25. Priorities #2
Going to Priorities, Taylor thinks, is kind of like conducting a love affair.
And then, suddenly, Taylor is conducting a love affair—with Hakeem.
During the nights at Priorities, they claim seats on the sofa.
Dub has taken to chatting with Madison J.
or Charley; he likes to get into intellectual debates, it’s English class 2.
0, but Taylor and Hakeem prefer to leave school behind.
In the third week, Hakeem pulls Taylor close and holds her hand.
Taylor checks to see if Dub is watching, but who is she kidding?
He doesn’t care. By the end of the night, Hakeem is whispering, I want you back.
The following Monday, Hakeem texts Taylor, asking her to Intervis.
Taylor types Fuck yes, then deletes it. If she Intervisses with Hakeem, everyone on his floor will know it and word will get back to Cassie Lee, whose world will come crashing down.
Part of Taylor would love to crush Cassie’s dreams, but Taylor has just been elected next year’s Honor Board chair, and she doesn’t need the strike against her integrity. She says, How about God’s Basement?
Hakeem sends a thumbs-up.
They meet in God’s Basement twice and then, because the weather is nice, they spend one night out by Jewel Pond; when Taylor gets back to her dorm she has sand in her underwear.
She still doesn’t cede her virginity; she’s not ready.
Hakeem says he understands, he says he respects her, says he’s so happy to have her back. He tells her he loves her.
The fact remains that Taylor loves Dub. But for now, she’ll enjoy being the beloved.
As relieved as Audre is to have finally eradicated Zip Zap, she feels terrible about expelling Levi Volpere.
“He left you with no choice,” Cordelia Spooner says. “Besides, I have it on good authority that St. Albans snapped him right up.”
The only good thing about Zip Zap was that it distracted Audre from the mess of the America Today inquiry—at least until Audre receives an email in her inbox from Mikayla Ekubo, secretary of ISNEC, entitled “America Today Inquiry.”
Audre’s breath catches and she quickly checks her phone for news of any bribery charges brought against Jesse Eastman on behalf of Tiffin Academy. Nothing. She opens the email.
Dearest Audre, it says.
Blah blah blah… found no evidence of wrongdoing … blah blah blah… interviewed the editor of the Best Boarding Schools list… informed us that they used a substantially different set of metrics this year and these new, nontraditional criteria led to Tiffin’s ranking at number two …
On behalf of ISNEC, I offer you heartfelt congratulations. Tiffin was ranked number two, fair and square.
All best…
Beneath Mikayla’s signature is a PS: Maybe we can grab a drink in Oak Bluffs this summer. Call me!
Yes! Audre thinks. At Nancy’s! But then she stops herself.
Mikayla Ekubo and Douglas Worth put Audre through this nonsense based solely on envy and bad faith.
They contacted the press, throwing Tiffin’s reputation into question.
Audre will not go for a drink with Mikayla; furthermore, she deserves an apology from Worthless.
Audre wonders if any news outlets will pick up the story that Tiffin achieved its number two ranking legitimately, but she suspects the answer is no. The absence of corruption and bribery isn’t interesting to anyone.
Audre could—and should—share the email with Jesse Eastman and Cordelia.
She will in good time, but right now Audre would like to savor the academy’s vindication alone.
She decides to go for a stroll. It is, as her grandmother would say, one of god’s days, offering the kind of spring weather people write poems about.
The Japanese cherry blossom trees outside the chapel are blooming; the path below them is carpeted with brilliant pink petals.
The wildflowers in the Pasture are worthy of a Monet painting.
Mr. James is out and about on his riding mower, leaving the scent of fresh-cut grass in his wake.
Audre heads for the athletic fields, where she spies the girls’ lacrosse team running drills.
Along the fence, Audre notices Madison J.
and Willow Levy, heads together, whispering.
Audre is captivated by the tableau. This is what a top-tier boarding school is supposed to look like: a balance of hard work and intimate relationships. Audre strides over to the girls.
When Madison J. sees Audre, her eyes widen. “Hey, Ms. Robinson.”
Willow Levy spins around. Her expression can only be described as panicked, but Audre must be misreading things. She and Willow have a good relationship.
“Sorry to interrupt, girls,” Audre says. “It’s such a glorious day, I wanted to get some air.”
Madison J. and Willow stare at her, both of them looking like they’re about to lose their lunch.
“Is everything okay, girls?”
Yes, yes, they quickly assure her. “We just didn’t expect to see you,” Madison J. says.
A whistle blows and Willow reinserts her mouth guard. The girls run off, cradling their sticks.
Audre supposes the incident with Levi—he’s the only student to be expelled in recent years—has changed the way students view Audre. They’re wary of her now.
Audre strolls past the dorms, which are quiet; everyone is at afternoon activities. She considers doubling back to Jewel Pond, but she wants to see the rock garden near the Back Lot; it’s bordered by dogwoods, which must be in full bloom.
And they are! Audre is so dazzled by the snowy white blossoms brightening the homely Back Lot that it takes her a moment to notice Chef Haz and East standing together next to a shiny silver pickup.
The pickup, Audre knows, is Chef Haz’s new truck. Cordelia had mentioned it, then wondered aloud if Chef had placed a particularly profitable bet. “A truck like that would be difficult to afford on what he makes.”
Suddenly, Audre gets the Feeling. There’s nothing outwardly wrong with Chef and East talking in the Back Lot.
East doesn’t have an afternoon activity—he’s exempt, yet another rule bent on his behalf—and it’s not as though she’s caught him huffing glue or running a dice game or tagging the campus with graffiti.
Audre marvels for a second at what a good year East has had; there were a few vaping infractions from Mr. Ewanick, but nothing more.
Audre is tempted to chalk it up to his relationship with Charley Hicks.
Or maybe Andrew Eastman is finally growing up.
But something about Chef and East’s conversation seems clandestine.
They’re standing very close together with their heads bent, the same sort of posture Madison J.
and Willow were just affecting. Of course, Haz and East know each other from New York City, the Dewberry Club; they might be closer than Audre realized.
Then, suddenly, Chef looks up and sees Audre. He cups his hands around his mouth and says, “I have a surprise for you at dinner tonight!”
Oooh! Audre thinks, and the Feeling instantly vanishes. Strolling the rock garden will have to wait; it’s time for Audre to return to the office. After all, the number two boarding school in the country doesn’t run itself.
Dinner Service, a Celebration of New Orleans!
Tuesday, April 28
STARTER
Blue crab beignets
SALAD BAR
Tonight’s addition: creole deviled eggs
SOUP OF THE DAY
Gumbo
ENTRéES
Cochon de lait po’ boys, shrimp and grits, dirty rice (vegan)
DESSERTS
Praline bread pudding, bananas Foster tarts