Wisps of Cloud

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1Karla Spicer glanced at her watch. The syndicate meetings at Tui Park Primary School in one of the northern suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand's capital, were meant to finish at four-thirty. It was now five-fifteen and Val, the associate principal was still rambling on. Furthermore, her own position as senior teacher in charge of the Year 3 and 4 children was barely recognised.

She had won the position as senior teacher in charge of a new syndicate of five classrooms and would have enjoyed the challenges if it wasn't for Val who had been at the school for a decade or more. The trouble was that the AP had had her responsibility from oversight of ten classrooms halved and this, once a month meeting of the two junior syndicates was really a compromise the boss had agreed to.

"I'm sure Karla would agree with me that the new government initiative on National Standards are a complete waste of time." Val glanced up at Karla and raised her eyebrows.

"I don't actually," Karla was tired of being treated as one of the junior staff members. "It is now government policy and I think we can save time by cutting down on our own systems where they overlap the new standards."

The room hushed and all eyes turned to her. The five teachers in her own syndicate grinned while the others seemed to be astonished that she had the nerve to disagree with Val the Viking, as the AP was nicknamed for her overbearing manner.

Karla continued. "I was talking to Murray..." This was the school principal. "... and he agreed that our workload is too high and one way is to cut down on the paperwork. I realise we need consistency throughout the school but..." She continued on with an explanation of what her syndicate and herself had proposed.

Val's lips pursed and her eyebrows dropped like an army sergeant suddenly finding that his authority had been overridden by a new green lieutenant. "You talked to Murray about this?" she almost spat.

"Yes," Karla replied. "He actually suggested I bring forth my ideas at this combined meeting." She purposely glanced at the clock on the wall. "Due to this late time however, I suggest we postpone any discussion on the topic until our next combined meeting."

"Here! Here!" called a couple of voices across the room,

Karla grinned. At least her own syndicate supported her.

Val glowered. "Very well," she whispered. "I remind you, though that until any new systems are implemented you are all expected to complete the present individual records." She stood up. "If there are no questions..." She stared around at the staff but nobody had any. "Thank you ladies, I declare this meeting closed." She slapped a folder in her hand shut and stalked out of the room.

"Good on you, Karla," Joanne Stone, one of junior syndicate teachers said. "I wish I was in your syndicate. The Viking should have retired years ago."

"She's conscientious and her heart is in the right place," Karla defended. Even though she agreed with Joanne, in her opinion it wasn't ethical to criticise a senior staff member before junior staff.

"Yeah back in the 1990s," Ryan Purdon interjected as he reached to plug in his vacuum cleaner. Ryan was the Tui Park's Property Manager that was really just an up-market name for janitor. "I heard her husband opens the door and salutes when she arrives home."

"Ryan!" Karla retorted when all the staff grinned. "That was uncalled for."

Ryan shrugged. "Sorry. I'm being mean."

"You are!" Karla replied and managed to suppress her own grin.

*

Over the next month the situation at school became worse for Karla. Val's innuendos now became open barbs whenever there was a meeting and the Associate Principal constantly pulled rank over here. It came to a head at the end of month senior staff meeting with the principal. Murray Narwood was close to retiring age and, in her own opinion, was prepared to ruffle as few feathers as possible and slide into retirement as everyone's friend.

It was only that morning in the staff car park that Ryan told Karla that rumours were spreading like wildfire around the staff that there was going to be one big showdown between the senior staff.

"So!" Karla retorted rather too abruptly.

Ryan grinned. "Everyone's on your side. They only have to look at how the middle syndicate is going compared with Val's or Gillian's too for that matter..." Gillian was Deputy Principal who led the Year 5 and 6 Syndicate.

Karla studied him. He wasn't grinning after making another wisecrack but looked quite serious. "Thanks Ryan," she said. "However, both Val and Gillian outrank me on the hierarchy. I am really just a small voice when it comes to school policy."

"I heard the boss reverting back to two syndicates," Ryan said.

Karla glowered. "How do you know?"

Ryan shrugged. "I'm the invisible staff member and I'm often ignored. They don't realise I hear every word that is spoken."

"Only if you want to."

Ryan grinned, "Point taken but it's gone as far as the Board of Trustees, I hear."

"So why haven't I heard?"

"You just have," Ryan whispered as he lifted a box of tools out the back of his Toyota pickup. "I've got that leaking downpipe near the main entrance to replace. See you later."

Now, in Murray's office, Karla glanced at Val's tight look as the woman gripped a file and sat grimly in her seat when the principal arrived and sat down.

"Sorry, I'm late," he said. "We'll get straight into it, shall we?"

"Can I be blunt?" Val asked.

Murray shrugged.

Val ignored his gesture. "We can't have each syndicate going its own way. There should be a school wide policy on how we bring in the new government policies thrust upon us." She sniffed. "Of course we could follow some of the other schools across town and refuse to participate."

When the principal avoided everyone's eyes, Karla seethed inside. It was so typical! He'd make soothing comments but let Val have her own way. "It is not me who is fragmenting the school," she said in a controlled tone and hoped that the quiver inside wasn't repeated in her voice. "I have tried my best to do everything as set out in the school policies and also incorporate the new directives from the Ministry of Education. Okay, it's been foisted upon us but …." She continued on and cursed when her hand shook as she held onto the sheet of notes in her hand.

There was silence in the office when she finished, glanced around and flushed hot in the cheeks.

"We can't have the juniors doing one thing and the middle school something completely different," Val argued.

"Are they?" Gillian cut in. "Have you walked by the middle school in the mid-afternoon Murray?"

Karla glanced at the DP and realised that for perhaps the first time that she had an ally

"Often," the principal replied. "In fact I took three members of the Board through the block only an hour ago." He glanced up at Karla. "Everyone was doing art, I believe."

"Yes, we're preparing backdrops for the junior school production."

"In my opinion..." Val began but stopped mid-sentence when Murray held up his hand.

"And what have you done for it, Val?" he asked.

"Me! Why practically everything."

'The background scenery, I mean!"

"Well," the AP muttered. "I have the younger children, you know. You can't expect them to be as constructive as the older ones." She glowered. "Anyway, we're getting away from the point."

"We have. I agree that the school needs to be less fragmented," the principal said and Karla's heart sank. "Therefore, I propose that we switch to only two syndicates."

Val smirked and Karla sat there with her heart racing and bile building in her throat. Thoughts rushed through her mind about what she should do. Common sense overrode any impulsive reaction so she just sat there gripping the arm of the chair and stared out the window.

"It will start next year," Murray said.

Karla frowned. She had been so busy with her thoughts she had missed most of what he had said.

"Why the six months delay?" Val retorted with her face like thunder. "I would have thought the third term would be better."

"What was that?" Karla whispered. "I'm sorry I missed what you said, Murray."

It was Gillian who replied. "There will be a Year 4 to 6 Syndicate Karla, meaning half your syndicate and your own class will be absorbed into the senior school but not until next year."

"And my position?" Karla whispered.

The DP replied. "I suggested to Murray and he agreed, that you should be placed in charge of school-wide child welfare, curriculum and assessment." Gillian turned. "It won't affect your Senior Teacher status at all."

"Except that I won't have a syndicate to lead." Karla muttered as she glanced around the room. Gillian was serious, Val had a bemused look on her face and the principal as usual, avoided eye contact with her.

*

Half an hour later she walked out to the almost empty car park but noticed that Ryan's Toyota Hilux was still there. As she approached her own car, he sort of unrolled out of his pickup and strolled across to her.

"Heard you're okay for the rest of the year," he said.

She grimaced at him. "Have you got the whole school bugged?" Ryan's grin cheered her up a little

"Not really. Just squeezed Noeline who had been told what was about to happen."

Noeline was built like a tank, in her mid-fifties, taught a senior school class and was the staff representative on the Tui Park School Board of Trustees.

"Not literally, I hope," Karla replied.

Ryan laughed and shook his head.

"So why are you still here?" she asked. "You are usually gone by five."

"One of the cleaners was ill so I had to do her job." Ryan hesitated and avoided looking at her. "I heard..." He laughed. "There I go again. I know you like arty things so..." He stopped and almost appeared to be at a lost for words.

Karla wondered what he really wanted, so waited.

"By chance, I managed to get a couple of tickets for the Russian Ballet that's coming to town on Saturday night. I thought you might like to go to it with me."

"The Russian Ballet … they sold out months ago. I know for I tried to buy tickets last month."

"Yeah well, I managed..." He grinned. "Would you be interested in going? I could ask Noeline you know."

Karla didn't know what to think! "You are asking me on a date to see the Russian Ballet?" she asked.

"That's about it!"

"But haven't you got a girlfriend... Sally I think you told me her name was?"

"Had one," Ryan whispered. "She moved on two months back."

"About the time you bought the ballet tickets."

"Yeah," Ryan said, "Quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

"Oh Ryan!" Karla laughed.

"So would you like to come with me?"

Karla caught his eyes and saw that serious look again. He was about her age but she had never thought of him being anything but another staff member. Now...

"It's very formal. You'll need to wear that flash gown you wore at last year's staff Christmas do."

Karla flushed. "You noticed?" she whispered.

"Every guy in the room did."

Karla grimaced as she thought about that evening. She hardly remembered Ryan being there for another item was imbedded in her mind.

*

Karla sat at the table and gazed around the restaurant at her colleagues from Tui Park School. She was actually enjoying Christmas end-of- year dinner more than she originally expected. The staff had lightened up after a few drinks and were laughing and giggling as stories were told and jokes made. She had been senior teacher at the school for term now and found her new position invigorating but demanding with the other senior staff members over a decade old than herself.

Murray was unusually talkative as he drifted around the tables reserved for their party and laughed at some joke one of the husbands was telling with a wave of hand movements. The meal was over, most of the wine bottles were empty and several of the partygoers had said their good nights and had left.

She had come by herself was about to leave also when Murray came up to her with two glasses of wine in his hand. He placed one down before her and sat himself down in the empty chair across from her,

"I noticed your bottle was empty," he said. "Try this white. It's one of those local wines. You might like it."

"Thanks,"

"Well have a sip."

She nodded but found the taste of the wine was almost tart and not to her liking at all. She turned, took a handkerchief out of a pocket and discretely spat the second mouthful out. She turned and noticed her principal was staring at her with an expression on his face that was different. Karla flushed in embarrassment for she realised the man was staring down her top at the cleavage of her breasts. If he wasn't twice her age and the boss she would almost think he was trying to make a pass at her. She smiled faintly and coughed. Even though she had only swallowed one mouthful of the wine she found herself feeling dizzy.

"You drunk quite a bit this evening, Karla?" Murray said.

She stood up and attempted to walk away. However, her legs felt like rubber and the floor seemed to be rolling. "You could be right," she muttered.

"No problem," Murray cut in. "Can't have you driving home in this condition, though. Is your car outside?"

Karla nodded.

Murray glanced around. "Damn, Sherrie my wife has already left. Tell, you what, I'll drive your car home and take a bus back to my place."

Karla was still feeling strangely detached from everything around. Sure, she had been drunk before, mainly back in her student days but this felt different. It was as if... Oh hell she was about to vomit.

"Excuse me!" she gulped, grabbed her purse and tore through an archway to where the toilets were. She made it just in time and was violently ill in the toilet. Afterwards she backed out and turned to the sink to splash water over her face.

She heard a cough and realised somebody else was there. It was Murray's wife, Sherrie. "I saw you rush in here after I returned to the restaurant." She looked almost sad. "I couldn't let him do it again, now could I?"

"What do you mean, Sherrie?" Karla asked.

The woman stared at her and frowned. "My husband gets a bit carried away at the staff events I'm afraid, especially with young attractive women like yourself." She opened her right hand out to show a small yellow pill. "Take this with a tumbler of water."

Karla wasn't sure what to do. Sherrie sounded sympathetic but there was something in her tone that she wasn't sure about. "Why?" she asked.

"To counteract the d**g that spiced your drink. You're lucky that you vomited most of it up but I imagine there is still some in your system. This will make you feel better and quite quickly too." She grimaced. "It happened to me many years ago now and I suspect the new so-called uppers are even more potent than in my day." She sighed. "Please yourself though. I'm just trying to help."

"You're saying Murray spiked my wine?"

The woman nodded.

"But why?"

Sherrie shrugged. "A flaw in his character, I guess. You're lucky I decided to return this time. Normally I turn a blind eye." She blinked and Karla thought she saw tears in the woman's eyes.

Karla nodded, filled a tumbler sitting on the sink top and swallowed the pill with the water. Almost immediately she felt ill again and rushed to the toilet. After vomiting again she shook her head and came out of the cubical.

Sherrie had gone!

Karla took another drink of water and found that she did feel better. Her head ached a little but the spinning had stopped and there was only a sweet taste in her mouth. She wiped her face with a tissue and walked back into the restaurant area to find everyone leaving. Murray or Sherrie were nowhere in sight.

Deep in thought, she said goodbye to the few staff members still there and walked out to her car. Perhaps she was foolish driving home but she took the risk. Anyhow, she felt normal now and not even slightly drunk. Perhaps that pill Sherrie had given her had neutralized the spiced drink. But what was Murray intending? She thought back and remembered the expression on his face as he stared quite openly at her breasts and decided to be wary of him in the future.

However, by the time she reached home she felt quite relaxed and shrugged. Often people got silly when they drank too much. Perhaps she was as bad as he was and Sherrie was just one of those neurotic wives who didn't like her husband relaxing at a party.

*

Karla jerked her mind back to the present when she noticed Ryan looking intently at her. "Was there something about the Christmas do?" he asked.

"Not really, Ryan. The boss got a little tipsy. That's all."

Ryan shrugged. "Yes, his character does change after a few drinks but everyone ignores him. But I was talking about the ballet…"

Karla turned and caught his eyes. "Sorry! Yes of course. I'd love to go to the ballet with you!"

She slid into her car and drove away before Ryan could notice her flushed face.

*

She didn't really know why but Karla found she had spent far more money than anticipated for the dark blue gown, cardigan and other paraphernalia such as earrings to go with the expensive necklace and bracelet she had inherited from her grandmother. Ryan was coming at six-thirty to give them time to find a park and still be at the theatre by eight. The ballet was to be held in the Michael Fowler Centre, one of the country's most prestigious entertainment venues.

She stared at her reflection in the hall mirror and added that little touch of make-up, pulled the gown top up and wondered if the vee shaped top was too revealing. She decided to button her cardigan up an extra button and also not to wear the long white gloves she had also purchased. They were too formal and not really her.

She sighed. Perhaps she was being too carried away with the whole thing! After all who would be looking at her in the darkened theatre? She was about to rush back to the bedroom to change into something less revealing, perhaps the gown she'd worn to the staff do, when the doorbell rang.

She glanced at her watch... six-thirty on the dot.

"Damn," she muttered. She had been counting on Ryan being at least ten minutes late. She picked up her shoes, high-heeled ones she hardly ever wore, gave her hair one last brush and headed for the door.

Outside stood Ryan dressed quite unlike she had ever seen him in a crisp dark suit, white shirt and a tie… oh my God, the number of times she'd seen him in a tie could be counted on one hand. He grinned sheepishly and held out a red rose to her.

"I thought I'd get a rose for an attractive lady but by hell, you're a stunner, Karla."

Karla found her cheeks redden as she ran her eyes over his clothes. "You aren't too bad yourself," she muttered. "You found my place okay?"

"No problem," Ryan replied. "Narrow driveway, though."

Karla laughed and thought of Ryan's pickup. She glanced up and saw a gleaming white BMW glittering under the outside security light. "Where did you get that?" she gasped.

"My mother's," Ryan replied. "Well actually it's my step-father's. When he heard I was going to the ballet with you he insisted that you'd be insulted if I expected you to arrive in my ute."

"Stepfather? I didn't know your family lived in town."

Ryan shrugged. "Over in Karori" he whispered. "Dad died in the nineties and Mum remarried a five years back. I've never actually lived with her new husband and herself. He seems a nice guy and Mum is much happier now. Alan tries hard, I guess." He said no more so Karla decided to not to pursue the subject.

"Come in," she said. "I just have to grab my purse."

Ryan stepped in, commented on her kitchen and living room and raised his eyebrows at her desktop computer and large screen television. "Looks like you." he complimented.

Karla grinned. "How?"

"That well organised busy look without being too messy or tidy." He glanced at a corkboard covered in school timetables and notices above the computer and the printer on the table. "So that's why you have everything always done and are never lined up at the school printers. You do it here."

"Some of it," Karla admitted and disappeared back into her bedroom where she had left her purse.

She chastised herself for feeling nervous. After all, they were just going to the ballet, not some nightclub or grand ball. She pinned the rose on, caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror, pulled up her gown top again and cursed it for being so low cut. It was that stupid girl in the department store who had persuaded her it was the latest fashion.

But it was too late now!

*