Page 108 of One Night

Her mom walks up to us. "She has a dentist appointment." She smiles. "I'm Rhonda, Emily's mom. I'm guessing you're Amber?"

"Yeah. Nice to meet you." I stand up and shake her hand.

"She talks about you all the time."

"Amber has a boyfriend," Emily says to her mom. "They might get married but only if they're in love."

I laugh. "We just started dating," I tell her mom. "Marriage is a long ways off."

"But they should get married because he's Prince Charming and Amber's a princess."

"I am?"

She nods. "We both are." She looks at her mom. "I gotta go potty."

"Okay, go ahead. I'll wait here."

Emily runs off to the bathroom.

"So how's the reading going?" her mom asks. "Her teacher said she's still struggling."

"She is. She has trouble concentrating. She can't stay focused. I think it's because she's frustrated." I want to suggest Emily be tested for dyslexia but I don't know if it's my place to do so. But then I think of what Dylan's mom said about how much better Dylan did in school once he was diagnosed so I decide to just ask her. "Have you ever had Emily tested for dyslexia?"

"No. Why?" Rhonda's brows draw together and I can't tell if she's mad at me for suggesting it or concerned that her daughter has it.

"My boyfriend is dyslexic and his mom said he really struggled when he was first learning to read. He couldn't focus and he got easily frustrated, much like Emily. But once they figured out the issue, things were a lot better. His grades improved, and now it's like you wouldn't even know that he has it. In fact, I didn't know until just last week."

"I hadn't considered she might have a learning disability." Rhonda sounds concerned, not angry, so at least she's not mad at me for bringing it up. "I would've thought if she did have some kind of issue, her teachers would know."

"They might just think she has trouble concentrating or can't sit still long enough to read. I don't know. I was only suggesting that maybe you look into it. I could be completely off base but I've been working with Emily all semester and nothing has changed, so maybe this is why."

Rhonda nods. "I'm glad you said something. I hadn't even thought about that, but maybe that IS what's causing her to struggle. I'll talk to her teacher about it. So as for your boyfriend, how's he doing now? As an adult?"

"He's doing great. He's in college and he's in a band and writes his own music and lyrics. He said he has to work a little harder than other people but he's used to it now so he doesn't think anything of it. I mentioned Emily to him and he said if you find out she's dyslexic, he'd be happy to talk to her. Let her know she's not alone."

She smiles. "Sounds like a nice young man."

"Yeah, he is."

Emily comes running back in the room and up to her mom. She holds her hands up. "There's no towels."

"They must be out. We'll tell your teacher. For now, just wave your hands around until they're dry."

"Okay." She does a little dance as she waves her hands in the air.

"We'll see you later," her mom says.

"Yeah, bye."

I hope she's able to get Emily tested. She's such a sweet little girl and I know she wants to be able to read.

"I talked to Emily's mom," I say to Dylan when I get to work. He always arrives earlier than me because he comes straight from class and the hospital isn't that far from his campus.

"How'd it go?"

"Good. Her mom thought it was a good idea to get Emily tested. She's going to talk to her teacher." I sit at my desk and wake up the computer. "I told her about you. I hope that's okay."

"It's fine. I told you I'm not ashamed or embarrassed by it. I just learn differently than other people. It's not a big deal."

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