Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“I don’t think we need to bring Donald into this,” I tell her with a little grin that I know will piss all over her three months of efforts to get canned. “Honestly, if I had a conversation with him, I could only express how fantastic of a job you’ve been doing. You’re a true asset to Calhoun. I hope we never lose you.”
Betty snickers. Carol nearly chokes on her coffee. Mona is long gone, but Dana, well, she glares at me.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get moving so I have time to take a shower and get ready before the bell rings.” I finish getting my mail out of my mailbox and offer a sweet smile as I head for the door. “Have a wonderful day, ladies.”
“Mr. Houston,” Dana calls out just before I can exit. “Before I forget, I need you to meet me in my office today during lunch. I have something important to discuss with you and Ms. Dayton.”
“Me and Ms. Dayton?” I question with a quirk of my brow.
Dana smiles proudly. “I have something I need you to work on together.”
Together?
Katy Dayton is one of my fellow teachers, and the woman doesn’t like me…at all.
It’s been like that since we both started in our teaching positions the same year and never really got off on the right foot. Honestly, if she has a secret voodoo doll of me that she sticks pins in every night, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Last year, Principal Donald put us in charge of organizing the big fall carnival, and it only took one meeting for Katy to kick me off the planning committee.
“Oh, and please let Katy know about the meeting,” Dana instructs with the kind of smile that whispers the word checkmate. “I haven’t had a chance to talk with her yet.”
Sadly for Dana, thanks to Claude’s frogs and a laid-back personality, I’ve got a steel fortitude against being messed with.
Whatever she’s plotting to get under my skin isn’t going to bother me nearly as much as it’s going to bother pretty little Katy Dayton.
Katy
As Mr. Carter, Calhoun Elementary’s PE teacher, guides my first-period third graders from my classroom and toward the gymnasium, I snag my cell phone from inside my desk drawer to text the one person I’ve been dying to yell at all day.
Anna, better known as Ms. Franklin here at Calhoun Elementary, is my best friend and runs our art department. I’ve known her since our Columbia University days, and for the last five years that I’ve worked here, we’ve spent the morning before the toll of the bell gassing each other up for another day of little brains and sticky fingers.
But today—of all the days in the universe and beyond—she decided not to show up, and that leaves me freaking the hell out.
We’re supposed to leave for a much-needed, week-long spring break vacation together tomorrow on a seven a.m. flight out of JFK, and Anna Franklin is missing in action.
Me: Where the hell are you hiding today? Do you LIKE making me anxious?
Anna: No, actually. That’s why I’ve been avoiding talking to you altogether. So I don’t have to tell you the thing I don’t want to tell you.
Me: What don’t you want to tell me, Anna?
Anna: See, when you say my name like that, I get even more likely to ghost you.
Me: ANNA.
Anna: My classes have a sub today because I’m sick as a damn dog. Apparently, I have the freaking flu.
Me: Seriously? You got sick twenty-four hours before our flight takes off? Didn’t I tell you to sanitize at least twenty times a day? Now what are you going to do? Mask up for the flight?
Anna: Technically, no. Technically, I’m going to not mask up and, instead, stay within the confines of my apartment. Technically, I’ve been instructed to quarantine my contagious ass for the next seventy-two hours.
Me: Are you just saying technically a lot to try to make this news seem less awful???
Anna: Is it working?
Me: NO. Anna, I can’t believe this! I’m just supposed to go alone? How did this even happen?
Anna: Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I teach art classes to a bunch of germinators.
I can’t believe she’s not going to be able to go on our vacation. We’ve had this planned for months. And now…I’m just supposed to go by myself?
Me: Maybe you’d feel better in the Florida air.
Anna: Katy, honey, I’m running a 102 fever, sweating like I just did hot yoga, and my cough sounds like it’s coming from the depths of hell. I don’t think 99% humidity is going to help this situation.
Me: Ugh. I’m sorry you’re sick. Do you need me to bring you anything?
Anna: Dude. I can feel your insincerity through the screen right now.
Me: I’M SORRY. I CARE, I DO. But come onnnn. We’ve been waiting on this vacation all year. Maybe I should just stay here, and we can daydrink in your apartment.