Nowhere to go, no one to be

hit harder

Patrick's office was supposed to make a newcomer anxious, and most of the school staff probably did feel here in this way. I couldn't help but see an insecure man who tried to repair his ego with massive furniture though. It worked, by the way. Rest of school's insides looked humble, and its reason became clear after entering principal's room.

"Walter, I expected you much ealier! So good to see you"

Fourty-years-old high school headmaster loved to bear-hug his subordinates. Seemingly cute, they worked rather as an ineffable threat. One wrong move and you'll be crushed.

"Hello, professor. Don't break my spine please, I had some issues with it recently. You don't want to pay damages for it"

"I know great orthopedist" he said, slapping me on the shoulder "I'll give you their contacts"

I approached a wide window, from which one could see the school courtyard. Some teens were heading home, others were smoking, couple of them (mostly the first graders) were still talking. Soon they will probably forget about so-called "friendships", and classmates will become just the rivals.

"So tell me, how's the university? I heard you're up to another theory again. I don't have time for similar things, you know. Too much going on here"

His brash voice was driving me crazy. I sat behind his desk and started to spin on upholstered with leather armchair.

"And the entry exams? How did it go?"

"Pretty good, I was quite suprised"

"And you were so doubtful about teaching here, remember? Did somebody get maximum points?"

"A girl from the third grade"

"Julienne Robert? She's the best among others, I have great expectations towards her. I'm glad that-

"I'm not talking about her"

"Not about her? So about whom?"

I looked at suprised principal.

"Julie wrote her test decently, like an average gifted student"

"Well, I understand, but who did it all right then?"

"Maxinne. Maxinne Edison"

The look of misunderstanding on his face amused me.

"Who? I don't remember any... But wasn't that this strange girl which has problems with even passing the exams? From what I heard she was behind her classmates"

I giggled.

"Well, it isn't shocking to me. She's so focused on the answer she forgets to count things properly most of the times"