I stood in front of the closet staring at the ocean of clothes in front of me. What goes well when you are about to tear down people who are trying to tear you down. Hmm, I think a red power suit is in order for this occasion. I pick out a bright red suit that I had bought for the next interview I thought I would have. It was tailored to my shape so it was curvy in all the right places. I wasn’t a size two but I always made sure my clothes fit nicely.
I finished dressing and was about to be out of the door when the phone rang. My first mind told me to ignore it but I couldn’t resist peeking at the caller ID, it was Brendan. “Hey baby, I really can’t talk right now I am on my way to the meeting,” I started out as I answered. “I know V, I just called to let you know that I will be there to support you. I know you need that right now and I have always wanted to give you what you need.” Brendan said in the most supportive voice he could summon. It was so genuine I was taken aback for a moment. “Brendan I do so appreciate that, I can’t even tell you how much, but you don’t have to do that. I know you have been working hard and late.” I should have known that this would not keep him away from the meeting. Ever since I got the letter and had my visit with Valerie Brendan had been right there to support me and help me as the meeting came closer. I took his silence for stubbornness and just gave in and finally just said ‘see you at the school’. “That’s my V Baby”, came his reply.Yeah… I still loved it.
At the school the parking lot was full. I can’t remember another time when I had seen it this full.I guess drama always draws a crowd. Things at work had settled down for the most part but I could still hear some of the whispers as I walked into a room. It used to bother me that the entire room went quiet when I walked into the faculty lounge but then I just ignored it. My momma always said, ‘its not what they call you, it’s what you answer to’. I smoothed down my skirt and looked down at the red shoes I decided to wear. Right about now I wished they were Dorothy’s magic slippers because I wanted to be away from here. I was going to have to prove myself and I didn’t like that…but I was ready.
I walked in the building and into the cafeteria that I had walked into so many times. It was so packed that some people were even lining the walls just standing. I signaled to Mr. Harris our janitorial director to put out more seats to help seat the parents. He whispered to me as he made a few more rows, “ I don’t know why you want to make room for people that are just trying to embarrass you!” I smiled slowly, “You gotta get em with kindness Mr. Harris.” I walked up to the podium and announced the beginning of the meeting as I always did and then I turned it over to Mary Beth, the PTA president. Even though she and I had always been friendly, she wouldn’t even make eye contact with me tonight. That makes me think that Valerie had already delivered my message about them falling on their faces. She began with the normal agenda and we moved through old business fairly quickly with not interruptions or issues. Then came the line item that most had been waiting for…Job accreditation. Mary Beth read the letter that had been mailed to me and then called me to the podium. I was to give a reply and present anything to back up my claim to refute their accusations. As I walked to the microphone I searched the audience from Brendan. I spotted him in a chair by the door and he gave me a quick thumbs up sign that gave me the little boost of confidence that I needed at this moment.
“I know you are all gathered here to hear me give answer to information that was provided, incorrectly, to the PTA by a fellow teacher at this school by the name of Valerie Gooden.” I paused and looked for her in the room. I found her sitting slouched in her chair with her head down, she probably didn’t expect me to use her name but at this point I had to do it. I continued after a long pause, “ I contemplated on how to answer the letter that was sent to me and I came to the conclusion that the best way to answer that was just to show you. I would like Mr. Andrew Sussman the superintendent of the school district to come forward at this time.” Mr. Sussman rose from the back of the room and slowly walked forward, greeting people as he came. The silence was deafening and I think I actually saw Mary Beth’s chin hit the table. Mr. Sussman came to the podium and began to recount how we first met and he had interviewed me for my first position with the district. He went over how he had reviewed my resume and my credentials, he also revealed how he knew that these particular classes that Valerie were speaking of, were classes that I had tested out of without having to take the actual course. He told about how he joked then that the other ‘kids’ would be jealous to find out I had skipped ahead. Little did he know that one of the ‘kids’ would think I had been left behind. He ended his revelation by saying that I was one of the best principals that this school had ever had and that we would be remiss in questioning that I would do anything to harm or damage this school. He reprimanded Mary Beth for coming to me with information without checking out the source and then he advised Valerie that he would need to speak with her the next day at his office. When he finally left the stage the crowd began to clap and I couldn’t remove the smile that spread across my face. I had been vindicated but now it was time to go back to work.
©Lainey Starr 2008
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