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Authors: Tawdra Kandle
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No one knows you in Burton, except that Boomer dude.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “And of course Sam.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’ll be walking into a situation where at least one person has already decided I’m a drunken slut.”
Laura rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You might be exaggerating a tiny bit. But it’s your decision. What’re you going to do?”
I ran my finger along the seam of the sofa cushion. “I think I’ll call tomorrow and find out if there’s any way to change it. But if not, I guess Burton it is.”
At nine o’clock sharp the next morning, I was on the phone, listening to the recorded voice prompting me to press one for help with an application or two for a list of locations where ArtCorps would be sending volunteers this year. I hit zero and waited for a live person.
“Good morning, this is Tina. How can I help you?”
I mustered up my best professional voice, the one I’d perfected over years of waiting tables at the Rip Tide, dealing with rude tourists and testy locals. “Good morning, Tina. I’m Meghan Hawthorne, and I—”
“Oh, Meghan! Hi. I remember your application. Actually, I processed it myself.”
“Wow. What are the odds?” I bit the corner of my lip.
She laughed. “Better than you might think. We’re pretty small here, since we’re just starting out. Everyone pitches in. And I remember you because I was so excited about the location we matched you with. It was a last-minute add, and when I read their needs, I thought about you right away.”
“Oh. Really?” I tried to keep the skepticism out of my voice.
“Definitely. They’re so excited about you coming. We sent them your portfolio, and the home and school association said you were exactly the kind of teacher they’d hoped to have. I spoke to Mrs. Moss yesterday. She was positively giddy.”
“Mrs. Moss?” I searched my memory for the name.
“Yes, she’s your host. She’s been the driving force behind getting ArtCorps to Burton, and she also agreed to open her home to you while you’re in town. She was telling me about where she lives, and I have to tell you, I’m jealous. Apparently it’s a farm house that’s been in her family for generations.”
“I’m sure it’s lovely.” I hesitated, not wanting to sound unappreciative in the face of Tina’s enthusiasm. “I just wanted to check, though, and make sure that there hadn’t been a mistake. I read that usually you try to give applicants their first or second choice of locations. I had said either the southwest USA or the west coast.”
“Yes, that’s true. We do try. But we had a few special circumstances this year. We had a number of people request Arizona or New Mexico. We had intended to place you in northern California, but then one of our volunteer applicants had a family emergency. She’s from that area, and her mother is ill. She asked for a special placement, and when the request from Burton came in, everything fell into place. I’m sure you understand.”
I did, all too well. I’d had my experience with a sick parent, and if giving up my spot in California let someone else have more time with her mother, I was fine with it. I still wasn’t sure about Burton, though.
“So if there’s nothing else ...” Tina was ready to wrap up this convo.
“Just so I can be clear, there’s no other options for me as far as location? No way for me to ... I don’t know, switch with someone?”
“No, we don’t allow switching.” Tina’s voice lost some of its patience. “We’re careful about how we make the assignments. We have a process. Your options are either Burton or withdrawing from the program.”
I gritted my teeth. “Okay, well, thanks. I’m sure Burton will work out fine. I appreciate your time.” I turned off my phone and stuck out my tongue at it. Or rather, at Peppy Tina who’d been on the other end up until a few seconds before. Damn her and her process that was sending me to
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I’ll be walking into a situation where at least one person has already decided I’m a drunken slut.”
Laura rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You might be exaggerating a tiny bit. But it’s your decision. What’re you going to do?”
I ran my finger along the seam of the sofa cushion. “I think I’ll call tomorrow and find out if there’s any way to change it. But if not, I guess Burton it is.”
At nine o’clock sharp the next morning, I was on the phone, listening to the recorded voice prompting me to press one for help with an application or two for a list of locations where ArtCorps would be sending volunteers this year. I hit zero and waited for a live person.
“Good morning, this is Tina. How can I help you?”
I mustered up my best professional voice, the one I’d perfected over years of waiting tables at the Rip Tide, dealing with rude tourists and testy locals. “Good morning, Tina. I’m Meghan Hawthorne, and I—”
“Oh, Meghan! Hi. I remember your application. Actually, I processed it myself.”
“Wow. What are the odds?” I bit the corner of my lip.
She laughed. “Better than you might think. We’re pretty small here, since we’re just starting out. Everyone pitches in. And I remember you because I was so excited about the location we matched you with. It was a last-minute add, and when I read their needs, I thought about you right away.”
“Oh. Really?” I tried to keep the skepticism out of my voice.
“Definitely. They’re so excited about you coming. We sent them your portfolio, and the home and school association said you were exactly the kind of teacher they’d hoped to have. I spoke to Mrs. Moss yesterday. She was positively giddy.”
“Mrs. Moss?” I searched my memory for the name.
“Yes, she’s your host. She’s been the driving force behind getting ArtCorps to Burton, and she also agreed to open her home to you while you’re in town. She was telling me about where she lives, and I have to tell you, I’m jealous. Apparently it’s a farm house that’s been in her family for generations.”
“I’m sure it’s lovely.” I hesitated, not wanting to sound unappreciative in the face of Tina’s enthusiasm. “I just wanted to check, though, and make sure that there hadn’t been a mistake. I read that usually you try to give applicants their first or second choice of locations. I had said either the southwest USA or the west coast.”
“Yes, that’s true. We do try. But we had a few special circumstances this year. We had a number of people request Arizona or New Mexico. We had intended to place you in northern California, but then one of our volunteer applicants had a family emergency. She’s from that area, and her mother is ill. She asked for a special placement, and when the request from Burton came in, everything fell into place. I’m sure you understand.”
I did, all too well. I’d had my experience with a sick parent, and if giving up my spot in California let someone else have more time with her mother, I was fine with it. I still wasn’t sure about Burton, though.
“So if there’s nothing else ...” Tina was ready to wrap up this convo.
“Just so I can be clear, there’s no other options for me as far as location? No way for me to ... I don’t know, switch with someone?”
“No, we don’t allow switching.” Tina’s voice lost some of its patience. “We’re careful about how we make the assignments. We have a process. Your options are either Burton or withdrawing from the program.”
I gritted my teeth. “Okay, well, thanks. I’m sure Burton will work out fine. I appreciate your time.” I turned off my phone and stuck out my tongue at it. Or rather, at Peppy Tina who’d been on the other end up until a few seconds before. Damn her and her process that was sending me to
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