"Why not?" Beth asked. "You are truly able to come here."
"Not at all,Miss. I did no good deeds enough to cover my dark things."
"I don't think you would do like that. What have you done before?"
"I did some troubles through every places. And I did many risky,and bad things. Once,I even sent a person to this place. Well,the other one besides here."
Beth knew that the teacher didn't actually mentioned it,but he had killed someone.
"I lived my life as a person with a lot of adventures. I won't regret my life from that,but I wished to see my old schoolmates. And Mrs.Bauer too. Then,she would know I am all forgiven and living as a happy teacher."
"Maybe then,this is your chance to be forgiven. In here,you can return to normal world sometimes. And you can visit the person you want to talk. All you need to do is whisper,and the person will fell asleep. You can talk to the person from then,but the alive person consider it as a dream. Only the souls know that it's not a dream,but using a whisper to bring the person's soul out to communicate." Beth explained the annual visit to Dan. Of course,the visit is a long time away from then.
They talked on with a few more things. The most one connected to them was Jo(Mrs.Bauer). It was quite amazing to see Beth in this much talking. Maybe she was just being kind to the student of her sister,but the conversation went on because they both said a lot.
Just then,the school bell rang.
"Okay now. I think it's time to depart. But I had a good time. I hope you will visit me and be a good companion to talk on." Dan stood up.
"Yes. But I'm not capable in that. I think some others around can do it,but you can visit us,me and Joy. It has some good reasons to do so." Beth stood up to,and they said a friendly parting words before Beth returned to the house.
After a few weeks,Dan finally came to visit.
"Hello,Mr.Keen! What a pleasure for you to finally come." Joy ran to the door,and greeted him with emphasized words.
Beth was playing a piano(a duet with Mr.Christophe),but came to greet him when he arrived.
Mr.Christophe followed her,and he greeted the naturalist teacher as well. But there was a hint of recgonition between them,only they found out later that they were both full of ideas and have abnormal souls(in modern words,they0 were both ISFP).
It was a good time that they all had spent. Most of times,Joy was the most to say things,and surprised everyone.
When Dan left that evening,Mr.Christophe remarked,"That person is not ordinary person. He is some kind of...From other world."
Bertha agreed to that. It was true that Dan was not a plain teacher.
And that showed within a week later.
He was doing proper subjects as well,but they did more activities than before.
The adults were not that happy about it,but the kids were growing very well,so they couldn't complain at all.
The most important thing was that they did projects frequently.
But consider all of that,Dan was teaching them so well,that it surprised everyone that the classes were going through quickly than before,even if they do those activities.
So after a few months,the townspeople offered Dan a speech of his education.
He accepted,and was making a speech 3 days later. A lot of people went to hear the words.
They arrived at the town hall(which was the biggest room to make a speech).
Dan was standing on a stage,with a clean suit. He had to wear it for speeches. Even him can't avoid wearing a proper clothing.
As soon as the seats were full,and everyone had gone quiet,Dan started to talk.
"I want to say that my ways of education was not common at all. Yes,many people might have wondered why. It's because I believe school is a place where you can find your own way of life,not just a place to sit and study. I am from the place where that has all considered. I listened to all the subjects that the teachers told,but I did notice that after classes,students can go out and do their own things freely. That way,they can do what they want,and find their own way in their life. My school curriculum is just that. Some might see that it's not helpful,but if you look closely,I'm sure that it's a lot helpful.
I think it's a good way to know what the student likes and what is the way of it. And it makes an opportunity to know how a student can make their own future. Thank you." Dan finished his speech,with lots of applause.
When he approached Beth,he said,"I never admited this,but I think I only don't know what Joy's future might be. I thought the activities were able to find out,but she was doing too well in all of them. Do you know more facts?"
"I...I'm sure that she like to teach. And know more..."
"Correct. I sure like to learn more,and I want to be a teacher,like my mother,who was retired. But I will be a teacher like you,who intends to care every student,and find out the students' advantages. That will surely be helpful to construct a student's future." Joy said behind them.
After the speech,Beth and Joy returned to the house.
Surprisingly,Bertha was not there. 10 minutes later,she went into the house.
"I thought you were in home. What did you do outside?"
"I'm beginning to know that my times here are almost over. I will be gone soon,but I had to explain everything to the others whom I helped. I will be gone forever,but I hope you remember me." Suddenly,Bertha became dim.
"Oh,no. Before I leave,let me know that I won't be far. You will know me when you meet my eyes." She said to Joy. "And for you,Elizabeth,I considerd you as a person who was the best companion to count on. I felt much better because you were here,to be a person to talk,and rely on. Or it's more than that,call it as...Friend." With that,Bertha disappeared,leaving a name.
It read,'Bertha M.Blythe'.
Joy recgonized it right away. "A little sister of mine...But can't be seen for real."
Beth comforted her. "Don't worry. As far as you see her in other ways,everything will turn out good. It is a way of life,and it goes around and around..."