Lucy wiped at her watery eyes with the back of her hand. She had such a sweet soul. “I ate chickens,” she whispered in pain.
Danny fidgeted in his chair as his eyes shot between Lucy, me, and then the table. “Danny, would you like to say something to Lucy?”
Danny shook his head.
I squeezed Lucy’s shoulder. I needed to focus her attention elsewhere. “Your letters are looking great! I like how your capital G goes all the way from the ceiling to the floor.”
Lucy smiled.
“And I love your pink glitterypencil.”
Lucy then launched into a story about how she got it at a birthday party. Once she was refocused on spelling, I made my way to Danny. “I can tell you are working hard, thank you.”
He huffed and whispered, “Was that one of the things that wasn’t nice to say? My dad tries to remind me, but I can’t remember them all.” His eyes shifted, focusing anywhere but on me and Lucy.
My heart melted even more for this child. “You’re all right. Let’s just focus on schoolwork, okay?”
The last thing I needed to be thinking about was his father. I replayed the exchange until it was burned into my brain. I could see places where I could have explained things differently and cringed at the fact that I had let my past influence the conversation.
When I saw him today, I honestly did not know what I would do. Try to hide, obviously, but if not that, then what?
Pretend it didn’t happen?
Maybe I could go home sick?
I sighed. I was being ridiculous. I was a teacher, and he was a parent. I would simply apologize. And then panic about it later.
I walked over to table five and reminded Sophie that the paper was for writing on and not eating.
“All right, class, we have five more minutes to finish your spelling paper and then you have specials. It’s music today!” Of her twenty-four students, some were excited; others were not. The new music teacher seemed sweet, although eccentric in her tinsel sweaters and huge dangly earrings. “I think you are preparing for the Christmas Music program.”
The class turned in their papers, and I walked them down to the music room. I had a few minutes and needed to check emails and catch up on the group text with Rose and Marissa.
Last text I read, Scott, Marissa’s husband, had eaten one of Marissa’s favorite cookies, and then left the box on the table, where their dog London ate the last one.
Marissa was not happy. The newlyweds were a perfect match. Even if Marissa was missing cookies, soon she would text Scott’s praises.
Emails first. I steered my pink heels to my desk.
The business day planning meeting was tomorrow, and I still needed parent volunteers. I sent three emails and still hadn’t seen any offers.
If I didn’t get some help, there was no way the student business day would work out. After all, the business plans of second graders could be tricky. Sam was planning on building a rocket, and Lucy wanted to start a unicorn research team.
I opened my email and scanned through it.
There was one from Adam Peters, subject: Volunteer and apology.
My cursor froze over the message in my inbox. I clicked open.
Ms. Faith,
I need to apologize for my behavior at our last meeting. I was tired and caught off guard on a long day, but that is no excuse.
I noticed you asked for parent volunteers several times for the business fair at the end of January, and I figured the best way to apologize and to spend time with Danny would be to help. He has been talking about this business day nonstop, and for Danny, that’s saying something.
Thanks again, and I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow night.
Adam
