Even though it was 2003, and Amy was in her 20s with a college degree and plans for graduate school, she walked toward that classroom with a knot in her stomach. Her memories were scary enough. But what had Mr. Deiley done to require a second teacher to monitor him?
A quick peek through the door revealed a man who was definitely not her former teacher - this guy was her age. She was walking away when the man inside asked "Who are you looking for?"
"Not you," Amy said. "I'm looking for Mr. Deiley."
"I am Mr. Deiley."
She had just met Craig Deiley, the son of her former math teacher, Tom Deiley. Craig's teaching paperwork and background check were not yet complete, so Amy was brought in to monitor his Algebra II classroom.
"You've got really beautiful eyes," Craig said, in front of the students.
Just as in 10th grade, Amy wanted to disappear in Mr. Deiley's classroom.
After class, Craig - and therefore Amy - had back-to-back free periods. Craig asked if she'd like to get breakfast, then realized he had left his wallet at home. When they pulled up to the house so Craig could retrieve it, Tom Deiley was watering his flowers. Amy had no choice but to talk to him.
By the time Amy had ordered and eaten her bagel, she realized that she no longer found Mr. Tom Deiley scary - and she agreed to go on a date with his son.
How does forever sound?
For the next eight months, Craig and Amy yelled at the TV during Flyers' games, searched for the area's best slice of carrot cake, and fought only over who got to do the daily Jumble in The Inquirer.
Craig got his teaching credentials, and his substitute teaching job became permanent. Amy began studying for her master's degree in counseling psychology at Temple University.
Then Craig chaperoned a student trip to Costa Rica. "I was unable to talk to him for 10 days. It felt like my left leg had been cut off," Amy said.
