Leonardo Salas
thirty five. frostford Elementary/Middle school principal. peter gadiot.
potential triggering content: death, depression
Q. What is your earliest memory?
A small laugh escapes him as a hand comes to the back of his neck, “Ah – it might sound super cheesy but honestly? My first day of school is about as far back as I go. I know, it’s a cliche answer for me but I did always love comin’ back to school.” It probably sounds rehearsed coming from a local principal, or nerdy, but it was the whole truth. “It was part of the fun of all the new supplies but mostly seein’ all my buddies again, you know? I mean, it’s not like we were strangers during the summer but the school was our turf.” He chuckles as he explains it. “It’s amusing to watch the kids at my school enjoy the first day back nowadays.”
Q. What scent or song reminds you of your childhood? Why??
“I’m not sure about a song but I can definitely tell you that the smell of that lavender and vanilla candle from Bushel’s, in the laundry aisle, sure reminds me of home and my mama.” Leo nods with a fondness coming over him as he can practically smell it just by mentioning it. “That and some garlic cooking. Mom was always in the kitchen, it was like her palace,” he chuckles. “And I don’t think there was a single thing she liked to cook without garlic. Oh, and some Japanese cherry blossom body spray gets to my head too, but that was more my teenage years than my childhood. Then again, you’re still very much a child in high school.” He chuckles, trying to stray away from the memory of his late high school sweetheart.
Q. What keeps you up at night?
“Rose,” he says simply. His late wife’s death was no quiet occurrence in the small town and neither was the backlash unto the man. The once Prince Charming had become somewhat of a recluse but then, who wouldn’t when their partner of over ten years is suddenly gone? Despite the hurt that accompanies her memory, a small smile scrawls across his face. “I know she wouldn’t want me up like this, but I can’t really help it. Her and I were inseparable up ‘till the accident, it’s crazy how much my life changed that night.” He has no problem talking about her or the crash now, before it was like pulling teeth to get anything out of him. “But I miss her everyday, and every night.”
Q. What advice would you give your younger self?
This one stumps him a little bit and he takes a moment to visibly think it over. After a moment, he shakes his head. “You know, I don’t know. I think I did my younger days pretty well if you ask me,” he chuckles. He’s not entirely wrong, he had a healthy little rebellion in his teenage years which consisted of sneaking out to parties and or Rose’s house, but his grades and athletic career were kept up throughout the years and he never talked back to his parents. “Maybe … just soak up the moments a little better.”
Q. Have you ever climbed the water tower?
“Are you implying that some people in this town haven’t climbed it?” Leo laughs and shakes his head, he is sure that he doesn’t know a single person who had yet to climb that tower. “Of course I have, I had a girlfriend all in high school my friend.” The tower was … is still a notorious spot for young couples and Leo and Rose were no exception. He had spent plenty of sunsets up on there, and possibly some sunrises when they would get just a little too caught up in each other and misplace the time. “Plus, the guys and I have spent some time up there after games. ”
Q. Have you ever seen the Wharton Creek Witch?
This just elicits a chuckle from him and he shakes his head. “Ah, no, I have not.” He would never let this secret out to his students, but he does not entirely believe in the legend of the witch down amongst the woods and creek. He, however, will play along with all the stories is told on a daily basis by the kids about having saw her. “I have heard she looks pretty wicked though, definitely more from the west than the … what’s the good witch from Wizard of Oz again? Ah, doesn’t matter. I’ve been told she looks more green than sparkly and pretty.” He chuckles.
Q. Do you live to tell the tale of competing or even beating the wing challenge from Bootlegger’s?
“Definitely not.” Leo shakes his head rather quickly. “I can handle my spice but them things just seem like flavourless heat and I need some umph behind the spice, you know? I’ll eat spicy wings so long as they’ve got some flavour on them. I give props to people who have tried it and definitely to those who have managed to finish it off. A friend of mine in high school managed to get like four down when we were seventeen and I was highly impressed. Never saw a thirstier man afterwards though,” he says and laughs fondly along with the memory that comes back.
