Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
She reeks of old money, old Bridge Lake money. Ignoring her, I step into the headmaster’s office.
“Please, have a seat.”
I release the button on my suit and take the seat he’s offering in front of his desk. “Would you like to tell me what this is all about?”
“It was brought to my attention that we might have made a little mistake. We’re going to have to move Vernice to the waiting list for the Rising Star program.”
“Excuse me?” I seethe.
“There was only one seat available. Someone made a clerical mistake and placed Vernice in it. I’m very sorry, but—”
“You called me here to tell me you want to pull my child from the gifted program because of a clerical mistake. Do I look stupid to you?”
“Of course not, Mr. Nikolaou. I’m trying to explain—”
“Explain what?” I roar.
“Brian Douglas was the candidate who was supposed to get the spot. It was a slight oversight.”
I start to see red. He’s talking bullshit. It dawns on me where I know the old lady from. Josephine Douglas. The Douglas’s are not a founding family but they get a pass and have run in the right circles.
I tilt my head to the side. “You do realize Vernice has been in this program for the last three months? Let me also remind you of the fact that you were there for her intake, and it came out of your mouth several times that Vernice was the most advanced student you’d seen in years.
“So tell me. How does my child go from being a top… no, let me correct myself… the top candidate for the program to losing her seat because of a clerical error?
“Let me tell you what I think happened. Someone greased your greedy little palms or promised you some type of donation and now you think you’re going to take my little brown-faced child and remove her from a seat she has earned.
“How many languages does little Brian speak because my child speaks five. By next year, I’ll have her fluent in seven. What reading level is Brian on? My child reads on an eleventh-grade level at the age of ten.
“I’ve challenged her to write a dissertation this summer because she wants to level up. Does Brian have that type of ambition? Don’t play with me because this is a fight you won’t win. My child will not be moving from the program, nor will you be able to keep your position if you ever try something like this again.
“Check your records, Vernice’s tuition has been paid up for the next four years. Anything she participates in won’t need to fundraise because I’ll cover the entire program out of pocket. There’s also one more thing you should know.”
“What’s that, sir?”
“Zoe Gataki. That’s the name of our family’s attorney. So tell me again, what’s the issue here?”
“Mr. Nikolaou, I’m so sorry for wasting your time. There is no issue. I assure you it’s taken care of. There won’t be any further issues,” he says, looking like he’s about to shit his pants.
I stand and button my suit jacket. “I’m glad we could clear things up. Send for Vernice, I’ll be taking her home with me today.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
Without another word, I walk out. As I walk by Mrs. Douglas, I return her smug grin. The audacity of these people.
I’m still fuming as I wait for Vernice to meet me in the front hall of the school. I look down at my watch and my gut tells me to double back. I’m just about to turn the corner when I hear the old bitch hissing.
“You, you little— Four generations of Douglases have been in the gifted program here. How dare they give you a seat because of affirmative action or whatever bullcrap your people have come up with now? My Brian should be in that program, not you.
“Lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about and your breath stinks. Get off my arm and get out of my face,” Vernice snaps.
“Ma’am, get your hand off my child. I’m not going to repeat myself,” I hiss.
Vernice yanks her arm away and comes running to me. I wrap an arm around her and start for the glass doors to exit. I hold the door for Vernice to step out ahead of me. Then I step out and hold the door for Mrs. Douglas.
She gives me a false smile as if she’s embarrassed she got caught. I wait until she’s about to step through the doorway and release the door, so it slams right in her face. I return her smile as her expression turns to one of shock as she stumbles back.
“Joshua,” Shawna gasps, causing me to spin on my heels.
Shawna
I still can’t believe my husband did that. That woman had to be about sixty years old. I can’t get the stunned look on her face out of my head.