bonkers! Most of them are jerks, too! I’m pretty sure I’m tolerated because Amazons just like to boss people around. Clark treats me way better than any Amazon ever did.”

“Well, yeah. You’re a good person,” I said. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“That and I’m still big enough to kick your ass.” I caught glimpse at Tarnia in her review mirror. She was sticking her tongue out at me.

“That and you’re still big enough to kick my ass,” I repeated, rolling my eyes. “That helps, too.”

Catherine crossed her arms. “If you two dislike working with Amazons so much, why do you do it?”

Tarnia and I closed our mouths. Her eyes went back to the road. Mine went over to Catherine. She was back to looking at her phone. So many different ways to take this. I wanted to yell at Catherine and argue and tear her down a little bit.

It was easy to criticize working with crazed giants when they never had to see your face. Honestly, I could have probably gotten by on some kind of online teaching gig. As long as there wasn’t anything in the background to give perspective, I could have posed as an Amazon teacher via webcam.
But then I wouldn’t have made the friendships and relationships that I had. Then I wouldn’t be working with kids as much as I was talking to a camera and giving lectures. I wouldn’t have essays framed on my wall about what a good teacher I’d been to those third graders back when they were my preschoolers.