Forever Young: Blessing or Curse (Always Young Trilogy)

by Morgan Mandel

  “I’d like to help. Maybe you could tell me more about your qualifications.”

  “Oh, yes, sure. When Mom took ill, I’d been working as an administrative assistant at an advertising firm for fifteen years. Before that, I held various clerical positions. My typing speed’s at least seventy, maybe better. I know shorthand, but that’s obsolete these days. I’m also familiar with Dictaphones, and have learned various programs from working at the school.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “Get me that resume when you can. I might be able to dig something up.”

  She thanked him for his interest and ushered him out.

  As she closed the door, she thought about his possible job offer. If he found something, she may need to leave the high school.

  That would be a shame. Everyone there was so friendly, even the principal, Candace Saunders, who treated faculty and staff almost as equals, even going so far as to encourage them to address her by her first name. In her forties, with bobbed chestnut hair and kind hazel eyes, she didn’t look anything like a typical principal, yet her classy mannerisms commanded respect. It would be almost impossible to find another boss like her.

  Squaring her shoulders, she resigned herself to making the necessary sacrifices when the time came. For now, she had other considerations, like making a call she’d avoided.

  Dorrie climbed back upstairs to the bedroom, where she found her purse sitting on the nightstand. She rifled inside and dug out the smartphone. She should have done this sooner, but hadn’t the heart to pour out her feelings again, even to her best friend.

  Jeanne picked up on the fourth ring. Her cheerful voice turned to dismay when Dorrie explained what had happened. “Shame on you. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? We’re friends. That means sharing. You should not have gone through that ordeal alone. Besides, Larry was like a brother to me. I would have dropped everything to come to his funeral.”

  “Sure, it would have been nice to have you here, but I knew you shouldn’t leave your Dad. Don’t forget, I went through the same thing with my Mom. I know how it is.”

  “Sometimes you are too considerate for your own good, Dorrie Donato.”

  “No, just practical. You’re where you should be.”

  Jeanne sighed. “It would be helpful if I could be in two places at once, but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet. Listen, if you feel like crying on my shoulder, call anytime, day or night. You’re my buddy, and I’ll always be here for you.”

  “Thanks, I needed that,” Dorrie said, voice thickening. She wished her friend didn’t live so far away, but knew their bond couldn’t be broken by distance.

  CHAPTER THREE

  When Dorrie arrived at work the next day, she found a beautiful floral arrangement and a card on her desk signed by the staff members. Everyone, from Principal Candace, to the cafeteria ladies, and even the fastidious sixth grade teacher, Mr. Landscomb, stopped by to express condolences and offer encouragement.

  Toward the end of the day, Candace called Dorrie into her office. “How are you making out?”

  “I’m coping. It helps that everyone’s being so nice.”

  “You deserve it, Dorrie. By the way, I was thinking, with Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, you’re more than welcome to spend the day with me and some of the other faculty members at my place. I’ve been known to cook a mean turkey.”

  “Thanks, Candace, I really appreciate your offer, but I’ll have to decline. I don’t think I could handle that yet.”

  Candace nodded. “I understand, but if you do change your mind, let me know. It’d be no trouble to set an extra place for you.”

  Thanksgiving arrived all too soon. As Dorrie tried to eat an unpalatable frozen turkey dinner, she almost wished she’d taken Candace up on her offer. Still, she knew she’d not have made a pleasant dinner companion. How could she keep up a pretense of thankfulness when inside she felt cheated?

  The day stretched long. Maybe if she concentrated on a project the time would pass. She’d meant to finish the cross stitch pattern of a cardinal she’d brought with when they’d moved from Wisconsin, and had since stored in the closet. Maybe that would occupy her mind and time. Between her eyes smarting, small holes in the pattern, and her mind straying to remembrances of Larry and Mom, the distraction didn’t produce the desired effect.

  Sighing, she stored the paraphernalia back where she’d gotten it. Maybe someday she’d try again.

  Since she was already depressed, Dorrie decided she may as well tackle her finances. As she switched on the computer, she had a feeling she would not be happy with what she saw.

  Unfortunately, her misgivings were well founded. The account register looked anything but appealing. Selling Larry’s used van and cashing in on his life insurance policy had barely covered his burial. Accumulated back bills from Mom’s medical expenses, along with the additional expenses of mortgage, taxes, utilities, insurance and food bills all needed resolving. At least her health insurance payment didn’t amount to much, since she received her benefits through the high school plan. By careful juggling, she could eke by a while, but not for long.

  The days passed in dreary succession. Before she knew it, Dorrie faced another holiday. Again, for fear of being a wet blanket, she turned down an offer by a staff member to celebrate the day with her and some of the others.

  On Christmas Eve, it didn’t feel right going to Midnight Mass without Larry, so Dorrie went the next morning instead. Though someone sat next to her at the service, the spot still seemed empty. Hearing the joyful choir voices hitting such beautiful notes left her more depressed.

  When she got home, she didn’t bother fixing any special dishes. No sense in wasting good food.

  Watching Christmas programs didn’t lift her mind from her loneliness either, so she gave up and made an early night of it. She may as well have stayed up late, for all the sleep she got.

  Though dragging, Dorrie welcomed work the next day. While she sat in her cranberry colored suit at the receptionist desk outside the principal’s office, trying to keep her spirits up, and hoping she could afford to remain at such a nice place, Candace’s voice came over the intercom.“Dorrie, can you please come in here a moment.”

  Something in Candace’s tone didn’t sound right. Warmth spread to Dorrie’s face as dread filled her. Please don’t let me lose my job. That would be too much.

  “Have a seat and make yourself comfortable, Dorrie,” Candace said with a tight smile.

  Dorrie groped backwards for the edge of the vinyl chair, and gingerly sat down.

  Candace cleared her throat. “As principal, sometimes I have difficult decisions to make. I’ve just received word our district is low on funds, and I’ve been ordered to cut expenses. I value each and every member on staff here, but must comply with the rules. I’ve taken a hard look at all the positions. One way to cut back is to combine the receptionist and administrative assistant jobs.

  Here it comes, Dorrie thought, heart sinking. Candace feels bad, but hasn’t a choice.

  “Of course, you know Lauren, my administrative assistant.”

  Dorrie nodded.

  “It turns out Lauren has missed being home with her child for the past six months following maternity leave. She regrets that the important milestones in her baby’s life keep happening in front of the babysitter and not the child’s mother. Though it will be a hardship financially, she’s decided to be a stay-at-home Mom. I applaud her for her willingness to sacrifice money for the sake of her family, and fully understand where she’s coming from. You can never replay those important moments.”

  “I know I’d feel the same, if I had the opportunity,” Dorrie said.

  Given the chance, she’d probably have spoiled her child rotten. Unfortunately, such a blessing had never occurred. No matter what her mind had longed for, her body had refused to cooperate by producing a child to love.

  “Lauren’s decision comes exactly at the right time, Dorrie. Since you’re adept at handling our progr
ams, I’m hoping you’d be interested in trying your hand at the combined position. Our budget could spare an extra one hundred dollars a week, which I know isn’t much considering the added responsibilities, but I’m guessing would come in handy for you right now. What do you say? I have to warn you, if you’re not comfortable with the change, I’m afraid I’ll have to let you go.”

  She wasn’t fired, thank God.

  “Oh, please, I’d love to stay. The job sounds perfect and the extra money would be a great help. I enjoy working here and can’t bear the thought of leaving. Thanks so much for asking me.”

  “I couldn’t not think of you. You’ve done a terrific job since coming aboard. You’ve always gone out of your way to help Lauren. She’s told me how you often complete her tapes and do various projects for her. That diligence will stand you in good stead, making it easier for you to assume the dual role.”

  “I hate not being busy, so I don’t mind the extra work.”

  “And I like your attitude. Then, it’s settled to everyone’s satisfaction.”

  Dorrie couldn’t believe it. For a change, something had gone right.

  ***

  A few days later, when she’d stepped into the kitchen after work, she noticed her answering machine blinking. She clicked on the message and found Mr. Remington had called about a job opening. Just as well she needn’t apply. Going to work at the same place her husband had died would not have been pleasant. She could get by with the extra hundred a week at the school.

  Still, no sense in burning bridges. To be polite, she returned his call the next morning. “Thanks for the offer, Mr. Remington, but I’ve had the good fortune of getting a promotion and raise at the high school, and have decided to stay there.”

  “I understand, Mrs. Donato. I’m glad things worked out for you.”

  He sounded more peeved than glad. Maybe she’d imagined the inflection in his voice. After all, with the job shortage, he could choose from any number of applicants.

  On Saturday, New Year’s Eve, she made an early night of it so she wouldn’t be reminded she had no one to kiss at the stroke of midnight. When Jeanne and Larry’s friend, Keith, one after the other, called the next morning to wish her a Happy New Year, she felt a little better.

  After she became accustomed to the additional work responsibilities, the days settled into a predictable busy pattern. If only she didn’t have those long weekends to fill in the empty house with only the radio and television for company. She got a certain measure of comfort in the mornings sitting in the backyard, watching the swallows fly into their cacti nests, and listening to the doves and pigeons coo while making their rounds. Also, she kept the hummingbird feeder filled with nectar, so she could watch the flutter of the hummingbird’s wings as they enjoyed their treats.

  The nights still proved difficult. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get used to that empty space beside her in bed. To think Larry’s snoring had bothered her so much she’d sometimes wished he’d go to the guestroom and sleep. She’d gladly suffer the noise if she could get him back even one night.

  Being by herself in the dark still made her uneasy. To save electricity, she alternated between which lights to turn on or off. If she got a dog, that would solve the safety issue, but it wouldn’t be fair to leave the poor thing home by itself all day.

  ***

  Dorrie glanced at the school desk calendar and frowned. Twelve weeks had passed since her world had collapsed. She’d done her best to get on with life, but the pieces would never fit back into place.

  She broke off her ruminations when Mr. Landscomb, the sixth grade teacher approached, with a lip and nose-studded student in tow. The man was reputed to be a stickler, but, judging from the energetic students in his classroom, he had small choice if he were to survive.

  “Ms. Donato, I’d like you to inform the principal this young lady has committed an infraction of our school’s rules and requires disciplinary action from the principal. As you’re aware, it’s against school policy for students to wear face rings or studs, yet this student has chosen to flaunt authority.”

  He pointed to the young girl sporting the offending jewelry, along with blue dyed hair, tattered jeans and a tie dyed tee shirt reading, “Express yourself.”

  Restraining herself from bursting into laughter at the student’s decorative display, Dorrie bowed her head and nodded. Still tempted to laugh, she grabbed a notepad and pen. “What’s her name?”

  “Stephanie Dalton.”

  “Okay, I’ve got it. Thank you, Mr. Landscomb. I’ll make sure she’s attended to.”

  The thin man nodded, and hurried down the hall to his classroom, no doubt wondering what mayhem had occurred in his absence.

  She gave the girl a kind smile. “All right, Stephanie, why don’t you sit here on the bench until the principal is free to see you.”

  Forehead knit, the girl plunked onto the wooden seat. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap and stared straight ahead, blinking rapidly. The poor darling. Dorrie had seen such cases before. Getups like this were often worn in a desperate bid for attention from the parents. How sad.

  After getting the go ahead, Dorrie escorted the young girl into the principal’s office. Candace would sort things out. She always did.

  Sure enough, after a few minutes Stephanie re-emerged, sans studs, at least in any visible areas. Not only that, she seemed more relaxed. Par for the course. Candace had just the right touch. A few minutes later, Candace stepped out of her office.

  “You handled that situation well, as usual,” Dorrie said.

  “Thanks,” the principal said in a strained voice.

  “Is something wrong, Candace?”

  The principal motioned to Dorrie. “Why don’t you come into my office. I need to speak to you.”

  Dorrie wondered if she’d not performed well at her new position. She’d done her best to handle her duties, but no matter how hard she tried to focus on work, her mind still tended to wander.

  Questions crept in like, If I hadn’t encouraged Larry to apply for the Institute job, would he have given up and be alive today?, or If I’d gotten to the parking lot a few minutes earlier, could I could have warned him in time? She’d never know the answers to those or any other questions tormenting her.

  Dorrie stepped into the principal’s office.

  “Please close the door and sit down,” Candace said.

  The door squeaked as Dorrie closed it. She slowly sank onto the cold chair.Candace frowned and shook her head. “There’s no easy way to say what needs to be said.” She sighed hard and seemed to catch her breath. “Ignoring this situation won’t make it go away, so I may as well get it over with. The budget cuts weren’t enough. Our district is in the hole. Foster High is getting axed.”

  Dorrie gasped. “No, you can’t be serious.”

  “I’m afraid so. The sad truth is our school is closing.”

  “That can’t be.”

  “Here’s the letter explaining everything.” Candace passed over a printed sheet on district letterhead.

  We regret to inform you that budget shortfalls force us to centralize the county’s school districts. As of February 13, students of Foster and Darwin High Schools will attend Greenberry High School. All staff at the Foster and Darwin schools will be terminated and receive one month’s severance pay, no matter how long their tenure. Health insurance benefits will remain in effect throughout the month, after which Cobra will apply.

  “That’s crazy. I’ve heard terrible rumors about Greenberry. Foster has much higher standards. Whoever made this decision is way off base.”

  Candace sighed. “Quality doesn’t count in the scheme of things. Since Greenberry’s in the middle, geography wins.”

  “I don’t believe this. You’ve done a terrific job. Losing Foster will be a huge blow to the community.”

  “Thanks for the compliment, Dorrie. I’ve done my darnedest to provide a quality education for our students, but I’m afraid in the pr
esent economy sacrifices are in order.”

  “That shouldn’t be.”

  Then again, lots of things shouldn’t be. Panic spiraled in Dorrie’s stomach, making her nauseous. She’d counted on this job to keep her sane and pay her bills. Now she’d need to start over and search for a new position in the tight job market. She had no guaranty she’d find another job soon, especially one as ideal as what she was losing. Too bad she’d not taken Mr. Remington’s offer. No doubt that position had been filled by now.

  “You’re such a great principal, Candace. With your credentials, any school will be lucky to get you.”

  The principal sighed. “I’ve been thinking over the situation, and I’ve come to the conclusion I’m meant to do something different with my life. My folks aren’t getting any younger, and New York isn’t exactly a hop, skip and a jump away. Occasional holiday visits really aren’t enough. It would set theirs and my mind at ease if I lived closer to them. There may not be any principal positions available there, but I could settle for something else. It would be worth the sacrifice.”

  Nodding, Dorrie said, “I don’t blame you, Candace. I’d do the same.”

  She wished she had parents to visit. She didn’t remember much about Dad because he’d passed away after his bout with lung cancer when she was in second grade, but Mom was a different story.

  Dorrie often remembered the good times, like when they’d gone to the zoo together when she was a little girl, and when she was older, sharing popcorn at the movies. Such remembrances were tinged with sadness as Dorrie’s mind also flashed back to the image of her mother pretending she wasn’t in pain while her condition deteriorated. She’d been a good woman and hadn’t deserved to suffer. Dorrie blinked rapidly to keep a tear from falling.

  “I know this must be hard on you, with only a few weeks’ notice, especially in your current situation. If you need a reference, I’ll be more than happy to provide one for any of the positions you’ve held here: administrative assistant, receptionist or the combination. You’ve admirably filled them all, and I couldn’t have asked for a better worker. Please, I want you to take whatever time is necessary to find something decent, even if you need to use school hours to do so.”