Three Cornered Fight – Jenny 12

[For back story go here: Story so far at 12 June 2020 and more recent Jenny episodes]

“How are you finding it, now you’re back?” asked Jason, Jenny’s line manager – and Izzy's too.

“Yeah, it’s… OK. Certainly different, don’t you think?”

“Yes, yes it is. But nevertheless we are getting things done, aren’t we?”

“Guess so," Jenny smiled back at him as he sat on the other side of her office, fidgeting with the mask which rested below his mouth. 

“Do you, er, mind if I?”

“No, not at all,” said Jenny and Jason flicked the mask back up into place. He was probably smiling underneath it now, but of course Jenny couldn’t see that.

——

“Do sit down,” said Haversham as Izzy entered her office. The chair was, understandably, somewhat further away that it had been when she’d visited the headmistress' office before. Conviviality and friendly proximity was now outdated.

“Now,” said Haversham, “are you all well in your home?”

“Yes,” said Izzy. “I was a little, well, I thought I had – something – but I don’t think I did and in any case, no one else did do so I doubt if I did have.”

“Good. Great. Lovely,” said Haversham, vaguely. “So what can I do to get Helen back into our classrooms?”

——

“Why do you think Izzy isn’t coming in?” asked Jason. “Is she planning to at all? I mean, you’re able to tell her that we’re all… doing alright, right?”

“Yes – we have our children who we've been looking after."

"Yes, of course, my kids have been around too. Absolute pain, to be honest, but at least my other half can look after the ones who can't go to school. I thought yours were of the age to..."

"One of them can go back at the moment. The other one... Well, he looks after himself anyway."

"Right, so would you say childcare is an issue? Because I'm sure the company could help you or suggest something if..."

Jenny smiled her straight mouthed smile that wasn't one.

——

"I can understand anxiety and hesitancy, but let's not forget that this school has plenty of room, plenty of room," Haversham was saying. "We have sorted the flow of students around the premises and those who do not follow the strict flow diagrams issued on arrival face severe disciplinary measures."

"...measures?"

"In the most understanding, supportive and empathetic way of course."

——

"We like to think of ourselves as an empathetic employer," said Jason. "At least I know I like to think of us in that way, don't you? And, if not, we're always interested in hearing why people might not think we are..."

"...are?"

"Empathetic."

Jenny sighed. She wasn't certain she was following all this. Aside from the need to have Izzy turn up for work.

"Can she not work from home?" she asked hopefully.

Jason smiled a straight mouthed smile that wasn't one.

——

"Can she not work from home?" asked Izzy, hopefully.

Haversham smiled a straight mouthed smile that wasn't one.

Izzy was sick of seeing these kind of smiles, wondered briefly what would happen if she slapped Haversham and then moved on and instead grimaced painfully back at the headteacher, whilst swearing under her breath.

——

"We've been looking into that," said Jason, "and we've been doing it in an entirely empathetic way, but at the end of the day the paperwork and the project managers are all here. It's extra effort to get material out to you guys and get it back in and really there's no reason to do that anymore anyway."

"We were doing the work OK from home though, right?"

"That was then," said Jason. "Need to up our game, otherwise we'll miss the 'window of opportunity.'" He indicated the window by waving his fingers in the air.

——

"I don't know if you realise but she's submitted practically no work we’ve set for her.”

Izzy grimaced and swore under her breath again.

——

“So,” said Jenny in the kitchen at home. “That’s how it is.”

“And we’ve done everything we can to make sure it’s going to be safe,” said Izzy, at her side.

“And we need it to happen because otherwise we’re going to start getting into difficulties.”

“All sorts of difficulties.”

“Aside from the difficulties you already know of which haven’t got anything to do with these… new difficulties.”

“But we’re working on those difficulties,” said Izzy. “Your mum and me, you know? We’re not just…  just not trying to work it out. Between us.”

“So we need everyone to do what they can to help and get us back towards normal. Izzy's going to work and you're going to school."

“And it’s just for two weeks,” added Izzy, making this the clincher.

Helen crossed her arms and said one word.