Page 56 of Don't Fall in Love (and how to break the rules)

“I’ll tell you later,” she mouthed, wondering how Nisha would take the news.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chrissie bubbled inside with excitement. In spite of everything that was going on with Nisha, she knew this was a good thing, and the right thing for her. She knew now that she definitely couldn’t move to London. This was her own opportunity, and she needed to take it.

She sat down with Dan and Nisha, and they opened their respective packed lunch boxes.

“So,” said Dan, “I hear that training position was announced today. Do you have anything to tell us?”

Nisha looked at Chrissie immediately, and she could feel herself turning bright red. “I knew it!” said Nisha. “The minute Mrs H came to get you, I knew that was what she was telling you. You got it!” She squeezed Chrissie’s hand.

“I got it,” confirmed Chrissie, a wide grin forming on her face.

“Proud of you,” said Nisha, “that really is the best news.” There was an odd expression on Nisha’s face that Chrissie assumed had everything to do with the fact that the universe seeming to be pulling them apart.

“Me too,” said Dan, “although I must confess, I helped with some of the selection discussions, so I knew.”

“You git,” said Chrissie, “you should have said!”

“I was sworn to secrecy by she who must be obeyed,” said Dan, glancing dramatically over his shoulder.

“Ah yes, the ever-present Mrs H,” said Nisha. And as if by magic, the woman herself swept into the room.

“Good afternoon, everybody,” said the head teacher, and the room fell into a sudden silence, save for one or two rustling crisp packets. She had the same effect on the staff as she did on the pupils. “I’m afraid I have news to share that may have an impact on the rest of your working week.” She paused, as if to build the tension. “I have had the call.”

They all knew what that meant. Chrissie could hear murmurs of “Ofsted” from the mouths of her colleagues, all aware that the rest of their week had been bulldozed by government inspectors.

“That means,” said Mrs Hemingway, raising her voice over the increased noise, “that we have forty-eight hours before they arrive on Wednesday afternoon. We knew we were due an inspection, so now we know it’s happening this week. I know there will be things that heads of departments will need to start getting together, and no doubt meetings to call, but before we get on with this, I have something important to say.” She paused, and the silence seemed to deepen. The room was now even fuller, as word had got round the school.

Mrs Hemingway took a breath. “You are an incredible group of teachers and teaching assistants. You teach at one of the most diverse schools in the city, and you prepare hundreds of children for the outside world every day. I have every faith in you. So, yes,” she said, “do your preparation, have those meetings, but know that you are the best team I have had the pleasure to work with, and you will do an amazing job.”

And with that, she left the room.

“Wow,” said Dan. “I don’t know whether to feel terrified of the inspectors, pleased Mrs H loves us all so much, or frightened of letting her down.”

“Yes,” said Nisha, “it’s an odd mix of emotions.”

Chrissie nodded. She felt it too.

“Right,” Nisha continued. “Let’s get our heads together after work. We need to bring together all the paperwork for our section of the school.”

Chrissie and Dan nodded, resigned to their fate. It was going to be a long day. Nisha’s phone lit up, and she looked down. She frowned as she scanned her screen, then grimaced as she tapped out a response.

Chapter Fifty-Three

“Are we all happy?” asked Nisha, looking around the room at the six or seven colleagues she was coordinating as they prepared for the inspection.

“Ecstatic,” replied Dan, rolling his eyes.

“Ok, smart-arse,” said Nisha, “perhaps not happy, but do we all know what we’re doing?”

“We do,” said Dan, and the others nodded. Chrissie sat quietly at the back of the room. Most of the other teaching assistants had already gone home.

Soon it was just Chrissie and Nisha left in the room, with empty coffee mugs and three empty biscuit packets strewn across the desks.

“Honestly,” said Nisha, “they’re worse than the kids for not clearing up after themselves.” She looked up at Chrissie as she gathered up the rubbish. “Thanks for staying. You know you didn’t have to.”

“I know,” said Chrissie, “but I wanted to support you. And besides, I need to get used to this stuff.”

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