Chapter 7

Diana joined the line of teachers forming near the end of the gym. A woman with short black hair, who looked to be about her age, turned and offered a warm smile.

“Hi, I’m Amelia. You must be the new English teacher.”

“Guilty.” Diana smiled back. “Am I the only new hire this year?”

“Yep. And your arrival’s been the talk of the staff room all week.”

They made their way toward a temporary desk at the front of the gym, where portable chairs had been arranged in neat rows. Diana and Amelia each picked up a thick binder and a training manual.

“Want to sit with me?” Amelia asked.

“Definitely. I’d rather not feel like the one random stranger no one talks to.”

“You’ll be fine.” Amelia flipped open her binder. “I hope you slept well, though. These teacher-institute days are long, and painfully boring. But I’m sure you know that from your last job.”

Before Diana could reply, the principal strolled up to the microphone at the front of the gym. He wore a bow tie, old-fashioned tweed slacks, and small round glasses perched at the tip of his nose—like he’d walked straight out of a 1950s textbook.

“Good morning and welcome back!” his voice echoed through the space. “We’ll begin reviewing safety protocol in five minutes. If anyone would like a bagel or coffee, now’s the time.”