The Letter by Pauline Hunter

840 words August 2023

Steph opened the letter with trepidation. The interview hadn’t gone that well. Unaccountable stuttering in her reply on safeguarding had surprised even herself. This was an area she knew inside out.

She could see the bespectacled man on the interview panel looking censoriously at her. What was his name now?

He seemed to warm to her later once she got into her stride on curriculum reform.

Much of the interview was a blur. Steph hadn’t felt so nervous at other interviews. Why this one?

But really she knew why.

This was the job for her. On the envelope, she saw the insignia of the school. This was the letter.

The school, a state comprehensive, had an enviable record when it came to examination results, among the best in the country, and it wasn’t even a free school. It just had a stellar Head and dedicated, settled staff. Steph would love to be one of them.

How awful it was here in her present school in Northumberland. So many problems: discipline, achievement, staff morale. It wasn’t the kids’ fault, but the appalling senior management team and most of all the poisonous Head teacher, Gerald.

She focused again on the envelope. Almost weighing it in her hands. Tentatively, using the paper knife, she slit it open. Pulling out the single sheet of paper, she began to read the letter.

The words blurred at first. When they came into focus, she read the first line twice, just to check.

‘We are pleased to offer you the post of Assistant Head (curriculum) at Thames Mead Comprehensive school, Gravesend.’

What a relief. What joy. Steph did a little jig. This was so crucial to her career. And to be honest to her safety.

Her celebrations were abruptly interrupted by the dreaded sound of a key in the door. Gerald’s voice boomed out, ‘Steph! I’m back. What are you up to?’

It hadn’t started out with fear. Gerald had wooed her. In an old fashioned way. Lots of flowers and chocolates and presents and invitations to special events. She’d lapped it up.

How charming he was. And,as her Head there was an allure in this powerful man choosing her.

It was only later, bit by bit, she realised what a mess the school was in and how both staff and students despised, and feared, him. From whispers in the staff room, she learnt with horror of the many complaints against him.

Initially, she heard with sympathy of difficulties in his personal life: the breakdown of his marriage, the’ loss’ of his beautiful boys.

Gerald explained

‘Gemma let me down, Steph. She’s mad, quite mad. And vindictive. I’m devastated that she’s moved my wonderful sons so far away. I’m heart broken.’

Gradually Steph realised how little effort Gerald made to try to contact his boys and to see them. Surely Manchester wasn’t ‘that far away’ for visits. Yet none were suggested.

He constantly whined about child support payments, of cutting them down to the bare minimum.

Even in the early days of her infatuation, Steph hadn’t liked this. Surely, if Gemma had less money, the boys had less.

‘I don’t trust that bitch. She’ll spend my money, My money, on herself. Lots of handbags and spa days; it’s money I’ve worked damn hard to earn’.

There was actually little evidence of Gerald doing much work at all, apart from schmoozing the parents, and bullying the staff and even the students. Now he was bullying her. Coercive control, it was called. She’d known its name and and now knew how devastating this abuse was.

The letter was a dream come true. Not only a job she’d love, but a means of escape. Thank God, she could get away. And if Gerald couldn’t be bothered to go to Manchester to see his kids. Well, Gravesend must seem like the end of the earth.

But then again, she’d begun to have a sense of foreboding about Gerald not visiting his ‘dearly loved’ children. Was he even allowed to see them? And if Gemma was so unhinged, how come she’d got full custody of two boys under 10?

She quickly glanced down again at the letter. ‘Please send your reply by return,’ it went on.

Well, that was simple. Quickly she hid the letter and paper knife down the side of the sofa.

‘I’m watching the tennis,’ she shouted with false enthusiasm. ‘Come and join me.’

It was tempting to pack tonight and just leave. In fact, it was so tempting, that that was exactly what she was going to do. She’d post her resignation from Gravesend.

With his record, Gerald would never get another Headship. And he couldn’t hack it as a classroom teacher.

Steph felt almost no doubt she’d be safe. And besides, she reassured herself, he’d soon find another gullible woman to impress - he was very good at that aspect of a relationship.

What relief she felt as he sat down next to her on the sofa. She was so nearly free.