Page 97 of Pack: Posy 3

Mr. Varner introduced his companion, Mrs. Shanique Terrell, who was a guidance counselor that would be helping get our classes sorted out.

Wyatt and I left most of the talking up to Emerson, who explained that he'd managed to get us younger siblings out of the home of our abusive parents earlier this spring. We'd taken the summer to heal our injuries, move here, find a therapist, and begin rebuilding our mental and emotional health.

He also explained a bit about Thoreau, and Mrs. Terrell seemed to know what he was talking about. In fact, when Thoreau started to have a meltdown, she left the conference room for a few minutes and came back with a small bin of toys.

"Here, Reau," she said kindly. "Try playing with these and see if you like them."

He immediately reached in and grabbed two round metal balls that were shiny and reflective. I didn't understand what was so interesting about them, but he was fascinated for the rest of the meeting.

"We'll need to do a child study to have him formally identified and see what level he's on in reading and math," Mrs. Terrell said. "We need to have an official diagnosis, then we can assign a case manager who will create an IEP - an individualized education plan. This will include accommodations for in class, testing, and more."

"This is something you've seen and worked with before?" Emerson asked.

"Yes. I'm not a pediatrician or a psychologist. I can't and won't make any kind of diagnosis, but I have twenty-five years of experience working with students like Reau. I can tell some things just by observing and talking with him. You said he goes to a private psychologist?"

"Yes. Dr. Alonzo York," Angelo said. "He also moved to the area recently."

"I'm sure Dr. York can give you some advice on sensory toys like those reflective balls he's playing with right now, but his case manager will also have some information for you as he or she works up his plan. Does he struggle with anger or violent outbursts?"

"No. Not at all." Angelo shook his head. "He gets loud when he's excited, but does not like loud noises. He can also become quite fearful, which we believe stems from the abuse he suffered."

"He's a pretty happy kid most of the time, though," Emerson added, "and is usually content ticking along in his own little world. He has some quirks, but nothing I consider unmanageable."

Mrs. Terrell nodded, then said, "If you would prefer, your Dr. York can do the work up and that will save time. Otherwise, we can arrange for our school psychologist to meet and test him in a couple of months or so."

"Months?"Emerson's eyebrows shot up. "School will be started by then and he won't have a plan in place."

"I'm sorry." Mrs. Terrell gave him a gentle smile. "We have one psychologist for the entire district, and he had appointments and testing scheduled for well into December. That's one of the drawbacks of a public school, I'm afraid."

"Dr. York will do whatever needs to be done by the end of next week," Wyatt said, and reached into his pocket for his phone. "You can contact him directly to set it up. He also has years and years of experience, so he's probably done similar testing in the past. Do you have a piece of paper?"

She slid her notebook and pen over to him, and he copied Dr. York's number from his phone, then also listed his number, Emerson's number, and Angelo's number and labeled each.

"Now, let's talk about classes." Wyatt drew a line under the phone numbers. "Here is a list of people that I trust. So long as at least one of them is in each of Posy's classes, I'll be happy. As for Reau, he's great friends with my little brother, Wayne, and Cole's little brother, Archer Barlow. You remember Cole, right?"

"Oh, yes," Mr. Varner and Mrs. Terrell said in unison with an eye roll on the principal's part, making me giggle.

"Are you sure you want your little brother hanging out with Wayne and Archer?" Mrs. Terrell joked. "They're well-known pranksters around here!"

"Arch and Wayne are my besties!" Thoreau crowed, looking up from his toys for a moment. "Oops. Sorry! Inside voice."

"Make sure at least one of them is in Reau's classes, please," Emerson said. "They can help him if he goes off the rails."

"They have the same schedule, which I'msurethey planned, so that's easy to do," Mr. Varner said as he stared at his laptop screen. "I'm looking at their electives, though, and they signed up for Italian I, sculpture, and auto mechanics. Reau, are you interested in those things?"

" 'Talian?" Thoreau's curly head popped up again. "Gelo speaks 'Talian."

"Yeah, I can help him with it so that one's okay. I'm not sure about the other two, though." Angelo looked at Emerson.

"Auto mechanics is fine since they're always at Nathan Barlow's garage, but he's not going to like sculpture," Emerson said. "He got cookie dough on his hands the other day and that turned into major drama. I can't see him working with clay."

"What electives amIin?" I asked, looking up at Wyatt. "He could be with me. Or Tyler or Peri."

"Be—" Thoreau caught himself before saying beta. "Ty and Peri? Ooh! Ty is so handsome and Peri is so pretty!"

"Oh, dear, does someone have a little crush?" Mrs. Terrell teased with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Crush?" Thoreau's head tilted to the side. "Orange Crush? No, I like milk!"

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