Amanda
My hands continue to shake uncontrollably as I drive from work to my parents’ home. Forget that, my entire body is experiencing tremors. I keep replaying the scene at the office when I arrived to work after my latest meeting with Mrs. Landecker.
As soon as I arrived, I stuck my head in Ms. DeVoe’s office. “Hi. I wanted to let you know I’m here.”
“Amanda, come in and shut the door.”
I did as she asked, taking a seat on the other side of her desk. As I looked at my manager, I thought about Mr. P.’s desk and how his wasn’t set in a position of authority like Ms. DeVoe’s or even Mrs. Williams’s.
“I hate to be the one to mention this,” Ms. DeVoe said, “but the amount of time you’re missing from work lately is becoming unacceptable.”
I sat forward. “My job isn’t going undone. You’re aware that there have been—”
“Part of your job is being here from eight until five. Things come up. You can’t simply skimp on your job to finish tasks when you’re not putting in the time that’s required...that’s expected.”
“I don’t skimp. You know that I’m often here after five.”
“You’ve also missed significant chunks of time over the last few weeks...”
“I explained that my son is having—”
“I’m not asking you to make a choice between your job and your son. I’m sure it’s not easy being a single mom.”
With my pulse thumping, I simply replied, “Good.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said good. I’m glad you’re not asking me to make a choice.”
“Amanda, when you’re present you do excellent work. You make a good salary and have health benefits for you and your son. You need this job.”
I do, she’s right, but the truth is that Jase is covered under his father’s military benefits. However, I do still need this job.
“...it needs to stop, now. No more unscheduled time off.”
“But tomorrow—”
Ms. DeVoe’s hand went in the air, stopping me before I could explain about my meeting with the principal and how tomorrow morning I would need to take Jase to school...before I could explain that for the first time since kindergarten began, I had hope.
“No, not tomorrow,” she said with a tone of ultimatum. “If you plan to continue working here, you will not miss the meetings we have scheduled for the next three days. You know that every year we hold these meetings with our health insurance provider, going over the new plans for next year and all of our employee options. The mandatory sign-up is coming November first. It’s your responsibility to know the plans inside and out, and this is the time.” She leaned forward. “Tell me you didn’t forget.”
I didn’t, but I did.
Instead of answering, I said, “His school starts at nine. I can be here by ten.”
“I’ll see you at eight sharp tomorrow morning—and check your computer. I’ve sent you a list of projects that need your immediate attention.”
“Ms. DeVoe—”
She’d already turned away toward her computer. At the sound of her name, her neck straightened, and she turned back to me. “Is there anything else, Ms. Wells?”
Even imagining her as Glenn Close with a big hideous smile couldn’t take away my hurt and anger. All the way from Jase’s school to work I’d been encouraged and even excited. And in a matter of minutes with my manager, my entire world was caving in.
As I left her office, I knew what I would do...what I would do again. I’d ask my mom to take my place. I hated that. I knew she would, but she shouldn’t have to. Of course, I thought of Jackson.
If only...
And then my mind somehow went to Malcolm. I could never ask him. He has his own job, his own career. Even if things were different...it wouldn’t be his responsibility to help Jase’s transition at school.
Throughout the day I gritted my teeth and tried to remember puppies. I tried to remember Mr. P.’s classroom...and by gosh, I did everything—every damn thing—on Cruella de Vil’s list and everything else she came up with, including adding plant-feeding sticks to her precious plants.
Apparently, Phil is still having some erection issues and she hopes the vitamin sticks will help.
Now that I am on my way to pick up Jase at my parents’, I’m once again upset. I’ve already called Mom and of course she said yes, but that doesn’t ease my anger at the unfairness.
As I pull into my parents’ driveway, I see Jase in the garage with my dad. The large door is open and they’re over by my dad’s workbench. Getting out of my car, I start walking their direction when Jase turns. With a big smile on his face, he runs toward me, and small arms encircle my waist.
“Mom, you can’t look.”
“I can’t? At what?”
“Grandpa and I are making you something special. It’s a surprise.”
I look over at my dad. He’s shaking his head with a big smile.
“Thanks, Dad. You know how I love surprises.”
“This one you will. Go see your mom.” He waves me toward the house. “Us men are busy.”
“Yep, us men,” Jase repeats.
I give each man a kiss on the cheek and head inside.
“Oh, Amanda,” my mom says as soon as she hears me enter.
Their house smells heavenly of whatever she’s cooking for dinner. Why does someone else’s cooking always smell so marvelous?
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
“Come, let’s sit down.”
It’s never a good sign when my mom wants to sit. So many things can be said standing. It’s only the important or possibly upsetting things that require sitting. “Is it you or Dad? How about Alec? Is everyone all right?”
“No, dear, it’s nothing like that,” she says as she walks to the table with two cups of tea. “Here, it’s getting cold out there. Warm tea always makes things better.”
“Mom, is this about tomorrow?”
“Kind of.”
“Are you unable to go with him?” I hear the panic in my own tone. To hell with my job. If my mom can’t go, I will. Let the chips fall where they may.
“Of course I can go to Jase’s school. I just wanted to show you a note from Mrs. Williams. It was addressed to you. I’m sorry I opened it, but after your call and what you said about your meeting with the principal, I thought...well, the truth is I was curious.”
I slowly reach for the envelope. That’s another bad sign. A note that says Hey, your child is doing great doesn’t come in an envelope. I remove the page of paper and begin to read.
Mrs. Harrison,
I look up. “I’ve told that woman a hundred times my name is Wells.”
“Some people have difficulty with that.”
“Obviously,” I say before I go back to reading.
Mrs. Harrison,
Today was a particularly trying day with Jason. Though he obviously knows the material, he refused to participate in class, saying he was tired. I sent him to the nurse’s office, but after a few minutes he returned. During rest time, he was no longer tired, but rambunctious.
In my experience, I have seen this situation helped with a doctor’s intervention.
I will be sending a recommendation in the next day. Please consider this option for the future success of Jason’s educational experience.
Mrs. Williams
“What?” I ask. “She thinks he needs a doctor. Why?”
“I can only assume to settle him down.”
“No.”
My mom reaches out, and her hand covers mine. “Honey, I don’t think it’s out of the question. It’s very helpful for some children. However, I think she didn’t know yet about the class change. In my opinion, this class change may be the best thing for Jase. You can keep the possibility of seeing a doctor in mind if the change in classrooms doesn’t work, but didn’t you say this other teacher has a different strategy?”
I lean my forehead down to the table. My voice is muffled. “Mom, this is so hard.”
She touches my hair. “No one said parenting was easy.”
I look back up. “But it’s not supposed to be done alone...”
“You’re not alone. I’m here. Your dad is here. And what about Malcolm, that man you’ve been seeing?”
As opposed to another Malcolm?
I don’t even answer. She knows how I feel about that. Instead, I focus on the new classroom. “Mrs. Landecker said the new classroom is organized- or managed-chaos, but it works. Did I tell you the teacher is a man?”
Mom leans back against the kitchen chair and smiles. It’s closed lip, like she does when she’s contemplating. “That might be just what the doctor ordered.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s what Mrs. Williams had in mind.”
Mom looks toward the door that leads to the garage, making sure we’re alone. “That woman’s an old biddy with antiquated notions. She needs to retire. I like what Mrs. Landecker has in mind. It certainly can’t hurt to try.”
I finally reach for my tea. “I hope so.”
“Will you and Jase stay for dinner? I made plenty.”
“Does he have any homework?” It’s silly to me that kindergarteners have homework, but he does.
“It’s all done. That’s how I found the note.”
“I have food at home to cook.”
“And I have food here that’s already cooked,” she says with a bigger grin.
“Thanks, Mom.”