Mrs Oversight wants a word

You have five minutes before your lessons starts and there’s a knock on your door. Mrs Oversight doesn’t wait for you to shout “Come in.”

“Mr Smith, can I see you in my office?”

Strange that she wants to see you in her office, when your office is just as appropriate. But you agree. If she wants to talk to you in there, so be it. A couple of girls have already arrived for their lesson, and they smirk to see you traipsing behind Mrs Oversight as if you were a naughty pupil.

Her office is the only one that can be accessed straight from the corridor, meaning you don’t have to walk through her classroom. Once in you shut the door behind you.

“Mr Smith, you have been here, what 2 weeks, this is your 3rd, yes? Do you remember what I said when you started about assembly? That I like teachers to attend.”

“Yes, yes, I remember.”

“Then why haven’t you been. If I’ve been counting correctly, you’ve missed assembly more times than you’ve attended.”

“I’m sorry, I did intend to attend today. I left to attend, but unfortunately, I got waylaid on my way here and missed it.”

“That excuse might work if it was occasional. But, as I said, it’s not occasional. You’re missing more than that. We took a gamble hiring you. It would be appreciated if you made an effort to show that gamble was worth it. Understand?”

“Yes, yes…”

You’re about to say more, but there’s a knock on the door, another person who knocks and then doesn’t wait for a response. This time it’s Dr Stricture. She’s about to speak but notices you sitting there and quickly swallows her words.

“Headmistress,” Mrs Oversight states.

“Oh, Ethel, no, Mrs Oversight, yes. I said I needed a word with you. I thought…”

“That’s alright, Headmistress. I was just running through with Mr Smith his need to attend assembly.”

“Of course, yes, it’s always good to attend assembly, show the girls that the staff are all united in teaching them. Quickly stops any of their silly ideas about causing problems, if they know they’re up against the entire teaching staff, not just one teacher. You’ve finished telling him, Mrs Oversight?”

“Well…”

“Good. Then you’re dismissed Mr Smith. You can go.”

Mrs Oversight looks like she has more to say, but she waves her hand anyway. Dr Stricture holds the door open for you to leave, and as soon as you’re out, she’s shutting it.