Page 73 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
She didn’t like putting him off with anotherlater.
Ash smiled faintly. “It’s all right, Tami. There’s time.”
Taking him at his word, she hastened along the hall and intothe main office. Flootie sang out, “Thereshe is! And just in time.Break it up, gentlemen.”
“What on earth?” Tami asked.
Dr. Bellamy and Harrison looked to be in the middle of abizarre game of charades.
Harrison quickly explained, “He was showing me the steps toa folk dance.”
“Just a little something I picked up during my travels.” Dr.Bellamy gave a cufflink a twirl, then touched the elaborate knot of his tie. “Wouldyou like to learn, my dear?”
Tami laughed. “If you want a dance partner, I recommend Kip.”
“Oh?” Bellwether’s president seemed pleased by the prospect.
“He lured Harrison into a tango.”
“And I can vouch for his polka,” said Flootie. “But he’s offtoday. Harrison, you’d better save some stamina for recess.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Harrison bowed to their guest. “It was apleasure, sir.”
Dr. Bellamy cheekily dropped a curtsy. “Until next time, mygood man.”
Tami beckoned for him to follow her into her office. “I’msorry for keeping you. Today’s been a bit strange, but I have my notes ready.If you’ll just ….”
“Principal Reaverson. Tami.” He put a hand on her arm.“Would you be wholly devastated if we moved this meeting to a different venue?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I took the liberty of reserving a private room at myfavorite coffee shop. Everything is in readiness.” He smiled disarmingly. “Willyou indulge me?”
Tami couldn’t very well deny the man. She owed Cyril Bellamyso much and respected him as both an educator and an administrator. So she gavein with grace and gratitude in equal measure. “Coffee sounds lovely. Let me getmy things.”
He insisted on driving, quizzing her all the way intoFletching about the Amaranthine staffers she was considering for Landmark.
“We need a librarian. When the last one retired, the schoolwas forced to eliminate the position. Our library still exists, but it’s afree-for-all in there. The interns help to shelve and organize books, but it’snot the same.”
“An obvious need. And your candidates?”
“The list they sent me has three dozen people, all fromdifferent clans, all willing to join our staff.”
Cyril asked, “Need help narrowing the field?”
“Please.” She patted her satchel. “There are resumes,letters of introduction, and even a short video from each. And I liked yoursuggestion of bringing in people who can rotate between our schools, developingprograms for all grades.”
“Art, music, languages, applied sciences.” He drummed hisfingers on the steering wheel. “We should consider basic courses on culturalawareness, etiquette, cooperation, collaboration. That sort of thing.”
Tami made a note.
“AndI’ve found an unexpected trove of resources. Ah,here we are.”
He pulled into a reserved parking place beside one of thebig, historic buildings on campus. Coming around to her side of the car, heopened the door for her. Tami gathered up her things and accepted his courtesywith mild exasperation. After working with Cyril for so many months, she wasused to his artless chivalry.
When he bowed her through the door to Founders Coffee, theywere met by a tall African-American man, who guided them through a paradise ofdark wood, rich aromas, and casual elegance.
“Your usual room, Cyril.”
