Page 41 of Love By The Falls

“Well, I should speak to Principal Cerqueti about that.”

“That would be awesome. Thanks.”

Twenty minutes later, I pick up the car keys and nearly shut the door behind us when I spot Charlie’s lunch bag on the counter. I groan, “Not again.” Rushing back into the kitchen, I grab his bag and toss it to him. “I think I’ll teach you to make your lunch from now on, Charlie.”

“Sure. I’d love to have gummy bears and fruit roll ups every day.”

I shake my head. “Never mind.”

There are two elementary schools in town and one high school. While I could have enrolled him in either school, I picked this one because it was closer to home, and only a five-minute drive. On warmer days, Charlie and I could walk, but it takes more than thirty minutes and we’re never ready in time for that.

“Charlie,” Anthony calls out from the schoolyard. “I got the ball!”

“Yes!” shouts Charlie and runs toward him. “Bye, Mom!”

“Bye, Charlie.”

I drop my purse and bag on my desk and hang up my coat.

“Ms. Tanner?” I jump at the sound of the soft voice in the distance.

With my hand to my heart, I turn toward the sound. Savannah is sitting on the floor of the meditation center in the corner. “Savannah, what are you doing here? You should be outside until the bell rings.”

“I know,” she says. “But Caro was mean to me, and she made me cry. I came inside because I don’t want the others to see me.”

Dropping next to her on the mat, I sit cross-legged. Thankfully, I’m wearing a long black blouse, black tights and boots instead of a dress. “What happened?”

“Caro told the other girls not to be my friend because I said I didn’t want to go to her stupid party, anyway.”

I sigh. Caro’s mother asked me to hand out birthday invitations to the students in class, only she didn’t have an invitation for all the girls, only a select few. I have a strict policy that I don’t hand out invitations unless there’s one for everyone. I’ve seen how much it hurts when a student is left out. Caro’s mother must have had Caro do it herself or gone through the supply teacher while I was away.

“I’m sorry Caro didn’t invite you to her party. That wasn’t a very nice thing to do.”

“No, it wasn’t,” she sniffed.

“You are a very smart, caring, and wonderful person, Savannah. And because you’re so special, sometimes it takes a little longer to find the right friends, but trust me, one day you will meet them.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I know so. I was just like you. Well, maybe not just like you, because I don’t think I had any friends. I was afraid to put myself out there, but you know what?”

“What?”

“I found two amazing people who mean the world to me and are incredibly caring and generous. We’ve been friends for almost twenty years.”

Her eyes bug out. “Wow, Ms. Tanner, that’s a long time. How old are you?”

I frown and tilt my head. “Not that old, Savannah.”

She nods. “Are they your best friends?”

“Yes. But I have other friends, too. Some I talk to everyday and others not so often, but every time we see each other, we have a great time. You’ll have lots of friends, Savannah. I promise.”

Savannah turns and throws her arms around me. “Thanks, Ms. Tanner. You’re a good friend.”

My throat tightens at her words. Here I was thinking I would lift her spirits when she lifted mine. “So are you.”

The bell rings, and she snatches her arms from my waist when the other kids file inside. Caro looks over at Savannah, who’s smiling, and her eyes narrow. She turns to Sarah next to her and whispers something in her ear. They both giggle and walk away. I want to go over there and shake them both, but I can’t do that. Instead, I ask for everyone’s attention.

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