Page 28 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Good morning, Ash. Gentlemen,” she returned evenly. “Onyour way to the playground?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stopped to lean on his broom handle. “Onyour feet, boys.”
They scrambled up, flushed and fidgeting. Ash poked them,and they mumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”
Eyebrows lifting, Ash said, “With your permission, PrincipalReaverson?”
“Carry on, gentlemen.”
The boys made their escape, trying to run without actuallybreaking the no-running-in-the-halls rule in front of the principal.
“Those two tend to loiter in their classroom. Probably soI’ll come find them.” Ash’s gaze didn’t waver from the retreating figures. “They’reall right.”
Tami tended to agree, but she wasn’t going to let him offeasy. “I can’t believe you called mema’am.”
Ash seemed startled. “My manners are becoming their manners.”
“That’s … very true.”
The janitor shuffled sideways and ambled on, calling back,“Just teaching the boys to respect a lady.”
Tami had the strongest sense that she’d just beencomplimented.
September was rushing toward October when Tamiko hadthe urge to convene her special committee of three. Only Ash and Kip weren’t inthe maintenance room or any of the hallways. She popped in on Mrs. Dabrowski,who was typing up their next column for theBowshot, Archer’s localpaper.
“Have you seen either of our janitors?”
Flootie checked the time. “At this hour, they’re always onthe playground.”
“They really do oversee recess?”
“Like champs. You should go see.” The woman took a secondlook at the clock. “Let me grab some coffee, and I’ll come with you.”
Mugs in hand, Tami followed Flootie along the hallway andout the side door into the playground. It hadn’t changed much since Tami waslittle—swings, slides, and a dome-shaped jungle gym. There were also basketballhoops and two goals on a half-size soccer field, which is where they spottedKip.
Tami shook her head in disbelief. “Is he taking on the wholeclass?”
“Singlehandedly.” Flootie cradled her coffee cup. “He givesthose wiggle-monsters a real work-out. It’s a big help to the teachers, I’mtelling you.”
She watched a little longer, enjoying the redhead’s athleticleaps and comical ball-handling. But Flootie was right about Kip’s showboating.This wasn’t so much a soccer match as a game of chase, and the second-graderswere being run ragged. “This is better than Phys. Ed.”
“No idea where he gets his energy.” Flootie radiatedapproval. “And Ash is good at coaxing the reluctant ones into quieter games.”
Tami didn’t notice Ash right away because he was in a tree. “Howin the world does he get up there?”
“He makes it look easy, but I never could do it.” Flootiegestured broadly with one hand. “He does this vertical leap and catches thatnarrow lower limb, then does a few chin-ups for the crowd. From there, he swingshis legs up and climbs to his favorite branch.”
Below his perch, boys and girls were embroiled in acomplicated game of hopscotch. A winner was declared, and Tami’s amazementdoubled when Ash swung down in order to lead the whole group in a game offollow-the-leader. He looked like the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
Of course, the janitors weren’t the only playground monitors.Three women—parents who volunteered—looked on with indulgent smiles, and Mrs.Connell, their Phys. Ed. teacher, was taking all comers at the tetherball pole.They even had two interns from the university, a couple of girls who werepaying more attention to the janitors than the children.
Tami pointed them out.
“I’ll give them a bit of a scolding later. Or better, haveHarrison do it. He’ll strike the right balance since he’s all about the kids.Can you blame them though?” Her secretary hid her smile behind herblue-patterned mug. “Men like Kip and Ash are hard to come by. They’d be quitethe catch.”
Tami tried for a noncommittal hum.
“Which one do you prefer?”
