Phoebe bristled. I forced a smile and said, “Hi.”
“Come on in. Let’s chat.” Her tone sent a shiver down my spine. Phoebe and I both stood. Principal Chambers said, “Oh, no. You stay, Phoebe. I’d like to speak to your sister alone.”
Phoebe spun to me, panic flashing in her eyes. I swallowed hard and curled my hands into fists so they’d stop shaking.
“I’ll be right back,” I said. She wiped her face clear of emotion and sat, folding her arms tightly over her chest. “It’ll be okay.”
Principal Chambers’s office burned itself into my memory eight months ago, but since then I’d spent so much time here, the lightly padded chair had practically formed to my ass and I knew to avoid eye contact with the framed photo of her city council husband who stole a parking spot from me at the grocery store last year.
The air-conditioning was new. Thinking of Phoebe sitting in the stifling heat just outside the door, my contempt skyrocketed.
“So,” Principal Chambers said, easing into her desk chair. She folded her hands, eyes swimming with performative pity. “How are you doing, Violet?”
“Great,” I answered. The nearly imperceptible flick of her eyebrow had me backtracking. “I mean, fine.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Both of you.” My fingernails dug into the arms of the chair. I forced another smile. “Losing a parent is tragic.”
My uvula tied itself in a knot. Swallowing over it, I said, “We’re getting through it.”
“Hmm.” She leaned back in her chair, eyeing me. “I understand this hasn’t been an easy transition. But this is the twelfth time I’ve had to call you this year.”
I flinched. “I don’t think it’s twelve.”
“Twelve,” she said, tone clipped. “Phoebe’s behavior has become increasingly erratic. Today, she nearly broke a boy’s nose. The only reason she’s not suspended is because several eyewitnesses claim she was defending herself.”
My fingers dug farther into the chair at that word:claim. As if she didn’t believe it, even slightly.
“She was defending herself?” I repeated. Phoebe’s words flitted through my head:Don’t worry about it. As if I’d be able to think about anything else. “What happened?”
“You know kids,” Principal Chambers replied. Her flippant tone rankled and I had to grind my teeth so I wouldn’t lash out. “Words were said—it remains unclear exactly what these words were. However, Phoebe was the one to resort to violence.”
“Okay,” I said. “So, what happens to him?”
“Don’t worry. He’s fine.”
“I’m not worried. I want to know he won’t mess with my sister again.”
“Violet.” Never had my name sounded so condescending. “Let’s focus on Phoebe.”
I clenched my jaw and tried to come up with three things, but my mind indulged in how good it would feel to slash her tires. I’d had the problematic child conversation with a number of parents and it was always a minefield, so I kept things gentle with them. Meanwhile, Principal Chambers looked about ready to break into villainous laughter. Sherelishedthis.
“Her behavior is beyond concerning and has only been escalating,” she said. My vision drifted over her shoulder, focus locking on the soft hum of the air conditioner. “Have you considered seeking professional help?”
My eyes snapped to hers. “Excuse me?”
“I have the names of some wonderful psychiatrists in thearea,” she charged on. I released my grip, fingers throbbing, heat surging up my neck.
“Is this a joke?”
“I can assure you, there is nothing funny about this situation.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. The audacity alone is hilarious.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I apologize if I offended you, Ms. St. Clair, but you know as well as I do that Phoebe is out of control. Her grades are slipping. She’s starting fights. Phoebe will scrape through this year. We’ll give her that, all things considered. But her behavior is unacceptable and if it continues into the next school year, shewillbe expelled.”
A war of emotions broke out in my brain. Fury triumphed. I stood, not bothering to fake another smile. “Are we done?”
She folded her hands over her desk and offered a stiff nod. “Keep what I said in mind, Violet. There are options,” she said, fixing me with an unfriendly smile. “Have a great day.”
