Out of an abundance of caution, the Mayor had ordered every school in the district to close because of the virus that was headed towards their middle-class suburb.
The high school's administrative area was empty on a Tuesday morning, about two weeks after the order had been given, save for a few teachers scattered around the building. Some worked on recording their lesson plans. Others taught via live stream to their students who were all at home.
Principal Catalina Hernandez was alone in her office. Armed with a cup of coffee, she forged ahead with the job of running the school via her computer.
As a vibrant and energetic 32-year-old, Catalina looked more like a college student than the actual head administrator. What most people don't realize is that a principal is essentially a political appointee. A strong reputation and flawless record could land you the job for a probation period. Doing poorly could get you sent to another school as an assistant.
Catalina had kicked off her heels and was enjoying the feel of the freshly-cleaned carpet on the soles of her feet. She checked the internal educational district system for the daily material teachers had uploaded for their students. She felt a strong level of pride in what she had helped accomplish.
Her tech-savvy upbringing had prepared her well for the current circumstances. Online learning of this magnitude was uncharted territory. Navigating the new learning environment was stressful, more so because of the uncertainty around when State testing would resume.
Just an hour into her work, she was disturbed by her phone announcing that she had received a text message. She knew exactly who it was. Sure enough, the message confirmed that the PTA president, Kathleen McCormack, had arrived in the parking lot and was making her way to Catalina's office for their meeting.
In this district, the
Parent Teacher Association
wielded enormous amount of power because they were able to raise so much money, not only for the school, but also for local political candidates. It went without saying that being on the PTA's good side was imperative.
Principal Hernandez slipped her heels back on and stepped out of her office to greet the PTA's president. Maintaining strong strong connections, or kissing ass as some may call it, was a big part of getting and remaining in a position like this. She had learned that early on in her career.
When she stepped into the hall and made her way towards the main entrance, she saw that Kathleen had already entered. Even during these times, the PTA leader was still dressed-up as if for a public event which required one to put one's most stylish foot forward. The light leather jacket over her yellow sundress suited her well. So did the matching tan designer boots.
The high-maintenance PTA mom was now strutting down the hall as if she were walking a runway, swaying her voluptuous hips, her dark blond hair flowing. She knew that was sexy.
"I hope you're doing well, Principal Hernandez."
Catalina always wondered if being called 'Principal' by a much older PTA mom was a subtle jab. With these sorts of women, you never know. There was certainly a lot of condescension and power plays that went on behind the scenes.
They skipped their usual handshake and greeted each other with only a friendly smile while standing a few feet apart. They made some small talk and then moved onto business.
"So, any updates?" Kathleen asked, as if she held any sort of official status within the local government.
Catalina took it in stride. "It was pretty chaotic at first. But now things are falling into place. Thanks to our tech people, the online learning system is working like a finely-tuned machine."
"Very cool. You must be super busy."
"Busier than usual despite the school being closed."
That was a huge understatement on Catalina's part. This was the most demanding period of her life. She made several home visits to assist parents on an almost daily basis to assist them with the home-schooling packages the school was providing. On average, each trip took about an hour and a half as many parents were - understandably - clueless when it came to teaching and using online material.
"Your work is greatly appreciated," the PTA president said with a smile. "We all think you're doing a heck of a job of responding to this temporary crisis."
Catalina stood straighter. "That means a lot."
After the compliment, she noticed that Kathleen was giving the hallway an in-depth inspection, as if she were appraising a home that was about to go on the market.
"The floor looks shinier than usual," Kathleen said, tapping the floor with the toe-end of her expensive boot. "Special work done?"
"Aside from our normal cleaning protocols, I hired a maintenance crew to use a special cleaning solution on the floor tiles. We don't know what we're dealing with yet, so better safe than sorry."
"Smart. And well-researched."
Catalina winked. "All in a day's work."
"But just how clean is it? We can't have our students coming back to an area that may be infected, can we?"
This was definitely a power-play at hand. Catalina was the boss, but she knew that influential women like this shouldn't be crossed. It was yet another reminder -- which she didn't need -- that connections, seniority and money were everything. Nonetheless, this was a game she was accustomed to playing for the sake of keeping her job.
Stepping out of heels, Catalina placed her bare feet on the tile floor, right there in the middle of the hallway. She got her feet comfortable and even wiggled her toes on the hard surface.
"Proof enough?" she asked confidently, giving her toes another wiggle on the floor.
Kathleen seemed thoroughly amused by the sight. "Well, I guess I can't argue with
that
. You being willing to step onto the floor barefoot is better than any health inspection as far as I'm concerned."
"Especially since I'm a clean freak, as you know."
Catalina slipped her heels back on her feet. She knew that the well-kept and outgoing PTA president had a wandering eye for men...and women. It was somewhat of an open secret and Catalina could use that to her advantage. It never hurts to flirt. Especially since Kathleen was often mildly flirtatious with those in her inner-circle.
"It seems like you've made yourself at home," Kathleen noted, her eyes still roaming over the Principal's body.
"In times like these, every little comfort helps. You should see me in my office. Heels off. Sometimes I loosen my belt. You know how it goes."
"Absolutely," Kathleen replied with a devilish grin. "I think we all deserve to relax a little during stressful times. I know I do. Shall I let you in on a little secret?"
Catalina returned Kathleen's teasing grin. "Sure. I'm good at keeping secrets."
The school principal eyed the PTA president. With these sorts of women, you can never be sure of what you're getting into. She was well aware of Kathleen and her ilk's fondness for dirty jokes, which was obviously something they kept to themselves.
