“We have a problem,” says Ms. Principal. “The contract is on hold for now. This email was sent to me on Friday after 5 and I don’t check school mail over the weekend. I will have to try to find out what this is about.”
Thoughts of confusion are tumbling through my mind. What do you mean, what’s going on here?
I am supposed to do professional development on writing with the staff today and model writing lessons the next two days. I had called the lit coach on Friday to confirm the arrangement for this week.
“No problem, we have approval, everything is a go. The teachers are excited about learning more about writing,” said the lit coach.
I had been in schools working the previous week. I got home Friday evening and had to leave again Sunday afternoon. The few hours in between were spent preparing lessons to model. I have traveled 225 miles to spend three days with this staff. This morning I had to get ready with no electricity due to severe storms during the night. Now I am being told we have to wait.
I leave the building wondering will I be back?
I guess the bright side is I have two days back in my week. These two days are an unexpected gift of time. Now I must use that time wisely.
elsie tries writing 
Well, you left me hanging, left me wanted to hear the rest of the story. I love your thoughtshots by the way. I am just shaking my head because we had so many PD days planned this year that went up in smoke due to weather. I could feel your frustration in your writing. I hope everything works out for the best. How sad for them if they don’t get the opportunity to study and write with you.
It’s really so good that you looked at the positive in this. What a lot of work you did to be ready, only to be canceled. I hope the sessions, when they come, are just wonderful!
Looks like you are making great use of your time!!
Oh, I hope you can go back. PD is so important. I just sliced about cancellations, but in a different text. Maybe it’ll make you laugh. Enjoy writing!
What’s a better use of time than writing? So far so good. 🙂
Happy writing,
Ruth
So, they’d asked you out there, then pulled the rug out from under you? That’s a bummer–esp. the “getting ready with no electricity” part. But the added bonus of two days in your week–what will you do with those. While the temptation is to use them wisely, I hope you also have a little time to waste–to watch a few clouds go by.