Page 11 of Steel & Jenna
Mrs. Zarin leaned over so she was more at Lilly’s height level. “And who might you be, little lady?”
“Lilly,” his sister answered softly.
Mrs. Zarin nodded, though she no doubt already knew the names of all her students before they even stepped foot in her classroom. “And if there was one thing you wanted me to know about you, Lilly Duncan, what would it be?”
Lilly glanced up at Jack and then back to Mrs. Zarin. “I like books.”
Mrs. Zarin smiled. “Then you and I have that in common. Do you know how to read your name, Lilly?” At Lilly’s nod, Mrs. Zarin said, “Why don’t you go find your desk then? I’ve got a gift basket with your name on it.”
At the word ‘gift’, Lilly’s eyes went wide. She gave Jack a quick hug and then practically ran into the classroom.
Jack watched her go, feeling forlorn. It took him a moment to center himself to face Mrs. Zarin. While he couldn’t trust her with how bad their home situation was, he also needed to give her a warning about their dad. Jack didn’t think that John Duncan would try to take Lilly from school, but he wasn’t about to risk it.
But the look in Mrs. Zarin’s eyes stopped the words in his throat. The look of…knowledge. Like she already knew exactly what Jack was about to say.
“Why don’t we step over here for a moment?” Mrs. Zarin gestured to the corner of the hallway. Her classroom was the last one on the right and one of the kindergarten rooms across the hall. It wasn’t private, but it was more secluded than outside her classroom.
Mrs. Zarin turned so she was facing the hallway and could still see her classroom door. “I’m sorry about your mom, Jack. I know she’s not dead, but that doesn’t make her any less gone from your life.”
Jack refused to acknowledge the pang of sadness in his chest at her words. “We’re making do.”
A suspicious eyebrow raised up. “Are you?”
Jack stiffened. If Mrs. Zarin reported their situation to Social Services, Lilly could get taken away without their dad even being involved. Maybe it was a mistake to want to talk to her. Maybe he shouldn’t hint that there was anything going on with their dad. He cleared his throat and said defensively, “Yes.”
Mrs. Zarin nodded slowly, but Jack got the sense that she didn’t believe him. “I am not discounting anything you’ve done or are doing to take care of your sister. You’d be surprised how people talk in this town. Eyes and ears everywhere, yet no one lifts a finger to help two kids obviously in need.” Jack swallowed audibly. “I am going to ask you this question once, Jack, and whatever you say will remain between the two of us. Are you safe?”
Jack thought of their bathroom routine, having to take Lilly with him on his paper route, and her needing to sleep in his bed so shecould actually relax enoughtofall asleep. But if he answered with the truth, Mrs. Zarin might report them.
Yet, he remembered Mrs. Zarin from his time in first grade. She was nicer than many of the other teachers and always had a way of knowing when a student forgot something essential for school.
Torn between the truth and a lie, Jack found himself admitting, “As safe as we can be.”
Mrs. Zarin didn’t nod or acknowledge his words at all. “And does Lilly have everything she needs for the school year?”
Jack nodded, not wanting to mention the winter coat he still needed to get for her. Then he remembered, “I got tissues for you.” He pulled his own backpack around to his front and took out the partly smooshed tissue box that he’d gotten at the dollar store for the classroom.
Mrs. Zarin’s smile was sincere as she accepted the box. “Much appreciated, Jack, but I wish you had saved the money for something for Lilly.”
“Lilly has what she needs,” Jack assured her. “I’m going to stop by the cafeteria on my way out to buy her lunches for the month. My,” his voice broke on the lie, “my dad gave me the money for her.”
Mrs. Zarin’s eyes narrowed in a way that told Jack sheknewhe’d lied. “I’ve already paid for her lunches.”
Jack stiffened. “You what?”
“I told you, this town has a way of talking and no one lifts a finger to help two kids in need.” She started past him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Consider this me lifting a finger. If you needanything, Jack, you let me know. Night or day. I’ll give Lilly an envelope at the end of the day for you. It’ll have my address and phone number in it.” She patted his shoulder. “You better get yourself to school, too, Jack.”
Jack was so shocked that he stood there speechless. Mrs. Zarin was nearly back at her classroom by the time he snapped out of it. Running to catch up, he asked, “Why?”
“Because I believe no child should suffer for the sins of theirparents. If someone hadn’t helped my husband out when he was your age, he would not be where he is today. There’s a good chance he wouldn’t even be,” she glanced at the kids around them and amended her next words to, “six feet above ground, and he certainly wouldn’t be with me. I wish to do my part in offering the same kindness to others. I’m here for whatever you and Lilly need, Jack.” She tipped her head down the hall. “Now get to class. Trust me, Lilly is in good hands.”
Jack swallowed hard. “Thank you.” There really were no other words.
Mrs. Zarin nodded once before turning her attention to the next student approaching her classroom.
Jack peeked around her into the class to find Lilly standing beside a desk at the front of the classroom. A small basket filled with construction paper, scissors, glue, and colored pencils was on her desk. On the chalkboard was handwriting Jack was surprised he recognized as Mrs. Zarin’s explaining that the students were going to be decorating their baskets with their name that would then go into a cubby.
That was a new project. Jack didn’t remember doing that on his first day. Then again, it had been nine years. When Lilly looked up, a great, big smile on her face, she waved enthusiastically at Jack.
