Three Days in June

Marilee Burton, the headmistress at the school where Gail is assistant headmistress, calls Gail into her office. This is unusual: The two have what Gail would characterize as a “formal” relationship and do not often socialize during the workday outside of scheduled meetings and brief procedural exchanges. Marilee first explains to Gail that she is having a minor cardiovascular treatment done and that she will not be in on Monday. Gail expresses her condolences, and Marilee adds that it is not a big deal and that she’s had a similar procedure done once before. Gail recalls her father tapping his watch to indicate irritation when the family was running late and muses aloud that the procedure may be like stopping and then restarting a watch. 

Marilee further explains that she and her husband have decided that they are ready to retire. Marilee plans to hand in her resignation at the end of the year. Gail asks if she, as assistant headmistress, will then be promoted to headmistress. Marilee is silent. Then, carefully, she tells Gail that she has found an “exciting” candidate from Nashville, Tennessee (they are in Baltimore, Maryland), who she feels would be a better fit.