A Tennessee Education Pt. 01

Since last weeks' brief introduction, he had spent most every day in the administration building located in the center of the city with his recently acquired colleague, Sharon. The two were trying to get a feel for how things ran, who was really in charge and what the academic problems were from the administrator's perspective. They met with most everyone of importance, spending extensive time meeting with everyone from the Superintendent and numerous assistant superintendents of school, to the director of athletics, to the counseling supervisor, to the head of guidance. They endured PowerPoint lectures that explained the history and East Riverton High, the local culture and demographics and spent countless hours in individual and group meetings. They reviewed hundreds of documents and yearly reports that extended back several years.

Having met most all of the powers-to-be, he and Sharon now turned their attention to the source of the problem - East Riverton High. Most likely they would be spending the majority of their time at the school for the next year or so until significant academic strides were made. Their objective was to once more have students test above the minimum state levels required of all school. Failure to do so for three consecutive years would put them on the Federal watch list with the risk of losing needed Federal funding.

Bobby finished filling out the form and handed it back. "Why is your address the same as your parents?" she asked quizzically after scanning the page.

"Because that's where I live."

"Where is Randolf anyway?"

"About an hour southeast."

"So far! In the mountains?"

Almost. It's in the foothills just north of them. It's a small country town; nothing like here. There are only two traffic lights in the whole town," he said grinning. "It's pretty much country. Just simple folk live there. Hard working people," he added.

"Do you care for them?" she said, turning her question back to his parents.

"Oh no, they are fine. Dad works for Tennessee Power and mom stays busy doing whatever."

"So why are you still at home Mr. Lewis? I mean you are how old?"

His face reddened. He didn't know why but this lady knew how to push his buttons and make him uncomfortable. "I'm thirty nine. Why?"

"Because you seem a bit old to be still living at home. Have you ever watched the movie Failure to Launch?"

He ignored the jab. "I'm not really at home. I have an apartment in the basement. Yes the address is the same but I don't live with them. It's not like I sleep in the same room I did when I was a kid"

"Do you watch TV at night with them?

"No."

"Does your mom do your wash?"

"Sometimes."

Do you cook your own meals?" she said, her interest apparent.

"Mostly."

"Oh! And what does mostly mean Mr. Lewis? I thought you told me you didn't live with them."

"I cook on weekends. Mom cooks during the week because I am busy at work all day."

"Oh my God," she exclaimed, "You are still her little boy aren't you?"

"What's the big deal? Don't you cook for your husband?"

"Mr. Lewis!" Her eyes flashed with anger as she raised her voice. "It's none of your dam business what I do on my own time. But to answer your question, no, I don't cook for my husband! Now get out of my office. I have no more need of you. Off you go."

She waved a dismissive hand as the furry of her anger continued to burn hot. He hurriedly grabbed his briefcase and scrambled out the door. Once around the corner he paused to lean against the hallway wall where he took a deep breath, regained his composure and headed out to a nearby conference room.

............

"You're late Bobby. What took you so long?"

"Nothing really," he lied. "Ms. K and I had to go over some papers. Just formalities. How was your weekend?"

She smiled. "I had a wonderful weekend. Jonathan and I spent Saturday at a retirement home visiting his grandparents and we went to church on Sunday. I cooked him a nice ham dinner that afternoon. How was yours?"

"I didn't do much. Went to a bar with a girl on Friday and slept in Saturday and Sunday; watched football most the time."

Sharon peered over her glasses looking disappointed. "Do you really enjoy the bar scene? I simply don't see why people like going there."

"What's there not to like? I mean I had a few drinks with a woman, played some pool, hung out with her and took her home."

"You mean you went to her place and slept with her," she said presumptuously.

"No. In fact I didn't. She was too drunk. I took her home and left."

"Well good for you. At least you did something right."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked completely mystified.

"Bobby, if you haven't figured already, you know I don't approve of drinking much alcohol. I see no good that can come of it. I also don't approve of sex before marriage."

"Would it surprise you that I don't either," he said emphatically.

"Yes it would. You don't look like the abstinent type to me."

"And you do?" He said defensively. He already knew the answer to that question.

"Are you telling me you are a virgin," she asked.

"Not exactly but I don't go out with girls just to have sex either. Why, are you?"

"I made one mistake in my life but that was a long time ago. I know better now."

Sharon Ashby who he just met last Monday came as a complete surprise. He thought he was going to be working as the only consultant for the East Riverton High project but apparently the State of Tennessee wanted one of their own to oversee his work. Shortly after lunch on his first day, in the middle of a meeting with the Assistant Superintendent, a frumpily dressed woman introduced herself and informed both he and the administrator that she would be working to address the academic deficiencies present. Not only was he not alone but she handed the administrator and him copies of a document stating she would be taking the lead on this assignment. Bobby was crushed!

Sharon came to work every day wearing clothing that appeared homemade. It wasn't that what she wore was ugly but it wasn't what he normally saw other women wearing. The dresses fell below the nearly to mid-calf and the necklines were often collared or buttoned; her shoes were simple flats; her make-up non-existent and her brunette hair was always pinned up in a bun. To Bobby she looked like she had been transported out of the 1950's. Not only was she dressed like a Plain Jane but she acted similarly. She was all business and anytime he brought up anything personal the word Jonathan seemed to come up in the conversation. He wondered if it was her not-so-subtle way of reminding him that she was attached. But there was something attractive about her. She was tall and slender. She had beautiful eyes, soft unblemished skin and delicate features. He guessed she was shapely and busty underneath but it was hard to tell exactly because of her loose fitting dresses.

"I don't know how I appear to you," she said after a long pause, "but then I really don't care." She stared off into space before adding, "What I do know is Jonathan loves me and that's all that matters."

Bobby said, "I think you do care what other people think Sharon. I think that's why you defend how you dress and act so vehemently. But I am happy that you have Jonathan. I really am."

"You are?" She said warily. "Why, you really don't know me and you've never met him?"

"True, but why would I wish something bad on you guys? What kind of person would I be if I wanted the two of you to be unhappy or break up? Who would wish that on anyone?" he said, rather than asked.

Sharon smiled but didn't look at him. "I guess you are right."

"Do you know what I have learned about you?"

"What?" Her curiosity piqued.

"I think you are pretty genuine; I think you are straight out of 1950 but I think you are real," he grinned. "I think what you let others see reflects who you really are. You don't put on a façade. You don't hide your values. You are kind of a what-you-see is what-you-get kind of a woman. And that's a good thing," he added. "And I think Jonathan is a lucky guy."

"I'm the lucky one," she corrected.

"Why is that?"

"Because he is a wonderful man."

"Care to explain?"

She blushed. As much as she loved Jonathan she didn't feel comfortable talking to someone she didn't know about the intimate details of their relationship. "We should get started on our work," she said desperately wanting to change the subject. "I have a two page list of things we need to begin exploring."

"Are you embarrassed to talk about the very guy you want to marry?" Bobby said with a chuckle. He was curious to know more about this man of her dreams.

"No!" she said defensively. "But I don't think we should be talking about him when we have so much work to do."

"OK, then, how about over lunch? Maybe we can grab a bite at the bar down the street."

"Yea right."

"No really. We don't need to drink. We can get a sandwich with water or ice tea. I'll drink the same thing that you order. They serve more than beer there, you know."

"I don't know Bobby. The lunch I packed will do me just fine."

"You can't eat lunch by yourself every day."

"I did last week."

"I know you did, but it's not polite to turn me down every day. And there's nothing wrong with walking through the front doors of a bar. It's not like you are going to go to hell if you do."

"I know that!"

"Great, then it will be my treat," he paused and smiled, "at the Lazy K."

"Yes Robert," she said stiffly. "Now can we please get to work?"

"Of course."

At that moment his cell vibrated. Checking the message he smiled, "Speaking of the bar scene," he said looking up with a grin. "It's Jasmine, my date from last night. She has a pounding headache but wants to see me this evening."

"Well I hope you don't do something you will regret if you do."

He smiled. "She does have an incredible body and she's like 25." He smiled thoughtfully. "And she doesn't mind letting me see most of what she's got to offer."

"Oh geez," Sharon muttered. "You really aren't going to pursue her seriously are you?"

"I don't think so. She's complicated; a bit of a dimwit too and insecure as hell but she knows how to stroke my ego and I like that."

"But she's 25!"

"And she's beautiful," he retorted, leaving out the fact that she was married.

"But you told me you didn't believe in sex before marriage."

"I know. I'm wondering if I need to rethink that one."

"Don't Bobby. You know better. At least I hope you do."

"I don't know. I just don't know."

"Look," she said changing the subject. "Get your mind out of the gutter and go to room 1202. I'll head to 1204. We need to spend some time in the classrooms to see what learning is actually taking place and what teaching methods are being used here."

"More like what isn't taking place and what they aren't teaching," he said.

"Yea, that too. Since I'm heading up this project we need to evaluate every teacher before we make any modifications."

"Yes Ms. Ashby." With that, the bell sounded and the halls filled with students. The two consultants made their way through the throngs and to the respective classes looking like two white specks in a sea of black as they headed down the crowded corridor.

Just before they parted Bobby grabbed her arm. "Let's meet at the main office. Remember it's my treat for lunch."

............

Three hours later they met up in the lobby just outside the main office.

"What a disaster," Sharon said when she approached.

"That bad?"

"Nothing happened. Well almost nothing happened in any of those classes."

"Same with what I saw. What's your take on the problem?"

"The kids run the class! That's the problem. There's no discipline in there at all."

Just then Bobby saw Ms. K exit the main office and head their way. After stopping to speak to one of the teachers she joined them.

"I'll be joining you for lunch. Where are you two eating?" she said matter-of-fact.

"Bobby and I were going to discuss our morning privately," Sharon said somewhat irritated at the sudden intrusion.

"At the Lazy K too," Bobby interposed.

"That will be fine. I'll be there in ten. Bobby, order me a ham on rye and sparking water." She turned and headed down the hall leaving the two of them looking at one another. Sharon frowned. Bobby smiled.

Sharon commented how nice it felt to be out in the sun as they walked to the bar. Strolling anonymously on the busy sidewalk with others heading to lunch or off to meetings, Sharon talked the entire time about how disappointed she was with the teaching that was painfully absent. The one comment that Bobby focused on was the insightful remark she made concerning the disconnect between what she had saw in the classroom and the administrators' perception of the teaching quality.

"It's going to take some time, and tact to get them to understand that, Sharon," he added. "Most times people only see and hear what they want and my guess is you are dead-on in your assessment. If they take to heart that at least some of the blame for only 40% of incoming ninth graders graduating then they also have to acknowledge that part of that problem has to do with them and not just with William's efforts to keep a sinking ship afloat."

When the waitress arrived Bobby couldn't keep her eyes off of the young black girl. Sharon noticed him gawking but chose not to comment. He ordered a turkey salad sandwich which he said was delicious but Sharon opted for the Lazy Burger special. She told him she was raised on a ranch in Oklahoma and there was scarcely a day when there wasn't some form of beef on the table when mom cooked a meal. Soon their meals arrived; his with a cranberry muffin on the side and hers with a side of coleslaw. They talked more of her life at home, her many siblings including her twin, her schooling at Oklahoma State, her degree in education and then her move away from family when she attended graduate school.

"So you don't have family in the area?" He asked.

"Not a one but I get home to see them a few times a year, usually on holidays. Christmas and the Fourth hold a special place in my heart for that reason."

Thirty minutes later the two had nearly finished eating and sharing their life's history albeit in a synoptic view. Bobby asked questions about Jonathan like he had planned and Sharon surprised him by speaking freely and openly, describing how they met and spoke at length about his family and parents and their common values.

"So he's the youngest of five?" He said rhetorically.

"Yes but he is the most financially set of them all," she said proudly.

"What does he do?"

"Works at First Federal on 5th and Market."

"In East Riverton?"

"No in Riverton."

"Oh, I don't know much about the area. I'm still trying to not get lost after I exit the interstate."

Sharon smiled. Just then she noticed Ms. K walk through the front door. "We have company," she said quietly.

Sharon waived and Mariko approached motioning for Bobby to slide over on the bench seat. She sat and then glared menacingly at him.

"Where is my lunch Mr. Lewis?" she said obviously irked at seeing no food to eat.

"I didn't think you were coming for awhile and I didn't want it to get cold."

"It's a ham sandwich Mr. Lewis. It can't get cold! And regardless of whether I told you to order soup or an ice cream Sunday you didn't do what I asked. Didn't we just have this discussion?"

"Yes," he said quietly.

"I don't understand why you can't seem to follow such simple orders." She shook her head in disgust and motioned for the waitress. When she approached she said, "Mr. Lewis has something he would like to say. Don't you Mr. Lewis?"

Bobby's face flushed although he did pause to glance at her shapely body and sweet booty. Raising his gaze he asked, "Can you bring a ham sandwich on rye with a sparkling water for Ms. K?"

"Mayo on that sir?"

"Bobby looked at Ms. K. "Dijon mustard please."

"Lemon with your water?" The girl asked. This time looking first at her and then at him.

Again Bobby glanced at Ms. K who sat perfectly still. The awkwardness of the scene intensified. He broke the silence, "Ms. K, would you like lemon with your water?"

"Yes, that would be very nice," she said smiling at the young girl.

When the girl left, Bobby leaned back looking behind Ms. K to watch her sweet ass sway with each step she took.

"Someone needs to teach you manners," Ms. K said.

"My Daddy taught me all the manners a boy needs to know."

Ms. K and Sharon sat silently deliberately biting their tongues at the demeaning remark. Finally Mariko said, "Carry on with your conversation. I've got to read over this letter."

Bobby picked up right where they had left off and never noticed or felt the tension build in his female companions after he once more obnoxiously stared at the waitress's ass when she walked by once again. "So you said he works at the bank?"

"Yes."

"What does he do?"

"He's the branch manager."

"How long has he worked there?"

"Oh my," she said thinking. "He started right out of college so at least 17 or 18 years."

"Sounds like he enjoys working in the banking industry."

They chatted informally and Ms. K added her two scents every now and then. Bobby talked about his interest in business when he first went to college and how he changed majors after just one semester. The conversation remained upbeat and informative. Bobby cracked a joke and Sharon laughed just as the waitress arrived with Ms. K's meal arrived.

She busied herself eating and didn't seem to pay much attention with their conversation as it turned back to Jonathan and his work.

"He loves it. I think he started doing something with the accounting department when he first got there, and then worked in investment banking for a few years but by the time we met, he was in a managerial tract and recently got promoted to his current position."

"So you guys didn't know each in high school or college."

"No, he grew up here in Tennessee and, well, you know about where I grew up. We met at a church outing a few years ago," she said.

Ms. K looked up at Sharon. After a long moment she asked. "Are you feeling OK? You don't look well."

"Something in my stomach isn't sitting right. It may have been the sandwich. I ordered it medium-rare because I like to taste the blood in the meat but I don't think they cooked it quite enough."

"So you like the sight of blood?" She asked curiously.

"I didn't say that Ms. K. I said I like the taste of it in my beef, but to answer your question, no, I don't mind the sight of blood. Having grown up on the ranch I've seen my share of it while working in the slaughter house every fall."

"That's interesting. I wouldn't have taken you for a farm girl." She handed her a few antacid tablets.

"Thank you."

Bobby chimed in redirecting the meandering conversation, "So Jonathan goes to church?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. Or rather, I wouldn't consider him marriage material if he didn't."

"I take it your faith is important to you?" He pressed.

"It is very important. It is for me and for Jonathan. Jonathan and I both teach Sunday school and we go to services at least twice a week."

"What's he teach?" Bobby asked.

"He teaches the senior high kids and I teach elementary children."

"I don't mean to probe, Ms. Ashby" Mariko asked, "but do you take a traditional view of what the Bible has to say?"

"What do you mean by traditional?"

"That the man is the head of the home; that women were made to serve men; that women should not wear makeup or jewelry or that it's a sin to work on the Sabbath. That kind of stuff"

"Well, I'd say she does," Bobby said assumingly.

The two ladies ignored him. "Yes I do." Sharon answered.