She was so blessed, so lucky. Four years in a liberal arts accounting program with a minor in education, she graduated summa cum laude and landed her dream job. She was a pert five foot two inch blonde with big blue eyes, the kind of eyes that one could get lost in if they gazed in them too long. She wasn't small, by any sense, but she was strong. She was a farm girl and loved the hard work and had the leg and arm muscles to prove it. But that was all behind her, she was starting her first day as a high school business teacher. No more jeans and muck boots for her, from now on it would be dresses and suits, stockings and heels and she couldn't wait.
She landed the job over the summer, she was a prime candidate because it was the school where she had student taught. She found a lovely little one bedroom apartment not far away and with the help of her parents she furnished it and moved in a week before the start date. Time seemed to fly and here she was walking through the double doors with the rest of the staff on the first day of school.
There were meetings and more meetings and even more meetings. She was introduced, "Please welcome Miss Brittany Fargus, our new business teacher taking the place of Joe Wilkes who retired this past June." She stood, embarrassed by the attention, and smiled. There were many welcomes and hand shaking before the end of the day.
Finally, she had an opportunity to work in her room. It was a lovely room, large windows along one side letting in beautiful sunshine, 28 student desks in rows, and a teacher's desk, which was bare except for a monthly planner. Along the wall were closets and file cabinets filled to the brim with materials left behind from teachers gone before. She worked well into the evening, creating bulletin boards, writing lesson plans, preparing for her first week.
"Ah, miss...", she turned her head to the door to see one of the custodial staff. "We're closing up for the day, you planning on working much longer?"
"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize how late it'd gotten. Hi! I'm Brittany Fargus, the new teacher on the block. I'll be out in about ten, will that be alright? I'll hurry."
"Well Miss Fargus, I'm Jim, head night custodian. If you want, I'll walk you out, if you'd like, I mean it's dark and late, and oh, I'm sorry I tend to ramble," he stammered, eyes cast to the floor. "Jim?" she asked to get his attention, "I'd love to walk out with you, thank you for the offer. I'll meet you at the back doors?"
It was the first day of classes and she looked younger than some of the students, the only thing separating them were the choice of clothes. Instead of youthful jeans, shorts and tees, Brittany wore a pinstriped dress suit cut above the knee with low black heels. She stood at the door greeting students as they arrived. She gave the same speech five times to introduce herself and set the classroom rules. She smiled so much her face hurt. She stood so much her feet hurt. And she quickly found out that the plans she had made, lasted for the first half of class only. So much for all the preparation college gave you, it was never enough. She worked during her lunch to change plans, she worked through her planning period to change plans, and she stayed late again, to change plans.
"Ah, Miss Fargus?"
"Oh, Hi Jim! Is it that time all ready? Oh my. I'll be out in a minute."
"I'll walk with you again if you'd like?"
"Why thank you. I'll meet you at the doors."