Adam Blake - 61. Chapter 61

I checked the calendar, Easter was coming up fast and I wasn’t sure what the school did for that holiday. So guess where I went to find out, Jane.

I took my small suitcase and went to my room, and then went to the training center to see Jane. “How was your weekend?”

“It was very relaxing. I think I’ll like this job. Tell me, what is this adjustment in salaries everyone got. We were all very surprised.”

“I’ll tell you but please don’t tell anyone else.” I knew she’d tell and that was ok, “When I compared the salaries of the staff and secretaries with the national averages, we were paying way below those averages. So I brought everyone to where they should be according to the position they held.”

“But there was a small increase before that.”

“Yes, the Directors charged the staff for their meals and their rooms. I stopped that. Not only was the school duped, but so was the staff. That’s over now.”

“I’m glad but that isn’t what you came to see me about?”

“No, I’d like to know what has been done in the past about holidays, what did you all do for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.”

“You weren't here for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So you know Thanksgiving is an American holiday and we had that traditional dinner. Christmas isn’t celebrated by all of our students and neither is Easter. So if a parent wanted to spend any of their national or spiritual holidays with their child, they sent a plane to get him. We excused the child and giving him his assignments before he left. You’ll be surprised how many ask to stay here.”

“I guess that makes sense. I think like an American and think everyone celebrates the same holiday that we do, thanks. So how are you doing?”

“I’m enjoying this job more than being a secretary. The only problem, I miss having coffee in the morning with everyone.”

“You don’t need to be here at a specific time, usually tests are given towards the end of the class. I expect to see you at breakfast and dinner.”

I walked back down to my office. “How’s Jane?”

“She misses us, I told her there was no reason she couldn’t have coffee and dinner with us.”

So in the afternoon, I read the rest of the mail, sent a response to the trustees, and reviewed what the architect sent me. “James, do you still have those drawings for this building?”

“What are you going to do next?”

“I want to check out the rooms I haven’t seen and then I want to check out the basement. The architect said there was a full basement under the original building but not under the extension. Maybe I can find another room like the one Mr. Rusello is working in.”

Looking at the drawing, “James, what’s this room. It’s close to the classrooms?”

“I don’t know, we can check it out.”

Walking to the room, I had the opportunity to look into a few classrooms. What I saw was way different from what I had seen when I went to observe Mr. Cees. The students had pulled their desks together and seem to be in a debate about something. Bob saw me watching, he just smiled as he tilted his head toward the students. I smiled and nodded my head indicating what I saw was good.

James opened the door to the room we saw on the print. “James, this room is in the biggest disarray I have ever seen. How could anyone find anything in here? This is how we end up over-ordering.”

“A project for the boys maybe

“Yes, differently, but if I ask for volunteers, I’ll have them all here.”

“Do a lottery? How many boys do you think could straighten this room out?”

“I would three or four max.”

“Now let’s check out this room here, pointing to the map.”\

“That is where the apartments are for the staff, we no longer have.”

When James opened that door, I couldn’t believe what I saw. There were cases of wine, cases of caviar, as well as cases of various packaged food. “Doc, look at this?”

When James moved aside a cabinet, there was a freezer that was loaded with seafood and expensive cuts of beef. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was a pantry for the privileged staff.

“James, stay here, I’m going to the kitchen to get the boys to come and carry this to the kitchen freezers and cupboards.”

“What about the wine and caviar?”

“We are going to have an auction, only all bids must be submitted in writing.”

“We will need to inventory this. Can the boys help?”

“Sure you can take the information down as they read off the labels. I just can’t believe how they have raised themselves to the level of opulence by taking advantage of these boys. I’ll send the kitchen boys up.”

Walking into the kitchen, I see all three boys working. “Ms. Wilson, it seems some of the old staff had a pantry, I need the boys to bring some of the food here. Some of it is frozen and should go into the freezer. There are quite a few packaged goods as well. Since it is on the second floor we can’t use a cart. Do you have empty vegetable crates we can use?”

I saw Able look at me, I nodded and smiled. I watched as she had the boys empty two wooden vegetable crates into a sink. Then she handed one to Caleb and one to Able and told the boys to follow me.

When we got to the room, “James will show you the food to remove. The frozen food must go in the freezer.”

I watched the boys as they took their crates and began to load them with the frozen food. Able struggled a little lifting his crate, I went over and unloaded it a little. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Better to make two trips than get hurt. Don’t worry there will be plenty to do.”

I didn’t see James for the rest of the day.

“Mr. Rusello, you haven’t signed your painting in the cafeteria.”

“If I sign it, you would have to pay me.”

I took 500 dollars from my wallet, “Here, I’ve paid you now please sign it.”

He looked at me and smiled. The next day I checked and it was signed and also I noted a small Able in the corner.”