Isa bit down on her tongue to hold herself from talking back at the librarian for yet another insult thrown to her face. She was here to become a library assistant and she’ll get it even if it costs her ego.
She gave a painfully strained smile at the librarian while Bailey shifted her weight from foot to foot, nervously.
The librarian narrowed her eyes at the girl before her and bit out “you don’t have what it takes to be an assistant here. Go back to your band of immature, hormone driven scoundrels, and continue with whatever evil you commit. You shall not pollute my library with the foul stench of your existence.”
“But Isa is a g…”
“Shut up girl!” The librarian bit at Bailey.
Isa clenched her teeth and prayed to God to give her strength. “I’m not here to pollute anything or anyone. I just want to help keep the library in order.”
The librarian scoffed, “keep the library in order? The last time you visited this library with your unfortunate self, you did the exact opposite of what you’re asking to do. I wouldn’t even let you work in a cemetery, lest you disturb those poor resting souls.”
“Well if you had given me a chance to explain then, you would have discovered that I was pushed into the shelf. Intentionally” explained Isa irritatedly.
“Indeed” replied the librarian with a passive voice.
Isa mentally groaned.
Could this woman be more frustrating!
Sighing, Isa pleaded “Please let me work here. Give me a chance to prove that I’m not a nuisance as you think I am. I’ll not make noise or destroy anything. I’ll make sure to take good care of the library, just please let me work here”.
The librarian looked at Isa long and hard before narrowing her eyes to slits. “You want to get out of study hall don’t you?”
Exactly!
“That’s not it, no. I don’t hate study hall.”
“Then why do you want to work here?” She asked, still peering at Isa’s face. “I guess I’m just…settling for books this time.” Isa smiled nervously as the librarian watched her like a hawk. Isa hoped she didn’t see through her lies.
“That’s a very stupid reason” the librarian stated. Isa blinked severally and turned to Bailey, who in turn shrugged helplessly.
The librarian took out a form and wrote down a few things before handing it to Isa. “Go to the secretary’s office and give this to her. She’ll adjust your schedule.”
Amazed, Isa began to thank her but was cut off rudely, “get out of my sight before I change my mind and shred that form into a million pieces.”
Isa timidly knocked on the door of the secretary’s office, and a faint ‘come in’ granted her entrance.
“Hello” greeted Isa as she approached her desk. She presented the written note to the lady saying, “I would like to adjust my schedule please. I have a form from the librarian” she paused as the lady took the note from her, “I’m working in the library now, and the librarian wishes that I start work immediately. So I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
She could clearly remember her awkward encounter with the secretary and would not like to linger for another one.
Dropping the note, she smiled at Isa, “oh no such thing. Take a seat darling.” Sighing internally, Isa sluggishly sat before her.
“So how’ve you been? Haven’t seen you since your first day.” She smiled sweetly at Isa. Isa returned the smile hesitantly. “I’ve been good, thanks”
Wwhhhyyyy??!!!
“You look good but you haven’t been good” she stated.
“… what?” Isa asked confusedly. She frowned slightly as her eyes shifted from the secretary to the note.
“You’ve been tangling up in Heather’s business” she explained in a serious voice. Isa’s frown deepened.
“I…don’t understand” Isa mumbled. She didn’t know what the secretary was talking about.
Sighing, the lady adjusted her glasses and began, “you and Heather seem to have grown attached to each in hatred lately. Getting into arguments, quarrels and fights all over the school. I thought we agreed to steer clear of trouble but you obviously had made other decisions of your own young lady.”
Isa’s face was a mix of confusion and surprise as she stared at the lady in the desk. “… what?”
Leaning toward, she continued, “who knows how long you’d be able to survive in this school with the rate at which you find trouble. Don’t you want to have a peaceful school year?” Isa started to talk but the secretary wasn’t done yet.
“You know…people that enter the kind of trouble you do don’t stay long here and definitely don’t do well. You might start getting unfair treatment from other kids and then you’re marks in class go downhill and you kicked out of this and that…” she glanced at the form on her desk and smiled at Isa. “And even some request you make can be turned down”
“… what?” Isa breathed.
“Look dear, I mean well for you when I say this: stay away from trouble. If that’s your way of letting out all those teenage girl emotions then I must disapprove.”
Isa, having resolved to stay quiet, stared at the floor in anger.
How quickly people could turn the tables against her and come up with their own perception of things. The worst part was that staff was aware of what was happening but didn’t do anything. It just wasn’t fair. And what the secretary said didn’t go unnoticed. She knew a threat when she heard one.
“I’m sorry…” Isa said in a strangled voice. She was trying her best to nurse her anger.
“It’s alright dear, you’ll get over those teenage emotions soon enough. And while we’re at it, I’d advise you to meet the councilor sometime, but only if you wish to” the secretary said with a smile.
After some minutes of typing, she handed Isa her new schedule and a note. Isa took it and thanked her crisply. She turned to leave the office when a voice called her back.
“Miss White? I’d like to see you in my office please” principal Goodman called. “Yes sir” Isa said in a rush.
What did I do now?
Isa nervously entered the principal’s office. He had taken his seat while Isa looked around the office, awkward and not knowing what to do. “Have a seat, Miss White” he offered.
When she had taken her seat, he smiled warmly at her.
Now, principal Goodman was a middle-aged man. He had dark green eyes, a small moustache and a wide smile, that made you want to smile back. His white blond hair was cut short to fit his handsome face.
“I haven’t had time to see you since your admittance to ask how you’re faring. So tell me miss White, how are you?” He asked warmly.
“I’ve been good sir. Thank you” Isa replied nervously, half expecting him to accuse her like his secretary.
He put his hands together and leaned forward. “How about a school and friends?” Isa swallowed hard.
“School’s been fine, and I’ve made lots of friends, sir. They have been very good to me, sir.”
“And trouble?”
There it is…
“Have you gotten into any trouble recently?” He asked carefully.
Yes sir! Specifically with your deranged daughter, sir.
“No sir” Isa replied stoutly.
Leaning back, he grinned at his student, “that’s not true miss White. You can’t be in Redwood high and not get yourself in a sticky pickle once.” Isa smiled back, “well, I might’ve been in one sometime like that…”
“In that case I hope you don’t land yourself in my office for that reason, throughout your stay here, miss White” principal Goodman said in a serious tone, but amusement was evident in his eyes.
Isa smiled. She felt rather comfortable with this man. He was nice, warm and friendly to be Heather’s father. They were exact opposites, and if not for the slight resemblance, she wouldn’t believe he was Heather’s father. Even if they shared the same last name.
“You recently moved here and even if it’s not in my place to ask, how do you see the town. Do you like it here?” He inquired further.
Isa paused to think.
The town had a nice environment. It was also the place of her birth. She’d made good friends that cared about her too. But there were too many mad people packed in the town, and she had had the ill luck to meet some of them; his daughter included, and the universe had allowed her a few moments of rest before torturing her again.
“Yes. Yes sir, I like it here” she replied half telling the truth.
Principal Goodman clapped his hands once and smiled. “Good. I’m glad you like it here. This town is beautiful and has its wonders and mysteries. Some of these mysteries are scary and a bit overwhelming, and a few are oppurtuned to experience them. But at the end, it’s still our home, isn’t it.” He paused for a bit and continued.
“Our town’s carnival is coming up in the next two weeks. I’m sure you and your friends will be attending?”
Isa nodded. “Good I’m sure you’ll enjoy the carnival. Well miss White, it was nice chatting with you, and I’m always in my office if you need anything.” “Yes sir.”
She stood up and headed for the door. Then she turned and smiled at him. “Bye principal Goodman. See you soon sir.”
He smiled when she left, “see you real soon Isabella White.”
When Isa returned to the library, she narrated everything to Bailey. But Bailey was particularly excited about the carnival and didn’t pay attention to the rest. She daydreamed about the carnival as the moved between shelves, stacking them with books.
She and Isa were the first people to know of the date of the carnival in the whole school.
“I can’t wait to attend the carnival” Bailey said wistfully. “Can’t wait either. This one’s going to be my first. I wonder what I’m going to wear to it” Isa commented. “You’ll obviously dress better than everyone” she added, smiling.
Chuckling, Bailey replied, “of course. I dress to impress.”