“I got it right, but Miss Neville said I didn’t. But I did! I know Idid!”
“Okay, calm down.” That was rich, coming from her. Oh well, those that can’t do… “Where did the arguing comein?”
“I tried to show her what she did wrong, but she told me I didn’t know what I was talking about because I’m just a kid. Then she sent me here and told Mr. Silverman I was d—d—disrespectful, but I wa—wasn’t!”
Kimber threw herself into Denise’s arms, crying almost hysterically. She’d always been sensitive and had never liked to be told she’d done something wrong. Being sent to the principal’s office probably felt like being told she had to go tojail.
Denise patted her back and made shushing noises while glaring at the vice-principal. He rubbed his chin and looked at Miss Neville, as if this was the first time he’d heard Kimber’s side of thestory.
Dick.
She pulled Kimber away from her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “It’s going to be okay. I’m very proud of you for sticking up foryourself.”
Kimber hiccupped and stood upright. “Really?”
“Yes. Go waitoutside.”
She sniffed and wiped her cheek. “Can I takeSprocket?”
Denise took a deep breath.She’s a child. You’re an adult. You can suck it up for five minutes.“Yes.”
Kimber bent and grasped Sprocket’s short lead, taking her out withher.
Waiting until Kimber was in the outer office, she turned back to the teacher. “Was sheright?”
The woman cut her eyes to the side. “That’s not thepoint.”
Denise shut her eyes, stretched her neck, and counted to five while blowing out a breath. “So let me get this straight—you got intimidated and embarrassed by an eight-year-old and your ego couldn’t handle it. So instead of being a fucking adult about it, you abused your authority as her teacher to get her in trouble. That aboutit?”
She sulked and didn’trespond.
You cannot throat punch her.“Is there another class Kimber can go into until we transfer at the end of the semester?” she asked the vice-principal.
“That won’t be necessary. Miss Neville is a substitute and we won’t be using her services after thisincident.”
“What?” Her outrage bordered on ashriek.
“Perhaps next time,” Denise said as she stood, “you’ll ask the student in trouble for their side of the story before deciding they should be punished. Just because someone is a child doesn’t automatically mean they’re lying any more than being an adult means someone is automatically telling thetruth.”
She left the office and went to the secretary’s desk. “I’d like to pull Kaden out for the rest of the day. Can I go get him or does he need to be broughthere?”
The older woman smiled. “I’ll call down to his class and ask his teacher to send himhere.”
Sitting next to Kimber, she pulled out her phone and looked up the number her mom had sent her. Sprocket rose from her position on the floor and laid her head on her lap, looking up at her with her soulfuleyes.
Denise closed her eyes while the phone rang and rubbed her dog’s ears. The familiar gesture helped calm her emotions and lower her blood pressure. She timed the movement of her hand and pace of her breathing to the ringing in herear.
On the fifth ring, it picked up. “Yumi Morris. May I helpyou?”
“Hi, Mrs. Morris. This is Denise Reynolds, Karen Reynolds’sdaughter?”
“Oh, yes! She said you might be calling. How areyou?”
“I’m well, thank you.” Kimber was watching her, so she smiled to let her know everything was all right. “I’m calling to see if you have time to fit me in this afternoon to come by to discuss enrolling Kimber and Kaden. I know it’s very last minute, so I understand if today doesn’twork.”
“Hang on, let mesee.”
Denise leaned over and kissed Kimber on the head while she waited for Yumi to come back on theline.
