(Please read Chapters 1-3. This will make much more sense.)
Sarah was sitting in the cafeteria with the other teachers. They were so nice and welcoming. She had already gotten three more sub jobs and her excitement level was off the charts. She felt like she had finally cracked through the invisible barrier and was now just sailing through. She felt totally confident she was well on her way to being first in line for the next permanent position that opened up here.
Mr. Thompson was standing near the cafeteria door, watching over his domain. The students were relatively calm today and all was well. He was so glad he was in this school; these white kids were so easy. This place was cake compared to the schools he had taught in and a different world than the ones he attended. The biggest problem he had to deal with was the occasional fight, over a girl usually. He was still smiling when he saw Karen Smith walk in front of him. She was a mess, her blonde hair was wild, her shirt was all dirty and her knees had big blue bruises on them.
"Miss Smith, what happened, are you all right?" He asked, genuinely concerned.
"Oh, I am fine, Mr. Thompson. A stupid kid knocked me over in the hall." Karen said and walked out of the cafeteria.
Thompson watched the young girl walk out, her ass wrapped tight in the little denim skirt. Wow, they didn't make them like that when he was in school. Thompson turned to look back at the cafeteria in time to see Miss Johnson getting up and walking her tray over to the trashcan. He caught her eye and she lit up, dropped off her tray and headed right for him.
"Mr. Thompson, I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance today and having confidence in me. It is going great." She said, her voice bubbly and excited.
"You are welcome, Miss Johnson." Thompson said.
"Please, Mr. Thompson, call me Sarah." She said.
"Ok, Sarah. I am glad it is working out. Stop by after your last period and we'll talk." He responded.
"No problem." Sarah said and bounced away towards her classroom, again her ass drawing his attention as she left.
The afternoon dragged on as usual until a phone rang in Mr. Thompson's office near the end of the last period. Hank Jackson's plan had begun.
"Hello, Thompson" Mr. Thompson said.
"Jack, this is Ted. An emergency just came up and I have to leave immediately. I can't work detention today." Ted Jones said.
"Ted, is everything alright?" Thompson asked.
"I think so but I have to get home right away. Can you cover my detention for me?" Ted asked.
"Sure Ted, don't worry about it." Thompson said.
"Thanks, I owe you one." Ted said and hung up.
Jack Thompson hung up the phone and then immediately realized he had promised his wife he would take her out to dinner and then shopping for her birthday. If he covered detention he would be late and she would kill him. What would he do? He rubbed his temples again, trying to force an answer out. Suddenly, it came to him and he rushed out of his office.
Sarah was picking up her materials, exhausted after a long day, getting ready to head home when Mr. Thompson walked into her room.
"Miss Johnson, good, you're not gone yet. I need another huge favor." He said, obviously out of breath.
"Sure, sir, what is it?" Sarah asked.
"Ted Jones had to leave and I can't cover his detention because it is my wife's birthday. Can you possibly cover detention for me? I can authorize additional pay for you." Thompson said, a little pleading in his voice.
Sarah hesitated but only for a split second until she could process more money and another favor she could do for Mr. Thompson. This day was turning out to be too good to be true.
"Absolutely, sir, what do I have to do?" she responded.
Jack Thompson let out a huge sigh of relief and started to explain the procedure to her as he led her out of the door and towards the detention room.
Karen Smith sat in the detention room and could not believe she had to spend an hour of her Friday afternoon staring at the wall in this room. This was so stupid. She was not in a good mood and her mood got even worse when Tyshawn and Jesse strolled in the door. Oh great, I have to be in here with those assholes, she thought.