Her words were drowned by another explosion and the door disintegrated into a sea of flames. The temperature soared. They both began gasping and choking as air rushed forward to feed the flames and choking smoke replaced it.
Wendy grabbed a wooden chair and bashed it into the window. A splintering crack joined the other noises and the glass disappeared. She used the chair legs to crunch off jagged pieces remaining and then turned the chair the right way up.
Meanwhile, Kate staggered in a violent coughing fit as the ceiling above disappeared in black smoke that descended around them.
"Climb on the chair and I'll push you through," Wendy spluttered as fumes filled her own throat and water streamed from her stinging eyes. "Get it!"
Kate leaped on the chair. She seized the windowpane and heaved herself up. Now almost horizontal, she wriggled through the gap and pushed her feet against a wooden beam and slid out.
Wendy followed with a dive through the gap. Her hands found Kate's and she was pulled out like a cork from a wine bottle. The pair had torn clothes and lacerated limbs but were free from the inferno.
"Run!" Kate screamed.
They did.
How it was achieved Wendy couldn't recall but they were clear. Seconds later the room they'd just vacated blew up! Roofing iron howled intro the air and the whole end of North Block became a sheet of flames. A blast of superheated air sent them sprawling across the lawn.
NOEL APPEARED AROUND the adjacent block and saw the pair helping each other stagger to their feet. Kate's light blue top was stained with blood and her elbows and legs were grazed
Wendy had an ugly graze down the inside of one leg, ripped shorts and dishevelled hair. Both were wide-eyed and filthy from sweat and soot but Noel had never been so relieved to see them there...
"My God!" he croaked. "You're safe! Thank God, you're safe."
He ran forward and lifted Kate to her feet before offering a supporting hand to Wendy. Kate's arm went around his waist and her head tucked into his neck. Her other arm also encircled Wendy and both the women shook from shock.
"It happened so quickly!" Kate gasped.
Noel nodded grimly as they stared at the bellowing flames. "I rushed out but there was no way I could get close to the building," he gasped. "All I could do was hope you both managed to escape." He swallowed and squeezed his wife's shoulder. "And you did!"
"Wendy got us out," Kate panted. She wiped a hand over watery eyes "If it wasn't for her..."
"Let's say I returned a favour," Wendy said, "Everything happened so quickly I didn't really know what I did."
There was another eruption and a pillar of flames leapt out from the skylight of a previously unaffected section of the building. Three quarters of was now engulfed in black smoke that rose hundreds of metres into the air. People materialized out of nowhere and sirens wailed in the distance.
NORTH BLOCK WAS DESTROYED but the fire brigade managed to save the other blocks with only scorched walls and burst windows as the result. Hours later, the skeletal remains of North Block was still being sprayed by high powered water hoses and the fire chief told Noel a crew would remain on site all night in case their was a flare up. Police and medics were everywhere but apart from smoke inhalation and Kate's cut forehead, there were no casualties.
Forty minutes later Sarah roared in with an anxious Alexia but apprehension turned to relief when the three were found unhurt.
"My God, Daddy," Alexia cried with her face white and bottom lip quivering. "What are you going to do?"
"Nobody was hurt Sweetheart." Noel hugged his daughter. "Buildings can be replaced. We're all safe and that is all that matters now."
"But what caused it, Daddy?" the girl sobbed.
"We don't know," Noel replied. "The fire chief said it was something highly explosive. "
"A fire bomb?" Kate gasped.
"Could be," Noel replied. "It is too early to tell yet but it was something that generated a huge intensity of heat within a few seconds."
Reporters from television, radio and newspapers arrived and Noel was called away to speak to officials. Later he phoned the Auckland Education Board's general manager and stated he'd close the school for Monday but open for senior classes from Tuesday. The manager agreed and said he'd do all he could to help.
It was a tragic Sunday afternoon that could have been worse.
CHAPTER 20
The aftermath of the fire made Monday one of reconstruction and improvisation for all the staff and many parents at Kent Drive School. Everyone pulled together and by noon the East Block was well on its way to becoming serviceable. Fifteen windows had glass replaced and painters were already repainting a scorched wall. Government officials and police were sifting through the remains of North Block and would not let demolition bulldozers in until all evidence as to the possible cause of the fire was gathered.
Roger and three committee members erected a temporary fence around the burnt out block and by mid-afternoon the senior section of the school was ready to receive pupils. An exhausted Noel walked in the staffroom at three fifteen, plunked himself down in his favourite chair and found a cup of steaming coffee placed in his hand.
"How are you, Noel?" Kate asked as she sat beside her husband with her own drink.
"Oh fine, I guess. There's only your part of the school to sort out but with no juniors here tomorrow we still have some time." Noel sighed. "Steve from the Education Board has been on the phone nearly all day trying to find suitable alternative classroom space. He said he'll be arriving here at three thirty."
"He's here now, Noel," George interrupted. "At least a white Audi has just driving in. Don't the board use Audis?"
"They do. See you all later," Noel said, gulped down his drink and headed out the door.
"A few interesting items have come to light," Steve said after he accepted a cup of tea offered to him by Sarah and sat in Noel's office. "There's a bit of a hush-hush deal going on but I'm sure you'll keep anything I tell you confidential."
"Sure," Noel replied.
"The board officers had an emergency meeting and have brought forward a few items." Steve said.
"Go on," Noel almost snapped.
"Well, we now own Kent Park. The board did a straight land swap with the city council. It's all signed and sealed but the news hasn't been released to the public."
Noel frowned. "But why?"
"We're building a new intermediate school on the site and the park will be split down the middle with half the property becoming part of your grounds."
"Okay but how does that help us now?"
Steve smiled. "That cricket club you had all the trouble with has gone into recess and won't require the grounds this year. The Kent Park Pavilion is unused. If we rip out a wall it will be almost as large as a classroom. It has toilet facilities so one of your classes can use it straight away." The man leaned back to wait for Noel's response.
"But tomorrow?" the principal said.
"Well, we had the wall ripped out today," Steve replied with a grin. "Desks will arrive this afternoon so one class can go there tomorrow."
"Thirty kids," Noel replied. "What about the other sixty three and two teachers?"
"One teacher can use your library, can't she? Another load of children's desks should be arriving here for them soon."
"Yes," Noel replied doubtfully. "It'll be a crush."
"Little kids." Steve shrugged. "Your colleague has offered us a spare room over at Summerhill Heights for your third teacher. If you agree, the Board will pay for a bus to pick the children up here every morning, transport them there and return them at three. This will only be for the last month of this year. By the end of the Christmas holidays, we'll have two prefabricated buildings on site."
"You've worked fast," Noel replied. "It sounds okay by me but what about the class at Summerhill?"
"They're still your children. If you want the bus to bring the children back early for sports or school assembly you only need to phone the comp
any to arrange a different pickup time. That's the best I could do at such short notice."
"Thanks, Steve," Noel responded and gave a satisfied heave. "This time yesterday we were utterly devastated but now everything is well on its way back to normality."
"One other thing," Steve added.
Noel raised an eyebrow.
"Preliminary reports show the fire was arson, probably a petrol bomb. The police are mounting an official investigation."
"Damn," Noel muttered.
"That is also confidential," Steve warned. "Tell Kate but nobody else. Okay?"
Noel grimaced. "Yes. I'd better get to work and sort out who goes where."
ON TUESDAY THE SENIOR children arrived and excited shouts were heard everywhere. At noon two massive bulldozers appeared and by the evening the North Block was no more. Just a patch of bare land and a few concrete slabs replaced the black skeleton left from the blaze.
Meetings were held with staff, committee and a public meeting was attended by over a hundred parents. After inspecting the Kent Park Pavilion Kate said it would be quite fun to work there while Lois, the third North Block teacher, agreed to take the youngest pupils in the library. That left Wendy with thirty, six year-olds over at Summerhill Heights.
"Why me?" she asked in a blunt voice when Noel told her the news.
"As Assistant Principal, Kate needs to be on site and I think you can work independently better than Lois can. It was my decision," he replied in a serious voice.
"I see. Thanks for the confidence placed in me."" Wendy replied. Her face looked serious. "As long as I'm still part of this school, I don't mind," she added. "It's all the equipment, charts, children's books and everything that bothers me, Noel. Ten months of work has just gone, all my music, everything for the operetta, reading records, the lot."
"I know," Noel said. "We can postpone the operetta until next year if you wish."
"No," Wendy replied. "Our three main actors are Form Two pupils who will be at high school next year. They've put in so much effort it won't be fair to exclude them."
Noel smiled. "I thought you'd say that," he said.
"Oh, did you?" Wendy replied but a smile appeared on her face.
"Richard brought a classroom key over and said you are welcome to use any of his school's supplies. New desks should be there by now and our committee has agreed to buy any extra stuff you need. New readers are coming from the Education Board bulk store but there won't be any of those readers our local funds paid for. Richard said you could use his junior school readers, if you wished."
"Co-operative, isn't he?" Wendy replied with a touch of sarcasm evident.
"Yes," Noel replied. "He's changed since the beginning of the year."
"Yeah. Dating Sarah could have made a difference," she added.
"Possibly," Noel admitted and broke into a smile. "Okay Wendy, I guess it makes a big difference but keep that under your hat."
"Yes, Mr O," Wendy chortled. "I'll spy out all their good ideas and bring them back for Kate."
"If they have any." Noel replied.
He watched her leave and sighed when the telephone rang. God he was exhausted!
"Hello, Noel Overworth speaking... yes Mrs. Gillbanks, your younger children can return tomorrow... No, I'm afraid they will both be in different rooms. It's the best we could do Mrs. Gillbanks... Thank you for ringing." He replaced the receiver. "The old bag," he snorted and moaned when the instrument rang again. "Sarah, you take it. I'm not here. Understand!"
"Sure Noel," Sarah replied and reached for the telephone. She had answered calls all day and still managed to remain bright and fresh for this latest one.
THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT men in Auckland area's primary education service were quite a contrasting pair. Gavin Wilson, the general manager of the Auckland Education Board was close to retiring. He had a crop of grey hair and piercing brown eyes that seemed to notice everything in Noel's office, from the hanging basket containing pot plants to the neat pile of folders placed along the backbench. Even the two plastic model aircraft on the opposite bookshelf did not escape his scrutiny. Noel knew John Alburne, the District Senior Inspector from his previous visit.
"So your little fire has led us to do some quick thinking and quite a few calls down to the Minister of Education in Wellington," Alburne said as he sat back in the comfortable office chair. "I give the gentleman one thing. He can make a fast decision when it is necessary."
Noel studied the man but said no more than a polite, neutral comment.
"The government has brought forward plans for the intermediate school in this area. It will open in two years rather than five. The next decision affects your school. It has been decided not to rebuild here in the short term."
Noel frowned. This was grim news. He had expected a replacement block similar to the one destroyed to be built and was even hopeful of a larger block so all the temporary classrooms would be replaced.
"Hear me out," the DSI said quietly. "The architect's full plans for stage one of the intermediate school have already been drawn and had been shelved awaiting government finance. Thanks to your fire this has come through and we're calling tenders immediately."
Gavin Wilson unrolled a blueprint on Noel's desk and continued the explanation. "Stage One consists of a four classroom block here and a technical services block adjacent to it." He pointed to another rectangle on the plan that seemed larger than Noel's destroyed building. "This will have a woodwork room, cooking and sewing room as well as an art room and science laboratory. Stage Two will comprise of three more classroom blocks, administration block, library, music room and assembly hall. This is due to be completed by February 1990 when we open the intermediate."
"Stage One should be ready by August, next year," Alburne added. "So for the rest of 1988 and through '89, the buildings will be attached to this school. You'll have a separate senior block for your Form One and Two pupils. When the intermediate opens in 1990, this school will become a contributing school. Predictions are the district rolls will be levelling off at that stage so you will not need new buildings."
"And all our temporary ones?" Noel asked.
"They can stay," the Wilson said.
"When the Stage One opens, we will advertise for three technical arts teachers who will be attached to your staff until the intermediate starts up "
"And my position," gulped Noel.
"Our predictions are that even after the intermediate opens, Kent Drive will remain a Grade 4 school and will not revert to Grade 3, the grade you were appointed to. We shall advertise it immediately as an upgraded position rather than wait another year. With the manual teachers attached, it will be further upgraded to Grade 5 until the intermediate opens."
"Damn," Noel muttered in spite of himself. There was not a snowball's chance in hell he could remain at a school that size.
The District Senior studied Noel. "Senior principal positions don't go on a grading report any longer, Noel," he said. "It is all on suitability for the position. When this school comes up in the next gazette, take my advice and apply. Oh yes, the deputy principal and assistant principal positions here will also be advertised as upgraded positions. I think your wife should apply for the deputy principal's position."
"And George Trinder?"
"He has the right to apply," Alburne said with a faint shrug He fixed his eyes on Noel but didn't elaborate.
"Kate will be taking maternity leave from about Easter," Noel said.
"So?" Alburne replied without even a second's hesitation. "She's coming back, isn't she?"
"If everything works out," Noel sounded somewhat overwhelmed at all the news being fed into him.
"Good," said the DSI, stood up and pumped Noel's hand. "You can tell your committee and staff the news. A press release about the intermediate will be out in about ten days. Our Minister of Education needs a bit of good publicity, I think."
The general manager sighed. "It's all politics, Noel," he said. "He wants the intermediate
up and running by the 1990 election so it can be a show piece of their polices. They're pouring money into the buildings so there shouldn't be all the problems you had getting established."
"And who misses out?" Noel pressed.
The DSI gave a slow smile. "One provincial town has had its plans for an intermediate school put on hold for another five years. The town's population is static so I doubt if one will ever be built there, now. The North Shore, though, will need another intermediate and high school as well as four contributing schools over the next decade. This is where the people are, Noel. We're going to have trouble keeping up."
"BUT I CAN'T," KATE muttered when Noel handed her the gazette and told her yet again what the DSI had said.
"Both positions are advertised together," Noel said. "Read this bit." He handed the magazine to his wife.
Kate screwed up her nose and read the statement out loud. "These upgraded positions will take affect from February 1988. Applicants can apply for either or both positions on one application form and need to indicate the positions they wish be considered for. Please note that the incumbents may be applying for these positions." She glanced up. "But the baby?"
"Sarah said she'd love to go back to being a nanny. She doesn't need the pittance she gets as school office lady, not with the farm recently sold to her brother-in-law."
"Noel," Kate snorted. "You're a bloody slave driver, you know."
"And how long would you stand being just a mum?" Noel said with a laugh.
"Oh, I planned on four or five years," Kate retorted. "Not four or five months."
"I'm sure, Sweetheart," Noel replied. "But now the hard part."
"What's that?" Kate asked.
"I have to advise George to look at both positions, too and hint that if he applies for only the DP job, he'll miss out."
"Are you sure?" Kate replied.
"Oh yes," Noel sighed. "He mightn't even get the AP job. I have to try to get that across to him without it appearing that I'm giving him the shove."
Wind Across the Playground Page 19
