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Tonya
Tonya thought maybe she was going to be sick. She glanced around the hallway for a restroom but didn’t see any. If her stomach betrayed her, she would have to run out into the parking lot. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed this wouldn’t happen. She was wearing Fiona’s shoes, and she didn’t want to soil them.
At only thirty seconds past the hour, they called her name. She stood, straightened her skirt, and tried to display a confidence she in no way felt as she walked into the principal’s office. The principal greeted her warmly but professionally and then introduced her to the school’s other secretary, whom she might be working alongside. This woman was notably less warm and less professional in her greeting, but Tonya tried not to care.
The principal motioned to a hard metal chair and then sat down.
She followed suit.
“So, Tonya, tell us about yourself.”
She inhaled and then froze. Words, Tonya. You’re going to have to use words. “Well, I’ve been helping to run a church for over a decade. It had a lot of moving parts, and I learned to be organized but also adaptable. I work well with other people, and ...” She wasn’t sure where to go next. “And I’m good at appearing civil and professional, even when I’m not civil and professional on the inside.”
The principal laughed heartily. The other secretary didn’t. Tonya assumed that she was not good at faking professionalism or civility.
“I’ll be honest,” he said, “your reference letters are convincing. I think you’d be great for this job. But I should warn you. Sometimes the students are not pleasant. How would you handle blatant disrespect?”
Her first thought was of her husband, but she thought she’d leave him out of it. She smiled. “I used to go out into the street to share the Gospel. I’ve heard every mean word in the book. I’ve been threatened, I’ve been chased ... I’ve even been spit on.”
His eyes grew wide, and she wondered if she’d said too much. Maybe he didn’t want an evangelist in the school office. She opened her mouth to promise him that she wouldn’t be proselytizing any of the students, but he didn’t give her a chance to speak.
“Are you good with computers?”
“Efficient. I’ve done lots with PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. I’m no IT specialist, but I can find my way around.”
He smiled, studying her. “What do you think you might struggle with in this position?”
She didn’t know. She hadn’t thought about that. “My daughter will be in school here. It might be hard for me not to follow her around.”
She hadn’t meant it as a joke, but he tipped his head back and laughed at the ceiling. Then he stood, stuck his hand out, and said, “I like you. Welcome aboard.”
Stunned, she accepted his handshake and then turned to the other secretary, who forced a smile. Tonya initiated a handshake with her as well, which she weakly accepted.
Tonya couldn’t get back to Fiona’s fast enough. She couldn’t wait to tell Emma.
Emma didn’t even need to ask. She could read it on her face. “They gave you the job?”
Tonya nodded wildly. “They did! Let’s celebrate!”
Fiona came into the kitchen. “Well, I’ll be. I thought maybe they’d hold the church drama against you.”
Tonya smirked. “Thanks for not telling me that before.”
Fiona laughed. “I would never! But, congratulations, sincerely. I’m glad they saw you for who you really are.”
“He mentioned my letters of reference.” A few of the women from church who wouldn’t speak to her had jumped at the chance to write her a letter. Tonya had seen no harm in putting their guilty consciences to good use.
Fiona rolled her eyes. “Good. I’m glad those came in handy.”
Tonya slipped off her shoes. “And the shoes. Thank you. I’m pretty sure that’s what gave me the competitive edge.”
Fiona laughed. “Keep ’em. I haven’t worn them in years.”
“But won’t you want to wear them to church now?” Emma said, and Tonya flashed her a look that said, Don’t push.
“I have plenty of shoes. Your mother is going to need some school clothes because she gave away all her dress clothes.”
“That’s okay. I’m looking forward to some thrift store treasure hunting. I want to look more professional and less like an eighties pastor’s wife. I feel like I’m being reinvented.”
“You are,” Fiona said. “God’s getting you ready for the next chapter of your life.”
Tonya loved to hear Fiona crediting God with something, but she tried not to let the excitement show. Didn’t want to scare her away.
“So I suppose this means you’ll be taking that cranky Vicky up on her offer?”
Tonya nodded. “But! Seeing how cranky she is, we would really appreciate being able to come visit here often.”
Fiona nodded slowly. “I suppose that would be all right. But don’t bring friends.”
Emma went to Fiona and wrapped her arms around her. Fiona visibly stiffened beneath the embrace. Tonya realized her daughter was crying. “I don’t know how to ever thank you.”
Fiona patted her arm. “You don’t need to thank me, dear.”
Emma let go of her and stepped back.
“I should probably be thanking you. If you hadn’t been crying on the lawn, I never would have invited you in, never would have gotten to know the awesome person that is you.” She looked at Tonya. “And then I never would have met your mother.” She took a long breath. “I was alone, and I’m not alone anymore.” She laughed and held up both hands. “I’m not saying I’m ready for a social life. I still think people are mean and rotten, and I don’t want much to do with them, but you two have shown me that not everyone will hurt me. Maybe having one or two people in my life is a good thing.”
“Definitely,” Tonya said.
“Does that mean you’ll go to church with us again?” Emma said hopefully.
Fiona shrugged. “Probably. I don’t know who else is going to play that pipe organ.”
