Page 18 of Leo
She sighed.“I just want to stress that Bethany has done nothing wrong, and she’s not under any obligation to take part in the activities and enrichment programs I’m suggesting.”
“Enrichment programs?You mean more workshops like the ones you suggested over the summer?”
“Well,” she hedged.“These are a bit different.The high school has a partnership with several community centers in the county and they offer programs for kids who might feel isolated or…”
“Different?”I asked dryly.“Weird?”
Steel entered her tone.“I can email you the information, Mr.Jennings, but these programs are simply opportunities for kids like Bethany to interact with others in their age cohort and form a social network of sorts.”More gently, she added, “Bethany is a lovely girl, Mr.Jennings, but I know she’s lonely.She won’t say it outright, but I’ve seen her during passing periods and at lunch.She rarely interacts with other students and, when she does, the interactions aren’t always pleasant.Kids are often cruel and while the majority of our student body are wonderful and accepting, there’s a handful who choose to be unkind to those who are different.”
“And Bethany’s different,” I murmured.“I’m not making her change just because some snot-nosed brats aren’t mature enough to handle the fact not everyone is going to look, act, think, and believe like they do.”Today must be the day for school bullshit, I thought.Maybe they’ve got some sort of schedule up in the offices over at the school district.Monday, piss off single parents and caregivers.Tuesday, more of the same.Wednesday, organize a pep rally…
“No, Mr.Jennings,” she soothed.“And that’s not what I’m suggesting.I’m just letting you know there’s some programs available for Bethany, if she chooses, and they’re there for her—for kids like her—to make friends with others who are in the same boat.Of course, there’s a bit of a guidance component,” she added.“Nothing serious, nothing psychiatric or anything.These are just weekend workshops and activities.”She chuckled.“But the programs are staffed by licensed social workers or other counselors who have experience with teenagers.Particularly teenagers who might be having a difficult time due to things like the loss of a parent…”
I hesitated.She had me and she knew it.“Send the information over,” I sighed.“I’ll take a look but I’m not committing her to anything before I have a chance to read up on it, alright?”
“Of course not,” she said, sounding pleased.She verified my personal email and promised me she’d have it sent within the hour.I hung up feeling oddly wrung out and defensive.
I wrote a text to Leo.Wish you were here.
I deleted it, shoving my phone in my pocket and forcing myself to start the onerous task of organizing our mailing list.
At least I have the chamber of commerce meeting to look forward to…
CHAPTER7
LEO
You’re being selfish,the inner voice that sounded entirely too much like my father snapped.You’re neglecting your child to go get your rocks off.You’re using a professional meeting as an excuse to hook up!You could be spending this time with Edward, after the shit week he’s had.Edward, who seemed perfectly happy to spend more time with his Aunt Gnome and was already talking about his grand plan for dominating Leslie’s high scores on some game they’d been playing together.The bad mood he’d been in when I picked him up from school was all but forgotten, at least for him.For me, it was a fresh wound.Another reminder that I shouldn’t be taking time to have a nice evening out with a cute guy but rather figuring out how to address the issues at Edward’s school.When Ms.Webb had pulled me aside from the pick up queue, I’d hoped it was to tell me she’d implemented the IEP Edward’s team had developed.Instead, it was to tell me she wanted Edward to practice making direct eye contact.“With every conversation, Mr.Morris.He spent this afternoon in the Think About It Cornerafter refusing to comply with directions and staring at the flags on my desk instead of making eye contact.I also confiscated this,” she’d said, handing me the smooth plastic tangle toy Edward usually had in one of his pockets or his backpack, for when he needed to do something with his hands.
It had taken every ounce of willpower I had left in my body not to shout at her but, instead, take the tangle toy and say in as calm a voice as I could muster, “I’ve asked repeatedly for you to follow the IEP for Edward, which includes the fact he uses this”—I shook the toy—“and several other fidgets to stim.And we’ve discussed the direct eye contact thing several times.It’s also on his IEP as a harmful practice.We don’t do that applied behavior analysis crap with Edward, Ms.Webb.You agreed to that in the meeting before the school year got underway.”
“Mr.Morris,” she said, voice tight and crisp.“Edward has a lot of potential.His refusal to follow classroom rules and continually refuse to be in compliance with my direction is creating an unsatisfactory learning environment.I cannot simply change my entire classroom for one child.It would be unfair to the others.”
“That’s not how this works,” I said, my head starting to throb with anger and frustration.
“Mr.Morris,” she said firmly, “this is the pick up line.If you wish to discuss this further, contact the office.”
I’d left with Edward, who had been happily looking for more beetles under leaf litter in Naomi and Mike’s yard, and headed home to dither about the date (not date?) with Ambrose.Knowing he was going to Aunt Gnome’s for the evening had brightened Edward’s mood considerably, so I forced myself to get ready instead of calling Ambrose to back out.
Way to be selfish, Leo…
It was Dad’s voice calling me selfish that I heard when Naomi gave me that little smirk of hers, the one that said she was onto me, that she approved of my fuckery and she wanted details later.“Hey, kiddo,” I said, crouching beside Edward as he shed his backpack and shoes just inside the door.“I’ll be back a little after nine, okay?”
“Uh huh.Can I play on Leslie’s Switch?”
“Ah, I think you need to ask Leslie first.”
“Okay.Have fun.Love you.”He pressed a kiss to my cheek and took off at a run for the living room, where the Meyers kept their video game systems.
“Yeah, he’s totally suffering now that you’re out there, living life,” Naomi said.“Better start saving for his therapy now because puberty’s gonna be ugly.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” I muttered, rising back up.“He had another rough day today.I almost canceled on Ambrose just to keep Edward home so he could process.”We both glanced at where Edward was huddled with Leslie on some sofa cushions on the floor, already good naturedly arguing about the game she’d queued up.
“I can see he’s absolutely desolate,” Naomi said dryly.At the expression on my face, she sighed and reached out to rub my arm.“Kids are resilient, to an extent.He’s going to be mad and hurt about today, but having a fun night with his extended family might be a nice balm on that wound.”
“You are so not an English major.”
“Accounting all the way, baby.But I’m willing to channel my inner WWE smack down goddess and take on this wicked witch for you, if you want.She doesn’t know me.One solid elbow drop to the solar plexus for hurting your kid and I’m off like a shadow in the night.She’ll never be able to pick me out of a line up.”
