Wind Across the Playground

by Ross Richdale

  Noel grinned and lifted his son into his arms. He was so tiny! Noel had forgotten how small and delicate newborn babies were. But it was his son. He kissed the tiny wrinkled face and very gently lowered him down for Alexia to hold.

  "Oh Daddy, Mum," she sobbed with her own tears flooding her eyes. "Isn't he perfect?"

  "Yes," Kate replied. "Just like his big sister."

  CHAPTER 24

  "Thank you, Mr. Moyes," Sally Ferguson, Chairperson of the Sunrise Intermediate School Board of Trustees, said to the person they had interviewed for the position as their principal. "We shall let you know of our decision by the end of this week."

  The middle-aged man gave a confident smile, stood, thanked the appointments committee and shook everyone's hand before walking out.

  "Well," said John Clifton, the second of the five people present. "That's number eight we've interviewed. This group of four is really no different from the first lot."

  "They're all males, principals of large schools already, with about ten years left in their career. That last one came across as almost arrogant." Brian Aitken, another member remarked.

  "What about Noel Overworth?" John asked as he gazed at the pile of CVs on the shelf beyond them. There had been forty-five applications for this much sort after position.

  "He didn't apply and, anyhow he doesn't have a degree," Brian remarked. "Our guidelines recommended the candidate should have at least a BA. It's a pity. Noel would be excellent."

  Sally gazed across at Nancy Bullivant, the only other woman on the board and gave a slight cough. "I recommend Kate Overworth," she said.

  "Kate!" John replied. "Why Kate? "

  "For every good reason," Nancy interjected. "She's run the senior school at Kent Drive like a mini intermediate since August last year. You all know we had so many pupils enrolling in the senior school this year that an extra teacher was employed. Most of the new ideas she has incorporated are her own and her organization of a house system is brilliant. I know she would like to extend this throughout the whole intermediate's twelve home classes, next year."

  Sally continued. "She is popular with the staff and has done wonders with the manual arts teachers. The idea of every pupil doing a six week activity block rather then boys doing woodwork and girls cooking is quite innovative."

  "I know," John said. "However, she's years younger than all these applicants and has never been a principal."

  "What are her qualifications?" Terry, a lawyer in his mid thirties, said from the far end of the table. "I know we were meant to have read all the CVs but I admit I only glanced at hers."

  "She has an honours degree from Otago University," Sally replied as she pulled out a blue covered CV from the pile.

  John whistled. "That's good!" he said.

  "She was a senior teacher at Feilding when they shifted here and we all know she beat old George for the deputy principal's job when Kent Drive was upgraded. That proved to be a sound appointment. She was really wasted in the junior school.

  "Okay," Brian said after glancing around the table "I put forward the motion that Mrs. Kate Overworth is included in our short list for further discussion."

  "I second it," Terry said.

  Without even a formal interview, therefore, Kate's name was placed beside four other names for a final selection.

  KENT DRIVE'S THURSDAY morning's school assembly was held for the first time in the new Intermediate's assembly hall at eleven fifteen. Like the other facilities, the primary school had full use of the new buildings until the end of the year. As Noel said, the new assembly hall was finished and waiting so why shouldn't they use it!

  Kate stood beneath the massive stage and smiled out at the four hundred Kent Drive children. In the New Year she knew the roll would drop over a hundred after the two top classes were transferred to the intermediate. As well, Summerhill Heights and five other primary schools would be reclassified as contributing schools and lose the older pupils to Sunrise Intermediate.

  She'd miss the older pupils and even Alexia who would be in her last year of primary school. Kate turned to the teacher seated at the brand new piano. "How about a song, Wendy?" she said.

  "Right," Wendy replied and started playing a tune the whole school had learned. Everyone, including a couple of rows of parents at the rear joined in while a senior pupil pointed to the words displayed on a screen above the overhead projector.

  The deputy principal continued with the usual announcements, there was an item; this time from George's syndicate and finally Noel addressed the school. Weekly certificates and prizes were distributed and the classes dismissed for lunch.

  Kate was about to return to her room when Sally Ferguson intercepted her. "Can we have a word, Kate?" she asked in an almost professional voice.

  "Sure," Kate replied. Sally was a parent of one of her pupils so this was a not an unusual request.

  They walked into the classroom, a couple of mooching pupils were sent outside and Kate pulled a chair out for the visitor.

  "Okay, Sally, how can I help?"

  "The new Sunrise Intermediate Board of Trustees met until midnight last night," Sally said, reached into her handbag and withdrew a long envelope with the insignia of a rising sun on the top left corner. "I was asked to give you this."

  Kate frowned. "What is it?" she asked.

  "We've appointed you as our new principal," Sally burst out as if she was unable to contain herself any longer.

  "You're kidding," Kate gasped.

  "Read it!" Sally persisted.

  Kate grimaced, still convinced it was some joke, pulled the sheet of paper out, read the quite brief letter and looked up. "You weren't joking were you?"

  "No," Sally smiled. "If you want the new position, it is yours."

  "Hell!" the woman replied. "It was only because you and Nancy nagged me that I even bothered to apply. But how?"

  "Tomorrow's Schools," the other woman replied. "We can appoint whoever we wish and, after the tremendous work you've done with the senior classes here, you came across as our best candidate." She chuckled. "Your honours degree helped convinced a couple of the guys, too."

  Kate looked stunned. "My God," she muttered. "Wait until I tell Noel."

  She stood, shook Sally's hand and sat down again, still overwhelmed at the news. "I don't believe it," she whispered and reread the letter while Sally just stood there grinning.

  Moments later Noel walked in and grabbed Kate in a massive bear hug, then kissed her firmly on the lips. "Hi, Big Boss," he said.

  "How did you know?" Kate retorted. "I just found out, myself."

  "Brian whispered the news in my ear five minutes ago," Noel chortled. "Aren't you thrilled?"

  "Overwhelmed is more the word," Kate replied. "This would have never happened under the old system."

  "No," Noel replied. "We all had to work our way up through the system but you leapfrogged over us all, Sweetheart."

  "Jealous are you?" Kate asked with a grin.

  "Madly," her husband replied. The smile on his face, though, told otherwise as he glanced around. "I wouldn't mind that new assembly hall though. Isn't it just grand?"

  "The whole school is," Kate replied and seized his hand, "Come on let's go and stroll around."

  SUNRISE INTERMEDIATE was arranged like a gigantic north facing "E" with six classrooms on the west and east arms and the assembly hall in the centre. The technical services block connected the hall with the west wing while an administration block and music room joined it to the east. Between everything were covered walkways; while, contained within the area of the "E" was a large paved area to accommodate tennis, netball and basketball courts. A large car park extended south of the administration area and hall while further across, the old cricket pavilion had been transformed into a small gymnasium and physical education storage facility. Newly grassed fields with room for rugby and soccer fields completed the grounds. At the rear, a small fence and gate led onto Kent Drive's playing fields. Except for the six, west
arm classrooms where subcontractors were hard at work, the school was ready and waiting for its pupils in the new year.

  "It's huge," Kate whispered after their tour was completed. "How can I cope, Noel?"

  "With ease," he replied. "The expected opening roll is three hundred and eighty. That is smaller than Kent Drive is now."

  "But all the children are eleven to thirteen years old," Kate added. "That's a mass of large bodies. There will be no tiny ones like our juniors."

  "Just think of it as four of your present senior blocks," Noel said. "Same aged kids, just more of them."

  He grinned and thought how proud his wife looked at that moment. They heard a shout and saw Alexia with a couple of her friends running across. Alexia had her brother, sixteen-month-old Blair on her back. The chubby little fellow giggled and laughed at the bouncy ride he was receiving.

  "Mum!" screamed Alexia. "Are the rumours true?"

  "What's that, Dear?" Kate replied.

  "Kirstine here, overheard her father talking and he said you will be the new principal of Sunrise Intermediate, next year."

  "He did, Mrs. Overworth," Alexia's friend said. "I heard him telling Mum when I went home for lunch."

  "I've been offered the job, yes," Kate said "I haven't decided whether to take it or not yet."

  "Oh my God!" screamed Alexia with her eyes shining in delight. "Take it Mum. We all want you to."

  Kate smiled. "My goodness the hot line is really working at double speed today, isn't it?" She glanced at her daughter. "And why have you got Blair?"

  "Grandma heard of Mum's appointment and dropped in to see you but you weren't in the staffroom."

  Kate picked Blair out of her stepdaughter's arms. "And are you being a good boy for Grandma?" she said and kissed him.

  "Da Da," the little boy said and reached out for his father.

  "Traitor," Kate chuckled and handed him on to Noel who flung him up on his shoulders and carried the toddler forward a dozen or so metres before lifting him down and back into Alexia's arms.

  "See you Mum and Dad!" she called and was off back across the asphalt with the other two girls in hot pursuit.

  "Well," Noel retorted. "You can't decline the position now, can you? Alexia won't let you."

  NOT TOO FAR AWAY ACROSS the city that afternoon Sarah, with Blair secure in a back safety seat, left Kent Drive and headed to Summerhill Heights. Richard had left his jacket behind so she thought it would be a good idea to drop it off and, coincidentally, tell her constant companion of almost two years about the intermediate appointment.

  As usual around two in the afternoon, all was quiet at the school when she arrived. She chatted with the office assistant for a while until Richard came out of his office. He greeted her warmly and escorted her through to the empty staffroom.

  "I'm glad you came, Sarah," he said in a soft voice. "I'm trying to make some big decisions and need your help."

  "Sure, Richard," she replied and gazed at him. He seemed quite relaxed but somehow apprehensive all tied together in a big bundle. "What's wrong? I've never seen you look so indecisive."

  "I've guided the school into the new self management," Richard began. "The charter is complete," he shrugged. "Well almost. I doubt if it will ever be completely right. You know, the Ministry of Education sent it back because I never had a statement about how we would evacuate the children in an emergency."

  "Yes, "Sarah replied. "Noel reckons this bureaucracy is as bad, if not worse, than the education boards and inspectorate."

  "Exactly," Richard replied. He swallowed and caught Sarah's eyes. "That's why I decided to retire."

  Sarah stopped almost mid sentence and stared open mouthed at the man. The school was his life. In many ways, he was worse than Noel. Everything he did involved the school or associated activities... "My God, Richard. What will you do?"

  "I want use my superannuating payout to take a trip across Canada and United States in a camper van."

  "What!"

  "I also want to sell my house and buy a newer small one overlooking the ocean but there's a far more important thing I want to do."

  "And that is, Richard?" Sarah gasped. "All these sudden decisions will totally change your life, you know. Once the trip is over and you've come back, you will just go flat like a deflated balloon. You're too good a man for that to happen to and...."

  "I also want to get married," Richard interrupted.

  "It's a big change," Sarah rattled on but suddenly stopped when she realized what was said. "You what!" she gasped.

  "I want to marry you, Sarah," the man said. "Surely you must know I love you."

  Sarah stared at the earnest eyes, the nervous smile and even a slight shake of the man's hand. Emotions and memories flooded her mind. Her adult life had really been divided into two, her marriage on the farm in Taihape and the dozen years with Noel and his family but now... She switched her thoughts forward. Blair would only need her for a few years and be off to school, Alexia was quite independent...

  Richard flushed. "I said..."

  "I know," Sarah replied. "I heard you."

  "And?"

  She broke into a wide smile and reached forward to clasp him in her arms. "Of course we can get married, Richard. My God, we've been like a man and wife for two years now. As for those other decisions, I agree. Hanging on for another five years or so will only frustrate you, won't it?"

  Richard could be seen physically relax. "Oh Sarah," he whispered. "Thank you."

  "Damn, aren't we getting formal?" She chuckled and remembered why she had originally come. "By the way," she said. "Kate got the principal's position at the intermediate."

  "What? Noel's wife?"

  "That's her," Sarah replied.

  "But she's only a kid in her late twenties."

  "Closer to late thirties, Richard. She's done a damn good job with the seniors at Kent Drive and I personally think she deserves it."

  "Okay," Richard smiled. "She just looks so young, that's all. But I guess everyone looks young when you reach my age. In my day one would have had to be a principal for years before even being considered for a top principalship at an intermediate school. There's nothing personal but it seems wrong, somehow."

  "Tomorrow's School, my sweet. All the Board of Trustee members are in there thirties so someone like Kate would be perfect for them." She sighed. "I really think she deserves it, though, and she does have an honours degree."

  "Does she, now?" Richard sounded impressed. "I didn't know that." He smiled. "That'll be a sock in the eye for old Len Moyes over at Northcote Primary. He reckoned he was a dead certainty for the job with his BA and an ego to match it. In the old system he would have been almost unbeatable."

  "Yeah, well he was beaten this time," Sarah laughed and her eyes suddenly went wide. "My God," she gasped. "I've forgotten about Blair."

  She ran out to the car and heaved a sigh of relief. The little toddler was sound asleep and secure in his safety seat with brown juice from a half-eaten rusk all over his face.

  "Oh you poor little darling," Sarah whispered. "Naughty old Grandma just up and left you, didn't she?" She turned to notice Richard grinning at her. "Okay," she snorted. "He's not my real grandchild but Alexia calls me Grandma so it just sort of slips out. Do you mind?"

  "For the most wonderful grandmother around, of course I don't," Richard replied.

  The pair stood together for a moment, happy just to be beside each other before Richard spoke again. "There's something in my office for you," he said. "It's been sitting there for two months just sort of waiting..."

  "Oh yes what could that be?"

  Richard smiled and slipped away. He returned a moment later and handed Sarah a tiny velvet box. She opened it to see a three-diamond engagement ring that twinkled in the light.

  "Oh Richard," she whispered. "It's beautiful. I don't think I've ever had a ring so exquisite before." She lifted it from the tiny case and held it out to her companion. "Here, my sweet. Can you do the honour
s?"

  Richard coughed in embarrassment but, in that deserted car park, he slipped the ring onto her finger. Being slightly too large it slipped on easily and almost covered the old wedding ring she wore.

  She noticed, squeezed Richard's hand before she slipped the ring off and with more difficulty, removed the wedding ring and placed her new ring back on. "Just an old habit," she said and placed the old ring in her pocket. "My husband died when Alexia was born. Her mother died in an accident and the shock killed Andy. We had a double funeral."

  "How tragic," Richard replied with genuine sympathy in his voice.

  "Yes," Sarah replied with a shrug, "That was a lifetime ago, literally Alexia's life span. We both know it is silly to live in the past and it is now time to move on, my sweet."

  "It is," Richard observed. "Together."

  "Yes, together," Sarah whispered and held her new ring up so in shone in the sunlight.

  LIKE NOEL AT KENT DRIVE, Kate was asked to start as principal at Sunrise Intermediate from October but, unlike her husband, she only had the Board of Trustee's help in getting the school established. This included everything from employing staff and enrolling pupils to equipping the school with supplies from art materials through to musical instruments, cleaning gear, science equipment and even furniture.

  Luckily, the Board of Trustee's members were professional people and businessmen who put in long hours to help. It was decided to call tenders for the supply of large items such as four hundred children's desks and art supplies.

  Caretakers were employed straight away and used to capacity to do the thousand and one chores necessary. Under Ministry directions, all other staff were employed from mid-January and had ten days to get established before the children arrived.

  The Technical Arts teachers were to be transferred across when the manual block became part of the intermediate. However, Kate found herself having to find a Deputy, Second Deputy and two Senior Teachers as well as eight basic grade teachers and three part time teachers to take programs such as remedial reading. With Sally, Nancy and Brian herself as the appointments committee, the positions were advertised together in national newspapers, something unheard of in the old regime.