I got to the room where all the teachers had already gathered and was slightly surprised to see unfamiliar faces at the front.
A woman and a man stood there in formal suits, while even the principal was seated among the teachers instead of at the front.
I walked in quietly and took an empty seat near the front, settling in without drawing attention.
"Thank you for showing up, even on such short notice," the man said. His voice was deep and carried a serious tone that immediately made the room feel tighter. "Is there anyone here who does not know us?" he asked.
I didn't know them. For a second, I almost raised my hand to say it, but I stopped myself because everyone else seemed to recognize them, and I hesitated, suddenly aware of how new I still was to all of this.
Admitting I didn't know might make me stand out more than I wanted to.
