They stayed in bed until after eight. Ginny read the morning newspaper while Luke browsed through five years of athletic budgets. "Anything noteworthy?" She asked.

"How noteworthy is the purchase of $75,000 in new equipment during the last five years that I am asked to replace as new this year?"

"Noteworthy, I would say."

They showered, dressed and stopped at a drive-through to pick up breakfast before leaving the Valley. The drive north toward Seattle was splendid. They located the Hardware Outlet that Wayne Bosman had described and spent two hours perusing wallpaper, paint samples, light fixtures, gas logs and decking lumber before ambling over to windows. The Outlet did not stock the prefab dormers, but the clerk informed them that they were made by a small company in Balsam Valley. They assumed it was Dawn's construction company.....

"If the weather is as unpredictable as Dawn suggested, we might need to invest in a generator. See what she recommends Monday."

"Dr. Allen?"

They turned as Wayne Boseman and his wife approached. "I recognized you from your picture in the paper. I'm Wayne Bosman." Wayne Bosman extended an unsteady hand. "This is my wife Marie."

"Luke and Ginny Allen. Good to meet you." The eyes of the woman clutching Wayne Bosman's arm brimmed with tears.

"Pardon our anxiety. We don't go out much any more." Beads of perspiration stood on Wayne Bosman's forehead. "There is small restaurant called Cloe's three exits up. Turn to the left. It's on the right about four miles out."

"We'll meet you there." Wayne Bosman put his arm around his wife as they walked away.

"Those two sad people are very frightened, Luke. How are you possibly going to help them?"

"I don't know."

••••

"Let's take a table on the deck out back," Luke suggested. "This view is something else..." Wayne and Marie Bosman were holding hands; two people together, against the world. "I should prepare you, Marie. Ginny will want to walk down to the lake." The restaurant sat on the crest of a mountain and overlooked a glistening pond surrounded by beds of radiant flowers.

Marie smiled weakly. "Wayne and I love the out-of-doors. Wayne built a small pond on our property several years ago."

"Damn dam still leaks, Luke. You know anything about dams?" Wayne Bosman appeared to be relaxing.

"No, but when we clear a pasture behind the cabin, I'll try my hand at damming the creek that runs on the back side of the property."

Wayne Bosman nodded. "Maybe by then I can offer to help you." He gazed at the lake. "I apologize. Sometimes it is hard for either of us to focus. Our doctors tell us we both suffer from a depression similar to post-traumatic shock. We will recover, we are told." He exchanged a warm smile with his wife. "Fortunately, one of us is able to fight the depression off long enough to support the other." Luke understood too well. He credited Ginny with pulling him from the depression that had controlled his life after Vietnam ... It was Ginny who had held him through the nightmares .... It was Ginny who had convinced him that there was no dishonor in accepting the therapy and medications that helped him regain control of his life ....

"You owe us no apology. Let's order drinks and walk down to the lake. Ginny is not going to be happy until she finds out what you know about area wildflowers, Marie."

"Don't get her started, Ginny. I met Marie in a flower shop, fell in love with her in a flower garden, married her under a floral awning and she has spent the last thirty years pruning and nurturing me into what I am...." Wayne Bosman's voice dropped. "...Or what I was."

Marie corrected her husband with a loving slap to his hand. "What you are and will always be."

"Come, Ginny, let's walk down to the lake. Let these men tag along if they want."

Luke let Wayne Bosman set the pace as they followed their wives down the path.

"What are you putting in that pasture, Luke?"

"A couple of horses is all."

Wayne chuckled. "The only thing I ever learned to ride was a golf cart. You play golf, Luke?"

"I am a fair duffer. Ginny and I used to play regularly."

"Marie and I will invite you to play with us, once this situation is cleared up with the Board."

"We would like that. You and I will have to keep score, though." He gestured toward Ginny and Marie. "Those two will be more interested in how the course is landscaped."

••••

With lunch concluded, Wayne Bosman's demeanor changed. "You two have made us feel very comfortable. I wish we could have met under different circumstances."

"Regardless of the circumstances, Wayne, Ginny and I look forward to seeing the two of you again."

"You bring your recorder, Luke?" Luke removed the recorder from his jacket. "This is not easy, for me or Marie, but I need your help." Luke turned on the recorder and placed it on the table in front of Wayne Bosman.

••••

My name is Wayne Bosman. I am the former principal of Balsam High School. I am recording this tape in the presence of three witnesses.

On May 28 of this year, I was placed on administrative leave with pay by the Balsam Valley Board of Education because I refused to resign or accept early retirement from my position as principal. To avoid an inevitable law suit and criminal prosecutions against several staff members, the Board declined to formally remove me. It was the Board's position that their attorney would enter negotiations with my attorney to offer me a cash incentive to resign or retire. To date, I have declined any settlement offers from the Board of Education. Furthermore, during the past year, I declined specific payoffs from the Superintendent and the Athletic Director. Because of my refusal to accept these payoffs, my life has been threatened, my property has been vandalized, my wife has been harassed by telephone calls and letters and my professional reputation has been slandered by false rumors and allegations. School records for which I was responsible were deliberately altered in an attempt to discredit me. Our home has been vandalized, my wife and I have received innumerable threats. Our children have received letters.... I believe that no physical harm has come to us because I possess evidence of criminal misconduct by several persons employed by the Board of Education.

Approximately one year ago, I discovered irregularities in school records, school resources and in the handling of athletic department funds. I investigated these irregularities and reported my findings to Superintendent Cleve Combs. Irregularities included the falsification of student transcripts, the falsification of a teacher's certification, the dumping of hazardous materials in the local landfill, the flagrant use of an illegal athlete and the theft of several thousand dollars from the athletic program. There are other situations that my attorney and I are investigating.

I will discuss these irregularities separately. My attorney and two confidential sources possess copies of records and receipts to document the irregularities listed above. In addition, they possess records and affidavits to identify the individuals who deliberately falsified school records to slander my name....

Wayne Bosman's voice broke.

Luke reached across the table and turned the recorder off. "You don't have to go through this. Tell me how I can help you." Luke removed a pen and notepad from his pocket. Wayne Bosman hesitated, turned the recorder on again and continued.

"I need to know the exact date of delivery for a supply of G-P bond copier paper. It may have been delivered in late May or early June. I also need several sheets of this paper plus one unopened ream of this paper."

"That is public information. I can do that."

"I need the dates and itemization of each deposit made to the Athletic fund last year."

"That's public information. I can provide that."

"I need a copy of the SCIDS access report for the school year."

"That should be public information. I'll get it for you."

"I need copies of or the original classroom teacher's grade books and final transcripts for Julian R. Gomez, Denise Mayburn Osborne, Richard Haven Dunn, Mica Renee Yates. There may be others, but those are all we have right now."

"You know I can't give you that information. The student or a parent can request it, but you'll have to subpoena it."

"I know. My concern is that if certain people know I need that information, it will disappear."

Luke nodded in agreement. "If these students are in college, remember that a preliminary transcript is sent with the application and a final transcript is sent to the college after the student graduates. If you are looking for evidence of transcript fraud, multiple subpoenas delivered concurrently would avert any possible manipulation of the evidence......"

"I need a copy of the transfer records, transcript, attendance records, athletic participation form and any other information available on James Chad Mason."

"You will have to subpoena that information as well, Wayne."

"I need a copy of the rank in class for last year's junior and senior classes."

Luke hesitated. "I'll research that request. What I can tell you is how many were in the class and the minimum percentile rank for academic recognition. If you knew a student's actual rank, you would be able to determine whether the student qualified for an honor."

"How can I help you, Luke?"

Luke sighed deeply. "Who can I turn to if I find myself where you are, Wayne?"

"I don't know. The State Department of Public Schools turned its back on me. They knew what was going on, but remained quiet because of the scandal and the astronomical liability and legal fees they would have to pay if everything went public."

"What will happen when your law suit is filed?"

"The State Department will definitely be involved. They will not want my evidence to go public, I promise you."

"What do I need to watch for?"

It was Wayne's turn to sigh. "Watch Combs. He will undermine and discredit you with your faculty. He and the Board had a major falling out because he wanted to hire his cousin as principal; the Board and the search committee wanted you. He tried his best to find something in your background to keep you out. He could not find anything; watch for him to create something."

"Watch for Switzer and her corps of groupies. They are thicker than thieves and have access to all the school records. Switzer and Devron are the ones who have been altering student records. For years they were paid by parents to do it. In recent years, they do it for spite. My suggestion is to keep your faculty involved and aware of what you want to do. Include as many of them on committees and in planning activities as you can. Don't pull any surprises. Hold faculty meetings regularly and sit in on departmental meetings. Involve the community and parents quickly -- attend meetings. Don't trust your your assistants until they prove their colors. Two of them are in thick with Combs. He owns them."

"Watch your coaches. Three of them have been pocketing or distributing close to $65,000 a year in gate receipts. They can buy or intimidate people to do anything they want. They can buy abortions for their key players and young-buck assistants, get jobs for their friends, hire and fire who they want. I'm waiting to see when the story behind that suicide comes out."

"The elementary teacher who committed suicide? Did he coach?"

"No. He was an exceptional teacher, a fine young man. Combs needed an elementary science position for the son of a friend, so he told the science teacher a student had accused him of molesting her. Instead of resigning, the young man committed suicide. Combs has not named a replacement yet; he'll wait until the rumors die down. You'll get a swim coach before school starts; he'll be given the vacant science position at the elementary school."

Luke felt as if he was going to be sick. "Why was Ken Holmes removed as baseball coach last year?"

"Starnes, Switzer and Lipman were responsible for that. Lucie-Moosie was upset because Ken put a pinch hitter in for her son in the state playoffs. Starnes and Lipman were upset because Ken questioned the eligibility of the Mason kid. Rather than creating a turmoil which could bring out the truth about the Mason kid's ineligibility, Combs offered to pay for Ken's degree and give him an assistant principalship if he would not contest his removal as baseball coach. Seems as if Combs and Switzer also came up with some documents which made the Mason kid look eligible."

"Why does the school not have a fire alarm system?"

"Combs tried to avoid paying the hazardous waste disposal fee by sneaking asbestos shingles into the county dump. Someone reported it. To raise funds for the disposal fee, he had to halt all capital outlay projects. He has been robbing one project to pay for another so long that half the projects in the district are incomplete."

"Why has our water quality degraded?"

"Combs and his maintenance crew get kickbacks on supplies purchased locally. Suppliers substitute substandard products that fail to carry the load or do the job. The joke among local contractors is that if the school district is digging a hole, make sure you're not in it."

"How does Combs keep his job?"

"Payoffs. He keeps markers for squelching court records, misconduct by teachers and administrators, transcript changes, jobs, renewal credits, and dirty laundry. His control reaches well beyond the Valley. If he can't buy you, he intimidates you with threats and rumors. The trailer park across from the stadium is owned by a current Board member. When the irrigation system was installed in the stadium and on the practice field, a water line was also run to the trailer park, courtesy of Balsam High School."

"What else do I need to watch for, Wayne?"

"Two things. If you can, protect students from harassment and intimidation. Some tried to talk to me, but they were hushed up. There is a sickness there, Luke. It is centered in the athletic department and supported by the Superintendent. They abuse students, sexually, mentally and physically. I tried to stop it, but I had no support. When I tried to contact the sheriff, he talked to the Superintendent. I called in the State Intelligence Agency and they went to the Sheriff...."

"What is the second thing I need to watch for?"

"A job opening in another school district, far away from Balsam Valley."

••••

During Wayne Bosman's testimony, both Marie and Ginny maintained physical contact with their husbands. When hands were withdrawn to gesture, they touched their husbands arms or shoulders. Ginny's arm finally moved to rest on the back of Luke's chair. When she sensed him tense, she gently caressed his shoulder. Marie Bosman turned her head toward the lake each time her eyes welled with tears. Ginny had intuitively recognized the torment she saw in Marie's eyes when they first met this morning. Now she knew the depth of the anguish Marie Bosman shared with the man she loved.

••••

"I don't want this happening to you or to us, Luke."

"It won't." He wanted to stop the car, hold her closely and assure her it would not happen to them. "Do you want to leave the Valley?"

"I want to be with you, by your side, supporting you in every decision you make." He drove into a picnic area, led her by the hand to a secluded table and held her closely. They talked of his resolve and their commitment to share the burdens he would face.

"I will say this only once, Luke. We can live very comfortably for the rest of our lives on your retirement and my royalties. I trust you to tell me when you feel you are losing control; I reserve the right to tell you when I feel you are losing control. I love you; your welfare is all that matters to me."

"I love you, Ginny. You are more important to me than anything in my life --."

"Why don't we get married?" It was one of her out-of-the-blue, off-the-wall comments that brought him from melancholy to maddening laughter.

He shook his head. "You are nuts -- totally impossible." In one motion he picked her up, slung her over his shoulder and struggled up the path toward the car.

"What if the parents who buy YOUR books for THEIR children knew what you put me through?" he puffed up the slope.

"You-u-u are breaking my-y-y ribs-s-s. What are you-u-u-u planning to do-o-o with me-e-e?"

"I'm going to take you home, sober you up, show you our marriage certificate and then take you to a cook-out hosted by Cleve Combs." He deposited her gently into the front seat of the car.

She draped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. "Wanna climb into the back for a quick rumble?"

" Nahhh .... better not. Somebody might see us. You don't want me to lose my job, do you?"

 

Luke entered the equipment room where Ray Starnes was sorting football jerseys. "You know about the tests we are running on the water system?"

"Dr. Combs told me."

"What's the schedule for practice tomorrow?"

"Volleyball and football begin two-a-day practices in the morning."

"Notify all the coaches that students should not shower until line work and tests are completed. Water containers are being delivered this afternoon. Before you leave today, empty the ice machines, turn them off, disinfect them and ask each coach to pick up enough ice for his practices for the next couple of days. I set up an open purchase order for ice at the grocery store. Make this a low key announcement. There is no indication that the water supply is contaminated, by the way. The last thing we need is a rumor that is totally unfounded."

"I'll take care of that."

"Do we need to discuss the athletic budget?"

Starnes tossed a jersey into a pile that lay near Luke's feet. "Maybe you should look it over and let me know if you have questions. It is pretty basic."

Luke followed the athletic director toward his office, stopping at a door marked "Conditioning."

"I have not seen this room." Ray Starnes shuffled through a chain of keys and unlocked the door. As the florescent lights flickered on, Luke saw a conditioning room comparable to most college programs.

"This is amazing. There must be several thousand dollars in equipment in here."

"Yep. The community raised money for this room after consolidation in the 1980's. The problem is, most of this equipment needs to be upgraded or replaced."

"Does the budget include funds for what you need?"

"No. We had hoped to sell this and start over with new equipment."

"How do you propose to do that?"

"We have a buyer lined up. He is waiting to bring you a check, if you approve."

"This appears to be a done deal. Why do you need my permission?"

"Dr. Combs said it was up to you."

"What's involved?"

"We have approximately $45,000 in original equipment. Estimates for repairs and upgrades range between $12-15,000. We can sell it for $10,000 and buy a few pieces of more modern equipment."

"Who was involved in making the decision?"

"Dr. Combs, me and a couple of coaches."

"Let me look over the budget. I'll have a response for you the first of the week. What's the current market value of this equipment, by the way?"

"Maybe $100,000 or better, if it was repaired."

"What if we found the money to upgrade what you want and then bought new equipment as we raised the money?"

"Coach Lipman wants the new equipment now."

"Are his requests in the budget?"

"Yes." Coach Starnes hesitated. "I wanted to give you one of our football jackets, but we don't have your size right now. I'll order it this week. You want one for your wife?"

"Sure. Be certain I get a bill for the jackets."

•••

"My wife and I are driving up to Renton Saturday morning. We're looking for wall paper and windows for some work we're doing on the cabin."

"What if my wife and I meet you around noon in a building supply center I can recommend?"

"Sounds good. You may also choose a place for lunch."

"Take 405 north to exit 15. You will see the lumber yard on the right. The wife and I will meet you there. Bring your tape recorder, Dr. Allen."

•••

Ginny brought dinner to the school at six o'clock. She helped Mrs. Workman collate information for the Boosters' meeting while Luke worked with Ken Holmes on a campus maintenance schedule.

"I don't mind doing this occasionally," she told him, "but you need to get away for meals, hon." He had not disagreed with her, but explained that it had been a challenging day.

He had forwarded the water test results to the Superintendent. County maintenance personnel were flushing the lines tonight to remove sediment. Three sections of water lines were to be replaced as soon as possible to avert possible ground water contamination.

Darrell Thorton had moved quickly with the guidance center project. Renovations would be completed in three to four days by Carpentry III students and their teacher, Dan Sorenson, who was employed to do maintenance for the schools during the summer. Building materials were estimated at $800. Student Council members had volunteered to paint the new offices. Darrell had requisitioned four computers from the central warehouse and submitted purchase orders for a hub terminal to network computers within the guidance office.

"Contact the vendor who has our computer maintenance contract. We can designate one computer as the host," Luke suggested. "We'll download weekly and quarterly data to the host computer and route data to the other computers. I want to talk with the technician before he does any work, however."

•••

Over 800 parents crowded into the auditorium at the first "open house" for athletics, band, chorus, and academic boosters' clubs. Luke announced a monthly calendar and newsletter to enable groups to coordinate activities. He invited officers of each club to meet monthly to discuss mutual projects and concerns. Parents applauded frequently during a thirty-minute "talking tour" video of the campus, students, staff, projects and the philosophy that would be initiated in Luke Allen's first year as principal.

•••

"Ahhhhhh.... what do I see here?" Ginny stopped washing his hair to peer closely at his graying sideburns. "Three new ones today."

"A sign of distinction and maturity," Luke muttered. "My badge of courage."

"How about that thinning spot on the back of your head?"

"Where?" Luke sat up in the tub to examine his hair. "Where?"

"It could be months before anyone notices."

"You are joking, right? Show it to me." He feigned alarm as she guided his hand through the thickness of his hair.

"Hair is the third to go, you know."

"The third?? What the heck are first and second?" She pretended to resist as he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the tub.

•••

Mrs. Workman handed Luke a five-year summary of athletic department budgets and his schedule of appointments. "Don't even think about sitting down today," she advised. "The phone has been ringing off the hook since I arrived. Parents were obviously impressed with the open house last night. The florists are calling about deliveries." She did not give him time to respond.

"Lean in the corner and drink your coffee while I do something I never do in the office -- gossip."

"Am I being transferred?" Luke feigned alarm.

"This is serious, Dr. Allen." He sipped his coffee. "I need assistance here in the office." Luke grunted in agreement. "Rumor has it that a young secretary at the Board of Education office is getting too close to an administrator and they are looking to transfer her. She is competent, I am told, but is -- how do I say it -- susceptible to advances from inquiring men."

"You said it very well."

Mrs. Workman continued. "If you were to accept her, I would supervise and monitor her conduct here in the office."

"Say no more. I have some reliable gossip for you." Luke opened his briefcase and handed her a recent memo from the State Department of Public Schools. "A school our size is eligible to receive three additional clerical positions effective August 15. How does that sound?"

"Glory be. You may sit to drink the rest of your coffee. A technician from the telephone exchange will be here this morning." Two telephones began to ring simultaneously. "Now shoo so I can answer your calls."

"Call the Superintendent's secretary and ask for the protocol on recruiting, transfers, and posting for these new positions."

•••

Telephone technician Joe Franks opened an unlocked panel located in the hallway between the assistant principal's offices. "I have been telling your staff for two years this needs to be locked, Dr. Allen. I have a lockable panel I can install today."

"Do it."

"You have two bundles carrying a capacity of eight lines each. You are using 13 bundled lines plus two private lines."

"Can you break the lines down by buildings?"

"Sure. I'm the only tech assigned to your school. I know it by heart."

Luke asked Mrs. Workman to assist with identifying phone numbers and departments served.

"In this building, you have the three main lines plus one single and five private lines."

Mrs. Workman identified the lines. "The single is your private line, guidance and media have private lines. Media also has one dedicated line and the Superintendent pays for the second private line into the media center. The line into the computer center is a dedicated line that I also use for transferring the financial reports to SDPI."

Franks examined the board carefully. "That must be the line that is split to the guidance office, the media center and to your office, Mrs. Workman."

"Disconnect the splits to media and guidance; run Mrs. Workman's split to my office. Pull the disconnects back into the line feed until we decide to activate them later."

"OK. The main lines plus one private line run to the gym. The Athletic Director has a private line and each coach's office has access to the three main lines."

"Athletic Boosters pay for the athletic director's private line," Mrs. Workman clarified.

"There are five lines to the math-science building. Three main lines plus two private lines."

"The private lines are for computer labs," she explained.

"Vocational has three main lines plus three private."

"There are two computer lab lines and a third line for the work-study program."

"There are six dedicated lines in the school, then?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Franks, install one dedicated line into my office and one into Mrs. Workman's. Mrs. Workman, move the school fax into your office to run from this new line that you will now use to transfer the monthly financial report. Can you give Mrs. Workman a list of all the numbers within the school?"

"Sure. I'll have to climb the poles to get the others."

"What do you mean?"

"You have three local lines into the school that are not routed through this system."

"Where do they go?"

"One goes to guidance, one to Mrs. Norman's office and the third goes to the gym."

"Isn't that a little strange?" Luke asked.

"They were installed before I was transferred here, Dr. Allen. And yes, that is a little strange."

•••

"Mr. Morton is here to see you."

"Give me a hint."

"He's the district maintenance supervisor. He has been on vacation and wants to introduce himself."

Luke tucked the list of telephone numbers and the panel keys into his wallet and went into the lobby to greet the school district's maintenance supervisor.

"Welcome to Balsam Valley. Sorry I was not here when you first arrived."

"I understand you've been vacationing this month. Welcome home."

"I have a place on the coast my doctor recommends that I visit as often as possible." He laughed at himself. "It is a little far for a weekend trip, so I try to use my vacation days before the sick days kick in, if you know what I mean."

Luke nodded, assuming that the Maintenance Director was not well. "Come in." Leon Morton followed Luke into his office.

"Dr. Combs asked me to touch base with you on a few projects that need to be scheduled."

"You heard about the water lines that need to be replaced, I guess."

"Yes. We'll get to that as soon as possible. There're a couple of other projects that are top priority. We have to close this building for a few days to remove the asbestos shingles on the roof. We'll finish paving the upper parking lot while this side of the campus is closed."

"How many days are we talking about?"

"Three max."

"Good. I'll give the staff some needed vacation. They've been working over-time for the past couple of weeks."

"Good idea. We'll start next Wednesday morning and re-open the building on Monday."

"Very well. I'll set up a temporary office in the math-science building. By the way, the contractor who began the fire alarm installation will be here this afternoon. You are welcome to join us."

"I'm pretty busy. Get me an estimate as soon as possible. I'm as anxious as anyone to see that project finished."

•••

Celia Norman spent four hours with contractors as they inspected fire alarm lines and terminals throughout the campus. "Good news and bad news," she reported. "Which do you want first?"

"The bad news."

"We need to replace eight stations, install an upgraded control box, add two terminals in the concession stand and install a dedicated phone line."

"The good news?"

"The system seems intact. They will be able to check some connections only after full installation."

"Estimate?"

"$4,000 to $6000, depending upon the condition of existing lines."

"Got it in writing?"

"Yes. They can start next week. It should take approximately two days."

"Prepare a memo for my signature with copies to the Superintendent and the Director of Maintenance. Tell the contractor to be ready to start on one day's notice. Good job, Celia."

Celia smiled. "The contractor has a team on stand-by. The memo is already written. Sign it and I'll hand-carry it to the Superintendent."

•••

Luke dialed the Superintendent's office and was surprised that Cleve Combs accepted his call.

"I wanted to update you on the status of some of our projects."

"Things going well?"

"Yes, thanks. Mrs. Norman is hand-carrying the estimate for the fire alarm system. It seems reasonable and the contractor can get to work on it immediately."

"Our problem is frozen funds. It will be two to three months before any money is available, unless they will do it on ninety-day billing."

Luke knew that was not a viable option with public school funds. "What if I use school funds and you re-imburse the school when funds are available."

"Sounds like a good solution."

"I will fax you a request. You can sign it and have Mrs. Norman hand-carry it back to me." Luke scribbled a memo and motioned to Mrs. Workman to come into his office.

"You don't trust me?"

"Just following standard fiscal procedures." Luke laughed convincingly. "Capital outlay expenditures in excess of $5,000 require the Superintendent's approval. And I want it in writing that the school will be re-imbursed when our local funds are released." The Superintendent did not respond.

"I'll set up a temporary office in the math-science building while the asbestos is removed next week. I also want to give the staff some comp time. They've been going day and night."

"The water test results arrived. We will get those new lines in before winter. What about your athletic budget?"

"I will study it this weekend."

"I talked with Tom about the changes in the guidance center. You are off on the right foot there. Keep my sister and her cronies happy and you'll do well." Luke wanted to ask who her cronies were, but didn't.

"I am sending out a memo on the clerical allotments. You're due for two, according to the formula. Applicants will apply directly at the local school. Just follow the interview policy."

"Two? I thought we were due three."

"Don't be greedy. I have to spread them around."

"I need three."

"We might work something out. I have a secretary I need to transfer and she cannot be placed in just any situation. The only place she wants to work is at the high school."

"Give us the three slots we qualify for and I'll accept the secretary you want to transfer."

"It's a matter of money. If I can entice her with summer employment, it's a done deal."

"Check your fax. My memo should be there."

"I'm not such an SOB, now, am I, Dr. Allen?"

Luke hesitated, then laughed. "Have a good day, Dr. Combs."

•••

Upon Celia Norman's return with the Superintendent's memo, Luke called Mrs. Workman, the assistant principals and the custodial staff to his office.

"We have approval to complete the fire alarm system. Celia will ask contractors to begin as soon as possible. We'll use school funds to pay for the work and be re-imbursed when our local capital outlay funds are released."

"Water lines have been flushed and at least three sections will be replaced before winter. There was no evidence of contamination, by the way. Jess, turn on all fountains after they are disinfected. You might also remind Coach Starnes to turn the ice machines on."

"The Superintendent informed me that we are receiving at least three clerical positions effective August 15. I suggest that we use these slots accordingly: the three administrators and athletic director will share one secretary, guidance and Mrs. Masters will share one, we can use one slot as a receptionist-clerk here in the administrative office and if a fourth slot were to be available, we will use that position to assist Mrs. Workman. Jess, the receptionist-clerk will assist you and your staff with orders you need to process. I need one of you to coordinate interviews and to set up an interview committee of five plus me."

Celia Norman raised her hand. "I will, if no one else is interested."

"You got it, Celia. I will send you info as I receive it from the Superintendent's office. Now -- good news and bad news. Good news first.... Asbestos shingles will be removed from the roof of this building next week and the upper student parking lot will be paved."

"The bad news is that we're the ones removing the asbestos?" Ken quipped.

"How did you guess? No -- the bad news is that this building and section of the campus will be closed Wednesday until the following Monday. I will set up a temporary office in the math-science building, but you each have the option of taking comp time for the over-time you have been putting in."

"What if we want to work?" It was Jess who asked. "It's hard enough to finish the summer cleaning schedule when the buildings are open."

"You'll have to move the supplies and equipment you need out of this building and into one of the other buildings."

"Our floors never get to seal long enough to hold a shine. What if we work the floors in this building Tuesday night and let them seal until Monday? We can take Wednesday off."

"That's your decision, Jess. Talk with your staff and let Mrs. Workman know your schedule."

"I have a general question that maybe you can help me with," Luke began. "Why is it that every time I attempt to inform the Superintendent about the status of school projects, he already knows about them?"

No one responded. Celia and Darrell glanced at each other nervously.

"Just something I wondered about. No problems with it. Anything else?"

"I won't be able to attend the coach's dinner meeting tonight," Ken announced.

"You'll miss a good meal, Ken."

•••

"I need to talk with Tom Franks, Mrs. Workman. Will you contact him for me, please?"

"Yes. And count on me to work next week."

"Maybe one day, Mrs. Workman. This might be a good time for you to help Ginny with an herb and wildflower garden. She also wants to know your secret for keeping Rusty from digging up the flower beds."