Today was Friday. My mood was dull, and all I could think about was my only family, who was no longer with me. I couldn't put this feeling into words. Over the past two weeks, I had lost more than five kilograms. I knew it wasn't healthy, but I had no appetite for food. I forced myself to make a simple breakfast-an omelette, bacon, and a glass of milk. I sat at the table, staring at the plate, but I couldn't taste anything. It was as though my taste buds had gone numb.
A sudden phone call pulled me out of my depressive haze. I glanced at the unknown number, hesitating for a moment before answering. With Jason's recent passing, I didn't want to miss any important calls. I picked up in silence.
"Hello? Is this Miss Kasi Williams?" a polite female voice asked on the other end.
"Yes, speaking. Who am I talking to?" I inquired.
"This is Rose Anders, the vice principal of Gord Elementary School. You applied for the position of senior English teacher some time ago," she explained.
"Oh! Hello, Miss Anders," I replied quickly, my mind scrambling to recall the application. It felt like a lifetime ago. After graduating, I had planned to teach at my local elementary school and had applied immediately. But with everything that had happened, I had completely forgotten about it.
"Are you free to meet with us today? I'd love to have a word with you," Rose said.
"Of course. What time?" I asked.
"This afternoon. Let's meet at the school," she suggested.
"Okay, thank you for reaching out," I said.
"No problem," Rose replied before the call ended.
I stood up, put the remaining bacon and omelette in the fridge, and finished my glass of milk. After washing the glass and placing it in the cupboard, I headed to the bathroom to get ready for the meeting. I was already wearing my bonnet, so I simply took a quick shower and moisturized my skin with my beloved cocoa butter. I had always preferred cocoa butter or shea butter-they worked perfectly for my skin, which was neither dark nor light but still a visibility dark skinned woman to most people. Other products never suited me, plus these made me smell amazing.
After removing my bonnet, I untied my braids, oiled my scalp, and gave myself a gentle head massage. Once I was done, I tied my hair into a neat ponytail and dressed in a simple brown suit, pairing it with a white vest, heels, and a matching jacket. I've always been punctual, and with it already being 11 a.m., I knew I had to leave soon to make a good first impression.
Grabbing my handbag and car keys, I headed out of my apartment and drove to Gord Elementary School. I had been to the school before-after all, it was where I had dreamed of teaching. Knowing its location was the bare minimum. When I arrived, I asked the gateman for directions to the principal's office and made my way there. The secretary informed me that Rose was in a meeting and asked me to wait, offering me coffee or tea, which I politely declined.
After a while, the office door opened, and a young blonde woman in her twenties stepped out, followed by a smiling, grey-haired Black woman whose face showed no signs of aging. I couldn't tell if her hair was naturally grey or tinted, but her posture exuded confidence and experience.
"Welcome to Gord Elementary School. It's a pleasure working with you," the Black woman said.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Rose," the blonde woman replied with a bright smile, glancing at me briefly before leaving. It was then that I realized the Black woman was Rose Anders, the vice principal I had spoken to on the phone.
"Miss Kasi?" Rose asked, turning to me.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you," I said, standing up to greet her.
"Come with me to my office," Rose said. I nodded, picked up my bag, and followed her inside.
"Please, have a seat," she said as she settled behind her desk. I complied.
"I personally reviewed your application and approved you for the teaching program. You were supposed to begin on Monday," Rose explained, her tone tinged with regret. My attention sharpened.
"Unfortunately, your identity and character were brought up by the board of directors and the student council. Despite my intervention, your application was denied," she continued with a sigh. Strangely, I wasn't disappointed. After the tragedy, I found it hard to care about what happened in my life.
"I understand," I said quietly.
"I don't know why they believed internet rumors without hearing your side of the story," Rose added.
"Would you believe my side?" I suddenly interjected.
"Of course. I didn't believe those rumors to begin with," Rose said firmly. She opened a drawer in her desk, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to me.
"There's someone I couldn't help, but I want to pass this opportunity on to you instead. There's a school in the Chinese countryside. A large corporation built it to serve pupils who struggle to travel long distances for education. They're in need of an English teacher. Transportation and housing are provided. If you go there, I think it could help. In your situation, you need to relax, do what you enjoy, and let go. I know it's hard, but this might be better than nothing," Rose explained.
"What makes you think I want to go to China? I've never been there, and I don't even know the language. Besides, if Gord Elementary doesn't need me, there's no reason for you to offer me scraps," I said, eyeing the envelope on the desk.
"Just take it. You have a month to think about your decision. This offer isn't from the school-it's from me. No one else knows about it," Rose said, her eyes filled with kindness.
I thanked her, took the envelope, and said my goodbyes. As I left, I couldn't see myself going to China. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, but the idea felt overwhelming. Still, I held onto the envelope.
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