When I came out of the bathroom, I saw the teachers gathered in the cafeteria from where I stood outside the hall.
The teachers were all there, including the assistant principals, Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez. The questions began even before Joseph walked in.
I watched from the sidelines as he took a seat at one of the tables as all the teachers gathered.
“Dr. Müller, what are we supposed to do? Should we come in at all?” one teacher asked.
“Is it safe even if we decide to come in? What are we supposed to do if there aren’t any students?” another asked.
Joseph took a moment to hear all the questions and concerns from the staff. He slowly settled himself on the edge of one of the cafeteria tables. The teachers, some sitting and some standing with their arms crossed, were all glaring back at him, holding the letters that had been placed in their pigeonholes. Mr. Peterson, the mousy-looking fellow we had met before, stared doubtfully at him from where he sat on one of the cafeteria seats. He was holding the same letter most were.
“To answer your questions, yes, you’re going to get paid for your time. But the school will not be closing, as first thought. There is no extreme danger or damage or reason to cancel classes.”
“Then, why was school closed early today?” Mr. Peterson voiced from the back.
“I found it necessary. The lack of attendance for one thing, and to reassure parents we are working on the issues with the parking lot. I sent out letters, it’s been posted on the website. So, tomorrow classes will resume as usual. Anything else?”
There was a brief pause, teachers were glancing at one another. It looked like Joseph would make a quick exit.
“No? Okay. Good.” He didn’t even give the teachers a chance to say anything else. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I have to go.”
I moved away as Joseph was swamped by more questions.
Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez were standing by the side of the entrance of the cafeteria. Both assistant principals were listening very carefully.
Joseph began to answer the same questions again. I was happy I didn’t have to deal with that. I spotted Ms. Stephens at the entrance, and I knew he would be busy with her now that she was waiting for him. Had he really moved their date for another day when he followed me to Claudia’s house Saturday.
I moved to leave and ran into my own Ms. Stephens in the form of Rachel. She was standing there blocking the hallway back to the main office. I really didn’t have any time for her now. I wanted to get back to Claudia.
Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez walked the remainder of the teachers out of the cafeteria, waving at as they strolled out with the rest of the crowd.
“John, have you been avoiding me?” She looked back spotting the teachers leaving the cafeteria. When the hall was cleared, she wrapped her arms around me and immediately tried to kiss me.
I gently pushed her away.
“What’s wrong, John?” She wrinkled her nose “Are you afraid they’ll see us? Come on. They’re all gone. It’s just you and me. I’ve been patiently waiting for you to ask me.”
“Ask you? Ask you what?”
“To the prom silly.” She moved on me again.
“Rachel, stop.” I gently took her hands and moved them away from me. “I’m going to the prom, but not with you,” I said sternly.
She glared back at me. “What? What are you talking about, John?”
“I’m taking Claudia Belle to the prom.”
“What? Her? Why? You said you were taking me.”
“No, I didn’t. I never gave you an indication I was taking you to the prom,” I argued.
“Well, your uncle made it very clear you were,” she said.
“Well, maybe you should take it up with him, not me. I’m taking Claudia.”
“John, don’t be like that.” She reached for me again, trying to wrap her arms around me once more. “That doesn’t mean we can’t hang out together, or you can’t kiss me if you want to …”
“I said, stop,” I sternly said pulling her arms from around me. “I’m committed.”
“Committed seriously? To her? Come on John. She’s a no one …” She had a disgusted look on her face.
“I’ve asked Claudia to be my girlfriend and she’s kindly accepted.” Her jaw dropped as I moved around her. “So, if you don’t mind that beauty is waiting for me.”
She groaned, “John come on, think about it …” She continued to beg as I walked away.
Joseph came up alongside me, having his own woman troubles. He was smiling, though. I wasn’t sure if he was smiling over what he had seen with Rachel, or whatever had happened with Ms. Stephen’s.
“I see you patched things up with Rachel,” he joked, laughing lightly.
“Patched?” I uttered. “I never had anything with her. She’s delusional. I finally had to set her straight.”
“Yeah, that might have been my fault getting her hopes up after I said you planned to ask her to prom.”
“You think?”
Joseph laughed. “I guess I deserved that.”
“So, how did you make out with Ms. Stephens?”
“I think the woman is stalking me.” He laughed. “And, I think I liked it,” he confessed.
I glanced back and she was standing outside the cafeteria looking towards us as we walked away.
“She still looking?” he asked.
“Yep.”
Joseph grinned. “Always make them look, never turn back, just keep walking,” he advised.
She finally walked away, but that didn’t stop her from looking back once more.
“So, what happened?” I asked.
“I have a date, of course. Don’t make me cancel it again,” he scolded me. “I told her I’d call her.”
“Nice,” I uttered.