Chapter Text
Grian slowly drove the car onwards, more worried about something darting through the bushes and he would hit it with his car and he would be cursed for the rest of his life by some woods monster or worse some kid who came to camp early. He eventually pulled into a gravel car park, feeling the car kick up the stones into the body, and flinched. He didn’t want to have to pay for the paint work damage when he returned the rental. He came to a stop and breathed out. He did it. He made it. Now was the hard part… convincing them to let him stay.
Grian unplugged his phone and freed himself from his seat belt. He climbed out into the car park only big enough to hold maybe 10 cars with 4 other spots already taken. He went to grab his bag with his printed off email when the sports car came in, looking a little worse for wear now. It wasn’t really made for the off roading life and it had splashes of mud down the sleek body work and a few leaves dotted about on it’s canopy. Grian watched over his shades as the owner pulled up and parked next to him.
Grian watched the man from behind his sunglasses. Of course the no doubt douche driving it would part next to his shitty rental probably trying to make himself look better in comparison. Grian watched as a tall man climbed out, holding a leather portfolio looking more like a CEO or business man who should be in the capital making money instead of in a small camp car park miles from nearest limo driver and Michelin starred restaurant. Maybe this was the owner who owned the land? Or at least an investor here to make sure the camp director didn’t fucking up and hired the wrong people and cost him his third or fourth yacht.
The man straightened up and Grian cursed. Of course the man had to both be rich, tall and handsome, and on top of that… He could grow an awesome moustache. Grian realised he was caught looking because the man gave him a warm smile. “Hey. I hope you don’t mind me parking next to you. I figured you knew what you were doing unlike me. I should had rented out a car too but I was silly and stuck with my favourite car.” The stranger told him, and Grian wondered if he was going to follow this up with his life story and bank account details because this guy seemed the sort to keep talking and never stop. It seemed to him that he realised because he flushed. “Oh I am so sorry! I am just so nervous you see. I drove here about the camp councillor job!” He held his hand out. “I’m Mumbo.” He told him and ducked his head all fucking adorable and shy.
“Grian.” Grian shook his hand, seeing a pale wrist peek out from the suit. He had no idea why such a man decided to become a camp councillor of all things. But judging by the man’s motor mouth, Grian was sure he would find out soon enough. His stomach did drop a little. The man was dignified, posh and stuff. If Grian had kids he would rather have them hanging out with someone who looked like that than someone who looked like him. “I came… for the job too.” He told him cringing internally at his own words.
“Oh good! I wish you all the best!” Mumbo told him with another warm smile because of course he had to be fucking sporting. “So what is your background? I majored in international and comparative education but then I gained my Education Doctorate focusing on Pedagogy, Curriculum and Professional Learning. I must profess of all the four philosophies of education I am a big believer in Progressivism.” Mumbo told him, looking so… devoted in the dying afternoon sun. “I believe it is all about the child and making sure you are empowering them, in all senses. You aren’t teaching a child, you are helping them to teach themselves. The most important thing they can be is how to be a learner!”
Grian only heard about teachers and people who cared this much in films but no, apparently in real life there were people who genuinely cared about teaching and the way Mumbo spoke of it, didn’t seem as if he was doing it for any other reason apart from that he cared about kids. And now Grian had an interview against him. He might as well pack up and go home. At least the drive was nice. He hadn’t give in his notice so he still had his old job and flat. “That’s nice.” Grian told him, feeling his hope die. But at least he was losing out to someone who was brilliant. “Uh I don’t really have a background…” He admitted.
Mumbo didn’t look smug or anything to Grian’s surprise. “We are all learners.” He told Grian and headed to the small boot of his car. Grian watched as he struggled with a too big suitcase probably full of smart people books and suits. Grian let him struggle before Grian got over himself. He moved to help Mumbo, getting the case out easily before he hurt himself. “Thank you!” Mumbo enthused and Grian handed the case over. “I think the main building is this way?”
Grian couldn’t even be that angry as he followed the handsome man up to the grand lodge by the look of it. The job might be going to someone who was more educated than him, but Grian could get a square case out of a square hole, so who was the winner in the end?