"Want it?" Dillon asked.
Karla studied at the twin classroom block towering above her. "Yes. This is too good an opportunity to miss," she whispered.
"Their misfortune is to your advantage," Larry said. "The re-roofing and paint job would be worth more than ten grand."
"But the church group will lose everything after all the work they put in?"
"Not entirely. We gave them an allowance for the improvements they'd made."
"But not the full amount?" Ryan whispered.
Larry shrugged but said no more. Karla grimaced. Sometimes she hated the way businesses were so ruthless and now even education was administered along those lines.
*
Five days later, a gigantic transporter arrived at Top Plateau School site, circled in and the two-classroom block was lowered on the site of the old school. It covered twice the area and was positioned to face the north rather than the road that was the case for the old school. A day later, foundations were in place and the building lowered onto them.
There was much to be done to connect water, sewerage to the old septic tank, electricity and internet but Karla could walk inside and have her first real inspection. Each classroom was identical. They had both been painted and apart from several religious symbols that would need to be removed, were ready for furniture. The flooring looked the original with linoleum down one side in front of a sink and bench while the carpet that covered the rest was a little worn but certainly still usable. At the front were whiteboards rather than the old blackboard of the old school and there were also eight power points and other connections for the satellite dish and computers to be plugged into.
The windows had the original curtains that again, though slightly faded were still serviceable. All the windows and doors worked well and ceiling lights had arrived intact though she would have to wait for the power to be connected to see if they all worked.
The toilets had access through the central corridor and outside rear doors were built into the original back corridor with the boys on the left behind the first classroom and the girls behind the second classroom. At the end was quite a large storage room and staff toilet. It would make a perfect staffroom and administration area
Karla walked through a classroom and saw where the rest of the original back corridor had the wall removed to enlarge the floor area. This had inbuilt shelves and benches, sink and numerous power points. She opened a back door, stepped down to the ground and walked around to the front where Dillon was standing.
He came up. "Satisfied?" he asked.
"Wonderful," Karla replied.
"The Ministry said we'd have to build a ramp down from the front steps to fit in with modern regulations. Steps will also be needed for the classrooms' back doors.
"Sounds great. Could we partition the storeroom to create a staffroom and separate administration office?" Karla said.
"Sounds okay. Just make a list of anything you'd like done and we'll see what we can do." He gazed across to where the asphalt area was broken by the original fire and cracked by the transporter's weight. "The playground will need to be fixed and resealed. However, I doubt if we can get it done before school reopens."
"But we will be able to use the building in February?" This was when the new school year began.
"If we can get the power, water and sewerage connected. The water tank survived the fire but was emptied by the fire fighters. We'll get a tanker to bring in water to fill it. Once the roof downpipes are connected we'll have twice the roof catchment area. Plumbers are going to inspect the septic tank but it should still be okay to connect up." He grinned. "Oh there's one other thing you might be interested in hearing."
"And that is?"
"That subdivision at Riversdale has finally begun to move. There are another four new houses on it now and most will have permanent residents rather than just holiday owners. Two families have children who are coming here."
"What? I thought any children from the village would go to that other school on the main road in. It would be closer to the village than us."
"Some have but I think your good name has spread. The families who want to bring their children here will mean an extra five kids so you'll start with seventeen." Dillon grinned. "Perhaps the second classroom will be in use sooner rather than later."
Karla felt quite excited. She had not even considered the possibility of village children coming up to Top Plateau. "So we'd better get the new building operational," she replied.
*
CHAPTER 12
Karla thought she recognised the little car that drove into the back yard, mid-morning the following day. Ryan had left to help Clive on the farm and she was about to go over to the school to sort out the boxes of gear that had been brought back from the hall.
She smiled when she recognised the woman who stepped out of the vehicle. Of course, that's whose car it was. The visitor was Chrissy from Tui Park!
"Hi Chrissy," she called as she dashed across the driveway. "It's great to see you!"
Chrissy stood beside the car and waited.
As Karla got closer she saw that the normally happy girl who stood there in a summer tank top and shorts looked quite distressed. She stopped before her and held out both hands. "What's wrong, Chrissy?" she asked.
"Oh Karla," the young woman sobbed. "Thank God I found you!" She burst into shuddering tears and folded into Karla's hug. "There's nobody else to help."
Karla waited while the girl shivered and cried. Tears rolled down her cheeks and for several moments she could say nothing as she sobbed continuously.
"Come inside," Karla said when the girl stood back and wiped her eyes. "I'll pour us a wine and you can tell me what's wrong."
"No wine," Chrissy sobbed. "That was what caused it in the first place."
I see," Karla whispered. "A coffee then."
Chrissy nodded, blew her nose and apologised for her behaviour.
"Don't! Has Derek done something?"
"No," Chrissy said after they arrived in the kitchen and sat down on a stool. "He's long gone."
"Well it's something. Is a man involved?"
Chrissy's lips quivered. "I was raped at the staff party."
"What?" Karla gasped.
"By who?"
"The boss spiced my wine and…" In sobbing sentences everything that had happened to Chrissy came tumbling out.
"Oh hell," Karla said. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"I thought I could cope."
"Did you report him to the police?"
"No. I doubt if they'd believe me. I was slightly drunk at the staff party and it would be his word against mine." She glanced up and burst into tears again. "I remember nothing from when he poured me a drink and waking up naked in the motel room."
"Have you still got the note?"
Chrissy nodded. "There's more!"
"Go on."
"My period… oh hell, I had no period and got one of those testing kits."
"Pregnancy kit?"
"Yes. I'm pregnant Karla. The bastard impregnated me. It could be nobody else for Derek and I had stopped being intimate in October. I stopped the pill and…" She burst into tears again. "My parents are very religious and will blame me."
"Obviously you don't want to continue the pregnancy, it's only five or six weeks so you can have it terminated."
"An abortion, you mean?"
"Yes. It is comparatively easy and completely legal in New Zealand. With chemical induction, you don't even need a physical operation."
"My parents would never agree."
"So!" Karla retorted. "You're over eighteen, In fact, even younger woman can have an abortion without their parent's permission."
"But!"
Karla stared at her frightened and distressed friend, stood up and grabbed her in a hug. "The alternative is to have the child. If you do that, it would only take a simple DNA test to prove that Murray fathered it. He could be charged with rape and …"
"Sa
y it was consensual," Chrissy interrupted. "No, I want it terminated. Will you help me?"
"Of course I will," Karla replied. "But the sooner the better. I'll get onto it straight away."
"Thanks," Chrissy whispered. "I knew you would help."
*
There were two places in the southern half of New Zealand's North Island where abortions were performed. Both were in public hospitals and free; the Te Mahoe unit in Wellington Public Hospital and somewhat surprisingly, at Masterton's own public hospital that unlike many provincial cities, provided this liberal service. It was really only for local residents but Chrissy was so distort about attending the Wellington clinic in case friends or family should see her that Karla took the matter into her own hands.
Doctor Louise Bradshore was her own GP in Masterton who she had got to know quite well when she visited to have her burns attended to. She was quite young and her practice had a modern liberal outlook. After a brief examination and questions about the timing of her last period and the situation involved, the doctor sat back and listened to Chrissy's account about what happened.
"And you never had intercourse with anyone else since your previous partner shifted out in November?"
"Nobody. I had my usual period late in November and at that time stopped taking any birth control pills. I'm sorry…"
"Don't be. It is my job to help you. This town has quite a high rate of unwanted pregnancies with many situations similar to the one you have found yourself in." Louise glanced up. "I know you feel totally alone and officially, you should go to your own doctor in Wellington who will refer you onto consultants, two of which you need to approve any termination," she said.
"I haven't got one," the girl muttered and gazed at Karla who she had asked to be with her. "I came from the South Island and haven't really needed a doctor since coming north. I got my original birth control prescription from the Accident & Urgent Medical Centre in Adelaide Road, Wellington"
"As you know, I live at Top Plateau Station that is in the Wairarapa District Health Board area," Karla said.
Louise glanced up at Chrissy from her computer. "And you want Karla's address as your place of residence?"
"Well… err," Chrissy flushed bright red.
"Of course she does," Karla cut in,
The doctor nodded and typed on her keyboard. "And you want to register as a patient at this practice?"
Chrissy glanced at Karla. "Is it allowed?" She gulped and looked to be close to tears.
"Why not?" Karla again interjected. "We're well into the twenty-first century."
Louise smiled and her printer spat out a sheet of paper that she handed to Chrissy. "I've made an appointment with the hospital consultant in an hour. All going well, you can have a medical termination next week."
"So soon?" Chrissy gasped.
"This is the recommended procedure up to the first nine weeks. It will have to be confirmed but you appear to be well within that time frame. The consultant will explain the details but briefly…" She continued on to explain how the two pills worked, what the follow up consisted of and the risks involved. "You may wish to talk it over with Karla or family and anytime up to when you begin, you can withdraw."
"I don't want to withdraw," Chrissy whispered.
The doctor glanced up at Karla, "Can I speak to Chrissy alone, please."
"Of course," Karla squeezed her friend's shoulder and walked out into the waiting room.
Ten minutes later Chrissy came out with a slight smile on her face. "The consultant at the hospital is free. We can go straight over."
Chrissy stayed with Karla and Ryan over the following few days and with Karla at a Masterton Motel between Monday and Wednesday when the termination took place. She suffered from cramps and quite heavy bleeding on Tuesday but by Wednesday evening she was pregnant no more.
*
Both Top Plateau and Tui Park Schools were beginning the new school year the following Monday and Chrissy appeared apprehensive. "How can I go back?" she asked.
"You go back with your head up high and don't look back," Karla said. "Look Murray Narwood in the eye and tell him what happened."
"I can't do that."
"Then allow me."
"No, I can't."
"And let him get away with it to repeat his objectionable behaviour with more young women? There's no doubt that he's done it before and, unless stopped he'll do it again."
"Rough him up and scare the living daylights out of him," Ryan suggested.
"And you'll do that?" Karla retorted. "If you do, he'll throw an assault charge against you and probably win it."
"Not me," Ryan replied. "How about Big Red?"
*
Murray was proud of his new Toyota Camry. It was his first brand new car in twenty years but with only a couple of years to go before his retirement he felt he could afford this little luxury. As he drove home on the narrow road towards Tui Park School, he glanced across at his wife, Sherri, his junior by fifteen years and thought back over the years. She was his second and, unfortunately had lately become more like Lorraine his first wife. It seemed inevitable that when women grew older they became more dominant and less attractive. Sherri glanced at him but looked serious.
"Well, what's wrong?" he asked
"Oh it's a lovely car, Murray but the expense. Once you retire we'll have to watch our finances, you know."
"We'll be fine. This car is really a celebration."
"Of what?"
Murray grinned. "As from next month our home is freehold. After thirty years, the mortgage is paid off."
She smiled. "Okay, I guess we deserve to splash out a little."
Murray glanced in his rear vision mirror where a line of motorbikes with headlights on had appeared behind him. Seconds later, three had driven past, cut in front and braked.
"Damn idiots," Murray retorted as he also braked to avoid hitting one.
The three bikes ahead slowed to a crawl and two more appeared beside him. More were behind. A gigantic looking bikie in ancient military helmet with red hair flying out from under it throttled down beside his window and waved him down
"You'd better pull over." Sherri sounded nervous.
Murray pulled into the closest area he could and opened the window. "What's the meaning of this?" he grumbled at the red bearded face that peered in at him.
"Mr Narwood the big hoot at Tui Park School?"
"I am."
"Nice car, Murray," the man said and ran a ring over the paintwork. There was a sickening screech like fingernails on a blackboard.
"What's up with you?" Murray howled. "This is a brand new car."
"Yeah, I heard." The guy purposely hit the rear vision mirror with his elbow, so violently that it snapped back at the entirely wrong angle.
The passenger door opened and Sherrie screamed as hands reached in and she was dragged from the car. Before he could react, his own door was opened; he was seized by the throat, forced out and leaned back over the bonnet. He coughed and lashed out but the hold was tight. He began to gasp for air and began to see blue spots dancing across his vision. The hand on his throat relaxed. As he gasped for air a fist hit him in the stomach, he pitched forward and landed on the ground, just as a boot kicked him in the side. He heard a crack and stabbing pain shot through his body.
Over the next few moments his only recollections were that of fists in the face, kicks across his body and blood, his own blood pouring from a split lip. Finally, gasping and heaving, he staggered up onto his knees and moaned in sheer agony and terror.
There was a crash and the front windscreen of his new car shattered. A bikie was hitting it with an iron rod. Across the small-grassed area he saw his wife held by a woman also dressed in gang clothes. Sherrie looked distressed but unhurt.
A hand grabbed him under the chin and he was dragged to his feet. The red haired guy looked directly into his eyes. "When we take our women, we don't drug them first, Mr Mighty Principal," he said. "Nor do we get them pregna
nt."
A hand reached down grabbed him between the legs and squeezed. Murray screamed! "What do you mean?" he managed to stammer when the man let go.
"When you decided to screw a young assistant called Chrissy, you didn't think she had friends who might disagree with your methods did you?"
"Chrissy Ancell?"
"Yes, that sexy young teacher you impregnated when you drugged and screwed her."
"Impregnated?" Murray gasped.
"Oh she got rid of your bastard child, Murray-me-lad. Got the DNA from the embryo that will prove you fathered it, though. Luckily for you, Chrissy doesn't want to go though the hassle of testifying against you at a rape trial." He grinned. "We have our own method of dealing with predators like you."
The man nodded and Murray heard more high-pitched sounds as his car's paintwork was scratched. Another window was smashed and safety glass showered around him.
"You will treat your young teacher with respect," the bikie continued. "If we hear of her being hassled we will return." The man looked across at where a shaking, crying Sherrie was still being held by the woman. "Great looking wife you have there. Pity you couldn't save your tool just for her." He grabbed Murray again by the throat and hauled him close. "Next time it will be her who is scratched up, not just you and the car. Get it?"
Another fist buckled him up and he retched blood and vomit onto the grass. Another boot kicked his ribs and he remembered no more until he woke up in a moving vehicle and heard a siren going. Through the pain he realised he was travelling in an ambulance. Through puffed eyes he noticed someone sitting beside him. It was Sherrie his wife who reached out and squeezed his hand.
*
Chrissy was apprehensive about going back to Tui Park but took Karla's advice about holding her head high. Also, the news about the attack on Murray and Karla's admission that she just may have had something to do with it made her even more determined to put the matter behind her. The school staff were abuzz with rumours about why Murray had been attacked and wouldn't be back for the first week of the new term. They were wild and speculative but again on Karla's advice, Chrissy enlightened nobody. On the first day back the school had a teacher's only day that consisted of time for the teachers to prepare for the new year, get their classrooms up and running and the morning with detailed instructions about how the new system of just operating a senior and junior school would operate. In Murray's absence, Gillian lead the discussion but Val managed to intervene throughout the staff meeting.
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