STRANIERA

Part 3

I walked straight to the principal's office to finalize my resignation. I can't see any problem with Mister Jack. He was the one who suggested me to them, and I can't work another month as stipulated in my contract. It stated that when I want to resign, I have to give one month's notice. Well, I'm giving just one day's notice. They have one thing in common: one. Hopefully, he also sees it that way.

"Hi, I'm here to see Mister Jack."

"You mean, Mister Rothman," Amber, his assistant, said with her high-pitched and sarcastic tone—actually, her irritating tone. Her pale red hair was always in a granny bun, and she wore knitted clothing with those oversized dark red glasses. I'm not even exaggerating. Keep in mind she is just a year older than I am, and I am twenty-three. She thinks she runs the campus, but all that she is running, is on my last nerve.

I do not call Mister Jack, Mister Rothman because I am under no obligation to refer to him by his last name. Before he got the offer as principal, he went through a dip and worked as a plumber for an entire year, and then he got his 'big break' and got this job. When he fixed our plumbing, he told us just to call him Jack, and we did. When he got the job, out of respect, I just added the word 'Mister'. I have told Amber multiple times where Mister Jack and I stood with each other, but this wannabe granny in 2022 cannot find it in her head to stop hammering on nothing. If I could punch some sense into her, I would, but that's not ladylike, so I just smile sarcastically and blink my eyes constantly so that it is visible to her that I want to slap her.

"Yeah, that's what I meant."

"Do you have an appointment?" Oh, that high-pitched voice would make me rip out my own throat.

"Ambe-"

"It's Miss," she said as a matter of fact. Cannot wait to never see her face ever again.

I take a small breath, close my eyes, mentally count to three, and then look back at her fake smile.

"MISS...'' I emphasize that word. "Amber, this is not a doctor's room; this is a school. I can talk to whomever I want, whenever I want, unless there is a meeting. Looking at the schedule, there are none at this time. So, would you please tell him I want to talk to him? If not, I would walk into his office without your consent, because I don't really need your consent to see JACK. I am just being respectful toward you, and I do not want to, because I really, really don't like you. AT ALL."

That wiped the smile right off her face. "Please sit down; I'll be with you in a second." I sat down on the chair in front of the window where all the children usually sit when they are in trouble and called to the principal's office. I took this time to read my unopened emails.

Then I saw the email that I had been waiting for:

Good day Ms. Valida Van Schoor,

We are excited to meet you in person this Friday.

The following link consists of your plane ticket, and a rickshaw tata will get you from the airport and bring you to the farm.

ticket@friday13h00//Afghanistan//Toronto Pearson

Kind regards,

High School Afghannally

Confirmation.

"He's ready for you," she said shortly with no emotion in her voice. "Thanks." She is not getting a 'thank you,' she does not deserve that, but she does deserve a shopping spree.

"Good morning, Valida," he said with the brightest smile; he had a Colgate smile. Jake was a dark-skinned man, bold, and wore Harry Potter glasses but always formal wear. Like I said, we understood our relationship. "Good morning, Jake," I greeted back and put the handbag on the chair in front of me. I was not going to sit down; I believe this will go fast. "I assume you know why I am here?" "Before we get there, Valida, do you want something to drink?" "No thank you, Jake. I have class in 15 minutes; I'm just here to clear my admin." "My dear Valida, do not stress. I have managed everything when I heard you accepted. You would be dearly missed here. You are a great teacher and mentor... but see this as a new start. Personally, I think it would be good for you and would change that fake smile you have been wearing on your face for the past two years into a real one."