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31_days2012-05-13 02:12 am
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-05-13 02:12 am
[May 13th] [Perry Mason] Budgeting Malfunctions
Title: Budgeting Malfunctions
Day/Theme: May 13th - Inconvenient but final
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Lieutenant Anderson, Della Street
Rating: K/G
Part of the "Missing Scenes from The Broken Ties" series.
Takes place around chapter 5.
By Lucky_Ladybug
“Mr. Anderson, please. If just a little more could be spared from the school budget . . .”
Principal Andrew Anderson sighed, leaning back in his chair as he toyed with a pencil on his desk. “I’m sorry, Miss Street. There just isn’t any more to spare. You know we’ve had problems this last year, considering all the repairs the building needed to be safe again.”
“I know, but . . .” Della sighed too, straightening from where she had placed her hands on his desk. “If there was just some way to take the children on some small field trips, I think it would help immensely. They like to see things for themselves, not just read about them and try to solve problems on paper about them.”
“I agree,” Andy nodded. “I realize you’ve been having problems with some of your students, August Black in particular.”
“He’s a smart boy, Mr. Anderson,” Della said with a fond smile. “He just has so much trouble learning in a strict classroom environment.”
Andy set the pencil down. “I regret that my decision must be final.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. “Perhaps you could find some other, inexpensive way of helping August and others like him? Maybe even taking a walk around the school grounds would be of some help. At least you’d be outside.”
Della nodded. “I’ve thought of that. I’m just not sure there’s enough to see on the grounds alone.”
“Well, I’m sure that a creative mind like yours will think of a solution.” Andy was smiling a bit now. He had a great deal of respect for his teachers, especially Della. She was so genuinely concerned about each individual student and helping them achieve their highest potential. She was a natural when it came to teaching. And she was also so perfectly organized that sometimes he wished she was interested instead in accepting a secretarial position. He could certainly use the assistance.
“I certainly intend to do my best. Thank you for your time, Mr. Anderson.” Della started to turn to leave.
“Oh, Miss Street.” Andy rose, suddenly remembering something else. “Are you leaving now?”
Della glanced back in surprise. “Yes,” she said. “I was planning to start my Christmas shopping.”
Andy’s smile was awkward now. “I’m terribly sorry, but a staff meeting was called about five minutes before you walked in,” he said. “All of the teachers have to attend.”
Della turned fully back to face him. “Well, then I suppose my shopping will have to wait,” she said, managing a smile of her own.
“Hopefully it won’t run too late,” Andy said. “I was surprised myself. It’s rather inconvenient for me, too.”
“Then you didn’t call it?” Della said as Andy came over to open the door and step into the outer office.
“No, I didn’t,” replied Andy. “It was called by one of the other teachers.”
“Maybe I’m not the only one upset about the budget,” Della said. The smile still played on her lips.
“That’s very possible, Miss Street,” Andy acknowledged. “. . . We may as well walk to the board room together.”
“Yes,” Della nodded. “We may as well.”
Day/Theme: May 13th - Inconvenient but final
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Lieutenant Anderson, Della Street
Rating: K/G
Part of the "Missing Scenes from The Broken Ties" series.
Takes place around chapter 5.
“Mr. Anderson, please. If just a little more could be spared from the school budget . . .”
Principal Andrew Anderson sighed, leaning back in his chair as he toyed with a pencil on his desk. “I’m sorry, Miss Street. There just isn’t any more to spare. You know we’ve had problems this last year, considering all the repairs the building needed to be safe again.”
“I know, but . . .” Della sighed too, straightening from where she had placed her hands on his desk. “If there was just some way to take the children on some small field trips, I think it would help immensely. They like to see things for themselves, not just read about them and try to solve problems on paper about them.”
“I agree,” Andy nodded. “I realize you’ve been having problems with some of your students, August Black in particular.”
“He’s a smart boy, Mr. Anderson,” Della said with a fond smile. “He just has so much trouble learning in a strict classroom environment.”
Andy set the pencil down. “I regret that my decision must be final.” He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. “Perhaps you could find some other, inexpensive way of helping August and others like him? Maybe even taking a walk around the school grounds would be of some help. At least you’d be outside.”
Della nodded. “I’ve thought of that. I’m just not sure there’s enough to see on the grounds alone.”
“Well, I’m sure that a creative mind like yours will think of a solution.” Andy was smiling a bit now. He had a great deal of respect for his teachers, especially Della. She was so genuinely concerned about each individual student and helping them achieve their highest potential. She was a natural when it came to teaching. And she was also so perfectly organized that sometimes he wished she was interested instead in accepting a secretarial position. He could certainly use the assistance.
“I certainly intend to do my best. Thank you for your time, Mr. Anderson.” Della started to turn to leave.
“Oh, Miss Street.” Andy rose, suddenly remembering something else. “Are you leaving now?”
Della glanced back in surprise. “Yes,” she said. “I was planning to start my Christmas shopping.”
Andy’s smile was awkward now. “I’m terribly sorry, but a staff meeting was called about five minutes before you walked in,” he said. “All of the teachers have to attend.”
Della turned fully back to face him. “Well, then I suppose my shopping will have to wait,” she said, managing a smile of her own.
“Hopefully it won’t run too late,” Andy said. “I was surprised myself. It’s rather inconvenient for me, too.”
“Then you didn’t call it?” Della said as Andy came over to open the door and step into the outer office.
“No, I didn’t,” replied Andy. “It was called by one of the other teachers.”
“Maybe I’m not the only one upset about the budget,” Della said. The smile still played on her lips.
“That’s very possible, Miss Street,” Andy acknowledged. “. . . We may as well walk to the board room together.”
“Yes,” Della nodded. “We may as well.”