Harriet shrugged. ‘You seem upbeat and keep smiling at everyone.’ She paused, before adding, ‘You’re makingpeople nervous. They’re worried you’re being nice because a restructure’s being announced, or something.’
Gilly chuckled. ‘No restructure. I’m just happy. Since when is a cheerful headteacher reason for concern?’ Picking up her coffee, she appraised her over the rim. ‘Come on, Harriet, you’re a straight shooter. I hear you give people short shrift when they try barging in here. Just tell me.’
‘Fine. When you arrived, you were so serious. To be honest, you can come across as stern. Lately, you’re more… approachable.’ She grimaced. ‘Sorry.’
‘No, they’re fair points.’ She was aware how she’d been perceived in her last headship and hoped it wouldn’t be the same here. Living at the manor, becoming part of the community and working on the cottages had done something to her. Something good. Thawing her. ‘And I have got a bit of a resting bit— I mean, one of those faces.’
‘Hmm, well it’s a relief to know you’re human.’
After a pause, they sniggered, and the awkwardness faded.
Gilly tilted her head, studying her assistant. A cobalt blue dress showed off her trim figure, and a mass of shiny dark hair framed her big brown eyes and delicate features. That morning’s rule for living popped into her head.Give someone a compliment.Good advice. ‘I like that dress, the colour and cut suits you. And your fringe is new, right? It looks great.’
‘Thanks.’ Harriet looked delighted. ‘Had it cut last night after work.’ Her eyes swept over her boss. ‘And you look very… smart?—’
‘It’s not tit for tat. I didn’t give you a compliment to get one.’ Gesturing to her plain navy skirt suit and white blouse. ‘And my outfit, while professional, is uninspiring. It’s what I’m comfortable in.’ She sipped her coffee. ‘I gave the compliment because it’s true, and I wanted to.’
‘Thanks, I appreciate it. I’ve just been a bit bored lately, and felt unseen.’ Lifting her chin, she smiled. ‘But now I feel seen.’
Gilly nodded, warm pleasure filling her chest. She’d done this. Made someone happy with a kind gesture. An idea came to her, fully formed. ‘Do you think we could do a whole-school initiative?—’
There was a knock on the door and one of their receptionists, Martha, poked her head in. Cheeks flushed, the top button of her blouse was undone. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but there’s been an incident and Mr Tolly’s been injured. An ambulance is on the way, but we need someone to cover his class. I don’t know what to do.’ She sped on, barely taking a breath. ‘No one is free and Miss Gomez,’ their deputy head, ‘is in the HR meeting about that staffing issue. I also can’t geld hold of the relief agency for a supply teacher.’ She finally stopped, wringing her hands, cheeks scalding redder.
Coming out from behind her desk, Gilly crossed the room and put a comforting hand on the woman’s arm. ‘It’s all right. Let’s slow down.’ Remembering to give compliments, she added, ‘It sounds like you’ve handled it admirably so far and have thought of different options. I’m sure there’s a solution we can find together. The main thing is everyone’s safe. Are they?’
Martha looked relieved. ‘Miss Barker’s taken his class into the hall with hers for the moment.’
‘Good, that’s okay for the twenty minutes until lunch-break. Now, how serious is Mr Tolly’s injury?’
Harriet got up and headed for the door. ‘I’ll try the agency again.’
‘Thanks, Harriet.’
‘Thank you.’ Martha echoed, fanning her face and tugging her top away from her body. ‘I just sort of went into meltdown.’ She eyed Gilly shyly. ‘It doesn’t help I’ve been having hot flushes, and my brain isn’t as reliable as usual. I keep gettingthese memory gaps, and missing words. Bloody hormones.’ Looking panicked, she blurted, ‘It doesn’t affect me doing my job though?—’
‘That sounds difficult,’ Gilly soothed, ‘so let’s talk about it properly later. Perimenopause is something half the population goes through unfortunately, and I’ve done an e-learning module as part of management training so have some awareness.’ She took a deep breath, meeting the woman’s eyes to instil confidence. ‘Right now, let’s focus on the next hour. Tell me about Mr Tolly.’
‘Oh, sorry! Suspected broken arm. Mr Evans,’ the site manager, ‘has taken him to the Staff Room. I made him as comfortable as I could and gave them an Accident Reporting Form before coming to find you.’
‘Good, Mr Evans can help him fill it in for Health and Safety.’ A necessary evil. ‘Okay, so he may have a broken bone, and is in pain, but it’s not life threatening.’ Sitting Martha down in the chair Harriet had vacated, she pointed the whirring desk fan at the woman’s face and poured her a glass of water. ‘Better?’
‘Much.’ The woman basked in the air flow for a moment, before glugging down some water with a grateful expression. ‘Thank you.’
‘No problem,’ Gilly replied, using a thick Governing Body report to fan herself, the sun outside gathering strength and increasing the temperature of the hot summer’s day. ‘Now, we need to think about afternoon lessons. I’m thinking that if Harriet can’t get hold of the agency, I’ll get her to clear my schedule, and can step in.’
‘You’re going to teach?’ Martha squeaked.
Gilly laughed. ‘It’s how all heads start out. Besides, I miss it, and used to love being in the classroom with kids. Never get to do much nowadays, it’s all about observing and mentoring others, alongside executing strategy and wading through a stackof admin, finance and staffing headaches. Plus answering to the Governors and other stakeholders. It’ll do me good to polish up on my pedagogy.’
Martha stood, tucking her blouse in and appearing cooler. ‘I should get back to Reception. I left Paula covering alone.’ Head tilting, she looked at Gilly. ‘You know, you’re not how I thought, and you’re great in a crisis. It’s good to work with you.’
‘Well, that could be taken in several different ways.’
Her eyes twinkled. ‘You should take it as a compliment.’
‘Um, thank you.’ This place was changing and softening her, she’d never received such a comment. Praise from Governors for her excellence in leadership and the progress pupils made, and how deftly she handled difficult parents, but nothing from staff members praising her interpersonal skills. Certainly not they enjoyed working with her.
Later, when the final bell rung and she strode onto the playground to say goodbye to pupils and greet parents with the apprentice TA she’d taught with at her elbow, saying how much he’d enjoyed the English lesson, it was the happiest and most satisfied she’d been in a long time.
