Page 30 of Worth the Fall
My rant had come spewing out of my mouth without a care in the world. It was only when I noticed the look on Miss Shooster’s face that I wondered if I’d said anything too out of line. I played it all back in my head and decided that not only did I stand by what I’d just said, but that I’d also say it all again if needed.
“Listen, Thomas, Clarabel is a great girl. But she’s strong-minded and even stronger-willed. She doesn’t back down. That might not serve her well in the future. You see what I’m saying? I’m only trying to help.”
This woman was a freaking idiot and was getting on my last nerve.
“You saying that she’s strong-minded and strong-willed like it’s a bad thing is a really weird opinion to push, if I’m being honest. I’m sure those qualities would be celebrated if she were a boy. But since she’s a girl, it’s problematic. Is that what I’m hearing?”
Miss Shooster was quiet for long enough that it started to become even more uncomfortable, if that were possible. “No. I mean, I see what you’re saying,” she finally said, but she clearly did not.
This woman was doing nothing but attempting to placate me. She’d probably read some stupid pamphlet on how to deal with difficult parents, and this was rule number one—tell them you see their point of view, that you understand their perspective and other bullshit she didn’t really mean.
“Do you have kids?” I asked even though it was none of my damn business, but I had a point to make, and it required an answer.
“I do not.”
“Well, one day, when you do, you’ll see the importance of instilling self-confidence in your child. You’ll want them to stand up for themselves and others. You’ll hope they do the right thing, not just what’s expected of thembecauseit’s expected. And you sure as shit won’t want them to apologize to someone if they don’t mean it. You won’t want them to say anything they don’t mean.”
“I can understand that perspective,” she said, and I almost laughed. She was definitely following some kind of script.
“Great,” I breathed out. This meeting was a colossal waste of time. “Is this going to continue to be a problem? Do I need to move Clara out of your classroom? Are we done here?”
She hustled quickly to her desk and grabbed a paper sitting on top of a bunch of others. “No, no. That won’t be necessary. We’re good. I just need you to sign this.” She shoved it toward the opposite side of her desk as I tentatively made my way over.
“What does it say?” I reached for a pen, holding it over thesign hereline.
“It’s a confirmation that we had an in-person meeting regarding this issue and no disciplinary action is suggested or needed.”
This felt a little over the top for second grade, but I signed it anyway. I shoved the paper back in her direction, and she clapped her hands together like she’d just won some sort of battle.
“Okay. Now that that unpleasantness is over, maybe we could go grab a drink?”
Is this woman serious?
“Why would we do that?”
She looked momentarily flustered, but she quickly recovered. “Because I’m single. You’re single. We could have a little fun.”
“It’s not appropriate. You’re my child’s teacher.”For now, I thought to myself. “It wouldn’t be right to cross that line,” I said even though there were about a thousand other reasons I’d never date this woman or have her involved in raising my daughter outside of the classroom.
“Can’t blame a girl for trying,” she said, but I wanted to.
The only thing stopping me from giving her another lecture was the fact that Clara enjoyed having Miss Shooster as a teacher. Although after today’s meeting, I wasn’t sure why. I planned on asking her just that when I got home later. I didn’t like the idea of Clara being around someone for hours a day that encouraged her to lie under the guise of being a good person.
I left the overly cheery classroom without so much as another word. There was nothing left to say. I shut the door harder than necessary, and when I turned to apologize, I swallowed it instead.
I wasn’t sorry at all.
By the time I got back to the resort, I was amped up, irritated, and pissed off. Walking through the lobby, I almost ran right over Brooklyn, who wasn’t paying attention to where she was going.
“Brooklyn,” I growled, and she looked up from the papers she held in both hands to meet my eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too,” she bit out with just as much ire as I’d just given her. “I work here, remember?”
I glanced at my watch out of habit more than anything else. “Not for another two weeks, I thought.”
“Felicia didn’t need the notice. Let me leave right away,” she informed me.
That was actually a good thing. So, why couldn’t I fucking act like it?