No one expected the student's mother to come storming in right after class. She had rushed over to drop off her daughter's homework packet, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. She discovered Teresa had sent the girl to the nurse's office instead of keeping her in class. The mother immediately lost her temper and demanded to speak with Teresa, leading to a confrontation in the principal's office.
Teresa explained, โYour daughter was coughing badly in my class, and she looked exhaustedโlike she hadn't slept in days. What she really needs is rest. Her health matters more than her grades.โ
The woman scoffed. โShe's my kid. How I raise her is my business, not yours. If I say she studies, she studies. Kids can't afford to fall behind at the starting line. If she does, who's going to take responsibility?โ
โWill you? If you can guarantee it, then fine, Ms. Johnston. Let her play every day if you want. But you'd better promise me she'll get into Querencia University.โ
Teresa's patience thinned, and her face hardened. โEvery parent cares about their child. I was just thinking from a mother's perspective. It hurts to see a child forced to study when she's sick. She's only in third grade, and the workload isn't that heavy. Once she's healthy again, she can easily catch up.โ
The woman pressed, โAnd what about your kid? Where's your child? Let me see them. I want to ask if you tell your own kid not to study and just play all day. Is that your idea of parenting?โ
โYou!โ Teresa started to retort, but the homeroom teacher beside her gently tugged her arm. Most of the teachers in the office knew Teresa was single and childless. The homeroom teacher, experienced with such situations, wanted to prevent escalation.
When faced with an unreasonable parent, there's only one thing to do: endure it. Teresa didn't want to, but she had no choice. Pushing back too hard would leave the homeroom teacher to clean up the mess. She didn't mind taking the blame herself, but she couldn't involve the innocent homeroom teacher. So, Teresa swallowed her pride, apologized to the girl's mother, and the woman finally left, satisfied.
Later, Lysander said to Teresa, โMs. Johnston, youโve got a great figure. That long dress looks amazing on you today.โ
โGet lost,โ Teresa snapped, turning to leave.
โStop!,โ Lysander's face turned cold. โYou think you can act up just because youโre pretty? Iโm the principal; you follow the rules. Otherwise, you wonโt last a day in Everport.โ
โGo ahead, threaten me again. Iโve got nothing to lose,โ Teresa retorted.
โA stain on your record? Good luck finding work anywhere else. Everport wonโt have you anymore.โ
Teresa didnโt say another word. She slammed the door and left. If she were truly alone, she could drift from place to place and call anywhere home. But she had a son, and another baby on the way. Sheโd already left Nareigh, left Fernlandia, and moved again in less than a year. Nareigh was her roots, the place she knew best, where no one dared lay a finger on her. But she couldnโt go back.
After leaving school, Teresa didn't go straight home. She planned to grab something to eatโshe lacked the energy to cook. Then she twisted her ankle and ended up sitting on the steps, tears streaming down her face.
A passerby stopped and asked, โMiss, are you okay? Do you need any help?โ
Teresa shook her head. It was just a twisted ankle; she'd be fine after a little rest. Maybe to others it seemed sillyโshe was a grown woman, after all. But it's like when someone spills their milkshake or a bag of oranges breaks, and suddenly they just start crying. Itโs never really about that last straw.
Night fell, and the city lights flickered on, but she didnโt have anyone to talk to, to vent or complain to. Teresa wiped her tears away. This was the path she chose; sheโd already made her decision.