Chapter 801: Tree Hill High School
Friday, March 31st, Morning
She entered the school through the teacher's entrance and went to the guidance office. Unlocking the door to her office, she set up for the day. Her first appointment was a new transfer student. A transfer this late in the school year was odd, but she recalled her Tennyson; Our's is not to reason why.
Ashlyn started a cup of coffee and looked at the file of her first appointment. She brought up the available courses that matched what was on the transcripts. Some interesting notes from several teachers and guidance counselors were in the file. Ashlyn nodded; she would take her usual patient, wait-and-see approach.
After siping her coffee, Ashlyn heard a knock on her door jam. She looked up to see the department admin standing there.
"Yes?" Ashlyn asked.
"Your appointment is here," the admin said.
"Very good. Show them in," Ashlyn said and waited until a man and his daughter stood at the door. Ashlyn stood up and came out from behind her desk, offering her hand, "Welcome, Mister Gannon, I'm Mrs. Pierce-Scott."
Damian took Ashlyn's hand. "Nice to meet you," he said.
"All mine, please, take a seat," Ashlyn said.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Damian said.
"Please, you don't have to call me ma'am," Ashlyn said. She looked at Jordan and took her seat next to Damian. Except for the bright blue eyes and possibly the shade of her hair, Jordan didn't take much after her dad. Ashlyn noted that Jordan Gannon had a solid passing resemblance to Joce Allen-Travis.
"Old habits, I'm afraid," Damian said.
"It's okay," Ashlyn said, turning to Jordan, "and you must be Jordan."
"Yes, ma'am," Jordan said.
Ashlyn nodded, "I read your transcripts from Chapin High School; I'm rather impressed with your academics, student activities, and athletic achievements," she said.
"Thank you," Jordan said, "ma'am."
"So, have you considered what college you wanted to attend?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yes, ma'am, I would like to attend West Point," Jordan said.
"Impressive," Ashlyn said.
"Yes, I want to be like my dad," Jordan said.
"I see. Do you have a backup school?" Ashlyn asked.
Jordan nodded, "Yes, ma'am, several," she said.
"The problem is the congressional appointment," Damian said.
"Yes," Jordan said and nodded.
Ashlyn nodded. "I tell you what: impress me for the rest of the year, and I'll write you a letter of introduction to a congresswoman. The rest is up to you," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," Jordan said.
"So, you're all set to start Monday," Ashlyn said, grabbing a sheet of paper off her printer, "Here are the classes that match up with what you were taking at Chapin." She gave the paper to Damian and Jordan. "If there aren't any issues, just sign, and I'll finish your enrollment."
"There is one," Damian asked.
"Yes, Mister Gannon?" Ashlyn asked.
"Is her cousin, Joce Allen-Travis, in any of these classes?" Damian asked.
"I'm not sure, let me check," Ashlyn said, but she knew Joce Allen-Travis wouldn't be in any of these classes.
"Thank you," Jordan said.
There was something there, Ashlyn noted. After a quick check of the class rosters, she nodded. "No, Joce Allen-Travis isn't enrolled in any of those classes," Ashlyn said.
"Good," Damian said and signed the paper.
"Thank God," Jordan said and sighed. Ashlyn took the paper and set it on top of the file.
"So, Monday, come here first thing, and I'll have everything you need for your first day," Ashlyn said.
"Thank you, ma'am," Jordan said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Pierce-Scott," Damian said.
"You're welcome," Ashlyn said, "Are there any other questions?"
"No, ma'am," Jordan said.
"I have one," Damian said.
Ashlyn nodded and fostered, "Go ahead," she said.
"Is that James Scott in that picture?" Damian asked.
Ashlyn nodded, "Yes, that's him," she said.
"You know him?" Damian asked.
"Yes, we graduated from this school and Duke University together, and we have children together," Ashlyn clarified.
"Huh?" Damian asked.
"He's my husband," Ashlyn said.
"Oh, wow, nice," Damian said.
Ashlyn smiled, "I like to think so," she said.
"I bet you miss him, ma'am," Jordan said.
Ashlyn nodded, "I do a lot; he's gone most of the time. It's hard, but we manage," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Ashlyn noticed the sadness take hold in Damian's eyes. She sighed, "Well, he'll be home soon," Ashlyn stated.
"That's good to hear," Damian said.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I have some things to accomplish before my next appointment," Ashlyn said.
"No, nothing else," Damian said, got up, and left. Jordan followed behind her dad.
Ashlyn sighed and looked at the picture of James for a long moment. Shaking her head, she prepared the rest of Jordan's enrollment stuff. Looking at the class roster, she knew who should show her around the first day. Ashlyn smiled as she finished up, her anticipation palpable, and waited for her next appointment.
