Page 9 of Best Frenemies

The woman has officially settled in for the show, and even our temporary principal knows it’s not worth the fight.

“So, it’s settled,” Dana continues. “You two will handle planning our first annual Career Day this year. And you’ll keep the careers to things parents won’t send me angry emails about.”

I raise my hand. Dana ignores me completely.

“Katy, do you have any questions?”

“Where we will be hosting it?”

“The auditorium.”

“And how many speakers should we invite?”

“As many as you want as long as they don’t go over two hours. Anything more than that, and we can’t count the day as a full curriculum.”

Katy starts to open her mouth again, but Dana is quick to cut her off. She’s done humoring anything other than an overpriced latte and a two-to-three-hour transformation into a new-haired woman.

“So, we’re good? You guys got this?”

“Um…” Katy pauses and glances at me out of the corner of her eyes. “Actually, I really think it would be best if I handled the planning myself. Mr. Houston isverybusy planning water balloon fights.”

“Oh, Ms. Dayton, I’m wounded,” I say dramatically and hold a hand to my chest. I look directly at Principal Dana. “She doesn’t like me. I’m pretty sure she hates me.”

“He’s not wrong,” Alma says without shame. “Mack’s definitely on this one’s voodoo board.”

“I don’t hate him,” Katy is quick to retort. She looks at Dana. “I don’t hate him. I just…we just…we don’t work very well together. Our teaching styles are very,verydifferent.”

“Speaking of teaching styles,” Principal Dana states, and immediately, her eyes go to me. “Water balloons?”

“I think it’s pretty obvious,” I answer with a guffaw. “Water balloons are hyperelastic, as are sound waves. Put simplistically, the force-to-breakage coefficient of a water balloon is intensely similar to the effect sound barriers have on—”

Dana holds up a hand. “You can stop now. I assume you got parent permission?”

“From all three periods that engaged in the balloon fights.”All thanks to Betty’s and Carol’s help.

“Okay, then. Moving along.”

“Wait…” Katy’s voice pipes up. “That’s it?”

Principal Dana moves her eyes to her. “You have a problem, Katy?”

“Honestly? Yeah.” Katy glowers. “I’m still having issues with Mr. Houston’s class being disruptive to my class. It’s like trying to teach math while the circus is in town. And quite frankly, I don’t care if the elephants do a fantastic job of teaching the ear frequency or whatever line of crap you have cued,” she adds, turning to me directly.

Principal Dana looks at Katy. She looks at me. And then, she glances at the watch on her wrist and lets out a deep exhale. “Since it’s already twenty till one, we’re going to have to find another time to work out these issues when I’m not on my way to self-care. I have to get going.”

“She’s in her Taylor Lautner era,” Alma chimes in, still busy knitting whatever it is she’s knitting.

And yes, she means Taylor Swift, but this is a hilarious constant with Alma Ross. She always confuses celebrities’ names, and it’s one of my favorite things. Frankly, I’m not the only one. The sheer joy in Dana’s eyes is proof of that.

“Taylor Lautner?” Katy asks. “Isn’t that the—”

“I think what Katy wants to say—” I quickly cut her off before she can ruin something that brings constant entertainment to my work life “—is that we fully support you focusing on your self-care, Principal Dana. And I will make a point to work out my issues with Ms. Dayton.”

“Thank you, Mr. Houston.”

I don’t miss Katy’s scowl or the fact that she rolls her eyes. If there is one thing that is certain, it’s that Katy Daytonreallydislikes me.

Principal Dana looks at her watch again. “Okay, great meeting, everyone.” Within ten seconds, she’s logged off her computer and has her purse in her hand. “Keep me updated on how the Career Day planning goes. But, like, bare minimum updates, okay? I’ll see you all after spring break.”

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