Chapter 7 – The Head
The school's head teacher, whom I'd not met, was a Mr. Strain. Sitting before his desk was a real strain as immediately we got off to a rocky start.
His eyes practically popped out of head when he saw the bump I was carrying and then he immediately put his foot in it when he said, "I didn't know you were married!"
I quickly told him I was not married and that you don't have to be married to have a baby. That took some of the wind from his sails. But they he went on about leave time and how he didn't see how the school could let me have time off when the baby came.
I had to go after him straight away. In no uncertain words I told him my baby was due during summer holidays, and I'd take those two weeks off, and no more. Quoting the law didn't hurt my case either, but it was very rude of me to have to say it that way.
Inside I cringed at my harsh and forceful words, not the thing to do in a job interview – a job I needed quite badly. And for that matter, this man was renting out my house! It was far too convoluted and bizarre.
My tone of voice made him speechless for quite a few seconds which was great as I found him almost as irritating as Martin, but in a more insidious and creepy way. There was gooseflesh on my arms and neck as I talked to the man and I was certain half of the sweat pouring off me was a natural reaction to this odd mustachioed and balding little man.
The feeling I was having was so much like the rapid exit I had from the London school it put me quite off. They'd not wanted a single, pregnant teacher to pollute, was the word, their students, parents, or staff. In other words I was fired, in spite of the very clear work place laws. But unless I was ready to file suit and have a protracted legal battle, it was pointless to fight or even protest.
And that is what brought me to my old Portwenn school office, to sit on the wrong side of the desk, being interviewed by Mr. Strain. Perhaps he wasn't so bad, I thought. He must have been adequate or the Board of Governors would not have hired him. Evil to him who evil thinks, Louisa. Didn't your dad say that all the time?
As he was went on about the children and the school and how I'd certainly know the ropes, I wondered how on earth they'd managed to find him when I left last fall? Of course Portwenn is remote and it must have been very hard to fill the spot on such short notice unless he was adrift from his last job. Yes, that must be it.
Having solved that mystery, at least it satisfied me, I looked up and Mr. Strain had an odd smile on his face, which extended only halfway up his eyes. I do not know how that is possible, but he'd done it. I'm certain he had no idea he was doing it, and I was seconds from bolting from the office, the school, and the village itself, when he offered me the part time teaching position.
I quickly put aside my fears, smiled and took his hand, shaking it heartily. His palm was oddly dry and he barely squeezed my hand before withdrawing. Just as well, for his touch gave me the creeps.
I'd start the next day and that would give me just a few hours to catch my breath and try to come to grips with the changes that were whirling about me and in me, but at least I had a job.