Page 2 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

South Bronx Classical

Friday

“Eight parents have pulled out.”

Lilly leaned forward in her seat. “Is it because of me?”

We were in Principal Rutton’s office, watching her settle into her oversized desk chair.

Her room had the kind of official feel that made it impossible to relax—spacious but overpowering. The cream walls and thick navy-blue carpet were just too neat and tidy. Her clunky wooden desk reminded me to put my teacher filter on, and the frames littering her walls reminded me that this was my boss, Lilly’s boss, and the last time we were in here, my best friend almost lost her job.

And this time? The look on Rutton’s wizened, round face could’ve melted paint. She wasn’t happy.

“No, it isn’t just you. It’s mostly the test score issue. The parents are upset with how we’ve handled this.”

I reached over and touched Lilly’s shoulder. When she looked up at me, I could see it all there on her face. She was anxious. And she was anxious because our last Language Arts head teacher spent the better part of last year forging her class test scores.

It was his insane attempt to convince the principal to fire her, but it backfired. When Rutton found out, he was let go, and Lilly was given his job. We thought it would end there, but it looked like our own attempts to smooth things over weren’t going well.

“What do you need us to do?” I asked, crossing one leg over the other as our boss rolled her shoulders back.

“There’s nothing we can do about the test scores. It is what it is. All we can do is make sure this semester goes smoothly. But with Shawn rolling out his statewide initiative, the two of you are all I have. I’m not sure we can make this work.”

I straightened in my chair. “I don’t see why we can’t. Our timetables are set, the students are streamed, and Shawn will still be here twice a week.” I waved my hand at Lilly. “She’s done her job. Everything’s handled.”

“Almost everything. We still have to deal with the Advanced Placement Program.” Lilly’s voice was soft but sure, and I hoped that meant she was feeling less anxious about all this.

Rutton stared us both down. Her tone was measured but condescending, and the more she spoke, the more I felt like a five-year-old.

“This is the most important program we teach here; it’s what sets us apart from other schools. We need to make sure it runs smoothly this year.” She stared at us like she was letting her words sink in, then asked, “Which one of you is taking it on?”

Lilly gripped her knees, and I knew she was telling herself not to fidget. She wanted to be in control of this, but she swallowed hard, her eyes dropped to her fingers, and I just–I wasn’t okay with Rutton heaping all this pressure on her.

“I’m doing it.” Both Lilly’s and Rutton’s focus swung to me.

“You’re doing it?”

The way Rutton asked made me itch to take my teacher filter off.

“It’s a lot of work, Mia,” Lilly said.

“Well, it needs doing, doesn’t it? And you’re too busy running our department.”

Lilly’s gaze searched mine. From the corner of my eye, I watched Rutton lean back in her chair.

A few moments beat by before either of them said anything, until finally, Rutton put me out of my misery.

“The parents are watching everything we do right now, and we need this program to deliver results. We need all five spots this year. Do you think you can manage that?”

Her tone was goading me, and I clenched my teeth. My filter was slipping.

“Yes,” Lilly answered, and I was grateful. I didn’t need to make things worse by sniping at our boss.

Rutton’s glance narrowed on Lilly. “Good. It’s up to both of you to get those spots, because if you don’t, I’ll have to find a new head teacher.”

Lilly’s breath caught in her throat, and a flare of irritation speared right through me. The words flew from my mouth before I could think. “You can’t just–”

Lilly put her hand on my shoulder, and I clamped my jaw shut. “It’s fine. I understand. The parents expect results, and as head teacher, it’s on me to deliver them.”