Living Right on Wrong Street by Titus Pollard Page A

mean to startle you.” The woman placed the paperwork on the desk in front of her, saying, “When you applied to Paradise School District, you sent in a picture. The principal where you’re assigned, always receives a photo of the potential employee. I’m Bianca Rizzo.”
    This couldn’t possibly be the principal . He shook her extended hand and looked at her without appearing to gawk. He could see the Italian in her; the light cream skin yoked by burnt almond hair, the retroussé nose, thin lips, and honey colored eyes that were accented by a pair of red Art Nouveau spectacles. Her wide smile gave him the impression that she was personable, yet with an authoritative intellect. He couldn’t get over her youthful look. She seemed only one year the other side of her high school diploma.
    â€œI didn’t expect you until Monday. Superintendent McManus called and told me that you would be moving in and getting settled this weekend. Dedication. I’m impressed,” Bianca said.
    â€œDon’t be so impressed, Mrs. Rizzo. You’re the one here on Saturday actually working. I’m just looking around.”
    â€œMs., please,” she corrected.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry.”
    â€œDon’t be. I’ll get married when I find the right man. Meanwhile, I’m concentrating on my career.”
    For a fleeting moment, Job felt a slight awkwardness when she voiced her current marital status. “Good thing. Concentrating on your career, I mean.”
    â€œHumph. The district expects me to be here any day of the week, so it doesn’t count. I’m a twelve-month employee. And the principal.”
    Bianca thumbed through a stack of student attendance records from which she pulled one. “So, what brings you by here?”
    He checked his watch and began to get uneasy, remembering that Monica was out in the car. “We took a half day’s break from unpacking to drive around and see what we could see.”
    â€œWe?”
    â€œMy wife and I.”
    Silence.
    Job took the initiative to clear up Bianca’s perplexed look. “Monica—my wife—is outside. And I better be getting back to her before she kills me.”
    â€œWell, Mr. Wright. I hope you were able to see some interesting sights, although there’s nothing much around here to see.” Her dark eyes were shieded under the part in her hair.
    He shifted his eyes to a different direction. “I really must go.”
    â€œI won’t be here much longer myself. I need to begin a weekend. What’s left of it. Umm, Mr. Wright?”
    Job, who had begun heading toward the door, spun around. “Yes?”
    â€œHave a great day.” The inflection in Bianca’s voice sounded more like she had just asked a question than given a suggestion. Job thought it was a slick reprimand for walking away without speaking. “You, too,” he said with a hint of nervousness.
    When Job returned to the car, he found Monica asleep, curled up in the seat with the street map unfolded over her.
    When he awakened her, she reeled right into him with a few loud, unrepeatable comments. After a moment or so, she calmed down and asked, “What were you thinking, leaving me like that? You’re standing on thin ground with me anyway, and then you have me out here on a practically deserted parking lot.” She rolled her eyes away from him.
    â€œI met the principal and a custodian,” Job said, trying to sound matter-of-factly.
    â€œHow was he?”
    Job was reminded of Bianca Rizzo. The youthful look, the resonant voice. In the same exact moment, he felt both guilty and fortunate. He did his best to respond with as little excitement as possible. “Oh, the principal? She—”
    â€œShe?”
    â€œYeah.” Job breathed in a portion of nonchalance. “She was okay.”

Chapter 5
    The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
    Psalms