be too scared to do that. At least, I wasn't likely to get murdered at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
I kept looking at my watch, and finally it seemed safe to head for the school. A ramp for wheelchairs went up one side of the wide stone porch, and there were big steps going up the front. On the first step, I stopped, drew in a deep breath, and imagined what stage directions Miss Deirdre would give me right now. I could almost hear her voice saying, "Hold your head high, Bird. Go into that big building and fill it up with who you are. Enter as if you were in charge." I straightened my shoulders and climbed the steps.
Just as I had hoped, there weren't any other kids going into the building. Everything looked pretty quiet. I would never admit it to Rendi, but I liked the feel of the old building. There were these neat old wood floors that were polished and shiny. I liked the smells too, old wood and polish, and something that made me think of all the kids who must have gone to school in the place.
On the doorway I had seen a sign saying, "All Visitors Must Report to the Office." Well, I was ready to report. The office was just inside the building. From halfway up the walls were all glass, so I could see into it from the hall. A long counter separated the room into two parts. The first part was small and it had a few chairs. Most of the office was behind the counter. A lady sat at a desk with a computer on it. Behind her was a door that said "Principal" above it. I didn't see any offices for a vice principal or a counselor. Thomas Jefferson Middle School was probably too small to even have people for those jobs.
I pushed open the door, stepped into the office, and walked to the counter. When the door closed behind me, the woman glanced up from her computer. I thought she must be between Rendi and my grandmother in age, probably fifty-something. She looked like a person I wouldn't want to have mad at me, but when she noticed me, she smiled and said, "May I help you?"
"I'm Robin Miller," I said. I was about to add that I wanted to enroll, but the woman didn't give me the chance.
She jumped from her chair, and her smile got real wide. "Oh," she said, "we didn't expect you until Wednesday, but come in. We are so happy you are here. Let me show you your office."
I was so surprised that I didn't say anything or move a muscle. The woman went to the little swinging gate that made it possible for people to go in and out of the inner office. She held the gate open, "Come this way, Ms. Miller," she said. "I can't tell you how thrilled we are to have you. It's been so hard not having a principal since Mr. Lawrence got sick. I just don't know what we would have done, if you hadn't been available to fill in."
My mind raced. This woman thought I was some sort of substitute principal. Wasn't this wild? I opened my mouth to explain, but I seemed to hear Miss Deirdre's voice again. "What a marvelous role, Bird," she said. "Who would have thought you would find such a wonderful part to play in Prairie Dog Town, Oklahoma. Go for it, darling. You can doit!"
I moved to go through the little gate. Why not have some fun on my first day at Thomas Jefferson? When I was in the inner office, I put out my hand to the woman. "Tell me your name again," I said. "I was told, of course, but I am afraid I've forgotten." I smiled. "Truth is, I guess I'm a little nervous on my first day."
"Nancy," she said, and she squeezed my hand. "Nancy Simpson. Welcome to Jefferson Middle School." When she let go of my hand, she motioned for me to follow her into the office. "Of course, we expect Mr. Lawrence back after Christmas, but I took the pictures off his desk and some of the personal things off the wall, just put them in a box in the closet. I'll have it all back when he returns, but I thought you might have your own things."
"I do have," I said. "My mother is an artist, mostly a sculptor, but I have a painting or two she's done also. I'll bring them and a
I kept looking at my watch, and finally it seemed safe to head for the school. A ramp for wheelchairs went up one side of the wide stone porch, and there were big steps going up the front. On the first step, I stopped, drew in a deep breath, and imagined what stage directions Miss Deirdre would give me right now. I could almost hear her voice saying, "Hold your head high, Bird. Go into that big building and fill it up with who you are. Enter as if you were in charge." I straightened my shoulders and climbed the steps.
Just as I had hoped, there weren't any other kids going into the building. Everything looked pretty quiet. I would never admit it to Rendi, but I liked the feel of the old building. There were these neat old wood floors that were polished and shiny. I liked the smells too, old wood and polish, and something that made me think of all the kids who must have gone to school in the place.
On the doorway I had seen a sign saying, "All Visitors Must Report to the Office." Well, I was ready to report. The office was just inside the building. From halfway up the walls were all glass, so I could see into it from the hall. A long counter separated the room into two parts. The first part was small and it had a few chairs. Most of the office was behind the counter. A lady sat at a desk with a computer on it. Behind her was a door that said "Principal" above it. I didn't see any offices for a vice principal or a counselor. Thomas Jefferson Middle School was probably too small to even have people for those jobs.
I pushed open the door, stepped into the office, and walked to the counter. When the door closed behind me, the woman glanced up from her computer. I thought she must be between Rendi and my grandmother in age, probably fifty-something. She looked like a person I wouldn't want to have mad at me, but when she noticed me, she smiled and said, "May I help you?"
"I'm Robin Miller," I said. I was about to add that I wanted to enroll, but the woman didn't give me the chance.
She jumped from her chair, and her smile got real wide. "Oh," she said, "we didn't expect you until Wednesday, but come in. We are so happy you are here. Let me show you your office."
I was so surprised that I didn't say anything or move a muscle. The woman went to the little swinging gate that made it possible for people to go in and out of the inner office. She held the gate open, "Come this way, Ms. Miller," she said. "I can't tell you how thrilled we are to have you. It's been so hard not having a principal since Mr. Lawrence got sick. I just don't know what we would have done, if you hadn't been available to fill in."
My mind raced. This woman thought I was some sort of substitute principal. Wasn't this wild? I opened my mouth to explain, but I seemed to hear Miss Deirdre's voice again. "What a marvelous role, Bird," she said. "Who would have thought you would find such a wonderful part to play in Prairie Dog Town, Oklahoma. Go for it, darling. You can doit!"
I moved to go through the little gate. Why not have some fun on my first day at Thomas Jefferson? When I was in the inner office, I put out my hand to the woman. "Tell me your name again," I said. "I was told, of course, but I am afraid I've forgotten." I smiled. "Truth is, I guess I'm a little nervous on my first day."
"Nancy," she said, and she squeezed my hand. "Nancy Simpson. Welcome to Jefferson Middle School." When she let go of my hand, she motioned for me to follow her into the office. "Of course, we expect Mr. Lawrence back after Christmas, but I took the pictures off his desk and some of the personal things off the wall, just put them in a box in the closet. I'll have it all back when he returns, but I thought you might have your own things."
"I do have," I said. "My mother is an artist, mostly a sculptor, but I have a painting or two she's done also. I'll bring them and a
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