the students. She protected Shirley just as she did the members of her own household. Now Shirley would resign, return to newspaper reporting where she belonged, forever indebted to Agnes for her knowledge, expertise, and guidance.
“Such a wonderful day,” she sang to herself as she drove along, savoring the successes of the day, especially the lovely Garden Club lecture and luncheon and now, at last, her rightful position in the school administration.
While Agnes was dwelling on how her attributes had improved the lives of so many of the good citizens of Magnolia Creek, Shirley Gates, an attractive, intelligent, and ambitious woman of thirty-five, was conversing with her secretary, Annie Pilston.
“Annie, I think you know that a TV station in the state capital has offered me a spot on an early morning talk show.”
“Yes, Shirley, I’ve heard the rumors. So, it’s true?”
“Yes,” said Shirley in a rather bemused manner.
“Congratulations! How wonderful for you and terrible for me.”
“Why? How do you mean?”
“Now I’ll have to work for that ooey-gooey moron Agnes Henley.”
Shirley burst out laughing. “I wonder if there’s anyone else in this town who knows how totally ignorant that woman is. She constantly and consistently confuses her food groups; she can’t spell worth a damn; and you never know what vitamins or minerals she’s talking about because she can’t pronounce them.”
“How on earth did she get her job in the first place?” Annie, a twenty-two-year-old perky strawberry blonde and recent graduate of a technical school, was flabbergasted when she discovered that the revered Agnes Henley was one of the most inept employees of the school district. At first Annie was in awe of both Shirley and Agnes but soon discovered that Agnes was all show, a complete fake, and just a little flaky.
“Goodness only knows. There are a lot of incompetent people working in our school systems. I suppose she came here fresh out of college. It doesn’t take much to impress some people. But why do you call her ‘ooey-gooey’?”
“Because she’s always so sugary sweet while at the same time playing down to me or something like that.”
“You mean pompously patronizing and condescending?”
“Exactly. You certainly know the right adjectives for her!” laughed Annie. “Let’s just say I would never turn my back on her.”
“Well, Annie, you’ve nothing to worry about. I’m not leaving.”
“What? You’re giving up a TV show to remain here and continue to work alongside Agnes? Why?”
“Oh, I’m not giving up anything. My part on the show is quite small. I can either tape it from here and send it in or drive up to the capital once in a while for a live interview. I’ve already made the arrangements. The school board here is quite impressed and feels that my little segment will bring prestige to Magnolia Creek. And the show’s producers are very amenable and flexible to my schedule.”
“What show is it?”
“The Wake Up Show. It comes on at 5:30 and goes off at 7:00.”
“Wow, that’s early. What’s your segment about anyway?”
“Nutrition with easy, healthy recipes, basically just good cooking.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I think so, too. So, I’m staying here, and I won’t leave until after Agnes departs.”
“But she has no intention of ever leaving. She wants your job.”
“I know, but I’m going to play Agnes’ game right along with her. I think I know of a way of getting rid of her,” Shirley stated enigmatically.
“How?” asked Annie with enthusiasm.
“No, I’m not ready to divulge anything yet. I need more time to work out my plan.”
“But, Shirley, if you and I know what an idiot she is, why doesn’t anyone else know? Maybe she had an easy time getting the job, but why has she kept it?”
“Remember, she always has been passed over for promotion. Somebody had some sense. And once you’ve been hired to work in this school district,
“Such a wonderful day,” she sang to herself as she drove along, savoring the successes of the day, especially the lovely Garden Club lecture and luncheon and now, at last, her rightful position in the school administration.
While Agnes was dwelling on how her attributes had improved the lives of so many of the good citizens of Magnolia Creek, Shirley Gates, an attractive, intelligent, and ambitious woman of thirty-five, was conversing with her secretary, Annie Pilston.
“Annie, I think you know that a TV station in the state capital has offered me a spot on an early morning talk show.”
“Yes, Shirley, I’ve heard the rumors. So, it’s true?”
“Yes,” said Shirley in a rather bemused manner.
“Congratulations! How wonderful for you and terrible for me.”
“Why? How do you mean?”
“Now I’ll have to work for that ooey-gooey moron Agnes Henley.”
Shirley burst out laughing. “I wonder if there’s anyone else in this town who knows how totally ignorant that woman is. She constantly and consistently confuses her food groups; she can’t spell worth a damn; and you never know what vitamins or minerals she’s talking about because she can’t pronounce them.”
“How on earth did she get her job in the first place?” Annie, a twenty-two-year-old perky strawberry blonde and recent graduate of a technical school, was flabbergasted when she discovered that the revered Agnes Henley was one of the most inept employees of the school district. At first Annie was in awe of both Shirley and Agnes but soon discovered that Agnes was all show, a complete fake, and just a little flaky.
“Goodness only knows. There are a lot of incompetent people working in our school systems. I suppose she came here fresh out of college. It doesn’t take much to impress some people. But why do you call her ‘ooey-gooey’?”
“Because she’s always so sugary sweet while at the same time playing down to me or something like that.”
“You mean pompously patronizing and condescending?”
“Exactly. You certainly know the right adjectives for her!” laughed Annie. “Let’s just say I would never turn my back on her.”
“Well, Annie, you’ve nothing to worry about. I’m not leaving.”
“What? You’re giving up a TV show to remain here and continue to work alongside Agnes? Why?”
“Oh, I’m not giving up anything. My part on the show is quite small. I can either tape it from here and send it in or drive up to the capital once in a while for a live interview. I’ve already made the arrangements. The school board here is quite impressed and feels that my little segment will bring prestige to Magnolia Creek. And the show’s producers are very amenable and flexible to my schedule.”
“What show is it?”
“The Wake Up Show. It comes on at 5:30 and goes off at 7:00.”
“Wow, that’s early. What’s your segment about anyway?”
“Nutrition with easy, healthy recipes, basically just good cooking.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I think so, too. So, I’m staying here, and I won’t leave until after Agnes departs.”
“But she has no intention of ever leaving. She wants your job.”
“I know, but I’m going to play Agnes’ game right along with her. I think I know of a way of getting rid of her,” Shirley stated enigmatically.
“How?” asked Annie with enthusiasm.
“No, I’m not ready to divulge anything yet. I need more time to work out my plan.”
“But, Shirley, if you and I know what an idiot she is, why doesn’t anyone else know? Maybe she had an easy time getting the job, but why has she kept it?”
“Remember, she always has been passed over for promotion. Somebody had some sense. And once you’ve been hired to work in this school district,
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