"Andrew Jefferson?". Andrew or 'Andy' as he usually went by, quickly came back to reality the moment he heard his name being called at the job center. It was your typical mess of a building, much like a lot of places in Newark. If not looking for a job on the other side of the Hudson, which most folks there were for, then it was some work out in other parts of the state.
Andy was a recent high school graduate but rather than going straight onto college, he was planning on using the summer and fall getting some work and cash in his pocket before hopefully attempting classes in the next semester. He wasn't picky about his choices, not fully, anything that seemed on the level and paid decent even for a guy straight out of high school would work just fine. He walked up to the receptionist before she quickly motioned him into an office.
A weary-looking, yet kindly-looking man sat behind the desk, wearing glasses as he is reading the file of the boy who's sitting down in the chair in front of him, and he looked up with a smile.
"I'm Jonathan Abbott, and you must be Andrew Jefferson, then?", Abbott asked warmly, and the boy smiled politely, "Yes, sir. Through everyone calls me Andy for short.".
"Andy, then.", Abbott nodded, noting the slightly casual, yet professional clothes on him, clearly showered as his bronze skin is clean, his dirty blonde hair combed and tied into a low ponytail, his warm brown eyes full of determination and hope and perhaps nervousness.
Abbott hummed, "A 18-year-old fresh out of high school. I read that you graduated with honors from White Plains High School in Alabama...That's quite a long way to be here.".
"Family down there. I'm from the south originally, my folks moved up north to New Brunswick in the 70s..." He motioned his hand to point in the direction of the city that was slowly being swallowed by the Big Apple like Newark had been before it. "But my folks thought it would be a decent idea to at least spend my senior year back south. Besides, rarely saw my relatives around there so that's why they thought of it.", Andy chuckled.
"I see.", Abbott looked at the paper before him. "And you've obviously written down here that you're just looking for a part time job for the rest of the year.".
Andy nodded, "Yes, sir. I'm hoping to get some extra cash to pay for college, or at least the first couple of semesters. My folks had already paid for my car as my graduation gift, so paying for college is my responsibility, though I am honestly still looking for the right thing that makes me happy, decently at least...".
Abbott smiled warmly, "Well, you seem like a mature, responsible one since you have done some extra things here and there...Home Economics classes, some tutoring, and some assistance in helping the coaches.".
"Yeah, though I do sort of wish that I got at least some cash for the trouble, but at least I have a better idea what to expect in the work force.", Andy adjusted in his seat. "Look, I'm just taking whatever will take me.", Andy snickered. "After all, looks better on a resume for sure with some sort of work.".
"True.", Abbott smiled. "So, is there anything you'd truly reject?". Andy shrugged in response to that question, "I'm sure there's something, but I'm not in too much of a position to say no to a lot of offers.".
Abbott chuckled, "That's very fair.", before looking through a few papers, "You'd want to gain experience, so stressful jobs is out...and short-term jobs is out...Ah, here we are...I have two jobs that looks promising...The first one is a long-term, through this one only lasts three days per week, through the pay is decent, and the location is not far off, only in the other side of town. It requires working in a bookstore.".
Andy blinked before asking politely, "And the second one?". Abbott answers, "Long term again, five days per week, and the pay is better, but the location is, ah, rather far in the countryside outside of town, and this is teaching as a gym class coach, in a finishing school. I think it's a boarding school of sorts, and there is room and board for the coach...".
"Hmm... well, location obviously isn't an issue with me, White Plains was fairly out there so it wouldn't make much of a difference.", Andy said.
"It's out in the state forests, not too far away from the Pine Barrens.", Abbott explained. "This is actually a bit of a weird one, to be honest, have had this job come in for the last three years; no one's gone for it. At least those that aren't looking for work in NYC, that is.".
Andy blinked, "I guess those people prefer close necessity to grocery stores and all, but since I did Home Economics, and if there's room and board, it would technically help me save money faster than working in a bookstore as I would need to pay for an apartment or something as I don't want to live in my car...".
Abbott looked at him, "So, you're considering the gym class coach job, then?", and Andy nodded, "I think I am, and besides, I helped the coaches back in high school, so this shouldn't be too hard for me, and since it's long term, it would give me more experience, and I think better on my legs than sitting around.".
"Well, I guess that might be it then.", Abbott said. "Of course, the woman that sent this, a Miss Grimwood, she's wanting signatures and all for this.".
"Makes sense... after all, room and board so obviously she wants probably some liabilities; not deal with someone trashing up the place.", Andy gave a small smile as Abbott shrugged.
"That was my thought as well.", Abbott pulled out the contract and placed it in front of Andy.
Andy read it carefully, seeing the name of the school; 'Miss Grimwood's Finishing School for Girls', and he realizes that he might be in for hormones if this means an entire school of girls from different ages, either disinterested or crushing on him...
He's like in the range of good-looking, through he's not handsome like other boys his age as he's not narcissistic or anything. Yet being a gym coach would require some quick thinking...After all, it's not normal for gym coaches to be 18, and then again, from what Abbott said, this school hadn't much luck to find a gym coach in the last three years.
"Anything standing out there? There's not much to it and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary.", Abbott asked as Andy shook his head. "No, just thinking for a moment there before I sign.", he sighed as he quickly signed his name.
Abbott nodded, and smiled, "Alright, then. I'll mail this asap, and I'll have a call soon from Miss Grimwood, so probably a couple of days to wait.", and Andy nodded, "Of course. I'll be staying in one of the inns or hotels around town, and I'll be checking in with you tomorrow and etc., if that's alright with you, sir.".
"That's fine, we'll keep you in the know with things. Shouldn't take too long though.", Abbott said as he stood up and shook Andy's hand.
Andy smiled confidently, shaking Abbott's hand, "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.", and Abbott smiled warmly, "You're very welcome, and it's what I do. You have a good afternoon, Andy, and I have faith that this goes well for you.".
"You too as well, sir. And I hope so too.", Andy nodded with a grateful smile, and then turned to head out of the office.
The next week had been a blur before Andy soon found himself driving in an older '81 Dodge Ram pickup driving towards the Pine Barrens while a pretty nasty storm had moved through the area. According to Abbott, apparently everything was all good and he had gotten the job, he only just needed to head to the school. Andy did find it a bit odd there was a finishing school so far out of any real places, but he wasn't thinking too much about it.
Within a few hours, Andy double checked the directions, and soon arrived at the gates of an impressive, strangely beautiful, gothic, large building.
"Well, guess this is the place...", Andy said to himself as he leaned forward to try to see out of the windshield better. His eyes went back down the road where he had run into a nearby military school. For a moment before, he thought he had gotten the wrong address or there was a mix up but apparently the right place was down the road.
Or so he still thought as he was looking at the sign right out the gate. 'Miss Grimwood's Finishing School for Ghouls' with the word Ghouls different from the rest of the words, larger and in red. That last word was obviously confusing him. 'Ghouls'? Wasn't it supposed to be girls?
Andy pursued his lips in curiosity as he knew that he signed the contract, and maybe this Grimwood is like a foreign immigrant, and maybe ghouls is another word for girls, where this Grimwood came from.
Andy took a deep breath, deemed it as some sort of translation or misspelling before focused right back on the gates which began to open for him to pull the truck forward. After a few dozen or so yards of driving within the perimeter, Andy suddenly hit the brakes when he realized he was almost out of driving room and about to fall forward into a moat!
Andy raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Who needs a moat in the middle of nowhere?", before hearing the loud sound of chains opening, and then came a drawbridge..."Okay, maybe this Grimwood is a historical nerd to make this school act like a castle...At least burglars or bad boys from the other school would have trouble...".
Andy took a deep breath to quickly recontrol himself before he slowly backed away to keep the rain from washing away the truck into the moat if he left it where it was. After another moment and where he was sure it was in a stable location, he turned the truck off and prepared to go out into the storm, making plans to run a quick dash for the front door to keep himself from getting too drenched.
After making it in quick time, Andy made it under the front door roof, taking a look before his eyes widened to see an impressive gargoyle dragon doorknob, "Okay, that's pretty cool.", before taking a deep breath, and took it to knock it hard three times before he yelped in surprise when the dragon doorknob came alive, its eyes glowing yellow, growling at him before taking a sniff, and then purred at him when the door opened.
Andy honestly didn't know what he was doing there. His mind was screaming at him to get right back into the truck and get out of there, head straight back to town, but for whatever reason, he found himself taking several steps forward to go inside.
Andy found himself in a grand foyer, and the door shut loudly behind him, and he then encountered a literal octopus, but strangely enough, the red-skinned octopus is having a pacemaker on itself, made of water literally, wearing a black bowtie, and three watches on three of his tentacles, with golden names on the bands, saying Jersey time, England time, and Asia time.
The octopus then spoke in English, plain English, though Andy can hear octopus noises first before they changed into English. "Mr. Andrew Jefferson?", he asked strongly yet politely, and Andy gulped, nodded, "Y-yeah. That's me.".
The octopus nodded, "Good. We've been expecting you. Miss Grimwood is wanting to speak with you. And oh, I'm the head of the household and the butler, you can call me Otto. Please follow me.".
Andy was about to say something else, but he was pretty sure he'd start having a panic attack if he said anything and instead just followed Otto. But while still holding up from an external viewpoint, mentally, three letters were repeating in his mind.
Andy followed Otto across the great foyer, under two grand staircases, into a hallway, past doors with different names in plaques on the front of the doors...Teachers and such, he presumed, along with a teacher meeting room, and a teacher lounge, and at the end of the hallway is the door with the plaque of Miss Grimwood on it.
Otto knocked on the door, "Miss Grimwood, Mr. Andrew Jefferson is here.", and a kindly, middle-aged female voice called out, "Send him in, please, Otto.", and Otto opened the door to reveal a black-haired, dark-eyed woman, short yet portly, sitting behind a desk.
"I'll call you shortly to pick up the luggage if everything goes well, Otto.", the kindly woman replied, and Otto nodded, "Yes, Miss Grimwood.", before seeming to smile at Andy, "I do hope you'll be a welcome addition to the school, Mr. Andrew Jefferson.", as he then left the room, closing the door.
The woman, Miss Grimwood, smiled warmly, "Sit down, please, young man...I admit I was surprised when I heard of a human accepting the job, let alone being 18 years old, yet there's one thing I am still concerned about.".
"Uh, one thing...?", that was all Andy could really say. He was surprised with how Miss Grimwood looked. That being she appeared to be human and fairly normal looking compared to everything else he was seeing.
Miss Grimwood nodded, "Yes, young man. Your gender. Now I am not discriminating against you, but I am very protective of my ghouls, which is another word for girls in monster terms, and I do not want them to be taken advantage of. Several of my students are teenagers, and in extreme cases, almost adults.".
Andy closed his eyes for a second before he finally found his tongue. "I'm sorry... am I losing my mind?", he asked as she gave him a confused look. She then came to the realization of why he would ask that and chuckled.
"Oh, dearie me, I'm sorry, young man. I suppose all of this is quite a shock to the system for someone who doesn't usually spend their time amongst monsters.", Miss Grimwood smiled kindly.
"You keep saying that word.", Andy lightly pointed at her. "I... Are you trying to tell me that like all those monsters and creatures that I see in movies and books and so forth... are...?".
"Real?", Miss Grimwood asked as he nodded. "But of course.", she smiled.
Andy widened his eyes, and Miss Grimwood then spoke, "Of course, some things are greatly exaggerated as humans likes to, ah, make judgments before truly knowing the truths of monsters...Like for example, monsters do have dreams, feelings, hopes, families, and beliefs. We do not go berserk and destroy villages and kill people, through that was long ago, only out of necessity and survival.".
"Wait, so that means you are...", and Miss Grimwood smiled, "I'm a witch of good magic, young man, and no, the ones who has warts or green skin are actual hags who rely on dangerous, dark magic.".
Andy quickly put his hands to his temples as he was trying to rub them. Part of his mind was still screaming to get out of there before he would end up getting murdered by like Jason Vorhees or something, it was the backwoods of Jersey after all.
"I'm sorry, dear, I know it's probably a lot to take in all at once. I didn't really have much of a choice about being upfront about Grimwood on that contract you signed.", Miss Grimwood quickly pulled it out. "But if I had been, those job offers would have probably thrown it out thinking it was some sort of prank.".
Andy then realized that signing the contract meant for him to keep his word...He is never one to break his word, not with family or friends, and honestly, Miss Grimwood is quite nice to him so far, and that octopus butler, Otto, was friendly towards him...
"I guess you have a fair point about that, ma'am.", Andy spoke softly, and Miss Grimwood smiled, "Oh, please just call me Miss Grimwood, Mr. Jefferson. Or should I call you Andrew?".
"Uh, Andy, I usually go by Andy.", Andy told her as she nodded. "Very well. Um, I know we got distracted for a moment there, but I want to go back to what I was wanting to say before, about you and my girls.", Miss Grimwood reminded.
Andy exhaled, "You don't want your girls to be taken advantage of, mainly because I am a boy, a grownup man. I am raised on good morals, Miss Grimwood, and I am not a jerk or anything bad, I promise you that.".
"You say that now...", Miss Grimwood said as Andy nearly turned white as she started to laugh. "Joking, I'm just joking with you! I trust you'll be responsible and keep to your word.".
Andy nodded firmly, "Yes, Miss Grimwood. I'll keep to my word.", and Miss Grimwood smiled warmly, "Splendid!", before pressing a button, "Otto, see to his luggage. I'll introduce Mr. Jefferson to the rest of the teachers, and the girls. And oh, in the future, in friendly prospects, he'd like to be preferred as Andy, while he's Mr. Jefferson in professional prospects.".