Venom [manxman]

I | Headmaster

I | Headmaster

-

Six months later...

The children ran through the playground, screaming and laughing, calling each others' names and using animal sounds to play imaginary games. Some of them whooshed down the slide, while others flew through the air on the swing sets. All of them looked like they were having the time of their little lives.

I tried to remember if a time existed when I felt that carefree. To run and play and not feel the need to look over my shoulder. Even as a child, growing up in 13Bravo had me well-trained to survey my surroundings at all times. My guard remained up around everyone except my close family, as I'd learned to trust no one. Although now, I knew I couldn't even trust my family. Everyone had a selfish streak that seemed to have a knack for biting me in the ass.

"Mr. Calloway."

I turned to find my colleague at Brenicka Academy for Gifted Children coming toward me. She had long brown hair that looked red under the early afternoon sun and a pair of bright blue eyes.

"Yes, Ms. Jenkins?"

"Let me watch your class for a moment. The headmaster is here, and he wanted to formally introduce himself to you."

I blinked. I'd started working for the academy five months ago. Since beginning, the Headmaster hadn't been to the school once. I wondered why he bothered to show up after all that time. Clearly, the school wasn't on the top of his priority list if he could spend months away from it. "Sure," I said. "Is there anyone else he's meeting?"

Ms. Jenkins shook her head. "You're the only new hire we've had since he's been away. He usually sits in on all the interviews, but he had to make an exception for you."

"If it's not too nosey of me... can I ask where he's been?"

"I heard he was touring to drum up funds for the academy, and guest lecture at a few other schools about our Bright Stars Program."

I nodded. Maybe he wasn't as uninvolved as he seemed. "I'll head to his office right now. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"What time do they need to go inside?"

"They can stay out until I'm finished. They had a tough morning with language lessons."

She smiled and turned to keep an eye on my class of four-year-olds as I headed back into the building. Various projects from the preschoolers and Kindergarteners lined the hallway. While I ventured to the other wings of the school less, I knew those corridors also had various projects from their grade levels lined throughout them as well. The school took pride in the students' work, and the instructors were happy to celebrate their students every chance they could.

I walked into the main office and stopped by the receptionist's desk.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Ruiz," I said with a smile. "How's Gumdrop?"

"She's great! This morning she whined like crazy when I left the house. I almost called in," she laughed. "I never thought I'd love a dog so much."

"She's so precious though." Gumdrop was a gorgeous little maltipoo with golden curls. I'd found her early last week and brought her into the school until I could get her to the shelter. She had taken straight to Ms. Ruiz though. After checking to make sure she didn't belong to anyone in the area, Mr. Ruiz took her in. It seemed as though they were getting along great. "Is Mr. Harlow in? Ms. Jenkins said he wanted to see me."

"He sure is. He's right in his office, hun. Just knock before you go in."

I nodded and headed around the wall where another set of offices were located. At the end of the hall was the Headmaster's office. I strode up to the door and knocked twice.