38. Unfortunate Incident

Dear Miss Barrett,

Thank you for everything …..

It’s not your fault ….. I wish

you all the happiness and

joy you der deserve …..

Some day they will

all know ….. Be well

and take care of yourself …..

I hope I didn’t inconveniance

You.

Alice Blake

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: H. Pastorfield, Room 307

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Dear Sylvia,

Can you spare some chalk?

What's all the commotion outside?

Henrietta

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INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: Mary Lewis, Main Office

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Sylvia— How awful! How perfectly awful! We've never had anything like this since I've been here. Where is Paul? His time card is punched in, but no one can find him. How awful that it happened in his room!

Mary

(The office is Bedlam. Finch is in hysterics—never saw her like this before!)

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: Marcus Manheim, Room 306

TO: Sylvia Barrett, Room 304

Dear Miss Barrett,

They need me as a witness, although I didn't really see it—I was just passing by 309. If you're not teaching, can you cover my class for a few minutes while I sign the papers and forms? Thank you.

S. Manheim

* * *

FROM: James J. McHabe, Adm. Asst.

TO: all teachers

ALL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WILL PLEASE REMAIN IN THEIR ROOMS, DISREGARDING THE BELLS, UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES.

JJ McH

* * *

Dear Miss Barrett,

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Please send down Health Card for Alice Blake—Urgent!

Do you have any blank Accident Reports? I'm all out—Urgent!

Do you know where Mr. Barringer is?—Urgent!

Frances Egan

School Nurse

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: 508

TO: 304

Dear Syl—

It's ghastly, I know, but try to keep the kids busy.

Can you reach Paul? It seems she left a letter for him on his desk.

Bea

* * *

FROM: James J. McHabe, Adm. Asst.

TO: all teachers

AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO DISCUSS IT WITH ANY POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BUILDING OR ANY OUTSIDERS. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF OUR SCHOOL TO BE DISTORTED UNDER STRESS.

JJ McH

* * *

Dear Miss Barrett,

Please initial the entry: "Jumped or fell" over the red line on the enclosed PRC for Blake, Alice.

You will note that her CC's for the last 4 terms indicate excellent adjustment:

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Term 1: Nice & helpful

" 2: Leadership potential

" 3: Reliable—blackboard monitor

" 4: Lovely girl—polite

It's most atypical for a girl with her stable PPP to have done what she did, but there are factors beyond our control.

Ella Friedenberg

Guidance Counselor

* * *

Dear Miss Barrett,

Please fill out the enclosed Emergency Form:

CHECK ONE: Parent or Guardian

Reached

Not Reached

By Telephone

By Telegram

TO: Parent or Guardian of _____________

We Regret to Inform You That Your

Son ____________________________

Daughter _______________________

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: 508

TO: 304

Dear Syl‑‑

Anything I can do?

Bea

* * *

FROM: James J. McHabe, Adm. Asst.

TO: all teachers

YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO OBSTRUCT ANY INFORMATION THE POLICE WISH TO HAVE, PRO-

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VIDED YOU WERE A DIRECT WITNESS TO THE OCCURRENCE, IN WHICH CASE YOU ARE TO REPORT TO THE OFFICE AT ONCE.

JJ McH

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: H. Pastorfield, Room 307

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Dear Sylvia,

What's the latest? Did Paul show up yet? I understand she left him a love letter! That's what happens when sex drives are repressed. This whole business should be aired out in the open!

Henrietta

* * *

FROM: James J. McHabe, Adm. Asst.

TO: all teachers

THE NEXT TWO PERIODS WILL BE SHORTENED TO 38 MINUTES EACH, TO MAKE UP FOR THE LONG 1st PERIOD DUE TO THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.

TO PREVENT IRREGULARITIES IN THE FUTURE, TEACHERS MUST REDOUBLE THEIR VIGILANCE AT ALL TIMES. NO ROOM IS TO BE LEFT UNCOVERED AT ANY TIME, WHEN NOT IN USE.

JJ McH

* * *

Disregard bells.

Sadie Finch

School Clerk

* * *

TELEPHONE MESSAGE

FOR: Miss Barrett, 304

In answer to your call, Hospital called back to say no change in condition.

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Dear Miss Barrett,

If you're free, can you relieve me in the Health Office for a while? I must lie down someplace.

Frances Egan

School Nurse

* * *

INTRASCHOOL COMMUNICATION

FROM: Mary Lewis, Main Office

TO: S. Barrett, Room 304

Dear Sylvia‑‑

Paul just breezed in!

Guess who's been punching him in every morning? —Sadie Finch!

Mary

* * *

Dear Miss Barrett,

It has been a great shock to all of us, particularly to those who, like you, knew the child. If you wish to be excused from your classes, I shall be glad to take them over.

Sincerely,

Samuel Bester

* * *

Sylvia!

Just stepped into a hornet's nest.

I am the villain of the melodrama.

Was I supposed to encourage a neurotic adolescent?

My real crime seems to be that I wasn't in my room the first period—even though I have no class. How could I know she would walk in and do it?

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They tell me her fall was broken by the ledge below the window. Thank God for small mercies!

She left me a note full of dots and renunciation. It had to do with a love letter she had sent me, which I handled in the only way possible.

I can use a drink.

Meet me for lunch?

Paul

* * *

FROM: James J. McHabe, Adm. Asst.

TO: all teachers

LESSONS ARE TO PROCEED AS USUAL, WITH NO REFERENCE TO THE INCIDENT. TEACHERS ARE TO DISCOURAGE MORBID CURIOSITY ON THE PART OF THE STUDENTS.

JJ McH

* * *

Dear Miss Barrett, Is it OK if I start collecting money from the Home Room kids in my different subject classes to send flowers to Alice in the hospital? If she's OK. The thing is we always used to sit in front of each other.

Carole Blanca

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