Taking Charge (8 page)

The end of the song came up. Joy
smiled.
“I think that is going to be the school hymn!” Everyone
cheered.
“Parting words. Sneakers. Changes will be made and you will know by
Monday what they are. Your parents are welcome to join us on a
Monday morning for assembly. My door is open. The first change we
are going to make. We will sing our hymn once. I will say my
parting speech. The teachers will all get up.” She nodded as all
the teachers got up.
“We will start the hymn again and they will walk out to their
classes. You will slowly start moving. From the front row. And you
will head to your class. By the time we have finished our hymn the
assembly hall will be cleared and you will be at your first class.”
Joy nodded.
“Are you with me?” There was a loud chorus of ‘yes’.

Joy started the song again and the
teachers all slowly walked out of the hall. The pupils sang as loud
as they could. Joy nodded and the pupils from the front row started
walking out in two rows. They sang on top of their voices as they
slowly walked out of the hall. Joy stood on the stage and sang and
watched. The song came to an end and Joy smiled. The last pupil had
walked out just in time. Joy took her laptop and packed everything
away.
“Mister and Mrs. Gibb. Join me up here for a few seconds.” They
both walked up to the stage and took a look.
“Rather frightening isn’t it?” Harry grinned and nodded. Dorothy
smiled.
“Actually I would like to apologize.” Harry nodded.
“So would I.” Joy smiled.
“Any chance of a rave?” Dorothy grinned.
“I don’t know what a rave is.”
“A very noisy discotheque. Mirror balls. Bright lights. And one
loud singer.” Harry roared with laughter.
“We can do our best.” Joy nodded.
“Get the other parents involved. Give the orders. I am making you
two in charge. But the meetings take place behind closed doors. No
children allowed.” Dorothy chuckled and nodded.
“Are you sure the marks are going to go up?” Joy smiled.
“What do you think?” Dorothy grinned.
“I think so.” Joy nodded. She shook their hands.
“Sorry. I am Joy Sheridan.” They both shook her hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Joy smiled.
“I need to dash.” They all walked out of the hall together. Dorothy
and Harry waved. Joy smiled as she headed for her
office.

“
Miss Rose. Divert your phone and head to
my office please.” Penny scrambled to find her notepad. She put the
phone on divert and walked through to Joy’s office.
“Take a seat.” Penny sat down. She could feel her palms sweating.
She was nervous. She knew she was going to be reprimanded.
“Miss Rose. I need you to do a few things for me please.” Penny
nodded.
“I need a name plate made. For each teacher. The name will read
Mister, Miss or Mrs., their full initials, and their surname. A
name plate made out of Perspex. And the name to be engraved. The
Perspex to be clear and the names in black. The letters at least
fifteen centimeters high. Each name plate must be the same size.
Whatever the size the plates must be the same size and the letters
the same.” Penny nodded.
“I need a name plate for your desk. One that says reception and one
with your name.” Penny nodded.
“I want the dead flowers removed from your desk.” Penny nodded and
lowered her head.
“Put in an order for a fresh bouquet of flowers to be delivered
every single Monday morning.” Penny nodded.
“The name plates need to have a hole drilled on either side and ask
them to have a set of screws with each name plate.” Penny
nodded.
“All for now.” Penny smiled.
“Thank you Miss Sheridan.” Joy nodded and smiled as Penny walked
out.

Joy picked up her cell phone
as it rang.
“Miss Sheridan this is Garth from the wholesalers.”
“Hi Garth. Have they arrived?”
“Yes Ma’am. They sure have.”
“Can you wait till school breaks up and I will be over and collect
and pay.”
“Certainly. Would you like me to deliver?” Joy chuckled.
“No. That won’t be necessary. But did they send another
brochure?”
“They did.”
“Pack it in with the goods please Garth. I will see you this
afternoon.”
“Thank you Ma’am.” Joy smiled as she cut the call.

She took out her notepad and marked off
sneakers. She marked off rave. Joy smiled to herself. The assembly
had worked better than she thought. She chuckled and made a
note.
“Hymn.” She shook her head. If there was one thing that would make
a difference it would be music. And if she had to get to the
children through music she would. Joy created a file on her desktop
and saved the lyrics of the song in the file. She took out all the
rosters and started working. Normally she would get the
receptionist to do it but this she needed to do herself. She
started working.

Penny walked through.
“Miss Sheridan. Is there anything else before I leave for home?”
Joy stared at her watch.
“Gosh no Penny. Did you manage with those name plates?” Penny
nodded.
“I did. I told them they have to be put up on the weekend. And to
be delivered by Thursday.” Joy smiled.
“Thank you.” Penny smiled.
“About this morning.” Joy put up her hand.
“That was this morning. History.” Joy smiled.
“Thank you.” Penny smiled.
“Have a good afternoon.”
“And you.”

Joy’s phone rang and she answered.
“Sheridan.”
“What happened to the Miss?” Joy chuckled.
“And how are you handsome?” Jordan smiled.
“Well. I was wondering about you. The first lunch time wave has
been in. What am I hearing?” Joy chuckled.
“And what are you hearing?”
“I am hearing that this town is so lucky to have you! The Principal
who takes no nonsense!” Joy giggled.
“Oh Jordan it was such a shambles.”
“Somehow I don’t think so. I had Dorothy and Henry in here just
after nine. They were so impressed. I have been asked to play the
Queen song over and over again!” Joy roared with laughter.
“Tony at the hardware is raving about something that is highly
confidential and he can’t mention what it is. But that he was asked
to arranged whatever it is. And he can’t say. He says it is such a
nice order that he is going to offer to put whatever it is up on
the weekend.” Joy roared with laughter.
“Oh my!”
“Oh my is right! When are you going to get out of that
office?”
“Right now. I have to head over to Garth and collect my goodies. I
am so excited. They arrived! Already!” Jordan roared with
laughter.
“And then you are parking in your bay. I have moved a desk in to
your bedroom.”
“Oh Jordan!” Jordan chuckled.
“See you when I sneak upstairs.” Joy giggled.
“See you then.”
“See you then sweetheart.” Joy smiled and saved his number. She got
up and packed her briefcase. She walked out of her office and
looked at the reception area. It looked a lot neater than when she
had walked in early in the morning. The dead flowers were nowhere
to be found and a lovely new bunch of flowers were in the
vase.

Joy smiled as she closed the door and
walked out. She walked up the path and looked at the weeds and the
long grass. She stood and stared.
“Right.” She headed over to Garth and had everything loaded in the
back of her van. She smiled as she walked inside and wrote a
cheque.
“Cheque okay?” Garth smiled and nodded.
“Garth I will look through the brochure and let you know what I
need.”
“More?” Joy giggled and nodded. Garth smiled.
“Miss Sheridan. You did a good job today. My boy is in your school.
Thank you.” Joy smiled.
“My pleasure Garth. My pleasure.” Joy walked out and smiled. She
drove over to the hardware. Tony almost puffed up his chest he felt
so proud that she had walked in.
“Miss Sheridan. How can I help?” Joy chuckled.
“You are?”
“Tony.”
“Tony. I need a chain about a meter long with an enormous padlock.”
Tony stared and grinned.
“Oh I heard about that.” He walked over and showed her the
different chains. Joy nodded.
“That one. A meter.” Tony had the chain cut and they found the
biggest padlock that would fit. Tony chuckled. Joy grinned as she
paid and walked out with her chain and padlock.

Joy drove up to the pub. She parked out
front. She walked in and Jordan looked at her.
“Could I have a coffee please?” Craig smiled.
“Yes Miss Sheridan. Take a seat please.” Joy smiled as she took a
seat. She put the chain and the padlock on the table. Craig walked
off and smiled. He whispered.
“Miss Sheridan is here!” Jordan smiled. He walked up to Joy.
“And how are you today Miss Sheridan?” Joy smiled.
“Never better!” Jordan smiled as Craig walked over with two cups of
coffee.
“Thank you Craig.” Craig looked at the chain.
“Oh right. Seven forty five.” Joy nodded. Jordan smiled.
“Serious?” Joy nodded.
“Oh very serious! Does it look scary enough?” They all roared with
laughter.

Craig walked off.
“This is nice. Out in the open.”
“I thought I might stop in for a cup of coffee. I forgot to buy
shears. So I need to go back to the hardware.” Jordan smiled.
“And then.”
“And then.” Jordan smiled. He looked around. There was not a person
in sight. He held her hand and leaned over and kissed Joy. Joy
smiled and winked.
“Awesome day. You were right. Do it properly.”
“Going to hear in detail later.” Joy chuckled and
nodded.

She had her coffee. They both got up and
Joy took her purse out. Craig put up his hand.
“No Ma’am. I am going to get that for you.” Joy smiled.
“Thank you Craig.” Craig smiled as she walked out. Jordan spotted
the chain and padlock and put them behind the bar for later. Joy
smiled as she walked out. She drove back to the hardware. Tony
smiled.
“I need five sets of shears. Those that you cut the lawn
with.”
“Hand shears?” Joy nodded.
“Big ones. As big as possible.” Tony roared with laughter.
“They going to be doing a spot of gardening?”
“Oh yes! Have you seen my garden!” Tony roared with laughter as she
walked out with the garden shears.

Joy headed to the pub and parked at the
back
beneath the
building. She slowly opened the door and checked to see that no one
was there. She crept through the office and Jordan looked up. She
waved and ran up the stairs. Jordan smiled as he watched her
walking up the stairs. Joy walked into the lounge and walked
through to the bedroom. She smiled as she looked at her desk. It
was at the window overlooking the street. Joy smiled.
“Oh Jordan.” She put her briefcase down and changed into her jeans
and her boots and walked out of her bedroom. She opened the fridge
and took a few ingredients out. She took a few things out of the
cupboard. But she needed meat. Joy smiled and sent an SMS.
“Need mince please. MWAH.” She grinned as she sent the SMS. Jordan
smiled as he received the SMS. He got up and walked to the kitchen
and took out the pack of mince. Sarah folded her arms and looked at
Jordan.
“Supper.” Jordan smiled as he walked out.

He ran up the stairs. He smiled as he
h
eld the pack of mince
out to Joy. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her properly.
Joy smiled.
“Hey handsome.” Jordan smiled.
“Mince has arrived. Joy you are not here to cook and do
everything.” Joy smiled.
“I wouldn’t if I didn’t want to.” Jordan smiled. He handed her the
mince.
“You are so special Joy Sheridan.” Joy smiled.
“Thank you.” Jordan kissed her and ran down the stairs. He ran back
up.
“What is for supper?” Joy smiled.
“Spaghetti Bolognese. At six.” Jordan chuckled and ran down the
stairs.

He walked through to the pub and greeted
everyone and walked through to Frank.
“I am looking for something.”
“And what would that be?”
“Something I left behind.”
“That would be in your office. Are you going kinky or what?” Jordan
roared with laughter.
“Thanks.” He smiled as he walked back to his office. Jordan smiled.
He needed a bottle of champagne. He looked up and Tanya
smiled.
“Oh what an awesome day!”
“Now before you tell me. Go to Frank and buy a bottle of
champagne.” Jordan took out his wallet and handed her a few notes.
Tanya giggled. She walked out and smiled. She came back with the
bottle of champagne. Tanya put it on the desk and sat down.
“You should have seen her Jordan. She was amazing. She had those
kids eating out of the palm of her hands. They got such a fright.
But when they sang. Every single person sang. The teachers. The
Gibbs. Every single one of them. Every teacher was at assembly.
Even Thomas and Wayne. And we are going to have a weekly
newsletter. Everything is going to change. There are things going
on that are going to be amazing. We don’t know what they are yet.
But it all looks good.” Jordan smiled.
“What is it with the chain?”
“The gate will be locked at seven forty five. And no one will be
allowed in.” Jordan chuckled.

“
They like her Jordan. They like her a lot.
Those kids need her. Those teachers. We need her. I walked in to
reception and there were fresh flowers. I helped Penny and we
quickly tidied that reception area up. Emptied all the bins. It
looks a whole lot better. Penny is overjoyed. Joy asked her to do
things. Things that she can’t discuss. She even arranged fresh
flowers. Told Penny that she has to arrange fresh flowers to be
delivered every Monday morning.” Jordan smiled.
“And the Gibbs family. She got Henry and Dorothy involved. They
have to arrange an end of the term rave!” Jordan roared with
laughter.
“That is not all Jordan.”
“There is more?” Tanya nodded.
“If we get the grades up each of those kids is going to get a pair
of sneakers. Not just tennis shoes or sneakers. They are top of the
range sneakers. Brand name.” Jordan stared.
“What does Joy get if the grades go up?” Tanya shook her
head.
“Nothing.”
“But you will see to it that she does.” Tanya nodded.
“Yes.” Jordan smiled.

Jordan reached for the floor and picked up
the chain and the padlock. Tanya giggled and shook her head.
“Oh my word!”
“How does Spaghetti Bolognese sound?” He put the chain back on the
floor. They both looked up.
“Mum!” Zeba looked at Jordan and then at Tanya.
“Tanya had a fantastic day. Did you tell Jordan?” Tanya nodded. She
giggled.
“They walked out of that assembly dressed properly. Not one person
chewed gum. Not one.”
“She got rid of the gum?”
“In a little bin. Told them that if they are found chewing gum next
week they will be swapping.” Jordan groaned and Zeba giggled.
“And did Tanya tell you who she is?” Jordan smiled and
nodded.
“I knew that at nine when Henry and Dorothy walked in.” Zeba
smiled.
“That hymn is appropriate.” Tanya nodded.
“Sure is. When I walked out there. Oh! The teachers walk out first
and they go to their class. Then the pupils file out from the front
while they sing the hymn for the second time. Oh it was awesome. I
felt so good. When I got to class I was so excited. It was like I
had an adrenalin rush. Oh it was awesome!” Jordan grinned and
nodded. Zeba chuckled.
“Well. See you at home Tanya. What time should we expect you?”
Tanya smiled.
“Later. I might stick around a bit.” Zeba smiled and nodded.
“See you later.” Tanya nodded and smiled. Jordan smiled. Zeba
looked at Jordan.
“Nice to see you smiling like that.” Jordan chuckled.
“Night Mum.”
“Night.”