Morning teacher meetings were always the worst. They called everyone into a small classroom and expected all the teachers to care as the principal either praised or reprimanded them. John leaned his body against the wall in the back of the classroom. He never had to listen. Principal Matthews always just droned on and addressed the other teachers. John just had to be present.
Other teachers drifted in. Most of the male teachers sat at the back. They were able to socialize with each other and just relax. They were outnumbered by the women. Each woman easily had three or four friends while altogether the men we less than two of their groups. Socializing with the women wasn't a problem but there was a certain kinship that the men held with each other to being a male teacher.
Principal Mathews stood at the front and looked over everyone. He was tall with broad shoulders but had clearly given up trying to keep the strong athletic frame from his youth. His white hair had all but fallen off his head or migrated to other parts of his body. He always wore a suit while in school, oftentimes looking almost crammed into it. Principal Matthews cleared his throat getting everyone's attention. He started droning on about whatever the school board was thinking.
John's attention returned to his computer. I wonder what I could change...