Page 6 of A Noble Affair
The school bell rang, and Thomas spotted her in the crowd. Running up to her, his backpack jostling on his back with each step, he held out a paper. “Mom, we got a ticket at school to go to the circus.” Sunlight glinted off the blond hair that was parted to one side.
Chastity smiled at his enthusiasm. “Honey, that’s not a ticket.” She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “It’s just a flyer, but—” when she saw his face fall, “we might still be able to go. It’s in two weeks. I’ll have to see what we have planned.”
They started walking down the tree-lined street, and he looked up at her doubtfully. “Maybe we could see if my father wants to go with us.” He spoke the words as if he were trying them out on his tongue.
Eyes ahead, she kept her voice neutral. “Yes, that might be a possibility.”
When she didn’t say anything more, he persisted. “Mom, why does he want to see me now after all this time?”
After a brief hesitation, she answered him honestly. “I think, at the beginning, he was just not interested in being a father. Maybe he thought he was too young. After that, he couldn’t see you because he was in prison.” She had never been one to hide anything from her son if she felt he had the right to know.
“My dad was in jail?” Thomas’s eyes grew wide. “What did he do?”
“I’m not too sure,” she replied. “I think he was selling drugs.”
Thomas kicked a small stone off the sidewalk. “What are drugs?”
Chastity contemplated the clouds, waiting for inspiration. “Um…it’s like a medicine you take. Only instead of making you healthy again, it makes you sick. Drugs also make you act foolish when you take them. And—” she added, “they’re against the law.”
Thomas, who had always been a precocious child, retorted, “You would have to be an idiot to take drugs.”
“Yup.” This was accompanied by a nod.
Her son sighed and shook his head. “My father’s an idiot.”
Chastity let out a peal of laughter that she cut short. “Perhaps you’re right, my dear. But everyone deserves the chance to be recognized for their goodness and not their mistakes.”
Thomas chewed on this information before saying, “He’s not much of a father. He could have written to me while he was in jail. I’m sure they have pens and paper there. I would’ve sent him a drawing back.”
“Yes, he could have,” she answered in perfect seriousness, without any urge to smile. “Anyway, I think before doing something big together, like going to the circus, maybe we’ll meet him for hot chocolate first. What do you say to that?”
“Okay.” Her son slid his hand into hers as they turned towards the entrance to their apartment building.
On Friday,Chastity was no closer to knowing whether she was making the right decision to introduce her son to his father. As she came out of the classroom, she spotted the Math teacher ahead.If there’s anybody I can talk to about this, it’s Maude. She didn’t easily invite people into her life, but Maude had managed to worm her way in, and so far she had proven trustworthy.
Maude was barely taller than her students, even in high heels, and Chastity eased past the teenagers who were lounging in the hallway to catch up to her. Her friend had thin, muscular arms and square shoulders that were visible through the light cardigan, and her hair was pulled back in a large bun. Originally from Martinique, her colleague had lived in France since junior high.
“Hey.” Chastity smiled as soon as she was at her side.
“Ah.Salut, toi.” Hi yourself. Maude could speak English but was more comfortable in French. “I need to stop in my office first.” She veered off to the side, waving for her to follow.
Chastity imitated her abrupt turn and entered the office, which was decorated with candles, picture frames, and fresh flowers. She made a mental note to work on personalizing her own office space more. “You said you needed to come here ‘first’? Where are you going after that?”
“Oh, you’re coming with me.” Maude grabbed her purse and hooked her arm through Chastity’s. “Unless you need to get Thomas.”
“No, no. He’s in the after-school program today.”
“Good. We’re going to save Anne’s job.”
“Wait. Anne…Anne Meurier? The art teacher? What’s up with her job? She’s been here for years. And doesn’t she volunteer at the museum as well?”
“No, sheworksthere,” Maude responded, emphasizing the word. “It’s only part-time, but still. I’ve heard she’s been let go in both places. I suspect the same person is responsible for both.”
“Who? It must be a personal vendetta,” Chastity cried out. “She’s so sweet, and she seems really good at what she does. There’s no way she deserves this.”
“I know. That’s why we’re going. A bunch of parents are here to support her, and about half the teachers as well.” Maude added, “Some don’t like to go against the board and they’re staying out of it.”
Chastity shrugged, ever the idealist. “I don’t care about that. Let’s go.”
