Worry about breaking the law...

Katrien's first week is almost up. She's diligently wiping down the gym equipment after the previous class session departs. Since she only instructed female students, she had started hearing murmurs from them. Murmurs and rumors...Where is she from?! Many of these students have never seen true mountains, especially this close to the ocean. Calm and quiet, serene landscapes? To them its alien and something to giggle at. Has she been claimed yet? They ask this question in a whisper, and still they giggle even more. Katrien doesn't quite know what this means, but smiles and says that she is married, so yes.

The day is almost over, and the bell rings in confirmation. That's that! She heads back to her office to get changed. A small room on the way to the women's locker room. Plain decorations, something she plans to change and a small wooden desk and chair set. One window with wire mesh between two panes, and the other peering into that locker room. Simple and yet pleasant for her. A fresh starting point, somewhere to go from and add her own little flair. She finishes tying her street shoes and hears her name called over the intercom.

"Athletics Department, Athletics Department Heads will report to the office." Ah! The administrators must want to see her. She's thankful she got to change from her gym gear. New Atlanta is humid and the school has absolutely no air conditioning. Sweat soaked attire isn't very professional, while it is job appropriate. She fiddled with her ponytail and was glad to be in clean clothes. Simple soft collared white blouses with knee high wrap skirts were her thing, especially at work. She always wanted to maintain a professional air about the workplace. "We create the spaces for students to grow", she always told her wife. If she could have changed anything about herself, it would be how endowed she appeared. When she was nineteen, she endured looks from men in New York. And now, only a few years later, her breasts were finally seeming to slow down their growth. She and Errin were good, honest, law-abiding citizens, if a little prude and simple, even with each other. Errin rarely sexualized her bust and body and just loved Katrien for the contents of her mind and the quality of her heart. If done in the right manner, she did appreciate compliments; Katrien worked out and ate as well as she could afford. Sometimes, the words of the New York upstate locals made her blush; sometimes their words gave her emotional trauma.

Fortunately, she had experienced nothing but respect and professionalism at Freeman Steel High. The staff she'd interacted with were helpful and polite, and aside from the silly tittering of her gym students and their odd questions, she felt very comfortable in this district. As the students were carousing and filing out into the world, she jaunted toward the office. The door was open and she greeted the principal politely. Mister Thompson, an older, balding with a combover white man smiled and welcomed her to sit in front of his desk. "In just a moment, I imagine Bill Wheeler, your counterpart will be with us. How are you finding the school, the students and your first week? If you ever need something, anything, come to me."

Katrien jumped into her answer with gusto. She was thankful for such a pleasant introduction to the deep south, though they both laughed at the unimaginable heat and humidity New Atlanta had to offer. The banter was polite and simple. Then a gritty, gruff voice from the door turned her head. "Mister T!" He exclaimed. "How's my favorite principal? And his wonderful wife, of course!" The tone was friendly and spoke a measure about their report.

"Heya, Kickstand! The family is good, even all the kids." With a wink, he gestured to Katrien. "Bill, meet our newest teacher, Katrien Bell. She is, as you must have presumed, heading up the women's athletic department." Bill leaned over the chair and shook her hand, or rather, engulfed hers in his. Coarse and dark, his skin rubbed against hers very gently.

"Miss Bell. Very nice to meet you. We certainly are glad to have you, a northerner on the staff. Our young women will have quite the role model in and out of the gymnasium." He's polite and well-spoken and makes Katrien again, feel very welcomed. "I'm not sure if the principal mentioned it yet, but..."

"Kickstand, I was just about to," Mister Thomspon butted in. "Katrien, it is customary for new teachers to be invited to a small cookout with their counterpart at the end of their first week of work. It's a surprise and it is sprung," he cheerfully waves his hand, "and I'm sure Bill is looking forward to getting to know you. He has seen his fair share and has more than enough to share with you. After all, you'll be hopefully spending quite a few years with us, and we like to ensure that we create a welcome and open environment for the kids. There's almost no better way than over burgers, ribs, drinks, desserts and coleslaw. And the pool! I mustn't forget that pool." Katrien sees this is a good-natured suggestion and knows that Errin will be at her job for another five hours. "You're welcome to invite your spouse, of course. Bill is an incredible host, and you will be begging for more delicious meat by the end of night."

"Mr. Wheeler," Katrien engages, "I'm glad to be welcomed into the community. My wife will be working her job until much later, so I'll be free for some time. Will it be okay if only I attend?" She gnawed a bit at her bottom lip and shifted her skirts, "With the move, funds are a little tight, so I'd graciously take what you can give me!"

The men don't bat an eye, at the mention of her partner, nor balk at the image of a young, attractive woman about to spend time with a black man, and outside of work. "Bill is quite accommodating and will take care of you to the letter of the law, including Dibs Law! My own wife can attest to his skill and regularly reminisces about her treatment." He chortles and the men laugh together. "We'll see you both on Monday. Enjoy the weekend!" Mr. Thompson easily shoos them out of his office. Clearly, he's got plans himself.

"Katrien, can I call you Katrien? Or Miss Bell? Well, either way, meet me at the entrance by the fields in, shall we say, ten minutes while I gather my things, and we'll head right over to my pad, and we'll get this started the right way. This heat must be giving you quite the hunger!" Katrien nods vigorously as her stomach rumbles and her mouth salivates in anticipation.

As she heads down the hall, she hears the principal call out, "Bill, you should tell her how you got that nickname!"

She looks up at Bill, who absolutely towers over her, curiously, quizzically, and politely after all, and Bill grins a tad sheepishly, but good natured and says, "The fields, meet me at the fields!"