Abbott Elementary – Career Day Part 2

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

It’s Career Day at Abbott Elementary and Janine (Quinta Brunson) is a few months into her fellowship at the district. Ava (Janelle James) isn’t excited about the prospect of a Career Day, but she is excited to tell us why things are weird between Janine and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). When Ava was in serious principal mode she installed cameras all around the school and they caught a private conversation between Janine and Gregory. Before Janine began her fellowship she decided to talk to Gregory about his pre-summer confession that he had feelings for him. Janine admits that she has feelings for him too and wants to explore them now, but Gregory says he considers their field trip conversation the end of the prospect of romance between them. Plus, he’d really like to protect their friendship. Janine feels awkward but agrees that it’s best to play it safe. Still, they agree to remain friends. However, when  Career Day begins Gregory calls her Ms. Teagues and not Janine.

Four months into her fellowship it seems Career Day is Janine’s first big initiative and she wants the kids to walk away inspired. Speaking of that, everyone’s class gets aside a person to explain their career to the kids. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) gets a licensed cosmologist, Janine’s old class gets a zoologist, Melissa gets the Philadelphia Eagles’ marketing executive, Gregory gets a botanist and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) gets Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis). Also, Melissa’s (Lisa Ann Walter) boyfriend Gary (Bruno Amato) is participating.

While Barbara shares that she hopes the cosmologist will do her nails for free, Melissa continues to be in denial about how much Gary wants to marry her yet he keeps dropping hints about engagement photo shoots and wedding rings until Melissa confronts him. She explains that after previously being divorced she never wants to get married again. It doesn’t seem to totally sink in, so she says it’d take an act of god to get her to walk down the aisle again.

Elsewhere Janine is excited and nervous about Career Day because if things go sideways she’s worried the district won’t hear her ideas again. Simon (Benjamin Norris), Manny (Josh Segarra) and Emily (Kimia Behpoornia) agree that if career day implodes, she probably won’t be allowed to talk in the meetings anymore. Additionally, since they’ve had a substitute for months Janine’s kids aren’t particularly attached to her, which makes her sad.

On the upside, so far Career Day is going well. Gregory is more excited about the botanist than his kids. Jacob was right to be excited about Mr. Johnson because he’s had a million jobs, including being an elected official at one point. Barbera gets her face contoured by the cosmologist.  Then Melissa and the kids alike are excited when the marketing executive gets Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts to visit them via Zoom.

It’s a double-edged sword, on the one hand, the kids love it. On the other hand, every kid in the school wants to see Jalen Hurts so they leave their classes and Melissa’s room is only so big. But Manny and Janine manage to solve the problem by connecting the monitors and iPads around the school so that everyone can see the football players.

Then things get a little awkward when Gary asks Jalen Hurts to propose to Melissa on his behalf. She says no, in front of the Eagles and the kids. Then, at the other adults’ suggestion, she and Gary go outside to talk. Long story short, she loves Gary but never wanting to get married again is her truth. However, Gary really wants to be married again so they agree to go their separate ways.

All and all, Career Day was a success and Janine’s fellow district workers congratulated her on her win. Plus, feeling brave Janine goes to clear the air with Gregory. He congratulates her on her successful Career Day and says the botanist gave him some good pointers. Then, they talk about why they haven’t been talking these past few months. Admittedly it was awkward, but Gregory also thought he should give Janine some space. Plus, he’s worried that the conversation they had is why she left. The truth though is she just needed to try working for the district. Also, she admits just misses him as a friend. He misses her too and it seems they’re ready to be back on first-name basis.