Read Online Difficult Lessons by Tammie Welch - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tammie Welch
Ads: Link
people that she knew. She proudly introduced Cynthia as her new girlfriend. Several of the people that she saw knew her as Keri’s ex-girlfriend. Sara knew that word would get back to Keri that she was seeing someone. It really did not bother her. Cynthia was what had finally gotten her completely over Keri.
“Sara, are you uncomfortable?” Cynthia asked after about an hour at Mel’s.
“No. Why?”
“You keep watching the door.”
“I’m sorry,” Sara said turning her back to the door. “I was actually hoping that Griffin would come back in here tonight. I would love to confront him.”
“I don’t think you should do that. I agree with you about not letting them control you, but you don’t want to be confrontational. That could hurt you in the end.”
“You’re right. Beauty and brains, could I ask for more?” Sara put her arm around Cynthia and kissed her. “I am not going to think about him tonight.”
***
Sara saw the patrol car when they walked out of Mel’s. It was parked two rows over from her car.
“ Does he think that he is hiding from us?” Sara grabbed Cynthia’s hand as they moved through the rows of cars. She knew he was watching. Without looking, she could feel his eyes on her.
Sara kept looking in her rear view mirror as she drove through the deserted streets. She wondered if he saw her watching him. He stayed behind her for several miles before turning off on a side street.
“I guess you are a little disappointed,” Sara said smugly to the reflection in the rear view mirror.
Reluctantly, Sara declined Cynthia’s invitation to stay the night. There were a lot of things that she needed to get done before Monday. She also wanted to think about what she would do if this led to another summons to the office.
Chapter 12
The thick envelope waited for Sara in her mailbox. It was contract time. Every year it was the same thing; a form letter thanking each teacher for their service for the previous year or however long they had taught there and the contract for the upcoming year. Sara thought they used the same letter each year and just changed the dates and years of experience. Sara did not open hers until she had gotten everything together for her classes.
She sat at her desk and opened the envelope. She read the attached letter to herself.
Ms. Carson:
I would like to thank you for your fifteen years of
dedicated service to Mills High School. I have always
been able to depend on you to perform well above your assigned duties.
Your dedication is something that is not seen often. That is
why the decision that I have made was a difficult one. After
meeting with the members of the school board, we have decided
that it is not in the best interest of the students and the school to
offer you a contract for the upcoming school year. You will find
the reasons for our decision attached to this letter.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michaels
Attached was a copy of the employee handbook. Sara flipped through it to see what this could have to do with her contract not being renewed. On the tenth page of the handbook was a highlighted area. It was the section on moral conduct. Sara suddenly felt ill.
Sara pulled her emergency lesson plan folder out of her filing cabinet. There were assignments in the folder that a substitute could give to her students. She picked up her bag and headed back to the front office. Mrs. Hamilton, the secretary, was just opening her office. Sara explained that she had suddenly fallen ill and needed a substitute to cover her classes for the day. It was a believable excuse since obviously all of the color had drained from her face.
Mrs. Hamilton asked, “Are you all right to drive? I can call someone to come pick you up if you like.”
“I am fine, Mrs. Hamilton. I just need to get home and lie
“Sara, are you uncomfortable?” Cynthia asked after about an hour at Mel’s.
“No. Why?”
“You keep watching the door.”
“I’m sorry,” Sara said turning her back to the door. “I was actually hoping that Griffin would come back in here tonight. I would love to confront him.”
“I don’t think you should do that. I agree with you about not letting them control you, but you don’t want to be confrontational. That could hurt you in the end.”
“You’re right. Beauty and brains, could I ask for more?” Sara put her arm around Cynthia and kissed her. “I am not going to think about him tonight.”
***
Sara saw the patrol car when they walked out of Mel’s. It was parked two rows over from her car.
“ Does he think that he is hiding from us?” Sara grabbed Cynthia’s hand as they moved through the rows of cars. She knew he was watching. Without looking, she could feel his eyes on her.
Sara kept looking in her rear view mirror as she drove through the deserted streets. She wondered if he saw her watching him. He stayed behind her for several miles before turning off on a side street.
“I guess you are a little disappointed,” Sara said smugly to the reflection in the rear view mirror.
Reluctantly, Sara declined Cynthia’s invitation to stay the night. There were a lot of things that she needed to get done before Monday. She also wanted to think about what she would do if this led to another summons to the office.
Chapter 12
The thick envelope waited for Sara in her mailbox. It was contract time. Every year it was the same thing; a form letter thanking each teacher for their service for the previous year or however long they had taught there and the contract for the upcoming year. Sara thought they used the same letter each year and just changed the dates and years of experience. Sara did not open hers until she had gotten everything together for her classes.
She sat at her desk and opened the envelope. She read the attached letter to herself.
Ms. Carson:
I would like to thank you for your fifteen years of
dedicated service to Mills High School. I have always
been able to depend on you to perform well above your assigned duties.
Your dedication is something that is not seen often. That is
why the decision that I have made was a difficult one. After
meeting with the members of the school board, we have decided
that it is not in the best interest of the students and the school to
offer you a contract for the upcoming school year. You will find
the reasons for our decision attached to this letter.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michaels
Attached was a copy of the employee handbook. Sara flipped through it to see what this could have to do with her contract not being renewed. On the tenth page of the handbook was a highlighted area. It was the section on moral conduct. Sara suddenly felt ill.
Sara pulled her emergency lesson plan folder out of her filing cabinet. There were assignments in the folder that a substitute could give to her students. She picked up her bag and headed back to the front office. Mrs. Hamilton, the secretary, was just opening her office. Sara explained that she had suddenly fallen ill and needed a substitute to cover her classes for the day. It was a believable excuse since obviously all of the color had drained from her face.
Mrs. Hamilton asked, “Are you all right to drive? I can call someone to come pick you up if you like.”
“I am fine, Mrs. Hamilton. I just need to get home and lie
Similar Books
