Alice 5

“So, Patricia arranged a meeting on Monday.” I said.  Rodney nodded and took a sip of water. “I’m really not sure if I should ask her about what I saw?” I went on. He looked up and asked, “I thought you were over what you claim you saw Reeny?” I put my fork down and leaned closer to him. “I think this is meeting will give me the closure I need. If she denies it then I guess Mr. Dawson is right.” I said. “Wow, that’s your plan? You just ask her if her niece has super powers? Hi, does your niece levitate with purple hair around the house?” He teased. I felt like hitting him but he was all the way at the other side of the table. “You know what? I didn’t bring my beautiful wife here to talk about an escaped member of the X-men. Guess what? I got the promotion.” He said with a wide smile. “Wow, that’s great!” I said. We spent the rest of our night talking about his promotion and our dreams. “So you know what that means right?’ Rodney asked. I looked away from a waiter who almost tripped. “No, what?’ I asked paying attention now. He smiled broadly and said “we can finally have a baby.’ My eyes lit up almost immediately. “Wow Rodney do you mean it? That’s great! No that’s greater than great that’s super great!’ I exclaimed.

I spend the all my time planning and preparing for a baby in my head that I totally forgot I was meeting Alice’s Aunt. When I got to class everything was normal. I didn’t even hear anyone complain about Alice. After school I was hurriedly packing my things to leave so I could window shop for a baby cot before I get home when a Teaching Assistant came to me and told me Patricia was looking for me. Then it clicked! I rushed to her office and the anxiety set in. It was almost as if I didn’t want to meet the woman. Was it necessary? I mean Alice had been good the whole day. I knocked on the door and went in. I saw a woman, in her mid-forties. “Hello’ I said to her and she smiled. Patricia was in the office and made a quick introduction. “I have to go check on a few things on the playground so go right ahead.’ She said and walked out. I was a bit nervous even sitting down.

“Errm did the Principal tell you anything about why you are here?’ I asked politely. She shook her head. Wow this was going to be harder than I thought. “Ok right! Well it’s about Alice.’ I started. Her reaction made me pause. Her eyes widened and she sat up on her seat, eager to hear what I had to say. “Some of the children in her class say she bullies them.’ I explained keeping an eye on her every move. “How?’’ She asked. I looked at her closely and said, “she pulls their hair or hits them.’ All of a sudden she breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t help myself so I asked “Were you expecting something else?’ She shook her head violently and squeaked a “No, no”. I knew for sure there was something up! “Can I tell you something, between me and you?’ I pushed further. I could see some horror in her eyes. “The day the school almost collapsed I saw Alice alone in the washroom. She was…she was levitating and her hair had turned violet.’ I confessed. She got up all of a sudden. “I beg your pardon?! Is this some kind of joke? I’m leaving!’ She said and grabbed her bag. “No, madam I’m sorry maybe it was an oversight. Please sit down.’ I pleaded but she wouldn’t listen. She rushed out of the office with me calling after her. Then when we were at the car park I saw Alice run to her. “Madam Doreen, I will talk to my niece about the bullying but as for you, you need to work on your superstition issues.’ She said and drove off with Alice waving at me and smiling. I blew it! She was right; I was totally out of line.

Alice didn’t come to school for a whole week after the incident. I felt horrible. Patricia said she spoke to her aunt and she said she had decided to home school Alice and that the trauma of losing her parents made her act the way she did. “It’s all my fault. I just made you lose a student.’ I said to her. “Oh Doreen don’t feel guilty. Think about it like this. Now Alice is gone, I don’t get angry parents calling me. We lost one to save the rest now get to work!’ She consoled. This time her words didn’t really help.

To be continued