| |
It was an hour after the last hour of the last day of the school year in the fifth year of the new millennium as Noel placed the last folder in his last box and glanced around his office at Kent Drive School. But it wasn't his office any longer! The new principal would be in and add her touches. Perhaps it did need a feminine hand, the model planes would go and the buff shaded curtains replaced with a bright floral pattern.
He sighed and carried the box out to his car, placed it in the boot and took a final walk around the school. Beyond East Block, the new North Block had finally replaced the prefabricated rooms. Six single cell rooms faced an internal hexagonal shaped courtyard covered in a plastic dome. It was the very latest design with the rooms all wired for internet, interior spaces had everything movable from cupboards to partition walls, white boards superseded blackboards and the children's desks were pentagonal shaped so they could be pushed together to form a huge variety of different larger tables. The whole complex made the open plan rooms appear antiquated.
Noel walked beyond North Block to the other pride and joy of Kent Drive Community. The new school and community hall had been open three years now and, though smaller in area than Sunrise Intermediate's Hall, was of the latest architectural design with an enormous kitchen and an entry foyer that faced the parking area. The Kent Drive Indoor Bowls Club and other groups were using the facility almost nightly and after Christmas the facility had been booked for at least three wedding receptions. He checked to see the doors were locked and walked back through West Block when he saw his successor approach.
"Are you sad, Noel?" she asked as she brushed back a strand of blonde hair that had dangled in front of her eyes.
"Not really, Wendy," Noel replied. "I already stayed five years longer than I had intended as I wanted to see all the new buildings complete and in operation." He grinned. "And it is passing into capable hands, isn't it?"
"I am fortunate," Wendy replied and smiled. Though perhaps a little chubbier in the face, she still looked young and that schoolgirl charm prevailed. "We've come a long way together, haven't we Noel? Remember when I walked in as that naive young teacher and you didn't even realize I was on your staff?"
"Yes." Noel grinned. "Kate reckoned you were just following up your school girl crush on me."
"Oh, I was," Wendy replied. "One whisper in the ear, Noel and I would have gone to bed with you." She stopped and stared at him. "Still will, actually."
Noel flushed. "It's a pleasant thought," he said, "but...
"Why not?" Wendy replied "Who will know?"
Noel grimaced. Leroy had long gone and over the years, Wendy had several male companions but still lived alone. She was certainly very sexy with her white top, modern skirt and black stockings. The offer was tempting but he hesitated.
"It's not that you never had a bit on the side," Wendy added in an almost sultry voice. "Remember Margaret down in Otago?"
"Yes, but that was a long time ago, Wendy," Noel replied. He gave a slightly embarrassed cough and continued. "You are one of the beautiful women in my life. " He broke into a grin. "Fourth, actually."
"Fourth and who are the other three?"
"Kate is first," Noel replied. "I love her, Wendy and could never betray that love."
"Okay," Wendy replied. "And the next two?"
"Alexia and her mother," Noel said in a hushed voice.
"Oh yes, Lisa," Wendy replied. "I remember her. She seemed to bounce around and was so full of life. Alexia certainly takes after her." Her face changed to curiosity. "And if she had lived, Noel. What would have happened?"
"With Kate, you mean?"
"Exactly."
"I'm not sure," Noel replied. He stared over his companion's shoulder without really seeing the opposite wall. "I never fell in love with Kate until after Lisa died. I have the strangest feeling, though, I would have still fallen in love with her even if the tragedy never happened but who really knows?" He sighed. "I remember from the very beginning how impressed I was with Kate's teaching. I think Lisa was jealous because Kate did so well with the children in the class."
Wendy nodded. "So you aren't interested in my offer?"
"No," Noel whispered. "As you said, we could be discrete and Kate would be none the wiser but I'd know, Wendy and it would ruin the respect between us all. I could never face you or Kate again without feeling guilty."
Wendy suddenly chuckled. "I guess I knew you'd say that, Noel. I'll tell you one thing though, if I was a few years older back when Lisa died I'd have given Kate one hell of a run for her money."
"But still lost," Noel replied with his tone serious.
"Possibly," Wendy replied. "Anyhow, I know I have you to thank for getting me appointed as principal here. All through my career you have helped me and I love you for it."
"The strongest candidate won the position, Wendy. I had nothing to do with the appointment."
"Of course not." Wendy reached forward, kissed his cheek and walked away. At the far corner she turned and waved. "See you at the restaurant tomorrow. Remember, I'm shouting for everyone. Okay?"
"Sure." Noel headed the other way, around the end of the partition and gasped. He had almost tripped over Kate who was standing there just out of sight. She smiled and flung her arms around his neck. Her kiss was almost suffocating and repeated several times before she stood back and her twinkling eyes linked to his. "I heard everything," she whispered.
"Damn," Noel replied. "And to think I was about to accept her offer,"
"Noel," Kate retorted. "If you ever..." She saw his grin and wriggled in close again. "Okay, I know," she whispered. "I love you Noel."
"But why are you still here?" Noel asked after their lips unravelled. Kate's school had finished for the year the day earlier and she had been a guest for Noel's official send off. She had gone down to the mall and hour earlier and had arranged to meet Noel back home in Howick, thirty kilometres away to the south east of Auckland City.
"I thought Alexia might drive your car home and she could drop us off at the Devonport and we could go home on the ferry together." She took his hand. "I'm tired of doing the trip by myself."
"Okay," Noel grinned. "Where is she?"
"Moving into her new classroom," Kate replied. She led Noel out and into one of the brand new classrooms where their daughter glanced up. "I just brought a few things in, Dad. Janice, the teacher moving out, said it was okay."
"So the Overworth name continues at Kent Drive, does it?" he chuckled.
"Yes," Alexia replied. "I wish you were here one more year, though."
Noel smiled. Alexia had just graduated from Auckland College of Education and would be Kent Drive's Year One teacher in the new year.
"I know," he shrugged. "But I already delayed my departure and when the new offer came up..."
"I know, Dad," Alexia replied. "Wendy will be great as principal, I'm sure." She glanced at Kate. "After Mum's tuition for all those years."
"Anyhow, Sweetheart," Kate said. "Can you run us down to Devonport ferry in Dad's car and drive it home afterwards. It'll save you the bus trip."
"Yeah but with ten million vehicles on the motorway..." Alexia retorted. She broke into a grin. "Okay," she replied. "As long as you give me a hand to shift into my new apartment, next week."
*
A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR later after a pleasant trip across the harbour, Noel and Kate walked to her car parked near the Half Moon Bay wharf. "I need to slip back to school to see if there is any mail," she said as they drove out.
"Sure," Noel replied. He was contented to sit back and let her drive.
They navigated through a honeycomb of streets and into the grounds of the school where she had been the principal for a two terms. Cascades Intermediate stretched out in every direction from the driveway. With over six hundred pupils and close to forty classrooms and auxiliary rooms, it made even Sunrise Intermediate look tiny. Kate, though, took it in her stride and roared into the park designated Principal Only and jumped out.
"Won't be a moment, Sweetheart, " she said and disappeared though the entry foyer.
Thirty minutes later, she returned and chuckled at Noel's strained look. "Okay, I know," she said. "Just because you have your new slick business..."
They drove out and, less than a kilometre away, turned into the new home they had purchased. Though modest compared with many in this prosperous suburb, their house was still a delightful building with two floors and a large sun deck above the double garage. They drove in and were met by their teenage son who had an exasperated look on his face.
"Gee Mum, Dad," he snorted. "You said you'd be home hours ago. I wanted to go over to Trevor's place but had to look after Cathy. Why did the after school care centre have close down so soon?"
"Mummy, Blair's being mean to me," the eight year-old cried. Her ponytail bobbed as she jumped up and down.
"Sisters," Blair grunted. "I don't know who's worse, the old one or this little scamp."
"Mummy!" Cathy howled.
"Okay, Sweetheart," Kate said and picked her daughter up. "I'm sure Blair did a great job of picking you up from school and looking after you."
"S'pose," the little girl replied. "Did you bring me anything, Mummy?"
"Look in the back of the car," Kate replied and smiled at Noel. She was sure the new DVD disc she had bought would be popular with her daughter.
*
KATE REACHED OUT FOR Noel's hand to squeeze but was silent as they drove along Highway 92, southwest of Balclutha. It was the first week of the New Year and the pair were taking a nostalgic trip back to the South Island before Noel stated his new position on the fifteenth of January. Sarah and Richard had taken the two youngest children for a week so there was only the two of them.
The holiday so far had been an anti-climax with everything looking so old and small compared with their memories. The two nights in Dunedin with Kate's mother, a widow for seven years now, had been quite pleasant but Kate couldn't persuade her to shift up to Auckland to be closer to them.
Balclutha hadn't changed with even some stores looking as if they could walk in the door and meet the same people there, but of course they didn't. Now the familiar highway stretched ahead and the years rolled back.
"Shall we go to Wendy's Mum's or visit the school first?" Noel said as the farm they drove by reminded them they were a mere kilometre away from Ashleyvale. It had been arranged that they would stay with Leanne McEwen, also a widow but still living on the family farm.
"The school," Kate replied. "Once we arrive at Leanne's we'll be obliged to stay and chat. I bet she's dragged out all the old timers to meet us." She glanced at her watch. "We're an hour early, anyway."
"Okay, Ashleyvale School, it is," Noel replied and grinned as the road sign appeared on the lonely highway.
The first curve produced the first disappointment. The shop was gone, as was the railway line. In their place was a paddock with sheep grazing. One house beyond the shop site was still there and looked to be in use while, over the road was a new driveway and modern house.
Suddenly they were there!
Ashleyvale School stood silent and forlorn in the middle of a sheep paddock. The pair knew it had closed down a few years earlier but the building standing there looked so sad, somehow. Trees had gone and grass grew through cracks across the concrete. Even the tin fence that surrounded the swimming pool was gone. The pool itself stood, silent and empty with the filter and changing sheds still there but with peeling paint and doors swinging in the wind.
"Damn," a disappointed Noel muttered as he stopped by the gate. It looked the same one as what he remembered. He pulled it back over the tall grass and drove the car through, noticed sheep close by, so stopped and shut the gate behind them.
"The shed!" Kate gasped.
The old school house had gone, as had its replacement with only a concrete pad showing where it had once been. However, at the back behind the massive overgrown macrocarpa hedge stood the old woodshed where Lisa had slipped.
Noel nodded but a lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. He stopped the car by another concrete pad that was all that remained of the car shed and walked up the overgrown path to the shed.
"It looks so small," he managed to say as he pushed through the foliage and searched inside.
Spider webs hung everywhere but cut firewood was still inside, almost as if Lisa had left it, those big chainsaw slabs that had to be split before being used. An old rusty axe stood with a blade buried in the wall frame.
"Come on, Sweetheart," Kate said and took Noel's hand. "There's nothing here."
"No," Noel muttered. He gazed around and remembered the lawn they had kept so trimmed, the vegetable garden, the flowers and neatly trimmed hedge. Except for the overgrown hedge it was gone... Everything had gone.
"But not the shed," he muttered. "The old shed outlasted everything."
"Shall we walk over to the school?" Kate added in a soft voice.
Noel nodded and they retraced their steps to the car and on to the school itself. Dark cobweb covered windows met them and the two front doors were locked. Noel peered through the glass and saw the outline of two empty classrooms. There appeared to be no furniture inside.
The pair walked around the back and stared. The gully at the back was covered in short grass. There was no plantation or even a swamp at the bottom.
"That's the reason," Kate said and pointed.
Upstream was an earth dam that stretched across the little gully. Behind it, black water, half covered in weed, sat, stagnant and lifeless across the area that was once the swamp.
"Yeah," Noel whispered and turned back to the school.
He gave the back door a shove and realized it wasn't locked.
"Come on," he whispered and stepped inside. "Damn," he gasped. "It's no different. Even the blue lino is on the floor."
The little coat bay, indeed, looked the same. Furthermore, it was clean as if the room was in use. Noel walked through to the toilet bay and pushed a door open. It was also clean and water was in the toilet pan. A roll of paper sat in the old wooden container. The sink tap worked and a small bar of soap was on the window ledge.
"I guess the farmer who owns the land still uses the toilet," Kate said. "That's probably why the back door wasn't locked."
"True," Noel replied and opened the door into the senior room. It was devoid of furniture but the blackboard, front cupboards and shelves were still there and the pot bellied stove in the corner looked clean and tidy as if it had been used quite recently.
For fifteen or twenty minutes they searched around and talked in hushed tones that seemed fitting for the occasion. A few relics that brought back memories were found, an old pencil sharpener still screwed to the wall, some old dusty school journals with 1970s dates on them and even a child's exercise book. Noel recognized the surname but not the forename.
"Probably a daughter of one of the kids we taught," he said. "I think the school only closed five years ago so there were plenty taught here after our time."
In the other classroom, Kate she gave a gasp. On the ceiling was a faded chart of native birds. "I put that there," she breathed. "I remember we were doing a lesson on trees and I had children's pictures on all the lower walls. I got that old wooden stepladder and just about toppled over trying to stretch up to staple it on. I guess it was so far up, nobody bothered to pull it down."
"When the school dropped to a sole charge I guess the class used my room and this became the spare one," Noel added. "
Kate shrugged and looked glum. "Come on Sweetheart. Let's go. I don't want to stay any longer. "
"I know," Noel replied. "It's like a cemetery, isn't it... still here but dead?"
"Don't say that," Kate's face was pale. "Come on."
Out in the autumn sunshine, the wind blew a piece of paper across the playground. It lifted, twirled and flipped before disappearing behind the empty building. Somehow, it reflected the emotions of the moment. Noel glanced at Kate, grimaced but said nothing until after they had driven away.
*
LEANNE'S PLACE, THOUGH, was a complete contrast. Half a dozen cars were parked along the driveway leading up to farmhouse. As soon as Noel and Kate pulled up, faces of past friends surrounded them, parents and children they had taught. The children were that no longer, of course, but once they introduced themselves, memories flooded back and facial features remembered. There were McEwens and Stuarts everywhere and another generation of children who showed no interest in these old teachers from the North Island preferred to play in Leanne's immaculate back yard.
"Wendy phoned and said you were no different," Leanne said that evening after all the other guests had finally left. "And, goodness me, she was right." She chuckled. "You filled out a little Noel, I remember you were as skinny as a bean pole but Kate, how do you keep so young?"
"Well, " Kate replied with a smile. "My hair colour comes out of a bottle now to hide the grey and I keep fit. Three children and a school to run keep me going."
Leanne smiled. "I hear Wendy took over your school, Noel but you're too young to retire. "What will you do?"
"I was offered shares in an education consultancy," he said. "I join it when we go back. We run in-service courses, help schools with budgeting and even have a contract with the Ministry of Education to provide emergency help in schools when things go wrong. Two former school inspectors started it when Tomorrow's Schools came in and they became redundant. One of the partners has just retired and sold me his shares."
"Noel will be managing director," Kate added with a ring of pride in her voice.
"Yes," Noel replied. "I've done almost as well as Kate."
"Wendy said you're principal of the largest intermediate schools in Auckland, Kate," Leanne said. "You have done well."
"One of the bigger ones," Kate replied modestly. "But I've done no better than Wendy and her new position. We're all proud of her."
Leanne nodded. "I'm so thrilled," she said with her own pride showing. "I tried so hard when she was little and it bore fruit, didn't it?"
"It did," Kate replied. "You know, at Sunrise Intermediate she organized the whole school's music program. The music teacher was good at music but couldn't handle the children. Wendy really took over and let the other lady just play the piano. I think her effort there helped get the new job at Kent Drive. Both schools really have the same parents so she was well known."
"And the screaming battles we used to have to get her to practice her music," Leanne sighed. "I almost gave up many times. Mind you, they encouraged her at Southland Girls' High, too."
The woman stared away and a glimpse of loneliness showed. Around the room were photos of Wendy at every stage of her life from primary school, all her high school photos and more modern ones including a brand new one that showed Wendy as she was now.
"So what do you intend to do?" Noel asked kindly.
"Sell up and move to town, I guess" Leanne said with a doubtful shrug.
"So why don't you come to Auckland?" Kate pushed.
"Wendy said that," Leanne sighed. "It's just so far away."
"But Wendy is there," Kate pointed out.
Leanne smiled. "I'll think about it," she replied. "Wendy's brother is really managing the farm. It works out quite well but..."
Kate looked at Noel. Something seemed wrong but it wasn't really their business.
"If you prefer not to talk about it, we understand," Noel said.
"No," Leanne replied. "It's just that I don't really get on with my daughter-in-law. Oh she tries. We both try but I'm so set in my ways, I guess and, to me, she is quite flighty." She grimaced. "You probably know her. I'm sure she was at school when you were here."
"Oh," said Noel.
"Yes," Leanne said. "Cindy's her name. She was Cindy Stuart. You know, Margaret Stuart's daughter?"
Noel caught Kate's eye. Damn, it was a small world, more so than ever down here.
*
THAT NIGHT, NOEL AND Kate talked and reminisced. Though unsuccessful with Kate's own mother, perhaps they could persuade Leanne to move north. The next morning, Kate rang Wendy and discretely asked her if they should try to persuade her mother to move north.
Wendy sounded keen. "After all," she said. "It was Dad I didn't really relate too. Mum was always good to me."
"I know," Kate replied. "My childhood was identical. I think the males down here lived in the fifties where the male's word was law and we were the first generation to rebel."
"Is Mum there?" Wendy asked. "I'll tell her she can stay with me if she wants to come and see what it is like. That might provide the leverage she needs."
"Sure," Kate replied. "Hang on. I'll get her for you."
Leanne came off the phone twenty minutes later, deep in thought. She noticed Kate and Noel watching and smiled. "Well, there's something to think about," she said. "You can be a persuasive trio."
Leanne shifted north two months later and never returned to the South Island.
*
THE DARK BRICK, FORMER Borough Council building was a pleasant place. A small lawn with a line of shrubs filled the road frontage and a cobblestone path led to the front door while another lawn encircled a car park that once housed council vehicles. Now, though, the sign above the door read ACE, while beneath, in smaller letters, were the words Auckland Consultants for Education.
Friday, whenever possible, was office day when Noel would do administration work. He was now sitting in his sunny office overlooking the busy suburban street and trying to think how he should best word a letter to the Education Review Office. He had rung the ERO about a school he had been called in to help. They had agreed with his findings, were prepared to visit the school, but wanted his observations in writing, hence the difficult letter in front of him.
The sound of a vehicle entering their drive made Noel glance down and smile. It was Kate's car. She walked in a moment later, plunked herself down in one of the soft chairs and removed her suit jacket. "I need to rest, Sweetheart?" she sighed. "God, what a week! I reckon half the principals in town are pompous twits and should never be in the position they hold. Why do people suddenly become arrogant when they are put in charge of an institution?"
"Do you mean Wendy?" Noel asked.
"No," Kate replied. "She is actually the opposite; very conscientious and prepared to listen to advice and admit when she needs it. Many other women principals think they're God's answer to the teaching profession. The men tend to be older and more set in their ways. I don't know who is worse."
Noel grimaced. "This is exactly what I've had to deal with this week," he said.
"Go on," Kate said and leaned forward with interest in her eyes.
"I was called in by the principal of a six teacher school who is having trouble with her deputy principal and really wants to find a way to fire him," Noel said. "The trouble is, the guy is a very capable teacher who is rebelling against the far out direction the school is going. I think the principal is the problem, not the DP."
"Difficult." Kate admitted. "So what can you do?"
"I told the chairwoman of the Board of Trustees if they continue harassing the DP, they could have a lawsuit on their hands and possible hundred thousand dollar payout. He is on stress leave but they're trying to stop him returning to the school. I laid it on thick and quoted a few high profile court cases where teachers have won cases against unjust dismissals." He nodded at the letter on the computer monitor. "I rung ERO and they agreed the principal is incompetent and will pay the school a surprise visit."
"But can they do anything?"
Noel smiled. "Who knows? Thank God, I can now drive away from these problems,"
"So you really like being a consultant and don't miss your school?"
"Oh, at times, I do" Noel admitted. "The children, sports afternoons and those concerts but the rest, no I don't miss it one bit. I deal with other people's problems and try to help. However, if they ignore me it is their affair and no skin off my nose." He grinned. "Like you, I've come to realize there is a huge cross-section of teachers out there and, when it comes to boards of trustees, the differences are even wider." He glanced at the monitor and shut it down, "Come on, Sweetheart," he said. "Let's go and have lunch together. There's nothing more I'd like to do at the moment."
He stood, glanced at his tired looking wife, tucked his arms around and kissed her soft tingly lips. She responded and looked in his eyes.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Oh," replied Noel. "Just for being you, no other reason."
In his eyes, she was as beautiful as the day they had met and he could hardly believe that she was fifty-three. Every year, it seemed, zipped by faster than the one before it.
Kate smiled, cuddled in close and kissed him back. "Come on, big boy," she chuckled. "Let's find a nice little restaurant somewhere."
She slipped back into her jacket, grabbed his hand and they headed out into the sunshine. It was a warm spring day and a flock of sparrows darted around waiting for a morsel of bread.
"Not today, birds." Noel laughed. "I'm going out to lunch."
The End.
Visit Ross Richdasle's home page at http://www.richdale.nz