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Living in Massachusetts had its challenges through the winter months of the year. I could not get warm this morning. Spring couldn’t come fast enough. It seemed with every passing year, my body said no more to the cold weather. Why on earth we loved it and spent all day out in it when we were kids was beyond me? No, thank you.
After I drove safely to Glendale College, I still had to trudge through the snow from my spot in the staff parking lot to the classroom on campus, where I was a professor’s assistant for the very pompous Professor McGregor in his research and writing classes.
Students started back today for the spring semester. As he lectured, like many of the students, I stared out the window, watching the big white fluffs of frozen water pile up. With each flake touching down, it was like a semblance of my failing career.
I looked down at my attire. After what Barbie told me, I took particular care in choosing my outfit today. Dressed conservatively in a skirted suit, I tried hiding my D cup assets on my hourglass frame.
I went for the sophisticated look by wearing a buttoned up silk blouse that tied in a bow at the neck, and a navy blue pencil skirt with a navy blue cardigan. Thick glasses and my long mocha hair pinned up in a clip finished my look. What more could I do?
If they overlooked me again at the end of this year for a professorship, I’d search for a different college where I could work. That’s what. Of course, I’d chosen Glendale College because it was in the same small town as Mama and Papa, and I could help them out when they needed time off from their motel or help with other minor tasks.
Though, to further advance in my career, I might need to make a choice. Remaining near my family or moving away where there would be more opportunities for me at another institution.
I powered through the morning until my phone buzzed just before lunch. Pulling it out of my purse, I froze, staring at the name on the screen. Dean Perez? Why would she be calling? Was I in trouble for something? My delay and shaking fingers clicking into the call sent it to my voice message system instead.
Named to Forbes’ Forty Under Forty in education last year, Dean Serena Perez was not only an admired and well-respected Latina woman in education, but she’d taken over as the interim college President after last year’s sex scandal on campus forced the previous president to retire. She was such a wonderful example for me, being a woman from my culture who, with hard work and dedication, achieved the pinnacle of success.
With a big deep breath sucked in, I clicked on the play icon to hear the message.
“Mia Reyes, this is Dean Perez calling. Can you please come to my office as soon as possible? Thank you.” With no insight into what she wanted, I changed my shoes and hastened to her office.
When I arrived, I eyed Barbie at her desk. She’d worked as one assistant in the office for a few years, having gone into administration instead of teaching after she earned her master’s degree. She shrugged her shoulders at me, indicating she had no idea why I’d be called in there.
“Hi, Karen,” I strolled over to the Dean’s assistant and announced my presence.
“Dean Perez, Mia is here to see you.” The phone receiver made a loud noise as Karen put it back in place. “She’s with someone, just finishing up. Have a seat for now.” Karen rolled her eyes and pointed to the waiting area.
As often as Barbie and I ate lunch in the kitchen of this office together, I never got the feeling Karen liked me and I had no idea why. I let it go as I waited. My legs shook, but I honed in on the conversation the dean was having with someone since they left the door to her office slightly ajar.
A male voice I thought I recognized spoke. ”Annual inspection of all the parking lot cameras passed. Other than that, we’re out in force this week since it’s the first week of the semester and students are getting back into their schedules. My staff is busy, but we’re keeping the peace.”
I heard Dean Perez reply in her usual controlled manner. “Good. Is that it for now? I have my next appointment waiting. Keep me posted on any further developments.”
“Yes, ma’am. Will do.”
I looked up as the door opened, and right into the eyes of Chad Buckingham, head of campus police. “Oh, hi, Chad. How are you?” He was the last person I wanted to run into, but professionalism required that I be nice.
“Hey Mia. I’m good. Yourself?”
Dean Perez saved me from having to endure more small talk with him. “Mia? I’m ready now.”
I waved him off, and my shaky legs carried me to the chair in front of the dean’s desk to have a seat.
“Thank you, Mia, for coming over so quickly. Unfortunately, the new professor we hired, Marjorie Smith, was in a pretty nasty car accident on her way to campus this morning and ended up with two broken legs. She cannot start her new position, leaving her three English LIt classes in need of a professor.”
Oh my God. Was this finally my chance? I wanted to squeal, instead I maintained composure. “How horrible? Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes, she has a long recovery ahead of her, but she’ll come out on top, I’m sure. I want to give you an opportunity to have a trial run in her classes, to cover them while she’s gone. You’ll have full professor pay and benefits, of course. Would this be agreeable to you?”
Agreeable? Holy—“Why yes, I would.”
“Good. We had to cancel the first two classes today because we didn’t know what had happened to her, but there’s one more class that starts in about ten minutes.”
Stunned, this was the complete opposite of the thoughts I’d had all morning about hiring the best damn lawyer to represent me against the college. I pulled myself together quickly, before she thought me incapable or not interested. “Absolutely.”
“Here’s the syllabus for the class. You’ll need to head over there right away now.”
“Okay, no problem. Thank you so much for the opportunity, Dean Perez.“ I smiled, hoping my genuine appreciation for this opportunity showed. With the paper in hand, I walked out of her office.
