Promise Not to Tell?
"Three can keep a secret…..if two of them are dead.” Benjamin Franklin
“We swear we won’t say a word,” Alyssa grabbed Gabi’s hand, crossed her heart, and looked at Susan with all the innocence of a priest. “Please, Sue…..tell us exactly what was said about Mr. Gonzalez.”
Gabi nodded her head adamantly, crossing her heart as well for good measure.
The three teachers were whispering, huddled close together in the breakroom, anxious to share the most recent rumor before many of the other faculty members joined them.
Peering over her shoulder and glancing about the room a final time, Susan leaned her head closer to the other two and spoke. “I heard Mr. Gonzalez was called to task and written up for wearing his pants too tight,” she whispered, finishing the statement with a girlish giggle despite being nearly forty years of age. Mr. Gonzalez was the school’s Assistant Principal. His overly tight slacks had been the discussion of many a staff member since he’d begun work there two years prior.
“Can you just imagine the look on Principal Langston’s face when she talked to him? I bet she wanted to climb under her desk and hide. I know I would have been so embarrassed.” Always the most serious of the three, Alyssa leaned on her elbows and spoke with the greatest gravity.
“Oh my God, it’s about time though, don’t you think?” Gabi asked. “They’re so snug, it looks as if he’s still wearing pants left over from middle school – and they show absolutely everything,” she added, her voice was so low with the last words, her friends could barely hear.
“Yes!” the two other women said in unison as five other teachers entered the room and sat at a nearby table. The three looked coyly at one another, smiled at the secret they shared, and then proceeded to finish their packed lunches.
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Two hours later, Gabi was leaving the restroom during her planning period when she encountered Sarah, the Gifted Teacher. As though a light bulb went off in her head, Gabi motioned for her friend to come closer.
“Did you hear?” she asked Sarah, a thrill coursing through her at the divine secret she held within her grasp.
“What? What did you hear?” Sarah asked, thoroughly interested.
“Finally, it's all hit the fan, and Mr. Gonzalez is being suspended for wearing his pants too tight.” Gabi was sure the AP would be suspended, so she might as well tell it like it was.
………………
Helping out at bus duty at the end of the school day, Alyssa stood next to co-worker and friend, Lydia. When only a few students were left, Alyssa moved beside Lydia and smiled at the woman. “Please don’t repeat this,” she began, drawing Lydia’s immediate attention, “but Mr. Gonzalez is going to be fired for wearing his pants so tight. Can you believe it?”
“Not surprised in the least,” Lydia said matter-of-factly. “Thanks for the info. I promise not to say a word.”
………………
Late in the afternoon, Susan and Alyssa, who shared a flat in town, were on their way home. There was a horrible traffic accident just before they reached Broad Street as their car was broadsided by another car that ran the traffic light. Unfortunately, and much to the school’s dismay, both women were critically injured and pronounced dead upon arrival at the local hospital.
……………….
A month later, after things had settled somewhat following the death of the two beloved teachers, Gabi sat alone in the breakroom, eating her lunch and dreadfully missing her two friends. Hannah, the school’s receptionist joined her, hoping to distract Gabi a bit from her sad thoughts.
“Hope you’re doing okay, Gabi. I wish I had something to tell you to get your mind off of….”
Before Hannah could finish her train of thought, however, Gabi excitedly grabbed her arm. “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I haven’t told you. Did you hear about Mr. Gonzalez?”
………………….
From the quote, one can assume old Ben never had a clue as to what it would be like to work with a high number of individuals, particularly females.
**** Disclaimer: This story is not based purely on firsthand experience, trial, and tribulation. ****