"Excuse me, sir, I need to see you immediately."

I jump, dropping the wet rag in my hands. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I had been cleaning the lunch tables.

"Do you have a moment?"

I spin around. My rag drips with soapy, dirty water. The principal stands in front of me with a stern expression on his face.

I gulp down a heavy breath and my heartbeat increases rapidly. I fear that he may know my secret and I try to calm myself. My heartbeat is so loud, he must hear it, but then he smiles, a warm glimmer in his eyes.

"The kids sure leave a mess for you, don't they?" He says laughing. I breathe a sigh of relief. He doesn't suspect me. No one suspects me.

Relax.

"Yeah," I say quietly, my fists clenching tightly. "The kids sure leave a mess for you, don't they?" I mimic in my head. I hated the way he held his head high, with his posture perfectly straight, in a neatly pressed suit and tie. He thought he was superior. He didn't know anything about what my job was like.

"Um, can I talk to you, sir?" the principal repeats, getting serious again. I guess that was it for small-talk.

About what?

"Sure," I say instead. I wait anxiously for what he might say next.

The principal looks around hesitantly.

"Not here," he mutters nervously.

My breathing quickens, again.

"What do you mean?"

"Just follow me please."

...