Friday rolled around, and it could have not come any quicker for Scott. After the first two days of the week, and the constant wonderful distraction that Ruth-Ann had provided, he was very behind on his paperwork, and needed a couple of days to play catch-up with everything. So now it was Friday afternoon, and almost the end of the first week of school. Usually on Fridays he tried to get out rather quickly after the last bell rang, but he was debating today. After school today was the first game of the season for the girl’s soccer team, and even though he had never gone to a game before, he thought that it might be time to start attending. Not because Ruth-Ann was on the team, and he really had not seen much of her the last three days, but because he was truly interested in soccer. (yea, right)
Lost in thought about Ruth-Ann in soccer shorts, the last bell of the day crept up on Scott, and almost scarred him to death. Stephanie peeked her head into the office, already wearing her sweater and holding her purse.
“Mr. Hansen, I am meeting some friends for choir practice, so is it ok if I go ahead and leave?”
‘Choir practice’ - teacher code for happy hour at the local watering hole, which still amused Scott every time he heard it. God forbid any of the students realize that teachers had a life outside of the school. “Did you get the attendance report and no-show list done for the week?”
“Yes sir, they are sitting in your in box waiting for approval.”
“And the supply requests were all ordered?”
“Office Depot will be delivering them Monday morning.”
Scott thought for a second, half in seriousness, half joking just to keep Stephanie on her toes. “I guess that is it for this week. Make sure and sing some Mexican Folk Songs for me at practice.”
“Yes sir, I will see you Monday. Don’t stay too late.”
“Not to worry. I have a little bit left to do, and then I think I am going to go watch the girls first soccer game of the season. As the principal I should be more supportive of the extra-curricular activities of our young ladies.” Scott hoped he had put a sufficient amount of sincerity in that statement to not make her think twice about it.
Apparently it was truthful enough, or else Stephanie was intent of making it to the cantina, because she did not even blink an eye. “I think you will enjoy it sir. Our girls are rather good, even better than the team that went to the state tournament last year. That Ruth-Ann Miller is a pretty ferocious scorer at times.”
“I guess I will find out. Have fun, and I will see you on Monday.”
“Bye sir.”
Stephanie walked out of the door, and once again Scott could hear the sound in the hallway as the students cleaned out their lockers and headed home for the weekend. Five more minutes of computer work, half a dozen more forms to sign, and he was done. Everything in the Out box for Stephanie on Monday, and Scott was ready to go. He decided to take his briefcase out to the truck before heading out to the multipurpose field that today was hosting soccer. He thought about changing clothes before he went and sat outside for two hours, but the suit that he had on was light weight enough that he should be ok, and he could always take off the suit jacket, and still look professional.
*****
The last bell of the day finally rang. Thank god. Ruth-Ann was anxious to get to the locker room and start stretching for the game today. She had been ready for soccer season to start again all summer, and it was finally here. She expected most everyone to be somewhat winded today, but with her and Jennifer keeping up their running over the summer, they should be able to run circles around everyone else. The game would be fun for that reason alone. And they were facing Holy Trinity from across town, which made it even better. St. Mary’s had knocked Holy Trinity out of the state tournament last year, so Ruth-Ann imagined that their opponents would be looking for a measure of revenge this afternoon.
In the locker room, the entire team had assembled, with everyone in various stages of readiness. Julie, their goalie, was in the corner by her locker already dressed and it appeared ready to go. Bethany was sitting on the bench in her uniform taping her ankles. She was very anal about how her ankles were taped before a game, and decided that it was just easier for her to do it herself instead of trying to teach one of the student trainers how she wanted it done. Samantha was standing in the corner talking on her cell phone naked as the day she was born. Ruth-Ann thought that Samantha had a definite distaste for clothing of any type, because she was always the first to get undressed, and the last to be ready to take the field. Not that it was a bad thing. Sam was very good looking, and had a body built for endurance running, long and lean all over. She just also had no problem being naked, and the rest of the team had accepted her little quirk by this point.
Ruth-Ann set her soccer bag down by her locker, and headed for the bathroom. Slipping into the stall next to the end of the row, she shut the door and sat down. She noticed a foot peeking out from the stall next to the wall, and watched the foot as the toes began to curl up and flex themselves. Sitting very still and quiet, she could hear what almost sounded like a whimper coming from next door. “Jenn, is that you? Are you ok?”
No answer for a second, then “Ruth-Ann, is that you?” She had to struggle just to hear her. It was Jenn, but she sounded like she was having an asthma attack she was so out of breath.
“Yea, it’s me. Are you ok?”
“Ssshhhh! Yea, I’m ok. Sorry.”
“Are you sure? You sound out of breath.”
“Is anyone else here?”