It was a blustery day at Whitney High, but for some - the bluster wasn't the cool fall weather.
The screech of tires coming to a sudden stop followed by slamming of a car door, and not so quiet curses broke through the crisp morning air of Whitney High School as a young woman wearing a pair of patchwork denim jeans, a plum colored polo shirt, maroon sneakers and a domino pendant rushed through the open air corridors filled with students rushing to class before the second bell pronounced them late.
"Damn…" the women breathed through clenched teeth as said bell made itself known. "For whom the bell tolls," Aidan sighed as she turned the corner toward the auditorium consigning herself to being late and adding it to the long list of mishaps and failures that plagued her since her alarm went off that morning … or in this case her alarm that failed to do the job assigned to it.
As she hurried, keeping a firm hold on her papers and other items for her presentation, Aidan cursed every single thing that had gone wrong. First, after having a long day - and part of the night - of working a case with Tony, she overslept, and had to dash to get ready. As she changed, she kept thinking she was forgetting something important, as though the day had some meaning other than going to the school. Aidan tried as hard as she could, but she couldn't remember, and decided to let it drop and instead focused on her presentation.
She rushed out the door and was halfway across the apartment complex when she realized she forgot her presentation items. Then when she got to the car, she jerked the door handle so hard that it broke off in her hand.
Fortunately, she was able to get in through the other side, and headed to the school. She arrived there with no problems… only to find the nearest staff parking space was the farthest one from the school.
Mentally checking off her list of morning mishaps as the young women arrived at the auditorium. Aidan paused just for a moment outside the door to pull her-self together and adjusted the items in her arms before entering what she now considered the lions den.
She took a deep breath then reached for the handle, but froze, her hand still over the handle. She had remembered what she had forgotten - and it was like being hit by a ton of bricks as the emotions of the memory cascaded and broke over her. With a silent sob Aidan let her hand fall to her side and she leaned her forehead against the cool metal door as the memory of what she had forgotten came flooding back into her mind.
How could she have forgotten something so important? Had her life gotten so hectic and out of whack that she had completely forgotten what today was? A day that she had never missed in nearly 20 years not since…
How could I have forgotten?
Her heart started to ache and Aidan wanted to mourn, but knew she couldn't - not now, not when her students needed her, and lifted her head from the door pushing her emotions into the small box deep in her soul saving the grief for later.
She ran a hand through her hair and checked her reflection in the shinning surface of a nearby vending machine smirking some at how the slightly distorted image seemed to be a more accurate reflection of her life than what a perfect mirror would show her.
Shaking her head slightly at the image and smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes Aidan declared herself presentable and took a step back to the door - only to have it open right into her. The young woman landed on her bottom, dropping her items.
As she gathered her presentation, she heard a gruff voice. "Ah, Miss Hinkley, I'm glad you finally arrived," said Superintendent Knight.
Damn it to hell could it get any worse? she thought, rolling her eyes and mentally shaking her fist at whatever cosmic being seemed to have it out for her today. "Hello Mr. Knight." Aidan greeted, hoping the annoyance she felt did not show in her voice as she finished gathering her stuff, then stood giving the superintendent a half grin.
The former Whitney principal and current county superintendent brushed off the greeting. "Mr. Hinkley was surprised himself that you would be late to your presentation," he said simply. Before Aidan could apologize, he continued. "I hope you're ready to give it."
The young woman could only nod, and edged her way around the opposing figure and entered the room. Once she was on stage and her presentation set up, Aidan turned and faced the panel that would decide if they would buy her the equipment she wanted. In addition to the panel, her godfather and the principal, Ralph Hinkley, sat off to the side. Because the two were related, Ralph was not allowed to vote in the decision, but he could give input if need be.
Noticing Ralph's disappointed expression, especially that his goddaughter was late to her presentation, Aidan gave a slightly nervous gulp. "Yep… it could get a lot worse," she thought, and began her presentation.