Chapter 195
Eggplant, Peach, Waterdrop
I went to school alone this morning to do some prep work before the promotion interview on Friday. I’m feeling pretty confident about it, but I still want to make sure I’m watertight. Especially now that I’ve told Dad that I have it in the bag.
Josh is having a tyre meeting at the gym.
He has been overly calm about his upcoming interview.
I think he’s playing it cool to save face, knowing that Nina will get it.
That or he’s doing that Josh thing where he’s too optimistic about his ability.
(Not that he’s not capable, but he does have a booster seat of confidence beneath his skill set.) Usually, I would help him prepare for things like this, but with the wedding, the science contest and my own interview to prep, I don’t have time.
My only hope is that when I do get promoted, he won’t get chippy about the pay gap.
Only Rosie Bibbly, the timid maths teacher, and I are in the staffroom.
Despite working at this school for two years, Rosie has not looked any of us in the eye for more than two seconds.
We have a mutual understanding that we don’t need to converse any further than a polite ‘good morning’.
She is sitting at the end of the communal desk, trying to mark, but every time she starts typing something on her laptop, her phone vibrates, and she sighs and starts texting.
She then goes back to her laptop, her phone vibrates, and the cycle begins again.
As part of my interview prep, I’ve made a document outlining every possible question that Dr Therone may ask me.
Why do you think you’re the best teacher for the job?
How will you develop the department over the next three years?
What challenges do you think you will face?
Under each question, I’ve written a paragraph of what I will say, which I’m trying to learn by heart.
It’s overkill, but as @DrLabby says, ‘There is no such thing as overpreparing’.
A pile of books slam down next to me on the table, and before I even look up, I know it’s Nina because of the titles. Women Saving Women!, How Women Fought Back, The Suffragettes Suffering.
‘Assembly prep,’ she says.
‘Careful,’ I say. Nina likes to use her morning assembly slots to express her political views, which does Dr Therone’s head in.
She shrugs. ‘I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. Is Josh coming in today?’
I look around and see that all the staff are here, but there is no sign of Josh.
‘He’s late,’ I say through a sigh.
‘I suppose I would be late too if I could get away with it,’ Nina says back.
She sits down next to me just as Dr Therone comes strutting in. Every staff member scatters and finds a seat. Dr Therone stops. She scans the room and gives me daggers.
‘Where’s Mr Butters?’ I panic trying to think of the best excuse. I can’t exactly tell her Josh is late because he’s having a meeting about a tyre. I open my mouth just as Josh bursts into the room, breathless and pink-cheeked. Thank God. ‘Mr Butters, nice of you to join us.’
‘Sorry, roadworks,’ he says.
Dr Therone flashes a rare smile and says, ‘You didn’t miss anything.’
Nina tuts as Josh settles down next to me. He gives me a thumbs up, which means the gym has agreed to the tyre.
Dr Therone goes to speak, but her eyes are suddenly fixed on the back of the room. The staff turn to see what she’s glaring at. It’s Rosie Bibbly; she is texting with a huge grin on her face, completely unaware that everyone is looking at her. Poor Rosie.
‘Miss Bibbly,’ Dr Therone says. Rosie’s head shoots up.
‘Sorry!’
‘Whoever you’re texting must be extremely entertaining. Please would you share with us the conversation that you’re having in my meeting?’
‘No, I-I can’t,’ Rosie stutters.
‘Would you prefer if I read it?’ Dr Therone threatens.
‘This is against privacy laws,’ Nina shouts. Dr Therone makes her way towards Rosie with her hand out ready to receive the phone.
‘I’ll read it,’ Rosie blurts out. Dr Therone gestures for her to start.
‘You don’t have to read it,’ Nina says.
‘Shh, Miss Pascoe,’ Dr Therone snaps.
Rosie takes a deep breath and begins to read with a shaky voice. ‘I wish you were here . . . right now . . . so you can . . . fuck me . . . in this meeting . . . Eggplant emoji. Peach emoji. Waterdrop emoji.’ Rosie puts her phone down and squeezes her eyes shut.
For the first time, Dr Therone is speechless.
I can hear Josh quietly sniggering next to me.
I bite my lip hard. There is a scatter of forced coughs throughout the room.
When I look up, everyone is staring at the floor to avoid eye contact.
I glance at Rosie, who is bright red and playing with her floral cardigan sleeve.
Am I the only woman who hasn’t got a raging sex life around here?
Dr Therone clears her throat.
‘As you are aware,’ she says with a raised voice, and noticeably not looking at Rosie, ‘interviews for the Head of Science and Head of Humanities will happen on Friday. You have had your slots emailed to you. Come prepared and on time. I will pick the successful candidates over the weekend and announce them next week. Now, are there any appropriate announcements?’ Nina puts up her hand.
Dr Therone scans the room. ‘No? Good.’ She leaves. I look across at Nina.
‘That woman is out of control,’ she says. She gets up and goes to comfort Rosie.