70. Birdie

Confession: I want to wear more pink.

I made it back to Mara's place Friday around noon and collapsed into my bed, falling asleep instantly. The adrenaline and emotion of the day before had wiped me out, and I slept like a rock.

At first, I didn't know what the vibrating against my shoulder was. I blinked my eyes open groggily, seeing it was nearly dark outside. Then I realized it was my phone. And Headmaster Bradford's name was on the screen.

I grabbed it and scrambled to my feet, rubbing my eyes to try to wake up.

"Hello?" I said.

"Ms. Melrose, it's Headmaster Bradford."

I nodded, then realized he couldn't see me. "Yes?"

"The board of trustees has met and decided they would like to have you back."

My lips parted, my brain moving too slowly to process the words he was speaking. "You want to offer me my job?"

"That is the position of the board," he said.

I walked down the hallway, not seeing Mara in her room or the living room, and stepped outside, hoping the fresh air would clear my mind.

"And the rule about staff dating parents?" I asked.

"Updated in the bylaws. It is permitted as long as it doesn't interfere with your treatment of the students."

"Wow," I breathed, sitting back on the swing.

"So, can I inform the protesters that you're coming back? Because, to be quite frank, this has been extremely disruptive to our learning environment."

I almost said yes, but the tone in his voice held me back.

"Do you want me to take the position?" I asked him.

"I'm offering it to you."

"That's not the same thing," I said.

He was quiet for a moment.

"Respectfully, Headmaster Bradford, I would love to have my job back, I would love to work with the students, but I want to be on a team with my administrators. I don't want to walk on eggshells anymore while trying to do my job, especially not with what I wear or the information I offer students."

He cleared his throat. "We are trying to prepare children for the professional workplace."

"Right," I said. "And I'm trying to teach students to never let anyone dull their sparkle. Our students aren't graduating to be employees; they're training to become world changers. How can they do that if they're playing by all of the rules, some of which are illogical?"

Headmaster Bradford was silent for so long, I checked my phone to see if the call had ended.

He let out a heavy breath and said, "This week, I've learned many things. Particularly that a small, unique voice can speak louder and resonate more than a powerful, established one."

I waited for him to explain what that meant.

"I think it's time for me to start listening to that voice instead of trying to silence it."

My lips lifted into a smile.

"So please," he said, "do me the favor of working with me again. I can't promise I'll be perfect, but I can promise that in the spirit of Emerson Academy, I'm willing to learn."

I bit my lip, smiling. "I'd appreciate a raise, for the extra instruction."

There was a smile in his voice. "Done. I'll see you, and Ralphie, Monday."