'How can you frown while eating mudcake?'
Zoe mentally told herself to lighten up, took another mouthful and grinned widely as best she could without disgracing herself. The pair then chatted about this and that until time was up and they were due to meet their students back at the lecture theatre. As they walked out of the café they gave some lingering students the hurry up. One of the shop fronts caused Zoe to halt momentarily. It was a Gay meeting space and counseling service, a haven in a hetero dominated world. Pity her school was not so enlightened.
'I hope this is worth it?' Zoe was concerned that they had come a long way for this lecture and the curriculum for senior students being so crowded a whole day devoted to a motivational talk and then a lecture on one subject was a luxury some could ill afford.
'Oh believe me it is. They always get a speaker that rocks.'
Zoe raised her eyebrows at her 50 something colleague.
'Well that's what last years kids thought of the iron man star. A nice guy too. Not full of himself either.'
'You gathered that from a speech?'
'No I was motivated by the speech.' Cara's self mockery evident. 'I fell in lurve at the staff and speaker lunch after!'
'Ah like all good in-services and excursions the food was the most memorable part?'
'Scrumptious and so was he. The key note speaker always attends to mingle with the plebeians. I don't think they're paid for their time. It's the only chance up hicks get a chance to rub noses with the rich and famous!'
'Who is it this year?'
'An Olympic rower or something like that. I can't remember and I didn't bring the info sheet.'
'Should we count heads?' Zoe queried as they approached the entrance.
'With all these students here from other schools? I think not. If they miss it it's their loss not ours. As long as numbers tally back on the bus, that is!'
With that the two teachers joined the throng that entered the tiered lecture theatre choosing the sit at the front so they could occasionally turn and glare at anyone with the ill grace to talk during the lecture.
Zoe was doing just that when a general hush fell over the theatre and lights dimmed. She still hadn't caught the eye of a girl a few rows back talking animatedly on her mobile. It took a few moments for the hot honey like quality of the speaker's voice to seep into her consciousness, to emerge from her dreams, to melt her icy core and warm her frozen heart.