Introduction to Staff

The staff room is a large room just off the main entrance, filled with the aroma of coffee and destroyed dreams. There’s quite a crowd already, most seated on the various chairs scattered around, several armchairs, several sofas, and a few rows of temporary chairs, clearly brought in and set up for this big meeting. One thing you notice about the crowd is that it’s primarily female. There are a few men, but they are all exclusively much older than you, and they all appear to float at the edges of the crowd.

Your entrance quickly silences the hubbub of conversation. You feel every gaze watching, all suspicious.

“This is Mr Smith, the new history teacher,” Abigail states into the silence.

“Hi,” you raise your hand in greeting to the silent stares. That appears to satisfy some. Others carry on looking at you oddly, watching you as you follow Abigail to a side room, a kitchen, with sink, dishwasher, a large pot of coffee, a kettle and a watercooler. Of course, there’s a protocol about drinks and coffee cups that she must run through. While she pours herself a coffee, you just grab a glass of water.

While this is going on two others enter the kitchen. The first is a classical goddess of blond hair and large breasts, in a navy-blue skirt and white top. For the room she’s young, you’d guess about the same age as you, and glamorous, with well applied makeup and a deep, recently gained tan. The other is the opposite, dark and sultry, long black hair, large breasts that her modest attire fails to hide, dusky skin, slightly older than the blond, probably of similar age to Abigail. While the blond enters confidently, the darker woman hovers at the entrance, as if afraid to enter.

“So, this is the new history teacher?” the blond states, her grey eyes appraising you.

“Spencer,” Abigail replies, and hugs the blond. When they part, she looks her straight in the eyes and asks “How was the honeymoon? You look like you got a good tan.”

The blond eyes roll-up as she says “Oh, fantastic. You been to the Maldives?” A shake of the head. “You should go. You’d love it. Over 30 every day, sunshine, wonderful. But enough about me, introduce me to our new colleague.”

“Of course. Spencer, this is John Smith. John, this is Spencer Fredon, no sorry Mrs Spencer Mano, she teaches English.”

Spencer holds out her hand. You can’t help but notice the plain gold wedding band on her ring finger as you shake it.

“It’s about time we had some teachers closer to the girl’s age in this school,” Spencer continues. “I know, Abigail, you don’t feel that old, but as an old girl I know how the girl’s feel. You might as well be as old as Mrs Oversight for all they care.”

Abigail’s face hardens at the statement. You must admit it looks quite cute. It also looks like an oft repeated topic. To deflect you turn to the other woman who entered, or half-entered, because she’s hanging in the entrance, as if she doesn’t know whether she wants to come in.

“Hi, John Smith,” you say as you offer her your hand.

She blushes as she takes it. “Anissa De Gaulle, French,” she says in a thick French accent. Her grip is tentative, and she blushes as she shakes it.

“Don’t mind her,” Abigail tells you with a playful smirk on her face. “Anissa sees her role in this school less as teaching and more as missionary work. Her true desire is to become a nun. She believes all us Anglo-Saxons are heathens that need converting back to the true church.”

That would explain the gold crucifix hanging prominently from her neck, nestling comfortably on her bosom, and the bracelet of rosary beads around her wrist. Her body, though, would be wasted on a nun. From what you can see beneath the layers of clothing it’s a body built for a bikini on the French Riviera rather than a convent, plentiful curves, and substance in all the right places. You’d like to see her do missionary, but less missionary work and more missionary position. Where did that thought come from? From the stirring monster in your pants, reacting to the gorgeous women around you.

Any response you could make is lost by a new voice behind Anissa saying, “There you are.”