Crossing Boundaries

A Job Offer

The next two days kept Sang pretty busy with meeting the boys in the evening, working at the diner and keeping up with her school work. There was only one incident the day after the visit to the animal shelter when Mr. Hendricks called her into his office. Sang went obediently but not without alerting Mr. Blackbourne who watched over her. Mr. Hendricks calling her into his office became a routine thing and she found herself tolerating this unpleasant business. This time it was about her errant truancy the day before.

"Miss Sorenson, what is the meaning of you leaving school so early yesterday? And with Mr. Blackbourne no less."

Luckily Mr. Blackbourne told her exactly what to say to Mr. Hendricks, "Well, Mr. Hendricks, I believe Mr. Blackbourne already put in a request form for the fieldtrip so you must know all about it."

Mr. Hendricks harrumphed, "Request? What request." But Mr. Hendricks eyes didn't quite meet hers so she guessed that he did know about it but was only baiting her.

Sang took a deep breath and decided she might as well play along, "I thought and Mr. Blackbourne agreed with me that a voluntary visit to the local animal shelter will look good on my college applications. Mr. Gerald, my biology teacher fully supported me when I brought it up. He suggested a first hand experience with working with animals will be good for any future decisions I might make to go into veterinary practice." That might have been a slight lie; she didn't talk to Mr. Gerald herself, but Mr. Blackbourne had assured her that he had talked to Mr. Gerald about the matter.

"But during school hours? That's highly unprecedented, Miss Sorenson. I cannot condone it."

"But Mr. Hendricks, we only went through with it when my request form was approved."

Sang put a hand into her bag and withdrew the request form. It was clearly stamped approved on it and signed by Mr. Blackbourne and Mr. Hendricks. She handed it to Mr. Hendricks and watched for any sign of change in his facial expression. Was Mr. Hendricks really going to deny he had signed it? Sang didn't understand what the point of this was.

Mr. Hendricks looked through the form and handed it back to Sang, "Yes, I vaguely remember signing this but mark my words Miss Sorenson, this will be the last time I will make that mistake. Students are not allowed to leave the school premises during school hours."

Sang gave a curt nod of her head and made a move to leave the office. Mr. Hendricks didn't bother acknowledging her departure. Seriously, Sang thought, he was getting weirder day by day. She had no idea what his issue was but it was starting to annoy her and burden the boys' work at the school.

That was two days ago and Sang had put it out of her mind. She had a bigger fish to fry such as North's behavior towards her. He became withdrawn and distant and didn't say more than a few words to Sang. Sang didn't understand this behavior at all but she suspected it had something to do with Sam. Sang was waiting for the right moment to bring it up but she hadn't been alone with North for more than a few minutes and North was avoiding her. Sang was getting worried; she didn't thing that Sam was any direct threat to her but it didn't help alleviate her nervousness. She hoped North would come around; she knew that North didn't like silence, the last time Sang told him she didn't want to talk, he'd ripped his vehicles apart. She'd give him space though.

Nathan accompanied her down the hallway to music room B for her lesson with Mr. Blackbourne. There was a lull from any unusual activities so Mr. Blackbourne thought it a good idea to continue their violin lesson.

When Sang entered the room she spotted Mr. Blackbourne rifling through some papers on top of the piano. He stopped what he was doing and waited for Sang to come closer. When she stood next to him, he greeted her, "Miss Sorenson.

"Mr. Blackbourne?"

"How do you feel about doing a job?"

Sang sighed, she'd be in her fifties before she could ever learn to play the violin. Mr. Blackbourne lifted an eyebrow quizzically, "No? I thought you might be interested."

"Oh no, I am. I was just thinking about something else."

Mr. Blackbourne stayed silent, urging her to continue. "I thought I was going to practice more violin today," Sang went on.

"I didn't mean right now, Miss Sorenson. I don't thing Mr. Hendricks' blood pressure will handle it if you left the school in the middle again. There is job for tonight, if you are keen."

Sang pressed her fingers to her mouth in contemplation, "what do I have to do?"

"Are you up for some surveillance with Luke at the animal shelter tonight? You'll be out quite late."

Sang enthusiastically nodded, "Yes, I'll do it."

"It might be boring. As if you can recall, surveillance isn't the most exciting job."

"That's okay. I'll do it."

Mr. Blackbourne smiled, "Good, it's settled then. I'll alert Mr. Taylor and he will come pick you up at 11 p.m. Now shall we start our lesson?" Mr. Blackbourne unpacked his violin from its case, ready to start.