Debacle (noun): a complete failure, total collapse

“Sir, I think this requires your atten—”

“Not now! Can’t you see I’m welcoming our new family?”

Dismissing his assistant with an impatient wave, the teacher turned to face the new staff members and smiled proudly as if the interruption never existed. The two other men caught the cue, scrambling with gracious no-problem’s and decorous thank-you’s to their superior.

“But sir—”

“As I was saying,” the teacher raised his voice, not sparing a glance at his assistant. “The success of a mentor is measured by the success of his pupils. At this high school, we are dedicated to sending our students to the best of universities, and they are grateful for our guidance in return.”

He glanced back in time to see enthusiastic nods.

“You see, my top student from last year was admitted into every college he applied to. He graduated at the top of his class and became the president of his own club in his first year at—”

The assistant was tugging on his sleeve now, shaking and panicking with the look of a frightened rabbit on his face. “Please, just two minutes—”

Fury ignited the teacher. “For goodness sake! What could possibly be more important than introducing the philosophy of our school?” He snatched the phone from the poor assistant’s outstretched arm, and his face froze; the photo, the name, the university on the article headline were far too familiar.

College freshman arrested for drug trafficking, accusing old high school teacher of overwhelming pressure…