September 6th, 2017

The Donald Campus

 

It is an hour past midday. The children have finished their lunch and are back inside their classes. Janet Winnemucca Williams makes her way through the empty halls. Her destination lies across the campus. As she walks, she hears the teaching of over 100 students, from K to 12, being guided by over a dozen teachers. How could she not love the sound of education? She might be the Principal of this unorthodox institution but she was a teacher at heart first.

 

Janet is now outdoors in the dry and sunny McDermitt climate. This is the Donald Campus, the McDermitt township’s K-12 combined school. While being of Paiute descent does offer her some protection, Janet performs a brisk walk to get out of the sun sooner. Janet’s target is the adjoined Mary Donald Orphanage, which is also owned by the school’s founder. 

 

As Janet walks, she remembers one of her favorite stories. Apparently, many decades back, before this campus was built, a woman by the name of Mary Donald had served as both the township’s school Principal and Doctor. After Mary’s tragic passing, her son, the township’s major landowner, built the school and orphanage in her honor. A living legacy. The orphanage had saved Janet. Specifically, something else run by the man who owns the orphanage did.

 

Janet arrives at the Mary Donald Orphanage building. Past the spacious 5 floored orphanage building is a small house surrounded by a picket fence. The Dojo. But, the people she came looking for won’t be in that house without supervision so Janet enters the building after she uses her key on the door. Even though she is a married woman with her own home now, this place is still home and she always feels welcome. Inside the lobby, she finds balloons with a huge sign.

 

“Happy Retirement, Chief.” Janet says softly, reading the sign.

 

“Who’s there?” A voice shouts from upstairs.

 

“Principal Williams.” Janet says, “Come here, Alfred.”

 

The building is devoid of adult supervision because the orphanage staff are also school teachers, 2 minutes away. This works out fine usually as all of the orphans are at school in the day. If a child got sick, a staff member would stay while Janet would substitute teach. This intended unorthodox approach has been successful in fostering a strong and fluid community.

 

“I swear we have a free period.” Alfred shouts.

 

“That’s why I came here.” Janet says, “I have a message.”

 

Footsteps pitter-patter. Janet stands in waiting, her mind going over the phone call that interrupted her lunch. It had been to the special cell phone left behind by Doctor Kabeer Wong, her mentor and the former Principal. Using the special phone line could only mean that the team was away on a mission. He had told her that the mission was taking a little longer and asked that she tell the kids. Missions used to be her life, until just over a decade ago.

 

“Is it from the Chief and the team?” Alfred asks as he appears.

 

A boy about 16. A white tall, all American teen. He was trained while he was 11 after he pre qualified then passed the rigorous tests set by Fire himself. After a year of training, Alfred was called upon for various missions. This is his final year in the TeeNS program. He is ending it as team leader of squad ABC. Alfred was his code name until his service was done.

 

“Where are the others?” Janet asks.

 

“Ben is sleeping off lunch.” Alfred says, “And Charlotte is practicing her music.”

 

Also not their real names. Six code names, two squads - ABC and 123. None younger than 12 nor older than 17. At the end of training, they were called Tees. Their code names were blank identities designed to accomplish TeeNS only goal, infiltration. Blending in, extracting information, then getting out for the real professionals to handle the rest. Team Six.

 

“I see.” Janet says, “Dr. Wong called. They are still busy and things are taking a little longer.”

 

“Oh man!” Alfred says, “We spent all night setting up the surprise.”

 

‘They are spies, they don’t get surprised. I tried.’ Janet thinks to herself and wants to say.

 

24 children between 7 and 18 call this orphanage their home. Janet had been one too once upon a time. She was more actually. She was a Tee. The first Tee. She always tried to prank Team Six but alas, they are the world’s best spies. While she never got adopted, she at least got her life together on a positive track especially with Dr. Wong’s help, after he became her mentor.

 

“I am sure the delay will be short.” Janet says in comfort.

 

“Yeah yeah.” Alfred says.

 

“In the meantime, study something.” Janet says, “Your grades are slipping.”

 

“You know, missions, etc.” Alfred tries to excuse himself.

 

“Or... you still think exciting careers do not require you to be book smart.” Janet says.

 

“It’s not like that.” Alfred says, “School is just too boring.”

 

“You are worried about the future.” Janet says, “And that is okay. What is not acceptable is wasting good opportunities, Alfred.”

 

“But what I do matters now, can’t I just keep doing it?” Alfred asks.

 

“You were told the rules when you signed up.” Janet says, “The reason you are made to do school is because the program is temporary. You grow out of it but its lessons will stay with you.”

 

“Please.” Alfred says, putting his hands together in a pleading gesture, “No more lectures.”

 

“If your grades go any lower, I will intervene.” Janet says, staring down Alfred, “Understood?”

 

Alfred gulps in panic. He had briefly forgotten how scary the Principal could be especially when she smelled reckless behavior. The first rule of a Tee, survive. Alfred’s survival training kicks in.

 

“Yes, Ma’am.” Alfred says, quickly saluting.

 

“The point of a free period is to catch up on your academic work.” Janet says, “Get moving.”

 

“Yes, Ma’am.” Alfred says, still saluting.

 

“At ease.” Janet says as she turns to leave, “And do tell the others about the delay.”

 

“Will do, Principal Williams.” Alfred says after her.

 

Janet is back in the afternoon sun. She understands Alfred. Heck, she felt that very same way many years back. But, she was ultimately grateful for having been figuratively pushed out of the nest and onto a stable future. She still has her skills from TeeNS and has maintained correspondences with others who came after her through the program she pioneered. Few went into the military while others chose her version of life. A simple life in the tiny township they grew up in. The best part, she lives fulfilled with a sense of belonging as a teacher. A guide for others.