Riley’s Job Offer

Riley Franklin hadn’t had a restful evening ever since she learned she didn’t get the principal job at Mary Bethune elementary school.  And ever since she learned Bob Cody had screwed her over in his recommendation.  She was stymied as to what her next step would be.  Aside from murder.

Bob had dared to come into her office and commiserate with her about losing out.  All she could force herself to say was, “Well, something else will come along.  It’s probably best they gave it to a man given the demographics.”  How gracious was that, you creep!

While it was true there were a lot of job openings in so many fields, what did she really want?  To leave the field of education?  She had made it her life.  At night she spent way too much time on her computer, looking up fellowships for a Ph.D.  She thought something in curriculum development might be a good field.  Or there was also urban education.  Very hot right now and definitely job openings.  But the problem was money. And time!  She was thirty-three.  A Ph.D. would be a good investment as far as her career went, but would it be a good investment for her life.  What if—well, what if she found someone to love.  So far, slim pickings.  She felt almost nun-like.  Her twenties were mainly spent in groups of friends, men and women, traveling together during breaks, going to the same bars, playing in trivia teams.  But so many of them had paired off.  One of her friends had even said, “He’ll do.”  But Riley didn’t want anyone just to have someone. Did she?

And yet—here she was, long in the tooth.  But then look at Frank, married young, divorced young, and where did that leave him now?  However, at least he knew love.  Riley dismissed her younger sister.  Eden was too self-centered to fall in love with anything outside of a mirror.  But Riley knew she had a lot to give.  If only there were someone to give it to.  Or was she just kidding herself.  Was it time to go to a shelter and find a cat?

The following day was like so many others. She was dealing with the Bakers.  Their son received a C in chemistry and a D in intermediate algebra.  They were trying to explain to her that their darling couldn’t get into a premed program with those grades.  Something had to be done about it.  Not that they wanted to sue the school system for thwarting their child’s dreams, but—

Riley had Simon Baker’s records before her.  Nothing wrong with the kid—except maybe his parents.  “I note that Simon tests extremely high in English and Spanish. He’s been a member of our friendship group that tutors new immigrants in the English language.  We’re very proud of the work he’s doing.”

“What does that have to do with his chemistry marks?” his father asked.  “We want him in premed.”

“But what does Simon want?”

“Simon is sixteen.  He doesn’t know what he wants,” Simon’s mother assured Riley.

Riley checked Simon’s academic record again.  Until this year, it was mostly all A’s, including biology.  His PSAT score was great.  Could it be that Simon was deliberately getting low marks to spite his parents, because he didn’t want to go to premed or he just wanted them off his back? She could refer this to the guidance counselor, appropriately named Mr. Looney, but the buck had to stop, well, somewhere.

“Have you considered academic counseling for Simon?  Maybe see where his interests lie?”

“You don’t seem to understand.”

Oh, she understood all right.

“We’re here as concerned parents—concerned about his grades and why he’s being marked so low for courses he needs for college entrance.  I mean, we were fobbed off on you when we really wanted to discuss this with the principal,” the father added for good measure.  “We thought this school had a good reputation, which is why we didn’t put him in Adams Academy, but I guess we were wrong.”  He stood.  “Come on, Reston,” he said to his wife.

And so they left.  Another dissatisfied customer.  Riley made a note to herself to call Simon in and see his side of the story.  Maybe it wasn’t too late to become a lab technician or an insurance adjuster or, well—anything?

Her phone buzzed.  Of course.  What was she here for except to take calls Bob Cody wouldn’t.  “Riley Franklin,” she answered mellifluously.

“Riley, it’s Dotty.”

“Dotty!  Oh, the balm in Gilead.  I thought it might be another unhappy consumer of our educational system.”

Laughing, Dotty said, “Can you break for lunch?  I think I might have something you’d be interested in.”

“Really?”  Riley considered what that might be.  She knew Dotty, working in the superintendent’s office, had the inside gossip on all the schools in the district.

“Really.  Morton’s?  Twelve thirty?  Be there or be square?”

Oh, Dotty.  Gotta love her but maybe too square?

Despite being in a strip mall, Morton’s had white table cloths and black cloth napkins.  Wine glasses were also present on the table, but for the most part, at least at lunch, they were whisked away as soon as the order for ice tea or diet soda was given.  Dinner here would be extravagant, but for lunch the prices were reasonable and the atmosphere relaxing.

Dotty had arrived first and had already secured a booth when Riley joined her.  “Bad day?” Dotty asked, because, despite Riley’s smile, she looked defeated.

“At Thomas Jefferson we either have parents who care too little or parents who care too much.  Don’t you sometimes wonder how kids grow up to be decent human beings?  At least most of them?”

“Sometimes I fear it’s in spite of us instead of because of us,” Dotty admitted.

Since they both had to get back to work, they ordered quickly, Dotty had a salad but Riley needed the sirloin sliders.  Their conversation was easy, discussing Dotty’s husband’s back issues, where he couldn’t lift anything, including his socks off the floor, while Riley filled Dotty in on her father’s fiasco investments.  At least they both had a laugh.  “What can’t be mended is best endured,” Dotty concluded sententiously.  “But to business. After a refill on my ice tea.  Where do these waiters get to?”

All settled, Dotty wondered, “Have you thought about your next step.  I mean, after the Mary Bethune disappointment?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do next because right now I feel my position working under Bob Cody is untenable.  I’ve been checking out the sites, considering getting a Ph.D. to make me more marketable.  But that would eat up years—and money.”

“I thought you’d be thinking of moving on and I’d hate the lose you.  So, don’t shoot me.  But there’s an opening in the superintendent’s office.  It’s as his executive assistant.”

“Oh, Dotty—“

“Hear me out.  The pay is twenty thousand more than you’re making now.  Administration pays, Riley.  You’d be writing his speeches, showing up at committee meetings he wants to avoid, visiting schools as his representative, dealing with the entire district.  True, you wouldn’t be working directly with children, but you’re already one step up the ladder in administration.  You want to advance.  I think you should.  As assistant superintendent I know I can count on you to be a team player.  And the only recommendation you’ll need is mine.  Oh, of course you’ll have to meet Harlen, but I’ve already told him I have someone in mind.  His assistant now is leaving in a month because her husband got a transfer.  Also, if you take the job, it would leave Bob Cody in the lurch; and I know you would’t want to do that.”

Riley laughed.  “Wow,” she said.  “I never expected anything like this.”

“It’s a go-go-go job, lots of politics involved.  Instead of disgruntled parents, you’ll have disgruntled administrators throughout the system, not to mention various board members.  Also there are the crazy right-wing parents who want us to teach nothing above the Dick and Jane level.  On the other hand, there’s the pay and the benefits.  And I’d love working with you again.”

Frowning, Riley said, “Can I think about this?  It means moving in a direction I hadn’t foreseen.”

“That’s what life’s all about, isn’t it?”

Riley smiled.  Maybe so.  On her way back to Thomas Jefferson her only thought was wouldn’t Bob Cody be pissed.  And that was no way to consider a job offer.  On the other hand, it did make her smile again.

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Bernice and Frank do Lunch

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Eden Grows Up