Trouble at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn Page A

like the sound of that either,’ grumbled the caretaker.
    ‘I suppose when the governors consider who to appoint they’ll look at the track records of you and the caretaker at Urebank.’
    ‘Meaning what?’
    ‘Meaning they’ll consider who does the better job.’ Then she added impishly, ‘I’m sure you have no worries on that account, but if I were you I’d keep your bad back to yourself. They might not think you are up to the job.’
    ‘Not up to the job!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who says I’m not up to the job?’
    ‘Nobody here,’ said the school secretary, ‘but when it comes to appointments you know what school governors can be like.’
    ‘I shall have to have a word with Mrs Devine,’ said Mr Gribbon, looking distinctly uneasy.
    ‘I think that’s a good idea,’ agreed the secretary. ‘Now I must make tracks. I have a Women’s Institute meeting this evening. Mr Lilywhite is talking about “The Amusing Side of Waste Management” and I’m in the chair.’
    Chantelle appeared at the door of the school office.
    ‘Mr Gribbon,’ she said, ‘can you come? One of the infants has been sick right down the corridor on her way home and the tap won’t turn off in the girls’ toilets and the handle’s come loose on the outside door and—’
    ‘Don’t bring me no more bad news,’ he told the girl loudly before stomping past her on his way to see the head teacher.
    The girl rolled her eyes and shrugged. ‘What’s got into him?’ she asked. ‘He’s like a bear with a sore bum, as my nan would say.’
    Mrs Scrimshaw could not contain a smile.
     
    ‘Might I have a word, Mrs Devine?’ Mr Gribbon was waiting for the head teacher outside her classroom the following morning, jangling his keys and looking uneasy.
    ‘Of course,’ Elisabeth replied. ‘I was meaning to have a word with you anyway.’
    ‘You were?’ He looked worried.
    ‘Yes, but you go first. What is it that you wished to see me about?’
    ‘It’s just that I’m a bit concerned about my position, Mrs Devine,’ said the caretaker.
    ‘Your position?’ she repeated.
    ‘With this amalgamation. Will it mean that I might lose my job?’
    ‘No, I think your position is pretty secure,’ Elisabeth reassured him. ‘Schools need to be cleaned and cared for, and good caretakers are hard to come by. I am sure you have nothing to worry about.’
    ‘So I won’t be made redundant, then?’ he asked.
    ‘No, I can allay any fears you have in that direction.’
    ‘You can what?’ he asked.
    ‘Assure you that it is not likely to happen.’
    ‘And I won’t be one of these pyrotechnics?’
    ‘Pyrotechnics?’
    ‘Them that travel between the schools.’
    ‘Ah, peripatetic. No, I can’t see that happening either.’
    ‘It’s just that Mrs Scrimshaw seems to think that they might appoint some site manager what looks after both schools and that I might have to travel.’
    ‘Mrs Scrimshaw only knows as much as anyone else, and we are all in the dark as to what may or may not happen, Mr Gribbon, but I am sure things will remain pretty much the same as far as you are concerned.’
    The caretaker looked mollified. ‘Well, that’s good to hear,’ he said, raising a smile.
    ‘I was meaning to speak to you about the part-time cleaner we have been trying to employ here,’ Elisabeth told him.
    ‘I suppose they’ve put the kibosh on that now,’ observed the caretaker. ‘Mrs Scrimshaw said that they’ll not likely be employing new staff until this amalgamation takes place.’
    ‘Mrs Scrimshaw seems to be privy to a great deal about the proposed amalgamation,’ said Elisabeth good-humouredly. ‘In actual fact they have agreed at County Hall at long last for a part-time cleaner to start here. Just two mornings a week. She will be on a temporary contract for the time being, but hopefully, if she proves satisfactory, she can be made permanent when they have sorted out the staffing for the amalgamated schools.’
    ‘Oh, well, that’s good