Page 73 of The Double Play

“My name is Hazel James. I’m here to pick up June Foster. I’d like to speak to the principal and June’s teacher before getting her though.”

“I’m not sure it will be possible to speak to her teacher, as classes are in session right now. If Principal Hadston is available, then she can speak with you.”

“The principal will do for now.”

I’ll make sure the teacher is spoken to before I leave.

“I’ll check if she has time.” The woman picks up the phone receiver on her desk. She turns around and murmurs quietly. I make out June’s name, but not much else. She turns back around. “She said she can see you in a few minutes.”

“I’d like to check on June in the meantime, then. She called me from the nurse’s office.”

After checking my driver’s license, she makes another call, letting the nurse know June has someone here to pick her up. A minute later, June is running into the lobby. I open my arms and wrap her tiny frame in a hug when she gets to me.

“I’m so sorry, sweet pea. Miss Hazel is going to take care of everything, okay?”

“O-Okay,” she sniffles against my shirt.

I hold her tight until a woman steps out of a nearby office.

“Miss James?” she questions. I meet her eyes and nod. “You can come in now.”

I spot a chair beside the office door and lead June to it. “You sit here, okay, sweet pea? I’m going to have a little chat with your principal and then we’ll go get a sweet treat, whatever you want.”

June sits down in the chair, scooting back until her feet dangle. She gives me a weak smile and nod. The lack of her usual exuberance throws gasoline on the inferno that is my anger. I walk into the office seething so much I almost forget to shut the door behind me so June doesn’t hear.

“What brings you in today, Miss James?”

Principal Hadston sits behind her wooden desk. She steeples her hands as if she’s a CEO in a room of board members. I rest my hands on the back of the chair, refusing to sit even when she gestures to the seat.

“I received a distressing call from June today. She told me that during recess, there was a group of kids bullying her. When she spoke with her teacher, nothing was done about it.”

“That is very concerning.” I grip the chair at her condescending tone. “I’m certain that her teacher would have done something, though. We have lofty standards for conflict resolution here. All of our staff is highly trained.”

“Are you questioning the validity of June’s words?” I keep my tone measured.

“Sheisonly five years old.” Principal Hadston smiles. I do not.

“You’re accusing her of lying.”

“No, I’m simply stating that she could have easily been mistaken or missed something in her emotional state.”

I let out a short laugh. “So instead of investigating a serious problem that would compromise yourloftystandards, you’re going to completely dismiss June on account of her age?”

She stands. “There’s no need to be hostile, Miss James. I know you’re new to parenting, but the families whose students attend here understand that our policies always have the children’s best interest at heart. No teacher would ever condone poor behavior from students.”

So she knows I’m dating Emmett, then. And sounds just as judgmental as those kids.

I cross my arms. “If you want to see hostile, you’ll keep refusing to do something about this.” I give her a smile that’s more a baring of teeth than anything else. “As for me beingnew, I might have just begun dating Emmett, but I’m very aware of the power that holds. It’s the kind of power that could get–I don’t know–a condescending, neglectful school principal fired with one simple interview. I’ve got reporters from every news network in the country begging for my time. Think of what would happen if this little story came up.”

She shifts and tugs on the sleeves of her blazer. “What would you have me do?”

I’d like to go ahead with my threat. Maybe throw something at this woman’s head. But I recognize that my bad week is coloring my judgement. I take a deep breath before responding.

“Reprimand the teacher, then the students. And the teacher should apologize to June. If anything like this happens again, I expect serious repercussions.”

Principal Hadston nods. “I will make sure that’s done. This won’t happen again.”

“Good. I’ll be taking June home now. This won’t affect her attendance record,” I state in a cool tone.

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