Apologies for the late update, work has been busy. But it's here, the next chapter. Hope you've all had a good weekend. Happy Monday!
Two weeks had passed and still nothing from Eddie and Rachel didn't seem to reach out herself, even if she did she hadn't said anything to him. Phillip didn't know what else he could do, but he was worried, where was Eddie Lawson and why hasn't he got back in touch with Rachel.
It was a Wednesday morning, the head had announced for a mid week assembly. Curiosity built amongst the students, as far as they knew since the first assembly at the start of term everyone had been on good behaviour, so what did his aunt have in store for Waterloo Road this time. Assembly's were boring, no one enjoyed them, they were just a drag to the morning and having to listen to information that no one actually cared about. The students started to gather in the hall and take their seats, all in deep conversations amongst one another, whilst the head, along with the deputy was stood on the stage waiting for everyone to take their seats.
Raising her voice a little so they could all here "good morning all" she smiled
"Good morning Miss Mason" students all in sync
"Great. Firstly I want to start off me saying thank you to you all, you respected what I said back at the first encounter I had with you all at the start of term. Respect and trust means a lot to me and if I give it, I expect to have it back, easy as that. You do right by me and I will do right by you, so thank you - it is so lovely to see this school once again working together and being a family, we're not just a building, Waterloo road is YOU and it's me, it's this head teacher"
The students and some staff started to applaud
"there's only one Miss Mason" Bolton yelled out
And then it started, the students were in sync "Waterloo road, Waterloo road..."
"Ok, ok. Settle down" raising both her hands and lowering them again repeatedly, for the students to lower their voices and eventually stopping
"Thank you, really. Your love for this school and each other proves to me I'm doing something right. The second thing I'd like to bring back all goes back to what I said earlier, now because of all your hard work and determination I'd like to put on something, let's say a talent show, we're coming to the end of term and I thought it would be a fun way to see the term out"
She looked around at the staff and not all were impressed as they knew they'd have to take up their free time to help out
"Staff and students have to help each other put it altogether. I think it'll be really great, I've already spoken to Miss Campbell, she'll be placing sign up sheets throughout the school, if you'd like to be a part of the talent show and audition sign your name and we will take it from there. You have until this Friday to do so"
giving a thumbs up and then clapping her hands together
"Right, we'll end it there. Have a good day and be good!"
As the students started to leave the hall she turned to Chris, grabbing at his arm before he went to leave the stage
"Chris, could you do me a favour. I'd like to see all the staff this break time in the staff room please, will you get the word out."
"Yeah course. Anything serious?"
"Nope, when I said staff to be involved with this show, I meant it. I've got a few ideas I'd like to run past everyone, that's all" she smiled and gracefully walked off stage back towards her office
"Wonder what the lady of the night has in store for us this time, if she thinks I'm going to be taking up my free time to watch a few kids make a fool of themselves on stage" he laughed "well it's not happening, unless she wants to higher my pay check"
Tom was quick enough to speak up "God Grantly, quit moaning will you. It's a great idea, when have we ever put on a show for parents and students to enjoy. It's not always about you, it's the children that matter"
He tutted "well are we all suddenly forgetting the last time we put on an event for the public" nodding and smiling as everyone started to listen in "yes her majesty past got announced to the whole school. Not that I cared, we all love the drama don't we" just as he was about to say anything else, the lady in speaking walked in
"Great, you're all here. Now this won't take long put I've assigned you all roles to take part. We only have next week to get it altogether and I'd like to if possible put it on for next Friday? Can we make that happen?"
"Jesus Rachel, do you think we're magicians? We can't just snap our fingers and everything is in place. There's a lot of planning and props, I mean we don't even know how many of the kids want to perform, I mean are they even talent material?"
Whispering but not good enough for everyone to hear "ha these kids don't even know what talent is, waste of time I reckon"
"Right Grantly, I've signed you and Ruby up to judge the talent shows, you can get a few students to help you as well" she raised her hand to stop Grantly from saying what he was about to say "there's no buts, it's mandatory, you're all doing it!"
"And Steph, going back to your planning and props idea, I've written yourself, Jo and Kim down, and I repeat you can grab a few students from lessons to help you, I'm sure then a week will be plenty of time to organise and pull it altogether."
"And what will you be doing? Hiding away from it all in your chamber leaving us do it" Grantly piped up, not shy to say what he thinks
Rachel bit down on her lip to refrain herself from saying what she truly would like to say "no Grantly, I'll be finalising letters to go home with the students informing and inviting their parents/guardians about the show."
Turning her head looking around for Kim "that reminds me actually, Kim will you be able to put together a few posters as well and put them up around the school, get some of your best art students involved with the design of the posters, that would be fantastic!"
"Yep sure, no problem" Smiling as she was taking notes as Rachel spoke, not wanting to miss anything important and jotting down a few ideas she had in mind
"Right, that's perfect. Well I think that's everything for now, any problems you know where I am. I'll head down to the canteen to give Candice and Rose a heads up and they can start planning what to put out for a big buffet spread. Have a good day all" she made her way for the door and disappeared down the corridor
"I don't know where she thinks we have time for all this, I mean does she expect us to do our lessons as well?" Steph grabbed a magazine of the table, sat back in the chair and crossed her leg over the other
"Come on Steph, you don't do anything anyway. Your lesson planning is basically google, copy - paste and print!" Tom laughed
"Rude! You don't see the kids complaining. I agree with Grantly though we should get extra pay"
"Is that all you two think about is money, if you cared that much about your pay you wouldn't be wasting majority of it down the pub every night! I've cleared it with Rachel earlier this morning, as far as we're concerned this week is" and he quoted " "fun week" so no lessons, no lesson planning. Just concentrate on the talent show, we're going to have children in and out of the classes for the next two days, auditioning."
Grantly interrupted him "Well Mr Mead, I didn't hear her highness bring your name up, are you just going to be lurking about in the corridors then, avoiding all this nonsense of a show, mmm"
"Yes actually, Rachel has asked me to make sure everything is running smoothly and up to standard, so yes to answer your question I will be lurking around the corridors, making sure children are where they should be and you're all doing what you've been asked to do"
That shut Grantly up, and the rest of the teachers for that matter. There was no arguing there way out of this, it was going ahead whether they liked it or not. Steph didn't actually mind it, she liked getting involved and organising events, she was quite the party planner so to decorate the hall and get props in she was very much looking forward to it. Grantly on the other hand, he got tired of his job and the children as the years went on started to irritate him even more, so he couldn't think of anything worse than to be sat in a hall with Ruby Fry and two other students watching ridiculous acts and thinking they all had talent. He'd rather be sat at home drinking soup with a fork, that would be more of a success, he thought.
Friday had come around quite quickly, Rachel glanced over the audition sheet and was surprised to see Phillip had put his name up for auditions, he kept that quiet she thought; she was now very intrigued to what his talent was and was very much looking forward to finding out a week today. There was a few good names on the list, a lot that surprised her like Bolton, even Michaela had put her name down. It amazed Rachel how far these children had come, looking back to how Bolton was and the respect he now has for her, this is why Rachel loved her job - to show and prove to her students that they are more than what they think they are, they're not nothing and will be nothing everyone has something to work for if they put their mind to it, just don't give up.
Smiling walking to her office, she was excited for this talent show to happen. Auditions were to be held this afternoon and then next week would be the performance where all who wanted would come to watch.
Sitting at her desk she opened up her laptop and starting browsing, the nerves of excitement came to her when she though of a surprise she could do for the students and couldn't wait to see their reactions as well as the staff, she just needed another staff member to help her. Which brought her back to thinking of Eddie, where is he she thought; grabbing her bag and reaching for the letter she always kept it close because it did mean something to her. She loved him but she hated the drama that came with that love and everything he did.
A knock at the door and Chris walked in "only me"
"Ah Chris, just the man I wanted to see, I gave a few things I'd like to run by you and an idea I have for the talent show, grab a coffee take a seat, it won't take long"