Member-only story
A Murder at My New Kindergarten and An Office Turned Tomb
A true crime story
After about a year of working in an English center in Shanghai, I made the transition to an actual school. A friend of a friend let me know that an international kindergarten needed a new teacher and I didn’t hesitate. The second I had a Tuesday off from the center, I jumped on a train and went to introduce myself.
As I was in Shanghai, a.k.a. City of Jobs, the School’s American Vice Principal asked if I could hang out a while until she could talk to me about the open position.
I agreed, glowing. I was going to land this thing.
As I waited, I took in the school. It had all my favorite features — a big atrium full of plants and surrounded by glass panes to let the sunshine hit the bright yellow paint on the walls and big, paper crafts from the kids hanging from the drop-panel ceiling. Out in front massive magnolia trees filled the garden and flowers hedged the broad steps leading into the building. Out back was yet another garden, this one equipped with playgrounds for all ages.
I soon learned I’d arrived at nap time when all the kids went into a sleeping room to get some shut-eye. In the months to come, I’d take in the little baby snores over the gentle tap-tap-tap of teachers sending parents notes about their…
