This choice: Penny brings even more junk food than requested – a perfect candidate • Go Back... “Go on, what are you waiting for?”
The girl scurried away with remarkable speed, prompted by the Headmistress' words, and she was back incredibly fast too, bringing a not just the bars but a whole armful of treats – there was everything from chocolates to chips, wasn't that a packet of minidonuts? Shannon gaped. “Did you bring all that for yourself?”
“Oh no, no.” Penny unloaded the calorific hoard on the desk. “That's all for you, Ma'am. I was thinking you might still be hungry after eating just two bars. And here's your bracelet.”
“Oh, I see. That is farsighted of you. Thank you.” As she greedily unwrapped her first Yeng bar, Shannon felt her initial wary attitude to Penny changing. She detested brown-nosing like anyone else but there was nothing wrong in proper deference. Besides, the girl was right – she might still be peckish afterwards. And such a clever judge of character certainly deserved to be rewarded. “Here, take these and enjoy,” she passed the minidonuts to her. Truth be told, there were much better – and bigger – ones just being made in Buttercombe kitchens so Shannon didn't regret giving them away… much.
“Umm, thanks but I shouldn't…” Penny's eyes involuntarily slid over the pillowy stomach avalanche settled on the desk opposite her, she gulped but didn't dare refuse. Unwrapping the packet, she took her first bite. “Wow, thefe awe good!” she gushed with her mouth full.
Shannon allowed herself a small smile for her victory. Sure, they couldn't quite compare with Buttercombe ones but Yeng Mini-Donuts were still a treat. Then she recalled she owed the girl something and reached for Fukuda's list. “This is your complete job description.”
“…nk you.” Penny quickly crammed the rest of her donut into her mouth, tried to lick her sticky fingers clean and took the paper. Browsing the text, she quickly got to the perks and benefits of her job. “Uh, may I ask you… ?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Free room and board at the Academy premises, work attire tailored to fit free of charge – is that for real?”
“Yes, of course.” Shannon could not understand the girl's surprise; to her it seemed utterly normal that the Academy provided everything she ever needed.
“Uh, in that case, is the position still open?”
“Yes.” The Headmistress squirmed in her throne, looking for a more comfortable position.
“And… how many candidates are there?”
“Several.” As much as Shannon enjoyed stringing her along, it was keeping her from more important things, namely eating. She cut it short. “However none of them have yet shown up so if you are ready to start right away, you're hired.”
“Oh, I am, I am more than ready. Thank you for this opportunity, thank you, Ma'am!” Penny jumped up, leaned forward as if trying to hug the behemoth in front of her, then she settled for a vigorous shake of Shannon Polluck's bloated hand.
“No need to thank me, I expect you to live up to your today's promise. So… personal agenda falls into the purview of the Vice-Principal. Fukuda's in her office right now, go see her, sign her papers and she'll tell you the rest. And you may take the minidonuts with you.”
“Thank you.”
***
The interview with the Vice-Principal went very differently. They started off on the wrong foot as Penny entered her office munching on a minidonut and holding the open packet. Dr. Hinamizawa, a cool, aloof middle-aged Japanese, raised her eyebrows at the sight, Penny blushed and it went downhill from there.
Penny had to remind herself she wasn't to be working for this iron b*tch but for the Headmistress. Fukuda spent over a dozen minutes grilling her about every minor detail of her (a little doctored) CV, thoroughly interrogating her before she seemed satisfied that the new assistant would acquit herself well. Eventually she asked: “Did the Headmistress give you the list of your duties?”
“Uh, she gave me this,” Penny showed her the paper, a little greasy from the donuts.
“Ah, good, I was worried she may have forgotten. Well, you can keep it,” Fukuda frowned at the smears. “You may have noticed, your duties can be summed up as taking care of our esteemed Headmistress. As you have seen her mobility is a little impaired so essentially you shall be her hands and feet. You'll assist her in whatever way she deems necessary.”
“Yes, Ma'am.”
“Good. Well, here's your contract, a non-disclosure agreement, a tenancy agreement, a health waiver, and some more documents for you to sign.”
At first Penny tried to read it, or at least scan the lines, but feeling Fukuda's tense look she soon gave up on the dozens of pages. The legalese was mostly beyond her grasp anyway. She signed it all, passing one copy of each to the Vice-Principal.
Suddenly all tension was gone and Fukuda smiled. “Good. Just so you know, your phone number is now in the school database and you might expect some other members of the staff to contact you momentarily. You are also slated to receive a Yeng smartphone in a couple days with upgraded safety features as a replacement for your current phone. And the most important thing…”
The Vice-Principal unlocked a safe partly hidden behind a row of monitors, and took out a strangely looking faux-jade bracelet, pressing its surface onto a chip reader. “This device is now coded to your person, please take it everywhere with you and do not let anyone else use it. Among other things it serves as a key to your accommodation. Given your position, you will be staying next door to the Headmistress and while you certainly aren't required to assist her outside your working hours, I would appreciate if you would go out of your way and help her sometimes.”
Penny nodded. "Sure."
“The bracelet also opens your office floor, our spa and many other rooms and corridors. You have Group D access rights which means you can go to most parts of the school – and as part of your duties you certainly will.” The Vice-Principal smiled as if making a joke. “Moreover, the chip lets you eat in the cafeteria and use all the vending machines for free. So don't lose it.”
“No, Ma'am.” Penny slid it on her wrist. It was far too big and dangled loose. Fukuda's advice made perfect sense.
“Well, I am glad to welcome you at our fine Academy. I hope I'll see you grow here and find your place in our team.”
“Thank you, Ma'am.” They shook hands again and Penny dashed out.
***
When she left the Vice-Principal's office, Penny felt an immense weight fall off her shoulders. She was worried nobody would ever employ her again after that little misunderstanding at her last job. And yet here she was, a new personal assistant to the Headmistress of the most prestigious girl's academy on the East Coast!
True, it seemed the real power here rested in the hands of that formidable Japanese woman but if she played her cards right, Penny would surely be able to convince Fukuda she was a valuable team player. And as for the Headmistress, a steady stream of snacks might be enough to keep on her good side. And then… who knows? Little Penny Simon from the wrong side of the tracks might make it big here.
At that moment her cellphone beeped. What was her first duty going to be?
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