Page 2 of Mr. B

Wes picked up the phone.

“After your speech.”

“Right.” He set the receiver back down and checked his watch. “Let me know when you’re ready for me out there.”

“Yes, sir.” She backed out of the door and closed it.

A few minutes later, he was in the outer office, sitting in front of the microphone, addressing the student body. His yearly first-day-of-school speech was always similar to those that came before it, but he tried to vary it as much as he could. There just weren’t many ways to say welcome back and have a great year.

When he returned to the office, he called Stu Morrow.

“Wes, how’s your first day going?”

“Um…I’m a little surprised by Brian’s disappearance.”

“I’m gobsmacked for sure. But don’t you worry, it’s all under control.”

“Sir?”

“His replacement should be arriving anytime now. She was the first person I thought of, and she happened to be free. So I hired her.”

“Her, who? I’ve always done my own hiring, Stu.”

“I know, and I’m not trying to be an overbearing prick of a boss, but the situation needed to be resolved, right quick.”

“Right. So…her, who?”

“Cassandra Jordan, of course.”

Wes stood up and sent his chair rolling back, crashing into the wall behind him. “No, sir. That’s…um…no.”

Stu laughed. “You two have been working together for years. What’s the problem? I thought you’d be thrilled.”

“We haven’t really worked together. She’s been the on-call therapist, but she’s needed once or twice a year, at most.”

“Well, we got lucky. She’s taking a step back from her practice and was looking for something to do. I snatched her up, of course. Win-win for both of us.”

Wes paced around his office. “I just don’t think she’s the right person for the job. She’s…”

“Over-qualified? We’re lucky to have her.”

“But—”

“I didn’t mean to step on your toes. If it helps, I’ve only signed her up for the year. If it doesn’t work out, you can start looking for a replacement in the spring.”

Wes squeezed the bridge of his nose.

“Are you still there?”

“Yeah. I’m here.”

“I’ve got to run. Make her feel welcome.”

“Will do.”

Stu ended the call, and Wes seriously considered hurling the phone across the room. He took a breath and returned it to the desk. “Make her feel welcome? Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

Polly opened the door again. “I’m so sorry, sir.”