Down and Out in Bugtussle Read Online Free

subs in and out since mid-February, and it’s been a mess because, as you know from experience, everything works better when we have the same people on rotation all the time.”
    “Well, you can depend on me to see this job through until the bitter end,” I tell her. “And I promise not to start any trouble. I’ll stay away from Freddie Dublin or be so disgustingly nice to him that it’ll make us all sick.” I smile and so does Chloe. “So, please, bring in my new partner in crime. I’m sorry, what I meant to say was education.”
    Chloe shakes her head and walks over to the intercom where she presses a button and pages Ms. Stacey Dewberry. Five minutes later, there’s a knock on the conference room door. I sit up straight in my chair, curious about my new coworker.
    “Be nice, Ace,” Chloe whispers as she walks to the door. “And don’t judge her until you get to know her.”
    “Oh come on, Chloe,” I whisper. “She can’t be that bad.”
    Chloe opens the door. “How are you today, Ms. Dewberry?” she asks sweetly.
    “Oh, I’m fine as frog hair, Mrs. Stacks,” Stacey Dewberry says with a big lopsided smile.
    “Won’t you join us?” Chloe asks, returning to her seat at the table.
    “Sure thing!” Stacey says with a bit too much gusto. I sit andstare, unable to say a word. I take in the outfit, piece by piece, as my new partner crosses the conference room and takes a seat at the table. She has on floral stirrup pants with a green V-neck sweater that’s layered over a hot pink turtleneck. There appear to be shoulder pads involved somewhere, probably in the sweater, which aren’t working for her unless she got up this morning wanting to look like a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. She’s definitely more of a Fatty Patty than a Skinny Minnie, and her hair, which I have to force myself to stop staring at, is hot rolled and teased to the max. As she approaches the table, I fully expect her to whip out a boom box and ask me if I’m down with O.P.P. I’m slightly disappointed when she doesn’t. After she takes the seat across from me, I notice that she has very nice features, but I can’t really focus on the sea green eyes and Barbie doll nose because I’m so thoroughly distracted by that hair.
    “You must be Ms. Jones,” she says, jabbing a hand my way. I notice she has rings on every finger and one thumb.
    “Nice to meet you,” I say, smiling way more than I should.
    Chloe immediately starts going over the schedule, after which Stacey informs me that she will be happy to show me around the teachers’ lounge. When Chloe mentions that I taught at Bugtussle High for almost six years, poor Stacey turns bright red and my heart aches over her embarrassment.
    “What did you teach?” she asks, not looking up.
    “Art,” I say.
    “Oh, so you want your old job back?” she says, making a full recovery.
    Chloe gives me a not-so-subtle I-told-you-so look while I say, “Oh, no, I’m just trying to make a little money on the side while Iput in applications elsewhere. And I’m thinking about going to summer school and getting certified to teach psychology.” Chloe rolls her eyes.
    “I’m thinking about going to summer school, too,” Stacey Dewberry tells me, still smiling.
    “Ms. Dewberry is only one semester away from earning her bachelor’s degree,” Chloe gushes.
    “Oh really?” I say. “When did you start working on it?”
    “In 1993,” she replies. “But I dropped out in ’ninety-seven, halfway through my senior year.” She looks at the floor. “Bad experience with student teaching.”
    “Oh,” I say. I glance over at Chloe who is looking at Stacey Dewberry like she wants to give her a big, sappy hug. “Student teaching is tough,” I say, and Chloe nods.
    “Did you do it?” Stacey asks me.
    “No. I went for a bachelor’s in art history, then took a test to get my license,” I say. “Maybe you could do that instead of student teaching.” I look at Chloe, who