Touching Shadows

The Principles Office

AUDREY

It was Monday morning, and I was back at work. I had decided after the camp that the kids worked better outdoors, and I wanted to implement some changes to my classes. They spent so much of their time inside, in front of screens and without external simulation. It made sense that something different made them sit up and pay attention.

My health class was held outside under a tree. There was less fighting and more listening. The kids with attention problems had actually interacted with others in class. It was baby steps, but it was progress and I was excited about it.

I had just finished my class, and started packing my books away, when I saw Terry approaching.

"Hey Audrey."

"Terry, hi! What can I do for you?"

"Gerald asked me to find you. He wants to see you as soon as you can manage."

I stopped what I was doing and looked at Terry.

"Any idea what it's about, Terry?"

He shook his head and continued.

"Not really. Cohen Thompson left his office just before he approached me and requested I find you. Not sure if it's related or not. But Gerald seemed pretty flustered."

That didn't sound like Gerald at all. He wasn't big on having formal conversations with staff unless it was absolutely necessary. And it worried me that Cohen had a meeting with him too. What did that mean?

"Thanks Terry. I have a free period next, so I'll just clean this up and then go and see him."

"Sure thing."

10 nervous minutes later, I knocked on the Principles office door.

"Come in."

I opened it and found Gerald behind his desk.

"Audrey, hi. Come on in."

"Terry told me you wanted to talk?"

He nodded and motioned towards a chair, silently asking me to take a seat.

"Sorry for summoning you here, Audrey..."

I smiled nervously.

"No worries Gerald. What's up?"

"Well, there has been some photos posted on social media by one of the students after the Adventure ED camp. One of them included a photo of you in the background."

"Ok. Is that a problem?"

I didn't understand. Of course, I hadn't consented to having my photo uploaded for strangers to see. But I didn't think it was worth a literal trip to the principles office.

"Usually it wouldn't be a big deal, unless you personally had an issue with the sharing of photos without your consent."

Usually? Where was this going?

"Unless it's one where I'm shoving food in my mouth or something, I'm not that fussed."

He nodded.

"I thought as much. Anyway, it's just a picture of a group of kids, but you and Cohen Thompson are behind them at the campfire."

My brain tried to recall the moment. Please God, tell me we were behaving and keeping our hands to ourselves. Gerald didn't seem angry at us, almost apologetic. I couldn't comprehend what this meeting was all about, and why it was such a big deal if the photo didn't show anything "unprofessional" in it?

"Ok..."

"This is a copy the student gave me after I called her in this morning."

Gerald took a picture out of his top desk and passed it over to me. I took it in my hands and looked down at it, studying it for answers.