Tim sat nervously in the hospital waiting area. He tried to look through magazines to pass the time, but there were only the tabloid rags in which he had no interest. Tim looked back for signs of Tamiko. She said she would be here. He took a glimpse at his watch. It was only 4:07, so it wasn’t that late. Tim hoped she wasn’t in the wrong wing of the building looking for him. He really needed someone to talk to right now, if not but to keep his thoughts from wandering onto the morbid. Like the idea that the doctor would find something... luckily Tim didn’t have time to finish this thought before Tamiko walked in through the door.
“Sorry about being late. But I had a student whose mom forgot that dismissal is at 3:00. Then there were signal problems in the tunnels.” She said plopping down next to him out of breath.
“I’m just glad you’re here now.”
“So, how was work?”
“Now hold on. Are you ready for this?”
“What?”
“The presentation went off. And it went very well. We have a tech firm that is working on the website as we speak. And I was able to figure out the glitch in the communication between accounting and the rest of the departments.”
“How?”
“I thought that what accounting could do is give every department a pin number that they would use every time they accessed the website. When the pin would be linked to their budget and if they went over budget they wouldn’t even be able to log onto the website. The accounting department would get like a status after every transaction and then it would feedback to the website. Everyone loved it.”
“That’s wonderful news! I knew everything would work out!”
“And we’re still going to have to have one person in each department who oversees all of the intakes and purchases, so unfortunately the VP’s of the divisions are going to have extra work. But all of the big bosses agreed that this was inevitable. The new restructuring is more of a headache than my original plan, but since Standoff gave it the go ahead and so much money was invested in it, the company has no choice but to follow through.”
“And how much did Preston contribute to the project?”
“He did some work. I just found a way to use Preston’s strong points to my advantage. Since he’s good with the gift of gab with higher-ups, I used him as my front man. My negotiator and public relations guy.”
“That’s great! It would be even better if this new system wasn’t going to cost you your job.”
“True. And now I don’t even think they’re going to keep Preston either. I’m not certain, but I think they’re going to have one of the tech guys from H&M to oversee the website.”
“Is all the work done?”
“No. There are still some loose ends, but the important thing is we’re still keeping the timetable for the new restructuring, which is the big Christmas miracle. And what about you? How are you hanging in there at the school?”
“There’s good news and bad news.”
“I’ll take the good news first.”
“The good news is that Mrs. Steele doesn’t seem to be a racist after all. It was nothing but a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors. The whole time she was actually trying to help me.”
“Just goes to show that you can’t always judge people by appearances. I’m really glad it worked out that way.”
“In the past couple of weeks, she’s been really helping me with the students. She’s got a lot of great ideas. If I hadn’t been such an idiot, I probably would have learned a lot sooner.”
“Speaking of the kids, how are they doing?”
“Better, but still not as well as everyone else’s.”
“Every class is different. Just give the kids some time.”
“That’s what Rosalyn says.”
“Besides, if you could help Davis get an B+, you certainly should be able to help these kids.”
“Cut Davis some slack. He may not have gone to Harvard, but he’s a very bright guy. He’s just had some unfortunate experiences. I’m sure if he had wealthy parents he probably would have been one of your classmates.”
“I’m sure. So, is that all the good news?”
“Pretty much. The bad news is there’s going to be a review of our school a whole two months earlier than expected. They go through the classrooms and watch the teachers. There’s even a group interview. It’s really intense.”
“Sounds stressful. Is it like a whole committee that’s coming?”
“No, it’s just one person, but they hold the fate of the school in their hands.”
“Now that’s scary. When is it going to happen?”
“February. Just before the midwinter recess.”
“That’s not that far away.”
“I know. And the worst part is that they want to look at different teachers from across the spectrum of professionals. They definitely want to pick a first year teacher and there are only two: me and Joan.”
“There’s still a chance you may not be picked.”
“But what if I am?”
“Tamiko, as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been top notch at everything you do. I think you’ll be fine.”
“That’s just it. All my life I’ve been so used to things being easy for me, but teaching, real teaching, is hard.”
“It’s hard, but not impossible. Especially when there’s someone greater than you in control of it all who’s looking out for you.”
“Where’s this coming from?” Tamiko asked in surprise.
“From you.”
“What?”
“After all, that’s what you’d always say when you were reassuring me or Allen or the others when things weren’t going right in our lives. For a while I thought it was because you were naïve, but then I realized that wasn’t it. I used to look at you and think, ‘Man, she is always so confident about who she is without being arrogant, so positive, and always hopeful.’ Now I think I know where that comes from.”
“You do?”
“I wish I had what you do.”
“Maybe you already have it.”
“I’m not so sure. If I did I wouldn’t be as nervous as I am now.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to be nervous about. The worst thing they could probably find is a stomach ulcer. If that’s the case, the doctor will just prescribe a change in diet and maybe some medicine to heal the ulcer.”
“I just hope you’re right. They’re supposed to do an endoscopy on me today. You know when they put that tube down your throat with the little camera on the end and look around inside your stomach and everywhere.”
“That doesn’t sound like it’s going to be fun.”
“Tell me about it. They’ll probably give me an anesthesia or a sedative or something. If I seem out of it, could you help me get home.
When we get to my place you can drop me off and take my car home. I’ll pick it up in the morning.”
“You didn’t even have to ask, of course I will. And I don’t need the car. I can take a cab back. It shouldn’t be that late when we get done here.”
“Now I won’t hear of that. I don’t want to have to worry about you in some strange cab all by yourself.”
“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“You don’t look all that big. You can’t be more than 5’2, and 100 pounds soaking wet.”
“Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m totally defenseless. I know Karate. I took it for my phys-ed requirement at Spellman.”
“Well excuse me, Ms. Dangerous. But I’d still feel better if you took the car.”
“Fine.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Russell?” asked the nurse interrupting their conversation.
“Yes?”
“You can go on back. The doctor is ready for you.”
Tamiko and Tim exchanged glances before Tim headed off with the nurse to see the doctor. When he and the nurse disappeared behind the nurse’s station, Tamiko bowed her head and prayed.
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“Heavenly Father, be with my friend Tim and help him through the examination. Lord, we know that by your stripes we are healed from all our infirmities. If there be any illness in his body I ask you to heal it. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
Fifty