Kiva Kijewski
April 09, 2008 8:45 PM
Here for a talk (Hall of Plants) by Kiva Kijewski
Kiva took the long way around the school to get to the Hall of Plants. It wasn't because she liked the scenary or just enjoyed the walk. It wasn't because she was in no real hurry or because she had nothing to do at all. The truth was, Kiva was taking as long as she possibly could in order to prevent having to have this talk with Headmaster Bulla.She wasn't even sure as to why she needed to be so anxious about it anyway. She was an adult. She had had over nine months to come to terms with her decision. Of course, the only people she had ever spoken to about it openly had been her mother and the Doctors/Healers to whom she had consulted with. Even still. She was completely of sound mind and had made this choice after great care and consideration. This was what she wanted and it was too late to back down now. Two months too late.
Of course she was happy about it all. But she knew that there would be those who opposed of her means to be where she was now. And those who may try to get her fired from her position merely because she might influence their children in a way that their parents do not agree with. It was a sad realization she had been faced with while talking to her doctor and it was hitting her all over again as she made her way through the school to her boss. The man that can either listen to her and accept her decisions as a single woman or tell her that she would need to find herself a new job because she was not welcomed.
She had reached the hall of plants and took a deep breath to steady herself. He was going to find out sooner or later. It wasn't as though she could hide it from anyone forever.
Kiva stopped at the wall and stared at it for a moment. She kept remembering her reaction when she found out the news. Remembering the look on her mother's face when she told her. This was all worth something. Even if she left this office without a job any longer, it would still be so very much worth it. Reaching up a hand, Kiva gave a quick knock to warn the Headmaster that she was there before pulling the branch down to give her access to office. "Headmaster?... Manfred." She corrected after a moment. This was more personal than professional as it was. "Do you have time for a talk?" Kiva asked, it would just be her luck that he didn't or that he wasn't even there.
6
Kiva Kijewski
Here for a talk (Hall of Plants)
5
Kiva Kijewski
1
5
Manfred Bulla
April 12, 2008 1:50 PM
Here to be talked to, apparently by Manfred Bulla
Manfred was enjoying a bit of a break from work. Having organised and gotten ahead of his paperwork - the joys of the beginning of term, before they built up - he had settled into the more comfortable chair in the corner of his office and turned his wireless in to listen to his favourite programme. It irked him slightly that he didn't get to listen to Little Prairie Elf in the House as regularly as he would have liked these days. Still, it was one of those things that was a necessary evil when one was Headmaster of a successful Magical boarding school. And at least there was the fan magazine which kept him up to date on the story-lines. Although his possession of those was a closely held secret.The intro music started, and the voiceover started the short explanation of events pertinent to the current episode. "A recap of last week's installment," the voice said, and Manfred unconsciously tilted his head slightly as he listened earnestly despite having caught the last few episodes thanks to the holidays. "Laury is in trouble with Ma Shingles again after she is found with a fashion magazine hidden away. Pa Shingles, in the meantime-"
There was a sharp knock at the door and Manfred jumped and nearly fell out of his seat before shifting over to quickly retune the wireless to another frequency. After finding nothing appropriate in the two second he was doing that, flicked it off with a tap of his wand. And just in time, it seemed, as the door swung open telling him straight away who was behind it even before Kiva came into view and addressed him.
Resisting the urge to give his wireless a martyred look, Manfred swallowed his sigh and moved around to a different chair, pulling up another for Kiva in the process.
"Of course," he said sounding quite sincere. "What do we need to talk about?" He asked.\r\n\r\n
39
Manfred Bulla
Here to be talked to, apparently
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Manfred Bulla
0
5
Kiva
April 12, 2008 7:34 PM
Yes, sorry for the intrusion by Kiva
Kiva didn't see the Headmaster at his desk and had first thought that he wasn't even in his office. Just her luck. But as she moved into the room, movement off to the side caught her attention and she turned to find Manfred leaving a chair. She had interupted him in the middle of something. She couldn't say for sure what it was exactly, but she had a strange habit of catching him at the wrong time.She gave Manfred an apologetic smile, "Thank you." She took a seat, her hands fidgeting in her lap since she wasn't sure what she should do with them as she looked around for a moment. She didn't think she ever came here for anything that didn't require a serious talk. Kiva ought to amend that at some point. She didn't want to only bring him news that might cause him a headache. "I'm sorry if I interupted anything. I just thought it would be best to address this now..." Kiva wasn't really sure how to finish that sentence so she just left it off.
She chewed her bottom lip for a moment trying to work out exactly how to tell him. Her mother had told her just to be honest. Just say it and then explain it. But Kiva had a hard time saying anything remotely personal to anyone. Finally taking a deep breath, Kiva decided on the straight forward method. "I'm...having a baby." She looked down at her hands after she admitted her secret. She could feel her face growing hot from a blush.
"I'm due at the end of April." Kiva looked up from her hands. She sighed openly, "I thought you should know, not only because obviously I'll have to take maternity leave, but also because this might cause a fuss with some board members and parents." Kiva ran a hand through her curls. "After months of consideration, I decided to use a sperm donor." Her blush was fading. She didn't have any regrets for her choice. "There is no father. I'm a single woman who chose a muggle method to become pregnant. I know there are still a lot of people out there that still hold very traditional values on how families should be raised. I don't want to lose my job for wanting this child, which is why I'm here telling you this." She cleared her throat, and watched Manfred's reaction in hopes that he wouldn't take the news horribly.
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Kiva
Yes, sorry for the intrusion
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Kiva
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5
Manfred
April 13, 2008 8:11 AM
*sighs* Can't be helped, I suppose by Manfred
"This?" Manfred asked the obvious question, eyebrow raised in query as Kiva chewed her lip. He sat there, patiently waiting for her to get to the point until she spoke again. And dropped bombshell number one. "A baby?" Manfred asked, not certain he had heard right. Admittedly, he didn't know a great deal about the private lives of his staff - which was perfectly proper and as it should be - but he was fairly sure that there had been no news of Kiva marrying anyone. And last he was aware of such things she hadn't been seeing anyone either. But, it appeared, Kiva was not finished yet.As Kiva continued to speak, it took more than a little effort on Manfred's part to keep his expression carefully neutral, even as his thoughts fairly flew with what this would mean. He waited a moment, when she stopped talking, to make sure she was finished before he let the faintest of frowns wash over his face.
Months of consideration, she'd said. Had those months seriously included considering what it would mean for her job. She was not only a Professor, but also a Head of House and Deputy Headmistress. All were jobs that required her dedication and presence. How would a small fatherless child fit in with that? She didn't want to lose her job, but how did she plan on being able to perform her duties with a small baby and no partner? And why, for Merlin's sake had she chosen such a distasteful Muggle technique? It wasn't like she was unattractive. Surely there had to be a man out there somewhere who she might have pursued starting a family with. Someone who would share the responsibility to raising the child.
What was she planning to do with the child if she returned to school?
Manfred had some severe doubts, based on the information that he had been given so far, on how much 'consideration' had gone into this decision. He was one of those people who held traditional values on how a family should be raised, as she put it. And, more to the point considering she was apparently only letting him know of her plans two months after the fact, he had extremely severe doubts as to how her so-called consideration had led her to believe that it was going to be so easy for her to have this child so unconventionally and still be able to fulfil the demanding roles she had chosen to take up for her job.
Of course, it wouldn't do to come out with all that just yet. For one, it was too much too fast. For another, as he was all too uncomfortably aware, the Muggle influence on the Magical world was growing. If he simply pointed out the difficulties there was some chance he and Sonora would be hit with a discrimination charge, for all he was the one being rational here. If she had at least done things the natural way there would have been ways and means for the situation to be salvageable. That was, after all, half the reason for having a partner in the first place in his firm opinion. To share the duties of caring for the infant. To help raise the child.
To watch the child so it's mother could do her job without fear of losing it because she wasn't able to do it properly any more.
"We don't fire people for being pregnant," Manfred said firstly, to make certain she was reassured on that count and hopefully ward off any thoughts of discrimination. "But how are you planning on continuing in your job here after you've had the baby?" \r\n\r\n
39
Manfred
*sighs* Can't be helped, I suppose
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Manfred
0
5
Kiva
April 13, 2008 2:30 PM
Better to be told now rather than later by Kiva
Kiva knew Manfred was a very stoic man. He had been that way since her days as a student here at Sonora. She was sure that it had taken years of practice to not react so openly with information that could be rather startling; it was something she was still trying to learn to do (and failing miserably). But she wished for this one time that he was open with his emotions so that she could get a feel for his position in her decision.Despite how stoic he was, she could still make out the displeased look on his face. Whether he was unhappy with the idea that she was pregnant or by the means in which she done in order to get pregnant was yet to be determined. She could understand that her being absent for the end of the year festivities could make him uneasy or perhaps the fact that (much like she had when her father was gravely ill) she would have to skip out from time to time on the weekends to visit home and have to request for another staff member to be on guard for the Aladrens might not be the ideal situation for a Headmaster.
But she had always believed Manfred to be a more open-minded individual. Someone who would be understanding and respectful to those who may live their lives differently then he did. Perhaps Kiva had given him too much credit in that aspect?
When Manfred stated that they wouldn't fire someone for being pregnant, Kiva was less than assured. Her face remained blank, somehow, at the news. She didn't believe him. No matter the day and age, those who oppose someone else's decisions, and have power over them, will do whatever they could do get rid of them. They could very well say that she was losing her job for some other reason. At this point, Kiva wasn't even sure she would fight such a decision. If it meant that she would have to work in an environment where she was not wanted because of her choices as a woman, than she would prefer to find a job that appreciated her as a Professor and as a single woman/mother.
What she couldn't understand was why her decision would really be an issue. It was like someone putting up a fight against a staff member who had a different sexual orientation. And, as far as Kiva was aware, no one at Sonora was putting up a fight against the numerous staff members who were homosexuals.
"My mother is retired and living in a large house with plenty of room to care for her grandchild." Kiva informed him. Her mother was more than capable of caring for an infant and had even insisted on Kiva leaving her baby in her care instead of with a nanny or other various forms of child care. "I've researched this, Manfred. There are plenty of women who have a position of power that have babies. Both as single mothers as well as those who are married. I'm not so naive to believe that this won't be difficult, but when has it ever been easy? Women do this everyday and my situation shouldn't be handled any differently as that of a married woman having a baby."\r\n\r\n
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Kiva
Better to be told now rather than later
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Kiva
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Manfred
April 14, 2008 10:27 AM
You really haven't thought this through by Manfred
"You were so desperate to have this child that you've taken extreme measures and have skipped out on including a father, but are happy to foist it off on your mother? If nothing else, you disappoint me for that stance, Kiva," Manfred said, becoming increasingly convinced that Kiva not only hadn't thought this through as thoroughly as she protested, but wasn't even thinking clearly, let alone rationally.He stood, walked to the window and looked out at the school grounds. A few students were making their way past the Labyrinth Gardens towards the Quidditch Pitch. He watched them thoughtfully for a moment, until they reached the entrance and disappeared.
"What you're offering here," he said, and then turned back to look at her, "is two things. And neither of them is satisfactory. To be both a mother, which you clearly indicate some form of interest in, and to continue your triple role at Sonora - my deputy, Aladren's Head of House and the Care of Magical Creatures professor - you will have to neglect both roles. We are working at a boarding school here, which I imagine is somewhat different to these vague 'women in power' you mention. You do not go home every night to see your family, to check up on the progress of your prospective child's growth. You don't even go home every couple of days. Sonora is your home. As a Head of House you have a duty to be there for the students who are in your charge. Are you suggesting that you can shuck that at any given opportunity with impunity? I'm quite insulted that you think misgivings on my part are simply about you choosing to become a single mother. As the Headmaster of Sonora I have a responsibility and a duty to the school, the staff and above all the students. I take this responsibility very seriously. And yet you throw that back in my face. You insult me by assuming that all I care about are your private decisions. I am thinking about what is best for Sonora, and I am considering what I had known of you and I profess great and deep disappointment."
He moved back, standing behind the chair he had sat in before, leaning on the back of it and regarding Kiva.
"I wonder if you really are prepared for this. Are you prepared to miss your child's first smile? First laugh? First steps? First word? If you really have such a great desire to be a mother I would think that these would have a much greater importance to you. And yet to pursue both goals you will almost certainly miss them, as you will miss things at Sonora. Opportunities, perhaps, or simply times when you are needed and are not there as you should be."
"I think," he said, straightening up to his full height, "that you need to consider this further. I think you should come talk to me again when you've thought this through properly and are prepared to understand not only the truth of what you are offering here but also that I am not someone attempting to suppress and discriminate against you, but as someone with legitimate concerns in this situation."
He nodded towards the door, indicating to Kiva that the conversation was closed for now, and that she was dismissed. It was one thing to drop a bombshell like that on him with no warning whatsoever. It was something else entirely to cast doubt on his integrity as Headmaster.
39
Manfred
You really haven't thought this through
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Manfred
0
5
Kiva
April 15, 2008 7:17 PM
I have, you just didn't give me a chance. by Kiva
Kiva's blank face became one of complete bewilderment. His words were cruel and crippled her at her very core. She didn't believe that her decision on having this child was by any means a desperate attempt. Why should she spend years trying to find the right person, years where her body would grow old and may never be able to bare children when she was healthy now and did not have to rely on another participant to want a child too? Why did that make her desperate?Depriving her child merely because there would be no father? Would he say those words to Drake who had raised Briony as a single father? That he was depriving her of a mother. Or to the parents of some of these students who were being raised in single parent homes for various reasons? Were they deprived even though they could have very well been raised in wonderfully loving homes?
And then to claim that she was just going to throw the child at her mother... He had no right to make such accusations. To judge her like that. He hadn’t been there for the conversations her and her mother had shared. She wanted to start a family of her own, what was so terrible with that?
She remained silent while he spoke, but stared at his back in anger as he knocked her down some more. The women she had read about, those that fought for their right to be a single mother in the working world, he just waved them off. Kiva was viewing Bulla in a whole different light and not one that she wanted to be in the same vicinity of. He was cold and uncompassionate for her situation. His words angered her. Did he honestly think she hadn't thought about all this? These students meant the world to her. She worried about them all the time. Their woes were hers and she wanted to celebrate with them in their accomplishments. They were her life.
Would he have said these same things to another professor if they were married? Shucking their responsibilities as both a teacher and a parent? Did he wish to say these things to Sadi before her daughter came to Sonora or was it different because there was a father?
She took a breath to steady herself and stood up, "One of the women, Headmaster, that I am referring to is the Headmistress of Salem Institute, who managed to have a baby and continue to be the Headmistress of such a prestigious magical school. Her circumstances were as mine are now, if not even more difficult considering she actually runs a school. But, somehow, no one ever question her decision to have children." Nor did anyone seem to feel the need to question the other parents who decided to leave their families in pursuit of a career. Kiva thought, but kept to herself incase Bulla had some excuse for that.
She felt sick to her stomach after being belittled so terribly by a man she had only moments ago thought so highly of. "I don't need to think anything else over. I'm pregnant, I plan on having this baby, and I plan on keeping my job. If you don't think I can do it, then fire me, but I will fight it." She told him bluntly. She walked toward the door but paused just before she left the office, “For the record, I have always considered you a great man with how you've kept this school running so smoothly, and as a student, you were always the Professor we could count on, which are the exact reasons why I came to you in hopes that you would help make this work. I came here to not only tell you about my situation, but to discuss what my options were in order to remain at this school. But I guess my overwhelming disappointment you have in me prevented us from having that discussion."
Kiva left the office, trying to keep from just sprinting straight down the hall of plants. However, instead of going to her office as she originally had planned, Kiva headed out the door. She needed mouthfuls of fresh air to get rid of the foul taste left in her mouth.
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Kiva
I have, you just didn't give me a chance.
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Kiva
0
5