Chapter 10 #2
Peter escorted the four of them into the chaos of two hundred kids tucking into refreshments, and Gaby was impressed when a couple of girls approached her and asked what she’d like to drink before dashing off to fetch it for her.
She was crowded with kids asking questions about her job and the places she’d worked around the world and the degree she’d studied at university to get there.
Gaby answered them all as best she could.
When one quiet and obviously quite timid young girl approached her and asked Gaby if she thought it was possible to do the kind of job Gaby did if you didn’t want to go to university first, she was ready with a positive and encouraging response.
She’d anticipated the question and was able to share examples of colleagues she’d known over the years who’d started working in hotels and hospitality straight out of school and who had risen through the ranks as a result of their hard work and commitment.
University wasn’t for everyone and hospitality was a career where you could start on the ground floor and work your way up, and she was happy to say as much to the enquiring teenager.
The timid young girl was smiling when she wandered off after their chat and Gaby hoped she’d been useful to her.
As she was finishing her soft drink, an older man approached her and introduced himself as the headmaster, Mr Duncan, and thanked her for taking part in the event.
With his bushy eyebrows and sharp expression and ancient tweed suit, he made Gaby think of a wise old owl.
Peter joined them and Mr Duncan grinned and clapped his younger colleague on the back.
“This is a good event you’ve put together, Mr Bailey,” the headmaster said. “The youngsters seem to have enjoyed it.”
“The crisps and drinks got them interested enough to attend,” Peter replied. “But the speakers did a brilliant job of giving them great information they’ll hopefully all reflect on.”
“I understand you stepped in at the last minute to save this man’s skin, Miss Leonard,” the headmaster said.
“I was very happy to help,” Gaby said. “And honoured to be asked.”
“Well, we’re very grateful,” the headmaster said. “Our Mr Bailey has done a great job as careers tutor and I’m thrilled he was able to bring together such interesting people to speak to our kids. You should schedule another one of these events for next term, Mr Bailey.”
“As soon as I recover from this one, I’ll see what I can do.”
Mr Duncan laughed and clapped Peter on the back again before shaking Gaby’s hand and wandering off to talk to some of the students.
“Your headteacher is happy and the kids are happy,” Gaby said to Peter, gesturing to the students still milling around and talking amongst themselves. “You must be relieved.”
“Very relieved,” he said, and was about to add something else but was interrupted by the arrival of a group of girls who wanted to talk with Gaby and ask questions.
“I’ll leave you to your fans,” he said with a wink before turning his attention to another group of students who’d arrived at his side with questions for him.
Gaby chatted with the girls, and with the next bunch of students who came to talk to her afterwards.
Soon, the careers fair was drawing to a close and the hall started to empty.
Peter supervised the kids who’d been put in charge of tidying the chairs and clearing away the refreshment things and shook hands with the other guest speakers and thanked them for their time.
Once the kids had left the hall, Peter escorted the speakers to the exit and they all said their goodbyes.
And then it was just Gaby who was left.
“You did a great job today, Gaby,” he said. “The kids loved what you had to tell them.”
“I hope it was useful,” she said. “I’m just glad it’s over. It was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever done. I hope the kids didn’t see me shaking like a leaf before I started talking.”
“You didn’t look nervous at all. You looked confident and in control and you spoke with a lot of energy. That really connected with the kids, especially the girls. I saw how they paid more attention once you started talking.”
“Really?”
Peter nodded. “Thanks for doing this, Gaby. It means a lot that you jumped in at the last minute to help and that you were so great at it too.”
She blushed a little at his compliments. “I’m happy to help. And I’m happy it’s over, too.”
He laughed and hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “I have to grab my coat and bag from the staff room. Are you okay to tag along?”
“Of course.”
She followed him through another warren of corridors.
The staff room was quiet when they arrived as the school day was over, although there were still a few teachers in there because of the careers fair and other clubs and sporting events around the school.
Peter introduced her to a few of the other teachers as he grabbed his things.
He had an easy camaraderie with his colleagues and it was obvious that he was well-liked. When he got dragged into a discussion about something to do with assessment and examination procedures, he threw her an apologetic look as he contributed his thoughts on the matter.
Once he’d extricated himself, he steered her out of the staff room and back into the warren of corridors. Gaby glanced into classrooms as they passed, some empty but many of them hosting after-school clubs. The school was a busy place with so much going on, a little world unto itself.