So I sneak out early this afternoon, planning to play hooky tomorrow, and upon arriving back at the house around 3:00 p.m. check the e-mail. What do I find but a summons to an audience with Her Deanship tomorrow afternoon!
Sumbitch. What is that about?
You can be sure that Her Deanship does not waste her time in idle chat with the likes of moi. She has never called me in to her office except to harangue me about one sin or another. Since she’s unlikely to have caught me in my chronic Creative Malingering (she’s not watching, you understand), this does not bode at all well.
Now, I know. I do borrow trouble. Borrow so much of it I still owe interest on years of accrued trouble debt. And it is true that my co-conspirator over in the Public History Department and I have been importuning her for weeks to say if and when we can hire RAs to replace the two who will make their escape this summer. So, yes, there’s a good chance this concerns nothing very drastic.
BUT… But: today I learned the Dean’s factotum…uhm, business manager…quietly reclassified my sidekick from a nonexempt hourly worker to an exempt service professional. The HR lady who revealed that bit of intelligence was surprised I had not been informed. This represents a huge change in my assistant editor’s status, and it adds a great deal of potential versatility to the position. As in…she could be used to take over my job, at less than 1/5 of what I earn.
Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.
AND BUT… The university has to give me 90 days’ notice if they’re not going to renew my contract. Contracts renew at the end of the fiscal year, on June 30. That means their lead time runs out on Tuesday. If the dean is going to hand me a pink slip, now is the time she has to do it.
Is that what she’s up to? Maybe. Maybe not.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
How can you stand the tension? Good luck.
You know, this has been going on for eight months. I’m numb to it by now.
Plans are laid: if I’m canned, I know exactly what to do. It wouldn’t be ideal, but the world won’t end.
Jeez, the tension would send me over the edge. Your calm is a testament to the power of planning (and numbness I guess). I’ll be thinking of you this afternoon…
All of us who read you daily and feel that we know you are cheering you on and sending positive energy your way.
I’ll be thinking about you too and sending good thoughts. Deep breaths.