Visiting The Front Line [Dr I. Monroe]

[Seema Chaudhary]

[Backdated to Monday 15th November]

After lunch it was time for Seema to meet with some of the faculty members, to find out the ins and outs from the people who helped this particular show to run. Her lunchtime phone call to her home had been a little stressful thanks to having to once more explain to Hassan that no, the bird cage was not a climbing frame and no, he couldn't go in daddy's office while he was working. Sometimes it seemed that without her presence there the house went into complete chaos; which was probably not so far from the truth. Were it not for Tamali, her eldest son, Seema doubted she would ever be able to leave the house for more than a few hours at a time. Then again, Tamali was the one who seemed to be taking the most joy in teaching the cockatoo how to cuss. As if the bird yelling out 'asshole' while she had been on the phone to her boss was not bad enough...

As it was not on Seema's schedule to have to go outside again today she had left her jacket hanging in the meeting room. Wearing a simple but elegant black chikan sari over a crimson kurti, Seema's low heels clicked softly as she made her way down the corridors and towards the gymnasium, where she was scheduled to meet with one of the school's physical education teachers. This was the part of the job she enjoyed the most; getting into the backbone of a place and meeting the people who kept it ticking on a day to day basis. Sure the heads of the school and the administrative staff could give you all the numbers and statistics, but if you wanted the truth of the battlefield you went not to the airy officers in their safe little huts, but straight to the grunts on the front line.

Letting herself into the gymnasium, Seema took in the vast room and was just about to step further inside when a woman coming out of the supplies area caught her attention. “Oh, hello. My name is Seema Chaudhary; I am one of the inspectors visiting Hammel this week. I am looking for Doctor Monroe.”

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Isabela Monroe had noticed that things were positively bustling as of late. The inspection didn't seem to have people on their toes as much as she thought it might. People were just a little busier; wandering about to keep themselves and their departments in check to offer the best impression. And Isabela? Well, she was sure her department could stand on its own, even without the extra hassle and haste.

And she knew she had to meet with one of them today.

In the small time she had, Isabela was filtering through the latest reports back from Kocher, ensuring her structural changes tot he curriculum were as effective as she'd promised they'd be. The outcome was looking successful, which was just another shot to her modestly developed ego. She was doing good work, and she was proud of it. But checking her time, she realised then that she needed to get a move on. Dwelling in past promises would have to wait for another spare moment.

Stepping out, she was suddenly caught by a voice. Ah, so she was here already! The stark contrast was obvious, but remained unspoken by the other woman. The 5'2 Isabela wore her tight black jeans, black and white striped shirt and dark leather jacket, accompanied by some crucial black sneaker heels that have her an extra few inches. Her hair was crafted perfectly to ensure her hat would stay on without any difficulty. In short, she didn't look like a gym teacher. She knew that.

"You've found her. I apologise, I was just looking over some notes." She replied, offering the inspector a winning smile as she closed the distance between them and offered a hand. "Isabela Monroe, it's good to finally meet you."

[Seema Chaudhary]

Quite why Seema had been assigned to interview the physical education teacher she wasn't sure. Of all the departments in any school it was by far the one she had least actual understanding of, though in her years she had learned very quickly how such a department could (and should) be managed. With all her years of experience at doing this exact job her posting here did feel a little condescending; physical education was important to the health and welfare of the children, of course it was, but it was hardly in the same category as English or the sciences.

Still, nothing would prevent her from doing her job to the best of her ability, and if that meant assessing soccer balls and running tracks then so be it. It was still a front-line grunt, and there could still be much of value to be learned here.

When the other woman appeared Seema was slightly taken aback for a moment, but her calm outer demeanour did not slip as she took the proffered hand with a polite smile. “There is no need to apologise, Doctor Monroe. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

First impressions were... mixed, to say the least. The woman was clearly polite and friendly enough, but her appearance was hardly professional and the inspector wondered how on earth anyone could ever perform any real physical activity while wearing such very inappropriate seeming clothing. “How long have you been teaching at The Hammel Institute, Doctor Monroe? May I call you Isabela?”

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Isabela wore her very best smile as she crossed the distance between them, taking the hand offered to her and offering a light, purposeful shake. It wasn't her first government inspection experience, but it was a first here at Hammel. She simply replied to the response with a small, understanding nod; glad that she hadn't held the woman up for all that long.

"Early August, actually. So I'm relatively new. Truthfully, I'm not sure what kind of interview I can provide, but I'll provide whatever you need to the best of my ability." She replied, aware that her answer might have run on a little too long, given the simplicity of the question asked. "Before here I spend six months at Kocher haute école pour les surdoués, organising their curriculum and implementing my dissertation practice as a type of trial run."

She paused, glancing at the other woman. How much did she know about what Isabela had done? Was it all new information? If so, she really needed to stop and elaborate.