219. Larson at his school
Larson entered the building. He walked up the stairs to the offices and the teacher’s lounge. A couple of female teachers stood in the corridor talking to each other.
- Good morning, said Larson.
The two teachers stared at him.
- Good morning! said Larson again.
The women did not reply.
What is wrong with people in this place? wondered Larson. They stare as if they have seen something spooky. Do I have leprosy? Is my nose about to fall of? Why can’t they behave normally?
Larson met other teachers on his way to the headmaster’s office, and none of them returned his greeting. Some looked away to avoid eye contact as he went past them.
“Eva Holm, Headmaster” said a sign on a door. Larson knocked and waited.
Eva Holm opened.
- Good morning Larson, said Holm.
- Good morning boss. We should issue a warning to Goran. He is getting out of hand.
- Goran Melstad? What did he do now?
- He insulted me in the school yard in front of other students. He is going too far. He is bad for discipline.
- What did he say?
- Something about directing me to the kindergarten. Not funny at all.
- I see, said Holm. - Come in please.
Larson saw two other people sit in the principal’s office. He knew them both. It was Hakan Moller, a local politician who was chairman of the school board. And it was Ulla Steen, his union representative.
- What is this? asked Larson. - I didn’t know I was going to meet a committee.
- I took the liberty of asking Moller and Steen to attend, said the headmaster. - It is useful to have everyone here.
Larson shook hands with the two other guests and sat down.
- I guess I should say “welcome back”, said Holm.
- Thank you, said Larson.
- You don’t know what it has been like here, said chairman Moller. He held up an envelope.
- This is a petition from concerned parents. It has 719 signatures.
- What do they want? asked Larson.
- What do you think they want? asked Moller. - They want you removed. They don’t want you to teach their children.
- Sorry about that, said Holm. - I have known you for a long time and I have assured everyone that you are not a dangerous person. But with the media impact nobody wanted to listen to me.
- This is crazy, said Larson. - I am the victim of newspaper smear. I have done nothing.
- Nothing? asked Ulla Steen, the woman from the Teacher’s Union.
- Nothing illegal and nothing immoral.
- Larson, as you might be aware the union has a project to help street children in Nicaragua. We are strongly against exploiting women and children in 3rd world countries. There is no excuse for that kind of abuse. I must…
Larson interrupted her.
- What has any of this to do with me?
- Larson, I am here to represent your interests. But I must make clear the union’s policy on 3rd world tourism and exploitation.
- Don’t give me that speech. You say you are here to represent me?
- Of course.
- I don’t want any backstabbing and politically correct nonsense from my union. Is this what I get for being a member all my life? I don’t need you. Goodbye.
- But Larson, I am here to help you!
- You are not helping. Goodbye!
Ulla Steen looked at the others as if to seek support. But they didn’t say anything. A shaken Ulla Steen left the room.
- Well, said chairman Moller. - That leaves the three of us.
- We are seeking a solution, said Holm.
- A solution? asked Larson. - I have done nothing wrong. I am a teacher. I work here. Maybe you guys have a problem but I don’t.
- Please, said Holm. - You must realise that your situation is impossible. You can’t continue teaching.
Moller nodded.
- I haven’t done anything wrong, said Larson stubbornly.
- What did you do in Thailand? asked Moller.
- Nothing illegal and nothing that is any of your business.
- Are you a homosexual?
- You have no right to ask such questions.
- I have nothing against gay people, said Moller. - But do you live with someone? It is easier to present a gay teacher to the public if he lives in a stable relationship.
- I live by myself, said Larson.
- The problem isn’t what you have done or not done in Thailand, said Holm. - But a teacher is dependent on trust. The community doesn’t trust you anymore.
- It will die down after a while, said Larson.
- I don’t think so, said Moller. - We need to do something. You have become a liability for the school.
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