Wisps of Cloud

by Ross Richdale

  "We doubt it," Janice Trent replied. "The Hong Kong site is just one of a network of dubious ones originating from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Close one down and they just switch to another site. All we can do is guard against it here in New Zealand. Except for John's vigilance, Edward Wilton could easily have got away with the fraud."

  "So why don't we take criminal proceedings against him?" the Associate Minister of Education asked.

  "He is only a small fish in the ocean," Janice replied. "If we brought him up on a charge it would alert this 'Sound Degrees' that we know about them, they'd close their site and reappear mere days later with a new name and home base. There are several larger schools in the country that we suspect have also been buying their services. It will take a while but when we have gathered evidence we will prosecuting the Boards of Trustees and personnel responsible."

  "So what do we do with Mr Wilton and the Top Plateau Board of Trustees?" Mrs Tapiki asked.

  John glanced at her. "I believe the Board of Trustees is ignorant of what has happened. They are quite concerned about the children's education at the school and have asked me in confidence about how they can terminate Wilton's position. However, they are afraid the school will be closed and they don't want this to happen."

  "With a roll of twelve and several preschoolers in the area, without the BOT's agreement, it would be almost impossible to close the school," Mrs Tapiki said. "We should concentrate of removing Edward Wilton. If we aren't going to follow up this plagiarism and fraudulent documentation, how can we do it?"

  "I recommend we use a little bit of bluff," John said. "But we need to be careful. These are not ignorant country bumpkins out there but sophisticated businessmen and women who run multi-million dollar farms and stations. They are also fiercely parochial and will switch any allegiance back behind Ted Wilton if they believe we are discriminating against him.

  "So you see that it is a delicate situation Lorraine, and one that affects more than one tiny school," Janice Trent said. "That is why I called this meeting in the first place."

  "And rightly so," the Associate Minister of Education replied. She switched her eyes back to John, "So this bluff you mentioned, John; what ideas do you have? Just spill it out. I know you have been a school principal for many years and in that time have succeeded in weeding out poor teachers on several occasions."

  John nodded. Mrs Tapiki had certainly done her homework. He reached for his satchel, took out some documents and handed them around. "This is what I did a few years back with a particularly poor teacher who, like Ted Wilton always managed to just stop crossing any line. I think it could work again."

  *

  Karla was taking afternoon art two weeks after the senior staff meeting and had all the desks moved to the side of her classroom and the children gathered around a massive sheet of thick paper rolled out across the floor. The children were making a mosaic for their social studies theme about Japan. While some were sticking pieces of coloured paper on the scene of a Japanese temple, others were sitting on the floor making Japanese lanterns and designs. There was a quiet hum across the room as twenty-seven children worked away at the task in hand. She was helping one child with his bamboo cut-out when she heard a faint cough and glanced up.

  Murray Narwood stood there. "What wonderful art the children are doing," he said.

  Karla stood up. "Yes, we're making a mosaic to go along the corridor wall. It's all to do with the theme we're doing about Japan." She frowned for Murray almost never made casual visits into classrooms. "Is there something I can help you with Mr Narwood."

  "Yes, actually there is. There is a gentleman from the Ministry of Education in my office who wishes to speak to you." He looked a little embarrassed. "He just turned up so I couldn't forewarn you."

  "Me but why?"

  "Your name was recommended to him by a Board of Trustees." Murray smiled. "It's nothing bad I assure you but he will explain. Can you go along to the office now?"

  Karla stared at her principal. "Not really. Look around. We're in the middle of art. Perhaps in an hour…"

  "He hasn't got an hour. I'll stay and mind the children."

  Wow! This must be important. Very rarely did Murray ever take classes.

  "Okay then," Karla replied somewhat reluctantly. "The children know what to do so won't need much help. If I'm not back by two thirty they'll need to pack up. At ten to three I always have a quiet time when we talk about the day, homework and get ready to go home."

  "Good," Murray said. "I'll take care of them."

  When she arrived at the principal's office, a tall clean-shaven man in his fifties dressed in a suit greeted Karla with an extended hand.

  "Good afternoon, Miss Spicer," he said. "I am John Cosgrove from ERO but am actually seconded to the Ministry of Education for the matter I wish to speak to you about. Has Murray brought you up to date on the reason for my visit?"

  Karla shook his hand and her head. "No. He just said something about a Board of Trustee recommendation but nothing more. I guess that is our board."

  "No but it could involve them later if you agree to what I am about to ask."

  Karla frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr Cosgrove. I have no idea what you are talking about."

  John Cosgrove waved at the armchair nearby, "Take a seat and I'll explain everything."

  Karla thanked him and sat down feeling totally confused but curious about the situation.

  "I believe you have met or at least heard of Edward Wilton."

  Karla frowned. "No…. Wait a minute, you don't mean Ted Wilton, the principal out at Top Plateau School in the Wairarapa?"

  "Yes, that's the gentleman I've come about."

  Karla stared at the man with thoughts rushing through her mind. There was nothing, though that she could think of that fitted in."

  "The ERO team recently visited Top Plateau School and found the situation there not up to the standards we require."

  "I heard you were coming back early," Karla replied. "How though, does it affect me?"

  "On Monday a team of ERO and Ministry of Education officials visited the school and as a result of our visit, Mr Wilton not only resigned as principal of the school but walked out from our meeting and refused to return. The part-time teacher who gives him release time on alternate Fridays has been at the school for the last two days but she is a young mother with two preschoolers. She cannot take the full time position."

  "So it's pretty bad there?" Karla asked.

  "Let me say that it is not the children who are the problem. They are remarkably well behaved and Mrs Sharon Gosnell, the relieving teacher is very good with them. Do you know her?"

  "No," Karla replied. "I knew there was a relief teacher but her name never came up."

  "Anyway, the Top Plateau Board of Trustees asked if we would invite you to take over Mr Wilton's position for the rest of this year and the first term of the next one."

  Karla gasped. They wanted her to go there! She had meet at least two of the local board members but only really knew them through Ryan. Why would they especially want her?

  "What about my position here?" she asked.

  "Your board would have to approve but we hope to second you to Top Plateau School. Your present salary would be retained, plus you would get a secondment allowance and travelling expenses to the school."

  "I couldn't travel every day. It's too far."

  John Cosgrove smiled. "I realise that but The Top Plateau BOT informed me that you had a local place to stay during the week. "

  "Ryan's place. Sure. I guess they told you about my relationship with Ryan Purdon."

  "Yes but your personal situation has no bearing on this secondment. To be frank, we need someone of your ability out there. We want someone who can get a rundown school operating again. Their Board of Trustees are keen to have you so here I am offering you the position."

  Karla nodded as she thought about what to say. "As you know this offer is a complete surprise. When would you
like to know whether I accept or not?"

  "It's Wednesday. If possible, can you tell us by Friday afternoon and if you accept, be ready to start there on Monday week?"

  "That's only ten days."

  "It is, I know. That is why I decided to speak to you directly rather than over a phone or by email."

  Karla nodded. "But you can't tell me any more about what made Ted walk out like that."

  "A little but most of the information is confidential." John said. "Some of it hasn't even been told to their board. If you agree to keep it so I can fill you in with most of the details."

  Karla grinned. "Like I agree on the bible not to disclose anything I hear?"

  "In this day and age that will not be necessary. An oral agreement not to disclose confidential information will do."

  "Okay" Karla replied. "I agree." She listened as the man gave her a fairly detailed account of the last ERO visit to the school and the follow up meeting. "Is he being brought up on criminal charges?" she asked.

  "Not at the moment but he was told it would happen if he didn't resign from his position as from the end of this year,"

  "So he got the huff and walked out?"

  "That's about it." John Cosgrove stood up and extended his hand again. "Think about it Karla," he said. "You will be helping a small school get on its feet and your position here will be secure for the two terms that you are away."

  "Thank you," Karla replied. "I'll get back to you by Friday evening."

  "Good," John replied and handed her a business card. "My personal number. A text message as a reply will do. If you agree, an official secondment will he sent back by email so you can begin on Monday week."

  *

  It was two thirty-five by the time Karla headed back up the internal stairs towards her room. The noise from her room, though could be heard from along the top corridor. She grimaced and flung the classroom door open. Inside the children were whooping around with stuff and little people spread everywhere. Murray was nowhere in sight.

  She clapped twice, glowered and clapped twice again.

  Everyone stopped, twenty-seven heads turned and almost in unison the children stopped shouting and sat cross-legged on the carpet. Only then did Karla see Murray squatting on the floor in the wet area of the room. He was trying to wipe up a puddle of spilt glue. Luckily, it was on the tiled section of the floor and the carpet was spared.

  "I am annoyed," Karla said in little more than a whisper. "You will pack up without a sound then go to you places on the carpet and sit down. You have five minutes. Do it!"

  The children stood, glanced at each other and methodically set about putting the art gear away. They all had prearranged duties so soon glue brushes were washed, tops put on pallets, newspaper from under the chart rolled up and deposited in the bin and everything else done. With Karla and also a flushed looking principal watching, they manoeuvred the mosaic to one side of the room and carried their desks back into place on the other side. Chairs were placed on top of the desks and finally, they sat on the carpet in three crescent shaped lines to wait.

  "Thank you," Karla said. "That was much better. Do you want me to read another chapter from our story?"

  "Yes, Miss Spicer," the children replied.

  Murray walked up to her. "If you leave us, you will be missed," he said in whisper and turned to the children. "Can I come back and visit again sometime?" he asked.

  "Only if you read us a chapter of our story," a little boy called out from the back row.

  Murray turned and grinned at Karla. "Oh, I will," he said and went to leave.

  "So what do we say?" Karla asked her class.

  "Thank you for looking after us Mr Narwood," the children called out in unison.

  Murray smiled, gave Karla a nod and retreated out the door.

  *

  CHAPTER 7

  Karla awoke in the middle of the night feeling awful. Her head ached and her stomach was churning. She rolled over, reached for her watch and saw it was a little after two. Outside, the southerly storm had arrived in earnest and the room temperature was close to zero. She switched on the light and reached for two remotes. One turned up the heater and the other, the wall mounted television. She flicked between the channels but there was nothing playing except an ancient movie, an overseas news outlet and shopping adds. She switched the set off, grabbed a jersey to pull on and sat up.

  She sighed. In theory she should feel thrilled about being offered the job at Top Plateau School but the opposite emotions filled her mind. She always had mood swings this time of the month. It wasn't the tiny school itself or the fact that it was run down. She could cope with that but the isolation and thought of living alone in a large house just surrounded by paddocks played on her mind.

  Sure, she had lived alone for almost a decade in her little house but there were neighbours only a few metres away across the drive and out the bedroom window. Both immediate neighbours were couples about her own age with children that she could hear playing on most days when she was home. Also, the few times she had ever had problems someone was there to help. There was that broken pipe last year and later that drunk had staggered up her driveway. The police had arrived mere moments after her call and took him away. What would happen if the same thing happened way out in the country?

  She moved her knees up under the blankets and her mind turned to Tui Park. Why was Val such a bitch? The associate principal was quite a good teacher, if somewhat formal but seemed to resent everything she had done herself for the school. Without her, Tui Park would be so much better. Murray too… he was hopeless in her classroom but she had to admit an informal activity such as art that he had arrived in the centre of, didn't help. He must have been a good teacher in his day or he would never have become principal.

  Was it worthwhile giving up such a good position and city life for the relatively unknown country life? On a cold spring day like the one outside it would be far different from the hot summer when holidaymakers flooded Riversdale Beach. On the other hand, without the horrible politically correct climate of a big school and Murray and Val 'has-beens', it could be the break she needed. It was only for a term and a half anyway.

  No, it was too big a step!

  Almost without thinking, she picked up her iPhone and selected a name.

  "What's wrong Karla," Ryan's voice sounded worried. Her photo must have come up on his mobile.

  "Nothing bad," she said. "I can't sleep and I'm feeling sorry for myself. I just wanted to hear your voice. Sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep. See you in the morning."

  "About the job at Top Plateau or the shambles Murray created in your room?"

  Karla gasped. "How did you know about both those things? I've told nobody."

  Ryan chuckled. "Chrissy told me about Murray in your room and…"

  "Chrissy! How did she know? Her classroom is right along the other end of the block."

  "The whole school has heard about it. You know the school grape vine is faster than Twitter or Facebook."

  "So they all know about the ministry guy coming and the job offer, too."

  "No, that's confidential. That is one thing Murray is discrete about."

  "So how did you know?"

  "Dillon Gosnell called me. I knew the offer was coming before you were approached but couldn't say anything."

  Karla frowned. She remembered the surname.

  "Is he the husband of Sharon Gosnell, the relief teacher at Top Plateau?"

  "More than that; he's the chairperson of their Board of Trustees."

  "I see and he called you… When?"

  "Yesterday. Well, two days ago from the time right now, I guess."

  "Why?"

  "He wants me to twist your arm into accepting. Apparently, he rung around and found out about how well you've been doing at Tui Park."

  "Well, I've decided to turn it down, Ryan."

  "What?"

  "You heard. I… oh I don't know. I guess it is just too far away and out in the co
untry. I've always lived in the city." There was silence on the phone. "Ryan, are you there?"

  "Yes. Look, I'm coming around."

  "I can't have sex. I know I'm old fashioned but it's my period and …"

  "I know that, too."

  "How?" She was aghast.

  "That calendar on your bedroom wall has a row of discrete little felt-tip dots on it. You're a couple of days late, if I remember."

  "Three actually," Karla retorted but smiled to herself. The old rogue! "It's okay. Thanks for the chat. See you at school."

  "No. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

  The call was disconnected.

  "Damn," Karla muttered. For no reason at all, she burst into tears as she wiggled into her dressing gown and went to turn on the gas heater in the living room.

  *

  Ryan arrived twenty-five minutes later. When she greeted him at the door she was swept into his arms and given a bruising kiss before he shut the door and almost carried her across to the couch. There he gently lowered her down and sat beside her.

  "Okay, this crap about being scared of living alone in the country. It doesn't wash, you know!"

  Karla stared at him. "And why not?"

  "Because you are going to accept the position and I'm coming with you."

  "As simple as that?"

  Ryan nodded.

  "So what about your job at Tui Park, your house, this home of mine and …" She stopped when arms pulled her in and she was smothered with another kiss.

  She responded but pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "Well?"

  "My job here is on a month's notice by either party. They can fire me after a month and I can also…"

  "Okay," Karla replied. "Your house?"

  "Similar. I only lease it and can cancel my tenancy agreement with six weeks notice." Ryan glanced around. "As for this place, I think you should keep it. My house on Top Plateau is furnished and we can come back here on weekends, every weekend, if you wish."

  "But you'll have no job there!"

  "No problem. I'll do what I was doing a decade ago, that is work for Clive. He always employs casual labour at this time of the year anyway. It is part of his responsibility and I have already talked to him. Dillon also offered me a position on his farm but I won't really need it."