Page 66 of Breathing Under Water

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Berry

November 2023

A knock against the open door of my office startles me.

I look up from the budget report to find Stella in the doorway with a worried expression on her face.

“Mr. Tomashefsky is here to see you.” Her tone tells me he’s standing close enough to hear my response, so I don’t let on that his arrival feels like a blow to the ribs. Generally, Piotr Tomashefsky visits us in person only when he has bad news to deliver, which I assume means the board has heard about the many issues with the curriculum, and consequences will be forthcoming.

“Send him on in.” I force brightness into my voice.

“Berry!” Piotr says with a hint of an Eastern European accent as he walks into the office, his arms held out to the sides as if this is the meeting we’ve all been waiting for. His six-foot-five frame makes the room feel suddenly claustrophobic.

I stand to greet him, shake his hand, and then shimmy one of the chairs opposite my desk into better position.

“Please, sit.” I motion to the upholstered chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask while reminding myself to breathe.

Piotr opens the button of his suit jacket and makes himself comfortable, his long legs folding neatly in front of him.

“I heard about the situation with Neil.”

Well, at least we’re not hiding the ball.

“There was a lot of good in the plan he proposed,” I start, wondering how I can sugarcoat the fact that I allowed our curriculum coordinator to implement school-wide changes that were full of flaws. I’d hoped the solutions we put in place to address the deficiencies would be sufficient, but clearly, if Piotr is here to discuss it, I haven’t done enough.

Piotr holds up a hand as if he doesn’t want to hear it.

“No need to protect Neil,” he says. “Rumson’s plan was a Trojan horse, featuring all the right buzzwords, twenty-first-century skills, data-driven experiential learning, enough to get him all the recognition he was seeking. He had to know the problems wouldn’t start coming out until school was well underway, and I assume he expected you to take the fall. But instead, you stepped in quickly and decisively to rectify the situation. Thank heavens you were here to right the ship. The school board took notice.”

I’m stunned by his words. I’ve been feeling so guilty for allowing Neil’s faulty curriculum plan to disrupt our program of study, even briefly.

“I never should have allowed him to send that plan to the board.”

“Nonsense.” Piotr waves a hand in the air. “The way the framework was written was intentionally deceitful, and six other educators sitting on the school board have assured me they were fooled as well. It was simply a bid for promotion with little concern for the well-being of our students. Hardly the type of character we’d want as our principal.”

“No, I suppose not,” I answer, wondering how the boardfound out so much about what happened. “So now you’ll have to find other candidates to add to your search?”

“On the contrary, this incident has ended the search.”

My heart deflates at the lost opportunity, and I consider what a good thing it is that I’ve kept in touch with so many of my old tutoring clients.

I try not to let the disappointment show on my face as Piotr continues. “We’d already narrowed the pool to two candidates, and Neil has disqualified himself. If you’re still willing, I’m hoping you’ll accept the principal position on a full-time, permanent basis.”

“Oh!” My hand flies to my chest. “Well, of course I’m still interested. Forgive me, Piotr, I did not see the meeting going this way.” This is a far cry from getting sacked. My emotions careen from relief to excitement to pure joy. Then, as usual, they veer to Leo. With all the upheaval he’s experienced this summer, maybe it’s not the time. But when will it ever be time? When will life cease getting in my way? When I think of everything we’ve been through recently, and in all the years leading up to today, suddenly I don’t see the trials and tribulations only as hardships. I can now see the ways they’ve led to profound growth, making us stronger, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next. I’ve wanted this job so fiercely, for so long, and I know in my core that I’m ready for the added responsibilities.

“Yes, yes, of course I want it. I accept! Thank you, Piotr!”

After he leaves, Stella bursts into my office.

“Ohmygod, Berry!” She squeals like an excited teenager coming in for a hug, and I love her for it.

I smile sheepishly. I can’t wait to tell Phil and Leo, and I already know what they’ll say. That I made the right choice, thatthey’ll be fine without me around as much, that they don’t need me as much as I think they do.

Halfway through dinner that night, I hear the front door open, and then Harrison is bounding into the kitchen.

“I heard the good news!” he says.