The Substitute, the Interview, and the Pile of Cash

The Substitute

The opportunity was a big round ball and it took a while for me to see it. The big round ball being the pregnant protrusions of a former classmate and current first year teacher preparing for maternity leave. Every morning I would see her. Then it occurred to me. My student teaching run ends April 24th and she is planing on her last day as being May 1st. I approached her about it and she was delighted as to the solution. She was actually relieved. I then talked to the principal, giving me a chance to plug myself for more permanent employment. Later that day I was informed that the principal may "drop in" to observe me teaching. The biggest hurdles for me in getting a teaching job (as far as I know) include 1) openings and 2) who else might be in line ahead of me. I can only proceed as if both hurdles will be successfully leapt, but there are no guarantees. So, yet another application - this time a substitute teaching license, another fee, and on Monday @11:30 I have an interview with the agency that handles substitute teaching placements, which fortunately for me, should simply be a formality. The good things about this gig: keeps me at the school that I have been targeting for employment, keeps me in an English department, pays me, and allows me to have a week off (except for JCP) between the end of student teaching and the beginning of substitute teaching. Unlike other substitute teaching gigs, I will have a chance to get to know her classes and schedule long before I take over. I believe I will be teaching novels (one each) to freshmen and sophomores. It will be interesting to take a class through to the end of the school year and teaching a novel is my favorite thing to do as far as teaching goes.

The Interview

From a teacher job fair conversation about a month ago - I have an interview this Wednesday at 3:30. At the fair I talked to the principal, the interview will be with the department (English) chair. It is just over the border in Illinois and will be my first official interview in my quest to land a teaching job. I really do not know what to expect as I really do not know anything about this particular school district. I am curious to test out my resume, references, and other "tools" of the trade. Given today's economy, I have to tackle almost any lead.

The Pile of Cash

So money has been tight. I know I am not the only one. It was especially and dangerously tight Jan. and Feb. of this year. We got through March and it is pretty much a race to get through April, and we are not quite half-way through yet. So, all things considered, May looks to be a good month on account of substitute teaching, especially the last fifteen days of the gig- believe me, that is relatively speaking. It saddens me, deeply, money limits and concerns. Money limits and concerns - that is all it ever does. So, I'll be substitute teaching and working at JCP. BUT - THAT IS NOT ALL.

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An old, Jewish woman gave me $40. A twenty, a ten, and two fives. I held the cash close to my heart as I went downstairs. The girls (and even the dog) reflected my excitement. I threw the cash down on the desk and oh how we danced for joy. We poked and prodded the cash. Counted it and sorted it. Wondered at its potential. We would take bits of it and spend it and for a while it seemed as if the pile was growing. A single twenty converted nicely to a ten and four ones after a trip to the coffee shop. Wow! - what miracles of commerce had commenced upon our fortunate home. But soon the pile did begin to dwindle. Like a memory. Should we take a picture? Invest? No...we let it go. But how did we manage this cash and how could it happen again?

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Isn't it a pity. The woman, in her highest of hopes, had talked to me last fall about mowing her grass. I could not do it then - nothing more was said. Suddenly, she leaves for Passover, but leaves me an envelope of money and a phone message. So, I guess I am mowing her grass without saying I would, because well, the pile of cash is gone. No matzo for me. So, the only pilgrimage I'll be making is to her yard to mow her lawn on Easter Sunday. She'll be traveling back from Passover while I am mowing, full of chocolate.

For forty bucks a week, I am to mow her yard. You see, she likes my environmentally friendly lawn mower and me.

I almost cannot believe that I am working part-time at JCP and mowing grass.

Happy Easter - May All Your Large Stones Be Moved Aside