Free It's Only Temporary by Jamie Pearson

the best.’
    ‘Ok….. Can we talk?’
    What did she think we were doing? ‘We already are aren’t we?’
    ‘I mean about what happened before?’
    ‘Yes perhaps we should.’
    There was a longish pause before she said ‘Can I sit down?’
    I became aware that for some inexplicable reason my manner was making her feel uncomfortable. Perhaps she realised she was in the wrong?
    ‘Of course,’ I said gesturing to a chair.
    ‘Right,’ she said as she sat. ‘I’m worried.’
    ‘So am I, those boys…..’
    ‘Not about the boys……. about you,’ she interrupted.
    ‘Look, I don’t like the idea of being attacked any more than you wo uld, so maybe a few rules for them to follow before they start?’ I said.
    ‘That’s not the problem.’
    What? Worried about me, what on earth could she have to be worried about other than my physical safety? I was after all essentially saving the centre; I had protected Dan, I even put up with drinking from mugs. What was the problem?
    ‘The problem is we have only known each other for two days and we are already arguing. That doesn’t seem right somehow. I am worried we won’t be able to work together.’ she continued.
    ‘I see,’ I was unsure about how to respond. I was used to being in charge and things being done my way. If someone disliked my methods they could leave, only it was me that would have to leave this time around.
    ‘I know you feel protective towards Dan, we all do. But I set this centre up to give those who need a chance exactly that, a chance.’
    This was starting to come across as a pre-planned speech so I waited for her to continue.
    ‘I would never let anything bad happen to Dan or any of the members here, including you. But I really want to give those boys a chance too; I need to give them a chance in order to stay open…’
    She was almost apologetic. I thought about my alternatives, and quickly realised that I did not have any so I elected to try and smooth things over. I was sure I could put up with things for a few weeks until I was sorted out.
    ‘I understand, but you need to understand also that I’m worried about it as well.’
    ‘Yes I get that, but are you just worried about Dan and Kurt, or is more about you and them?’
    ‘What does that mean?’ I snapped.
    ‘Ok, sorry. I didn’t mean that in the way it sounded. Are you worried that this type of teaching is not for you?’
    Well yes I was, but I was not letting on.
    ‘No, I just want to make sure Dan is ok,’ and I live through it I almost said.
    ‘Ok, well you’ve got a one hundred per cent Stacy guarantee.’
    ‘A what?’
    She sighed, ‘I guarantee that Dan will be ok, alright? I or one of the volunteers will watch over him and you will watch over Kurt and Co knowing we have got your back. They need a good teacher to get the best out of them, someone who really knows what they are doing.’
    ‘I see,’ was she seriously doubting my abilities? I was not going to be the problem, they were.
    ‘So…’
    ‘So?’
    ‘Us?’
    ‘What about us?’
    ‘Are we gonna be able to work together?’
    ‘I should imagine so.’ After all I was not planning on being here long, I didn’t add.
    She smiled and squeezed my hand, ‘I think we should agree that if we are having a difference of opinion we sort it out like this. Not yelling at each other in the corridor?’
    ‘Agreed,’ I said.
    ‘You were lucky we weren’t in the kitchen!’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Yu is very protective of me and she has all sorts of things that can do you bodily harm in there….’
    ‘Maybe she should teach them? Cookery or something?’ I could help.’
    She laughed although I was being serious.
    ‘Yu would kill them in a matter of minutes.’
    She got up to leave, ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘If we can use our energy positively rather than fight I am sure we can do good things here, perhaps even make it permanent at some point? A paying job maybe?’
    I understood she was offering me an olive branch