Beautiful Little Furies: Compelling Women's Psychological Fiction by Laurel Osterkamp
Author:Laurel Osterkamp [Osterkamp, Laurel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2023-12-20T16:00:00+00:00
chapter 30
In the morning, I wake from a restless sleep, hungry because Iâd forgotten to eat last night. I still have two days left of my work week, and even though I feel like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up a hill, I know I need to see it through. Iâm not expecting anything more than a typical Thursday, but when I get to school, I realize that was naïve. The message light on my classroom phone blinks bright red, casting an ominous glow before I turn on the overhead lights.
When I play the message, my chest knots up. Jim, the principal, has called me. That never happens. Usually, he emails. If a phone call is necessary, itâs always his secretary, Tamisha, who makes it. Not this time. âHazel, we need to talk. Come see me now, and I mean now.â
The message is time-stamped from twenty minutes ago. Thatâs not good. Jim rarely gets to school early, but heâs very critical of anyone who arrives after him. Iâm on the late side today. In fact, first hour starts in twenty minutes. My tardiness will only make things worse.
I hurry down to Jimâs office.
Of course, heâs not there. âUm, Tamisha?â I interrupt her handing a folder to one of todayâs subs and explaining how to take attendance. âSorry. Jim called, said he wanted to see me right away this morning. Do you know where he is?â
She scowls. âHe probably thought you would be here sooner.â She picks up her radio and speaks into it. âJim, do you copy?â
Thereâs a moment of static as my stomach flips and churns. Then I hear Jimâs voice. âCopy.â
Tamisha gives me the stink eye as she speaks back into her radio. âHazel is here to see you.â
âIâll be right there,â I hear Jim respond.
Tamisha tells me to wait in his office, so I enter the space that is twice as big as most of the classrooms in this school, with a conference table, desk, and framed photos by the districtâs PR person, catching the students looking wholesome, happy, and diverse at games and graduation. Iâm staring at one photo, the crowd at the state basketball tournament from two years ago, girls with gold and black face paint on, waving signs to cheer for the team. The first girl wears a hijab, the second has rows of tightly braided hair, and the thirdâs golden locks fall into waves that rival a Disney princess. Two of the girls were in my English 11 class, and Iâm trying to remember their names. Then Jim walks in.
âGood morning, Hazel,â Jim says brusquely, and instantly I know that this morning is anything but good. âHow are you?â
He doesnât make eye contact as he asks me that question, making it clear he doesnât really care about my answer. âOkay,â I venture. âHow are you?â
âMe? Iâm fine. I feel bad that I havenât been able to check in with you sooner after you returned from medical leave, the accident and all.â
Now Jim looks at me.
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