The old school house had gone, as had its replacement with only a concrete pad showing where it had once been. However, at the back behind the massive overgrown macrocarpa hedge stood the old woodshed where Lisa had slipped.
Noel nodded but a lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. He stopped the car by another concrete pad that was all that remained of the car shed and walked up the overgrown path to the shed.
"It looks so small," he managed to say as he pushed through the foliage and searched inside.
Spider webs hung everywhere but cut firewood was still inside, almost as if Lisa had left it, those big chainsaw slabs that had to be split before being used. An old rusty axe stood with a blade buried in the wall frame.
"Come on, Sweetheart," Kate said and took Noel's hand. "There's nothing here."
"No," Noel muttered. He gazed around and remembered the lawn they had kept so trimmed, the vegetable garden, the flowers and neatly trimmed hedge. Except for the overgrown hedge it was gone... Everything had gone.
"But not the shed," he muttered. "The old shed outlasted everything."
"Shall we walk over to the school?" Kate added in a soft voice.
Noel nodded and they retraced their steps to the car and on to the school itself. Dark cobweb covered windows met them and the two front doors were locked. Noel peered through the glass and saw the outline of two empty classrooms. There appeared to be no furniture inside.
The pair walked around the back and stared. The gully at the back was covered in short grass. There was no plantation or even a swamp at the bottom.
"That's the reason," Kate said and pointed.
Upstream was an earth dam that stretched across the little gully. Behind it, black water, half covered in weed, sat, stagnant and lifeless across the area that was once the swamp.
"Yeah," Noel whispered and turned back to the school.
He gave the back door a shove and realized it wasn't locked.
"Come on," he whispered and stepped inside. "Damn," he gasped. "It's no different. Even the blue lino is on the floor."
The little coat bay, indeed, looked the same. Furthermore, it was clean as if the room was in use. Noel walked through to the toilet bay and pushed a door open. It was also clean and water was in the toilet pan. A roll of paper sat in the old wooden container. The sink tap worked and a small bar of soap was on the window ledge.
"I guess the farmer who owns the land still uses the toilet," Kate said. "That's probably why the back door wasn't locked."
"True," Noel replied and opened the door into the senior room. It was devoid of furniture but the blackboard, front cupboards and shelves were still there and the pot bellied stove in the corner looked clean and tidy as if it had been used quite recently.
For fifteen or twenty minutes they searched around and talked in hushed tones that seemed fitting for the occasion. A few relics that brought back memories were found, an old pencil sharpener still screwed to the wall, some old dusty school journals with 1970s dates on them and even a child's exercise book. Noel recognized the surname but not the forename.
"Probably a daughter of one of the kids we taught," he said. "I think the school only closed five years ago so there were plenty taught here after our time."
In the other classroom, Kate she gave a gasp. On the ceiling was a faded chart of native birds. "I put that there," she breathed. "I remember we were doing a lesson on trees and I had children's pictures on all the lower walls. I got that old wooden stepladder and just about toppled over trying to stretch up to staple it on. I guess it was so far up, nobody bothered to pull it down."
"When the school dropped to a sole charge I guess the class used my room and this became the spare one," Noel added. "
Kate shrugged and looked glum. "Come on Sweetheart. Let's go. I don't want to stay any longer. "
"I know," Noel replied. "It's like a cemetery, isn't it... still here but dead?"
"Don't say that," Kate's face was pale. "Come on."
Out in the autumn sunshine, the wind blew a piece of paper across the playground. It lifted, twirled and flipped before disappearing behind the empty building. Somehow, it reflected the emotions of the moment. Noel glanced at Kate, grimaced but said nothing until after they had driven away.
LEANNE'S PLACE, THOUGH, was a complete contrast. Half a dozen cars were parked along the driveway leading up to farmhouse. As soon as Noel and Kate pulled up, faces of past friends surrounded them, parents and children they had taught. The children were that no longer, of course, but once they introduced themselves, memories flooded back and facial features remembered. There were McEwens and Stuarts everywhere and another generation of children who showed no interest in these old teachers from the North Island preferred to play in Leanne's immaculate back yard.
"Wendy phoned and said you were no different," Leanne said that evening after all the other guests had finally left. "And, goodness me, she was right." She chuckled. "You filled out a little Noel, I remember you were as skinny as a bean pole but Kate, how do you keep so young?"
"Well, " Kate replied with a smile. "My hair colour comes out of a bottle now to hide the grey and I keep fit. Three children and a school to run keep me going."
Leanne smiled. "I hear Wendy took over your school, Noel but you're too young to retire. "What will you do?"
"I was offered shares in an education consultancy," he said. "I join it when we go back. We run in-service courses, help schools with budgeting and even have a contract with the Ministry of Education to provide emergency help in schools when things go wrong. Two former school inspectors started it when Tomorrow's Schools came in and they became redundant. One of the partners has just retired and sold me his shares."
"Noel will be managing director," Kate added with a ring of pride in her voice.
"Yes," Noel replied. "I've done almost as well as Kate."
"Wendy said you're principal of the largest intermediate schools in Auckland, Kate," Leanne said. "You have done well."
"One of the bigger ones," Kate replied modestly. "But I've done no better than Wendy and her new position. We're all proud of her."
Leanne nodded. "I'm so thrilled," she said with her own pride showing. "I tried so hard when she was little and it bore fruit, didn't it?"
"It did," Kate replied. "You know, at Sunrise Intermediate she organized the whole school's music program. The music teacher was good at music but couldn't handle the children. Wendy really took over and let the other lady just play the piano. I think her effort there helped get the new job at Kent Drive. Both schools really have the same parents so she was well known."
"And the screaming battles we used to have to get her to practice her music," Leanne sighed. "I almost gave up many times. Mind you, they encouraged her at Southland Girls' High, too."
The woman stared away and a glimpse of loneliness showed. Around the room were photos of Wendy at every stage of her life from primary school, all her high school photos and more modern ones including a brand new one that showed Wendy as she was now.
"So what do you intend to do?" Noel asked kindly.
"Sell up and move to town, I guess" Leanne said with a doubtful shrug.
"So why don't you come to Auckland?" Kate pushed.
"Wendy said that," Leanne sighed. "It's just so far away."
"But Wendy is there," Kate pointed out.
Leanne smiled. "I'll think about it," she replied. "Wendy's brother is really managing the farm. It works out quite well but..."
Kate looked at Noel. Something seemed wrong but it wasn't really their business.
"If you prefer not to talk about it, we understand," Noel said.
"No," Leanne replied. "It's just that I don't really get on with my daughter-in-law. Oh she tries. We both try but I'm so set in my ways, I guess and, to me, she is quite flighty." She grimaced. "You probably know her. I'm sure she was at school when you were here."
"Oh," said Noel.
"Yes," Leanne said. "Cindy's her name. She was
Cindy Stuart. You know, Margaret Stuart's daughter?"
Noel caught Kate's eye. Damn, it was a small world, more so than ever down here.
THAT NIGHT, NOEL AND Kate talked and reminisced. Though unsuccessful with Kate's own mother, perhaps they could persuade Leanne to move north. The next morning, Kate rang Wendy and discretely asked her if they should try to persuade her mother to move north.
Wendy sounded keen. "After all," she said. "It was Dad I didn't really relate too. Mum was always good to me."
"I know," Kate replied. "My childhood was identical. I think the males down here lived in the fifties where the male's word was law and we were the first generation to rebel."
"Is Mum there?" Wendy asked. "I'll tell her she can stay with me if she wants to come and see what it is like. That might provide the leverage she needs."
"Sure," Kate replied. "Hang on. I'll get her for you."
Leanne came off the phone twenty minutes later, deep in thought. She noticed Kate and Noel watching and smiled. "Well, there's something to think about," she said. "You can be a persuasive trio."
Leanne shifted north two months later and never returned to the South Island.
THE DARK BRICK, FORMER Borough Council building was a pleasant place. A small lawn with a line of shrubs filled the road frontage and a cobblestone path led to the front door while another lawn encircled a car park that once housed council vehicles. Now, though, the sign above the door read ACE, while beneath, in smaller letters, were the words Auckland Consultants for Education.
Friday, whenever possible, was office day when Noel would do administration work. He was now sitting in his sunny office overlooking the busy suburban street and trying to think how he should best word a letter to the Education Review Office. He had rung the ERO about a school he had been called in to help. They had agreed with his findings, were prepared to visit the school, but wanted his observations in writing, hence the difficult letter in front of him.
The sound of a vehicle entering their drive made Noel glance down and smile. It was Kate's car. She walked in a moment later, plunked herself down in one of the soft chairs and removed her suit jacket. "I need to rest, Sweetheart?" she sighed. "God, what a week! I reckon half the principals in town are pompous twits and should never be in the position they hold. Why do people suddenly become arrogant when they are put in charge of an institution?"
"Do you mean Wendy?" Noel asked.
"No," Kate replied. "She is actually the opposite; very conscientious and prepared to listen to advice and admit when she needs it. Many other women principals think they're God's answer to the teaching profession. The men tend to be older and more set in their ways. I don't know who is worse."
Noel grimaced. "This is exactly what I've had to deal with this week," he said.
"Go on," Kate said and leaned forward with interest in her eyes.
"I was called in by the principal of a six teacher school who is having trouble with her deputy principal and really wants to find a way to fire him," Noel said. "The trouble is, the guy is a very capable teacher who is rebelling against the far out direction the school is going. I think the principal is the problem, not the DP."
"Difficult." Kate admitted. "So what can you do?"
"I told the chairwoman of the Board of Trustees if they continue harassing the DP, they could have a lawsuit on their hands and possible hundred thousand dollar payout. He is on stress leave but they're trying to stop him returning to the school. I laid it on thick and quoted a few high profile court cases where teachers have won cases against unjust dismissals." He nodded at the letter on the computer monitor. "I rung ERO and they agreed the principal is incompetent and will pay the school a surprise visit."
"But can they do anything?"
Noel smiled. "Who knows? Thank God, I can now drive away from these problems,"
"So you really like being a consultant and don't miss your school?"
"Oh, at times, I do" Noel admitted. "The children, sports afternoons and those concerts but the rest, no I don't miss it one bit. I deal with other people's problems and try to help. However, if they ignore me it is their affair and no skin off my nose." He grinned. "Like you, I've come to realize there is a huge cross-section of teachers out there and, when it comes to boards of trustees, the differences are even wider." He glanced at the monitor and shut it down, "Come on, Sweetheart," he said. "Let's go and have lunch together. There's nothing more I'd like to do at the moment."
He stood, glanced at his tired looking wife, tucked his arms around and kissed her soft tingly lips. She responded and looked in his eyes.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Oh," replied Noel. "Just for being you, no other reason."
In his eyes, she was as beautiful as the day they had met and he could hardly believe that she was fifty-three. Every year, it seemed, zipped by faster than the one before it.
Kate smiled, cuddled in close and kissed him back. "Come on, big boy," she chuckled. "Let's find a nice little restaurant somewhere."
She slipped back into her jacket, grabbed his hand and they headed out into the sunshine. It was a warm spring day and a flock of sparrows darted around waiting for a morsel of bread.
"Not today, birds." Noel laughed. "I'm going out to lunch."
The End.
Visit Ross Richdasle's home page at http://www.richdale.nz
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Did you love Wind Across the Playground? Then you should read Blemished Jewel by Ross Richdale!
Gail Fernhill, newly appointed of principal of Queen Anne's Girls' School in Dunedin, New Zealand is haunted by her past but befriends new property manager Neil Goodall. Neil pierces her reserve to support and help her when he discovers that as a teenager, she killed her abusive father in self-defence.
However, the case is reopened after the discovery of her father's rifle. Inspector Peter Carrington attempts, by fair means or foul, to build up a murder case against Gail and directs Tania Brogan, an undercover police officer employed by the school as a teacher, to find evidence. However, after an accident involving a bus load of pupils on a ski trip Tania switches her allegiance to help Gail but unwittingly plays into Carrington's hand.
Intertwining with Gail and Neil's growing love and the conflicts of school life, the problems deepen when John McKendrick arrives at school and attempts to abduct his daughter Penny. Gail and Neil intervene but Gail is wounded and, with Neil and Penny, abducted.
Is Gail's successful life as a principal about to be cut short by her past? And what of her abduction? Is Neil's love enough to help the blemished jewel through these trying times?
Read more at Ross Richdale’s site.
Also by Ross Richdale
Emerald Eyes Trilogy
Emerald Eyes Destiny
Emerald Eyes Mist
Emerald Eyes Pyramid
Our Ancient Ancestors
When the Longships Came
The Druid's Daughter
Meztli - Sacrificial Maiden
Kyla's Fate
Our Romantic Thrillers
Blemished Jewel
Jana Adrift
Broken Silence
Eagle's Claw Lake
Snow Bond
Blossoms in the Wind
Terra Novels
The Truth About Terra
Terra Incognita
Wisps Trilogy
Wisps of Cloud
Wisps of Snow
Wisps of Wisdom
Standalone
Solar Search
Acid Air
Embrace the Fog
Cosmos Quest
Azure Sea Gold
Alien Hybr
id
Crystal Souls
Countess In Exile
Anu Factor
Into the Wormhole
Time Portal
Like Twigs in a Storm
Omega Seed
Catalyst
Long Valley Road
Armlet
Claire
Liberty & Opportunity
Transmigration
Shadows Behind
Wind Across the Playground
Arising Magic
Generation 7
The Other Mrs Hayes
Stretched Horizons
Behind the Fire
Watch for more at Ross Richdale’s site.
About the Author
After a career as a teacher and principal of mainly small rural schools, Ross Richdale lives in the small university city of Palmerston North in the North Island of New Zealand where he writes contemporary novels and science fiction. He is married with three adult children and six grandchildren.
His interest in current events and international incidents serve as a backdrop for many of his novels. Ordinary people rather than the super rich super powerful or violent, are the main characters in his stories. His plots also reflect his interest in the rural lifestyle as well as the cross section of personalities encountered during his years as a teacher.
Read more at Ross Richdale’s site.
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