Vesna McMaster – Interesting

‘I am fucking interesting!’ she yelled.

‘I meant, perhaps you could adjust the topic of conversation to the audience.’

‘It’s their business if they can’t keep up. Lazy fuckers.’

‘Yes but they’re only in Year 3.’

‘No time like the present to get educated. Best thing for them.’

‘Anyway, the course co-ordinator suggested you might like to take a refresher course on child-centred learning techniques.’

‘A what?’

‘You know, just to make sure it’s uppermost in your communication strategy.’

‘My communication strategy is for me to teach and them to learn. We’re not negotiating here.’

‘Hm.’

‘What.’ … ‘WHAT? Spit it out.’

He backs away a little, as if considering the possibility of spitting out more teeth than words if the next exchange doesn’t go to plan.

‘Let’s revisit that later.’

‘Hmph. Fucking maggots.’ She spies a stray speck of dirt on her shoulder and flicks it off decisively.

‘Have you ever thought your talents might be undervalued?’

‘No shit.’

‘Maybe a different audience?’

‘Yeah, chance would be a fine thing.’

‘You know, there was an opening I saw recently, and you popped to mind…’

‘Oh?’

‘Yes…’ he opens several desk drawers in rapid succession, rifling through the papers inside with clammy hands. ‘Ah! Here we are. I took a clipping.’ He hands over a scrap of paper. She takes it eagerly, and accords it a gimlet glance. Thunderclouds race across her face.

‘Derek!’

‘…Yes?’

‘This is for a maximum security prison warden!’

‘Well…It should be an interesting position, shouldn’t it?