Page 32 of Teaching Tanner

I jump at the sound of my own name and turn back to find Alexander’s mother approaching. She left abruptly this morning, when I entered the classroom with Addison, but she’s obviously discovered my name in the meantime, and she’s staring up at me now with a frown on her face.

This doesn’t look good.

“Yes? You’re Mrs. Knox. Alexander’s mother.”

“At least you know that much,” she says with disdain. “I wanted to talk to you this morning, but there wasn’t time.”

“Sorry about that.” I don’t know why I’m apologizing to her. She’s the one who dismissed me and then practically ran away.

“I wanted to discuss a few things with you,” she says, ignoring my apology.

“Oh?”

“Yes, you see Alexander attended the nursery school in Willmont Vale, and I have to say I was disappointed with how little studying the children did there.”

“Studying? At a nursery school?” I say, my brow furrowing. What did she expect? Dostoyevski over their morning milk and cookies?

“Yes. Children need to be educated, not left to play.”

“I agree. At least, I agree to an extent. Academic studies are important, but children need to have fun, too. It’s all about balance.”

“Fun?” She seems outraged and pulls herself up to her full height of approximately five foot six, in her ludicrous heels.

“Yes. I firmly believe that if learning is fun, children of this age will retain the information better.”

“That’s all well and good, but I don’t think you’re allowing for how intelligent Alexander is.”

I hadn’t noticed, to be honest. “I’m sure he is,” I say. “But I have to accommodate all the children in the class, not just one.”

“So, you’re planning to dumb down the lessons to the lowest common denominator, are you?”

“That’s not what I said. I was…”

“Excuse us…”

I look up at the sound of a deep male voice, grateful for the interruption, and find myself looking at the sheriff and Addison’s mom.

“Yes?” I say and he smiles.

“I’m having a conversation with Miss Howell,” Mrs. Knox says, stepping a little closer to me, like she’s taking possession.

“I know, and I’m really sorry to interrupt, but I’ve gotta get back to work.” Sheriff Hanson tilts his head to one side, although there’s a definite glint in his eye. “I’m sure you don’t mind, do you, Anita?”

Mrs. Knox sighs out her frustration. “I suppose not,” she says, turning to me. “We’ll have to continue this later in the week.”

“Of course.”

She leaves, without saying ‘goodbye’ to any of us, and I feel myself sag with relief.

“Was she giving you a hard time?” Addison’s mom asks, although I notice she’s smiling.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I say, giving her a smile in return. That’s a bare-faced lie. I didn’t feel like I was handling Mrs. Knox very well at all, but I know better than to share my professional problems among parents. “How can I help?”

They both step forward, holding hands. “I’m sure Miss Montgomery has told you about our situation, and what’s happening with Addy and the adoption,” the sheriff says. “But we wanted to check you’re okay with everything. We meant to ask this morning, but we were running late, and…”

“It’s fine,” I say, interrupting his flow. “But thank you for asking.”

“Has she been okay?” Addison’s mom asks.

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