Chapter Thirty-Five: Lunch Meeting:

I sat across from Mandy in a small diner called Moe’s. She raised an eyebrow at me.

“So what you do have?” she asked.

“Wrongful termination,” I said. “I used to work at Alexandria C. Cox Middle School.” She gave me a puzzled look.

“You mean the school that embroiled in that cheating scandal and that sex scandal?” Mandy asked. I nervously laughed. She’s heard of it too? Of course she did. Who hadn’t in this damned town?

“Yes,” I said.

“What exactly happened?” she asked. I took a breath and told her everything that Kate told me.

“Wow,” Mandy said.

“Do I have a case?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Can you take me on?” I asked. Mandy took a sip of her Coke.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you there,” she said. I was about to speak when she put up her hand.

“But,” she said. “I can recommend you talk to a colleague of mine.” A waitress walked up to our table.

“Are you ready to order?” she asked.

“I am,” Mandy said as she picked up her menu.

“I will have the fired cod with fries,” she said. The waitress wrote down her order.

“Okay. And what would you like sir?” she asked.

“Turkey burger with fries and mayo,” I said. The waitress wrote down my order.

“Okay, coming up!” she said. I watched the eighteen-year-old waitress turn and walk away. Mandy reached into her wallet and pulled out a business card.

“Give this man a call,” she said. “He’s a colleague of mine back in Boston.” She handed me the card. I picked it up and looked at it.

“Simon Walker?” I asked. I looked up at her.

“He’s really good,” Mandy said. “We’ve known each other for twelve years. I’d want him to represent my case.”

“Thank you,” I said, shoving the card into my pocket. “I’ll call him when I get him.”

“How are you holding up through all of this?” she asked.

“Oh. It comes and it goes,” I said. “As you can see I volunteer at the library. And I am staying at home for the time being.”

“I see,” Mandy said.

“And you?” I asked.

“Good. I’m currently living with my mom in Boston,” she said. “She’s trying to find me a husband.” I wrinkled my nose.

“You getting married?” I asked. “When would you have time for a husband?”

“Don’t remind me,” she said, frowning. Mandy sighed and rubbed her forehead. I remembered that she came from a traditional Asian family. When I met her mom, she was itching to be a grandmother.

“I don’t know how much more I can take,” Mandy complained. “She keeps asking when I’m going to get married and have kids. I think I’m going to snap.”

“Wow,” was all I could say. Her problems were about on the same page as me.

“To be honest with you, I don’t really know what to do with myself,” I said. “I still need a job and a place to live. I just don’t know what to do.”

“Do you want to go back to teaching?” Mandy asked.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I can’t do anything else.” The waitress came back with our food.

“Here you go,” she said. “Enjoy.” I nodded and picked up a fry.

“What about working at another school?” Mandy asked. I paused with the fry halfway to my mouth.

“You know what? I should do that,” I said. “I have the experience and good reputation for that.” I smiled as ate that fry.

“Thanks, Mandy,” I said. “I really needed this.”

“You’re welcome, I guess,” she said. I shoved another fry into my mouth. I could finally get back on track with my life. But first, I had to clean up a little mess that could be unfolding with Spoony if I wasn’t careful.