Life's Greatest Thrill

Lola and I walked to school.  It was the final day of post planning.  We had a lot to do. 

We passed the Boo Radley house's half a million dollar replacement.  It had an "under contract" sign in front of it.  

I had almost packed everything when the vultures arrived, bringing their boxes, their random shit. 
"Where is all this Spanish stuff supposed to go?' their leader asked.
"I don't know.  No one knows.  I am just trying to get my stuff out of here, the stuff I bought".
There was obviously going to be a problem.  They wanted to move in before I could even move out.  My bones were being picked clean. 
Where the Spanish stuff was going to go was not my concern. 

I could barely walk out of the room when I was ready to hand in my keys.  File cabinets, unboxed piles of "teaching materials", chairs, debris blocked my path.  The new occupants.

"So, here are my keys, my checkout sheet, my insurance cancellation, my Teacher's Retirement cash-in form, I think this is everything" I told the bookkeeper.  I looked at her assistant, the part-time assistant that was making almost as much as the whole, full-time Spanish program cost, the person who took my job.  I was handing her my purple folder of death, the special folder with the special checkout list for those that were pursuing "new adventures". 

"Okay, looks good.." her evil leader responded.
"Listen, the school still owes me almost five hundred dollars in reimbursements, are you writing that check today?" I asked.
"I write checks every other Friday, so next Friday I'll write your check and mail it to you."  she responded.
"You understand that I have been let go, that I'm not coming back, I am not comfortable with this".
She didn't care.
"Have you signed the form that I need to renew my teaching certificate?  The one that says that you have done criminal background checks?  They've put a hold on my certificate until they receive your signature.  I am job hunting.  It looks bad..."
The assistant pulled out a foot high pile of papers that were not organized in any way.  I stared at them while they dug through it.  Finally, it was located.  All I needed was a signature.
"Well, I need time..." she finally responded.

Lola and I went home.
A moving truck was in front of Boo's house.
"What a cute dog!" the mom called to me.
I let them pet her.
"What kind of dog is she?"
"She's a Pit.  Welcome to the neighborhood, I live next door" I said, extending my hand.
"So nice to meet you, this is my daughter Eliza, she'll be in Kindergarten next year..."
"And that is my school!" the child shouted, pointing at my now former workplace.

I pushed the blinking button of the answering machine.
"Maestra Wagner, this is Elena.  I'm just checking in.  Give me a call, I'm worried that you are okay".
I felt charmed and a little embarrassed.  She is ten.  But with such a kind heart.