Confessions from the Principal's Chair (12 page)

Talk turned to Halloween. "Oh, yeah, tonight's a busy night for me," said the sheriff. "I've even got a deputy coming in to help me patrol, make sure none of the kids get carried away."

After a while, Rendi did say we needed to go. Judy and Sheriff Walters stood up to let us out. We were on our way over to pay Angie when the Sheriff said. "Reckon you've talked to your mama and daddy by now, asked them to come and see you."

"Not yet," said Rendi, and she kept walking.

Angie took Rendi's money. "Hey," she said. "I got it! That new principal at the middle school! She looks just like you!" She turned to Rendi. "You got to go up there and see her! It will flat-out amaze you."

"I'll do that," said Rendi. "Maybe tomorrow."

"See," I said when we were out the door, "I told you there was something familiar about the principal. I guess she does look kind of like me. Isn't that amazing, the same name too!" Then I added like it was an afterthought. "You can't see her tomorrow. I heard someone say she would be in meetings all day with the superintendent."

All the way to our house, I worried over Kash coming to our house. At first I thought I would go straight to bed when we got home, tell Rendi I had a headache or something, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to see Kash Edge. I wondered what kind of costume he would have on. I just had to see how those awesome blue-green eyes looked in the light of our porch lamp, but if I saw him it had to be as Ms. Miller.

At home, I went right in and changed back into the suit I had worn to school. When I came out of my room, I went into the kitchen where Rendi was putting some little candy bars from the packages she had bought into a big bowl. "Why'd you change back into that outfit?" she asked me.

I shrugged. "Just wanted to," I said.

Rendi shook her head. "You're a strange Bird," she said, and she reached out to hug me, "but I like you just the way you are."

I gave away an entire bowl of candy, mostly to little kids. There were a few who looked about my age, but they must not have seen me at school because they didn't pay any particular attention to me. I kept my eye on the clock. Maybe Kash wasn't coming after all, but at about eight he did.

Somehow I knew when he knocked, just knew that Kash Edge stood outside on our porch, and I couldn't go to the door. "Will you get this one?" I called to Rendi who was stretched out on the couch watching TV.

"Bird," she said, "this movie is getting good," but she got up and was almost to the door when I changed my mind. I couldn't let her go to the door and then call me over to talk about how I was new in school and all.

"Go back to your movie," I told her. I grabbed the candy bowl, rushed past her, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

He was standing there with another boy. The other kid didn't have on any kind of costume, but Kash had a long, fake beard and a black felt hat pulled down over his ears. He must have been trying for a hillbilly look because he had a corncob pipe in his hand. He wore overalls, fastened over just one shoulder with a torn sleeveless shirt under them. He looked so hot, like the hottest hillbilly in the world!

"It's the new principal," I heard Kash whisper under his breath. Then he took off his hat and sort of bowed to me. "Howdy, ma'am. I didn't expect to see you." He scratched at his head. "There was another lady invited me to come by here for trick or treats, said she lived here with her daughter."

"That was my sister." I kept my voice low in case Rendi could hear, but I looked over my shoulder and saw that she was all into her movie again.

"Think she kind of wanted us to meet her daughter," Kash said. "Is she to home?"

He was talking in an adorable hillbilly voice. "My niece isn't here right now, but I know you will meet her soon."

"Trick or treat," the other boy said, and he held out a big paper bag of candy.

I had hardly glanced at the other kid. Now I realized he was smoking. "If you're old enough to smoke, you are too old to trick-or-treat," I said. I reached out quickly and took his bag from him.

"Hey," he yelled, "you can't do that."

"I told you she's the principal, Joe," said Kash. "Why didn't you get rid of that thing? Besides Coach Pickle could drive by any time, and he'd do a lot more than take your candy."

"Get rid of the cigarette now, Joe," I said, and he did. I held out my hand. "I want the pack too."

He grumbled something I couldn't make out, but he also pulled the package from his shirt pocket and handed them to me. "Good," I said, and I gave him back the bag of candy. I put several little bars into his bag and a whole handful into Kash's. "Do I need to call your parents, Joe?"

"No ma'am," he said.

"Very well, then." I turned toward Kash. "I hope yc>u both enjoy the rest of the evening, and, Kash, I would like to talk to you in my office tomorrow just before the water balloon fight." It was light enough for me to see a disturbed look flash through those wonderful eye. "No problem or anything. I just need your help with something."

With the cigarettes in my hand, I turned back into the living room and closed the door after taking one look at Kash walking away. He was even beautiful from behind. Rendi was still watching TV, but she glanced up at me.

"Bird," she said, "where did you get those things?" I could see her getting ready to lecture me about the dangers of smoking.

"Let me put them in the trash," I said, and I went into the kitchen to throw them in the can under our sink.

Rendi forgot her movie. I could feel her eyes on my back as I moved. I washed my hands just to drag the time out, but she was still watching for me. "I took them away from a kid who was trick-or-treating, told him he couldn't have candy until he got rid of the cigarettes."

"How old was he?"

"He goes to the middle school," I said, "probably an eighth-grader." I was enjoying this.

Rendi stared at me. "Let me get this straight? You told someone you go to school with that he shouldn't be smoking?"

"I don't know why you're surprised," I said. "Don't you know how bad cigarettes are for you?" I went to my room then. I had to write a speech for the faculty meeting before I could get ready for bed.

Chapter 8

T
he morning of my last day as principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Prairie Dog Town, Oklahoma, was just as beautiful as the one before. I got up early and packed my backpack with a few things I wanted to take to school. I took my bead curtain down from my door. I could clip it to the inside of the office doorframe. Anyone who opened my door to come in would have to go through the beads first. Sure, I knew I only had one more day, but I wanted to put up some things. I also took my camera. It would be fun to have pictures to send to Katie. I took along a poster of the Twisted Bananas, a group I like a lot. Everyone in the band has hair done up to look like bananas. I stuck in another poster that said, "Maturity Is Overrated" in huge letters and one that had a scene with a girl and guy dressed in clothes from the '60s. It said "Make Love, Not War." I wanted my office to be comfortable even if I did have only one day left. Besides, I would enjoy the look on Mrs. Simpson's face when she saw it all.

I also had a big towel, jeans, and a tee to change into for the water balloon fight—I mean
festival.
I put the bag out on the front porch first thing even though Rendi wasn't up yet. I didn't want to take a chance on her wanting to know what was in the pack.

I dressed in my dark red suit, and I was singing in the kitchen as I took a bowl and cereal from the cabinets. Rendi came wandering in, rubbing her eyes. "It's not even seven. Why are you up?"

"Just couldn't sleep. I thought I'd get to school early, maybe get a chance to meet some people before class."

"They'll let you in the building an hour early?" Rendi looked doubtful, but too sleepy to argue.

"Lots of clubs and things meet before school here," I said. "I'm sure the principal will be there early. She'll let me in. You look tired," I said, "why don't you go back to bed. No need to be up with me."

She looked at me. "Well, I wanted to see you before you went off to say I hope you have a better day than yesterday." She sort of leaned toward me like she wanted a better look or something. "But then I heard you singing. You sounded pretty happy for a girl about to go to a school she hates."

I tried to make my face look long and sad. "Oh, you know what they say about singing when it's dark or something to get your courage up."

Rendi sank into a kitchen chair, and I went on with pouring my cereal. "I stepped out on the porch this morning just to check the weather outside. It's beautiful, as warm as summer."

"Indian summer's what people call days like this. Oklahoma has lots of them."

There was something in her voice. "You're glad to be back in Oklahoma, huh?"

"I guess so, but I wish you felt better about being here." She shrugged.

"Don't shrug your shoulders at me," I said in my principal's voice, and we both laughed. I would never have admitted it, but it felt good to laugh with Rendi.

"You have your school supplies?" she asked while I was eating.

"Took them yesterday," I said. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah." She reached out to touch my cheek. "Why don't you change your clothes, honey? You've got some good jeans and cute shirts."

I shook my head. "No, Rendi. I'll take the other three suits back, but I guess this is sort of a test. If they don't like me because of the way I'm dressed...," I thought for a minute, "Well, kids like that aren't the kinds of kids I want to have as my friends anyway."

"Bird," she said, "that's deep. I'm proud of you, very proud."

"Got to go." I knew Rendi was about to slip into one of her, "let's talk about humanity" moods. I could hear it in her voice.

"Want me to drive you?"

"No, I want to enjoy the walk on this beautiful Indian summer day." I was out the front door before she had a chance to say anything else. I got my backpack and started toward my last hours in the principal's office.

When I got to the big sandstone building, it looked different to me somehow. Maybe the sun was hitting it in a different way. I don't know why, but I liked the looks of the building. I decided to walk around it before I went in so that I could see the spot where the water fight would be.

There was a nice grassy area, and I could just imagine water balloons flying through the air. From behind the school, I could see the gym too. It was a big old building with wide front steps. A girl came up the steps and settled cross-legged on the concrete porch. She took something out of her book bag, and all at once two pigeons came flying down to land beside her. I moved a little closer. I could see then that the girl was tearing off bits of bread to feed the birds, and I could see that the girl was Serenity. I felt sad watching her. I'm telling you the truth, I think I would have known how lonely the girl was just by seeing her with the birds. No one would have had to tell me that Serenity didn't have any people for friends. I knew right then that I'd keep my promise to change that.

I didn't call to Serenity or watch very long. I went back to the front door, squared my shoulders and got into my principal way of thinking. I got out my key and used it to let myself into the building. I liked having a key to the school, but I supposed they would want it back after my replacement came.

I had the beads and the band poster up and was on a chair tacking up the love one when I heard Mrs. Simpson at her desk. My door was open, so I knew she had already seen the beads. I couldn't wait to show her the rest of my decorations. "Mrs. Simpson," I called, "could you please come in here for a minute?"

I loved seeing her push through the beads. "Do you like what I've done with the place?" I asked. She seemed speechless, so I went on. "I'm thinking of getting some big pillows for the floor. You know, get rid of the chairs. Let my guests make themselves comfortable."

She didn't say anything, just backed out of the beads and closed the door. I didn't hear a peep from her until I walked past her desk on my way to the meeting. "I had the cafeteria send the cinnamon rolls and coffee down to the library," she said. "Everything should be set up by now."

The library had two glass walls just like the outer office, so I had a clear view of the group that waited for me. I clutched the outline of my speech. Last night I had enjoyed writing it, but now seeing real people who would hear me, I felt really nervous. Maybe I should pretend to get sick suddenly. I had once had a part in a school play where I was an old lady who had a heart attack. I was pretty good with heart attacks, but I decided against it. I'd end up in the hospital and miss the festival.

There were maybe fifteen people in the room, not a big faculty. Most people were already at tables, eating their cinnamon rolls and drinking coffee. A couple of men were still getting their refreshments when I stepped up to the podium. "That's fine, gentlemen," I said with a smile that wasn't genuine. "Get what you need, but I'll go ahead and start the meeting." I paused for a minute. "Think the thought," I told myself. "Well," I said, "here we are, aren't we? I know I didn't get to meet many of you yesterday, but, of course, there were lots of things to take care of on my first day on the job. I know I look young and everything. That's because I am young." I looked at their faces, many of them frowning. "You know," I said, "I may even be the youngest person in this room." I lifted my hands in a sort of helpless gesture. "The thing is, I think the principal's office is making me older fast." I heard a laugh or two and felt encouraged. I went on, "Just wait, maybe I'll catch up with you. The thing I want to do during my very short term as your principal is to concentrate on a serious problem. I want to fight bullying in the school." A few people clapped.

I felt better, but then an angry-looking woman near the front said, "What about this ridiculous water balloon thing the Student Council wants to have? Are you really allowing such a mess?"

"I am," I said, and I think I sounded confident. "I know many of you do not agree with my decision. However, I ask you to remember that my strength is my understanding of young people." I laughed. "In fact, I might be considered one of them." The faces before me did not look friendly. "Let me make you a promise," I said slowly. "I pledge to you that if this water balloon festival does not prove to be a valuable step toward less bullying in this school, I will not be with you tomorrow." I gave them a big nod. "That's right! If the water balloon festival is not a success, I will give up my position."

"Ms. Miller," someone called from the back of the room, but I held up my hand in a sort of stop gesture. "People," I said, "I would like nothing better than to stay here and get to know you all." I pointed toward the clock. "But look at the time." I stepped away from the podium. "Okay, people, go out there and educate!" I pulled up the bottom of my skirt so I could run, and I ran out of the library.

No one followed me. I looked through the glass just as I was even with the corner of the library. Mostly the teachers were standing in little groups, talking. Lots of them were shaking their heads. A few, though, didn't seem interested. They were going back for more cinnamon rolls.

"How'd the meeting go?" Mrs. Simpson said when I came into the office.

"The cinnamon rolls were a big hit." I hurried through the outer office. "I don't want to be disturbed until further notice," I said just before I went through my door. Just to make sure, I flipped the lock.

In Denver, Katie was probably in her mother's SUV on her way to school. I dialed her number. "No party here," she said instead of hello.

I made a face. I didn't like that Katie was now answering her phone with Ivory's pet expression. "Hello, Katie," I said. I tried to emphasize the "hello" so she would get my point that she had not said hello to me.

She didn't get the point. "Bird," she said, "what's happening?"

I couldn't keep the pride out of my voice. "Oh, not much, except that I just held my first faculty meeting."

"Really? You stood up there and talked to a bunch of teachers like you were a regular principal and stuff."

"I did."

"No way! I want to know everything, everything that happened yesterday and everything that happens today."

"I don't have time right now." The wild thing is that just at that very minute, talking on that phone, an idea just came to me, I mean a huge idea. For sure the best idea I'd ever had. "Katie," I said. "A brilliant scheme just flashed through my mind. If I can pull this thing off, you will know everything that's happened, you and a lot of other people. But right now I need that number."

"You mean Marcy Willis's number."

"Yes, you got it for me. Didn't you?"

"Don't break into a sweat. I got it all right. I asked her for it. At first she wouldn't give it to me, thought the Pack wanted it to torment her or something."

"But you got it?"

"Yes, I didn't think she would give it to me if I said you wanted it." There was a little pause. "See, Bird, there's something I kind of forgot to tell you. Since you had moved and everything anyway, Ivory told Mrs. Howard and everyone that you wrote the note. She sort of said you did the whole thing by yourself."

"What?" I pounded my hand on my desk. "The rest of you let her do that? You all went along with it?"

"Well, we didn't see how it could hurt. I mean you were gone and stuff."

I sighed. "Okay, Katie, but did you get the phone number?"

"Yes, finally I told her it was just for me, that I wanted it so I could call her if I had a problem with algebra."

"Well, Katie, you could use some help with algebra. Maybe you ought to call Marcy sometime."

There was silence on Katie's end for a minute. Then she said, "Bird, you know Ivory wouldn't like it if I called Marcy. The Six-Pack has rules about talking to girls like her."

"Katie," I said, "give me the number."

"Okay, hold on. I've got it written in my algebra book."

"Good place for it," I said, then Katie repeated the number, and I wrote it down. "Thanks, Katie. Most of the time you're a real friend, and I'm glad I got a chance to know you."

She made a surprised sound with her breath. "Bird, don't talk like that. I mean, you sound like we might never talk again. You still think you will come back to Denver, don't you? When you do, we will drop the new girl from the Six-Pack. Anyway, I think Ivory will agree to that."

"I don't know if we will come back or not, but, Katie, I want to tell you something. I'm pretty sure that once you've been a principal, you can't be in the Six-Pack ever again. It just wouldn't work."

"I don't understand you anymore, Bird."

"That's okay," I said. "Lots of other people feel the same way."

After the phone call, I couldn't think about anything except my idea. I didn't want to start on it, though, until after the balloon fight. I needed something to help me calm down. I picked up my bag and got out the book Ivory had insisted I carry out from the library. I'd send it back, but before I did, I'd read it. It looked interesting. I read for a long time, until Mrs. Simpson buzzed me.

"I know you said no disturbances, but Coach Pickle is here with popcorn. He is insisting you would want to see him."

I looked up at the clock. It was almost eleven, time for
All My Secrets.
"Yes, send him in," I told her.

"I used the popcorn machine down in the concession stand we have in the gym." He handed me a nice warm bag, set the other bag on my desk, and took two colas from the bag he had across his shoulder. "We'll just power back after a hard morning, and take a little break. Don't worry about spoiling your lunch. Today is spaghetti day in the cafeteria, horrible stuff."

We really got into the program, and when
Secrets
was over, we started on
Specific Hospital.
Coach Pickle filled me in on background. In the first scene, Lorraine was in a hospital bed, near death. She had divorced Carl years earlier and been married to five or six other men, but now she realized she had always loved Carl, who happens to be her doctor. "My life has been empty without you, my love, if only I had realized while I had time left to spend with you," she said. Carl told her that he was going to perform an experimental surgery on her, but that her chances were slim.