Page 4 of Mr. B

“Wes? Why aren’t you at school?”

“I am at school.”

“Okay. What’s wrong? You sound—”

“Perturbed? Agitated? Pissed off?”

“Yeah, all of those things, Mr. Thesaurus.”

Wes exhaled sharply, then sat in his chair. “Brian resigned overnight. Stu thinks he has the right to hire staff for me, and she’s now in the office next door.”

“Wait. Hold on. Brian is…?”

“The guidance counselor. Make that ex-guidance counselor.”

“And Stu?”

“Stu Morrow, school superintendent.”

“Okay. I think I’m caught up. Who’s she?”

“Cassandra Jordan.”

“Now it’s making sense. That woman is the only person in this world who can throw you into a tirade.”

“I’m not tirading, or whatever.”

“You are so tirading. Cassandra is replacing Brian?”

“Yes, that’s what I just said.”

“Hmm. Wes, my smart, accomplished, loved-by-everyone-he-meets brother. Chill out.”

Wes sighed. “The woman…”

“I know. She broke your heart.”

“She ripped it out, threw it in the gutter, and stomped on it.”

“Um…a little dramatic, but don’t jump down my throat for saying this. It was, what, seventeen years ago?”

“That doesn’t make it…” He stood up and walked around the office. “You’re right. I need to get past it and figure out how to work with her.”

“How often do you actually need to work with her?”

“I usually met with Brian several times a week.”

“Oh, well. You can do it. You’re not that twenty-year-old guy anymore. You’re Mr. B. Principal extraordinaire.”

“Now you’re just kissing my ass.”

“I better get back to work, or I’ll be kissing Abe’s ass.”

“Me too. The work part, not the kissing Abe’s ass part.”

“Just don’t let her get to you.”

“I will try to do that.”