A little banter and a plan

You lead the way back to the faculty table, noting that your four colleagues have been joined by two younger women. All of them watch your little parade with expressions of amusement, speculation and interest. Dallas puts the tray on the table and smiles, almost curtsying, before standing up.

"Looks like you recruited help Mr. Carter," Lorri McKay chuckles.

"Mr. Carter has agreed to be our faculty sponsor!" Julia bubbles. "It's so great!"

"Is this the car wash thing?" Donna asks with a sardonic smile.

"Yes, it's for such a good cause Ms. Considine," Dallas says. "We're so happy Mr. Carter agreed."

"Oh absolutely. You girls wouldn't want to miss the chance of showing off your bikinis. Not to mention how much you've grown since last year," Donna says archly, eyeing Julia's swelling bust.

"It's so much fun Ms. Considine! And the money makes the seniors so happy. Thank you so much for agreeing to help Sir!" Millie says, flashing a grin and almost bouncing with excitement.

"Girl, you ought to lengthen that skirt," Lorri tells her with a stern look that is belied by the twinkle in her eyes. "You start jumping like that you gonna show everyone what's in the cookie jar."

"Sorry, Ms. McKay," Millie says, calming slightly and looking subdued.

"We thought we'd wash Mr. Carter's car to thank him for agreeing," Julia says. "We'd like to do that for all of you as well."

"And when were you thinking of doing that, Julia?" one of the younger women asks, who you recognise as Christina Thorpe the music teacher.

"This afternoon, if that's ok? We can use the upper parking lot, and we'll even move your cars up for you. All of us have our licenses and we'll be ever so careful. And you can come and watch."

"It would be great practise for us," Dallas adds with a smile.

"And an excuse to put on a bikini and show off a little," the other young woman laughs. "Sure, why not? It will give Mr. Carter a chance to see what he's agreed to." The others nod and the girls giggle happily and scamper off as you resume your seat, aware of the amused glances from your colleagues.

"You don't waste much time, do you boy?" Lorri chuckles with earthy humour. "Y'all better watch yo'self round these girls or they'll be getting you to agree to anything."

"Oh, it's harmless," the other young woman smiles. "I'm Monica Fulton, we sort of met last night, but there was a lot going on so if you don't remember it's cool. I teach languages. How did they come to pick you?"

"They said their last sponsor isn't here anymore and since we both taught biology, and I live in the same cottage she did, they thought I was the natural choice. A Ms. Bell, they said?" You notice the female teachers fall silent and serious for a moment, with glances passing between each other. Darnell and Brian notice the change in mood, and look curiously at the women.

"She resigned," Donna says. "It's a bit of a sore point around here, and this isn't a good place to tell you about it. Perhaps at dinner tomorrow."