Student of Concern - Part One
Hey folks! Iâm testing out a new concept and going to be updating here from time to time. Hereâs a new short(ish) story!
8:57. Lena looked from the clock to the door to her classroom, still blissfully shut. She gazed at her students arranged in the room, some seated at tables. Others sprawled on the rug, legs kicked up. One was walking around, book in her hands, as she mouthed the words she was reading in the latest installment of whatever was popular with them these days. Last year it was a fantasy series about unicorns and mermaids. Back in September, Lena's kids informed her that was âboringâ and that the new cool thing was space pirates. Lena looked at the cover. Sure enough, it was of a young pirate boy hanging off of the mast of a ship flying into space. He reminded her of Marcus who, for the record, was still late. Lena would give him until 9:05, 9:10 if she were going to be realistic. She ticked his name in the attendance (Tardy, Unexcused) and checked her clock again. 9:00 on the dot.
âKiddos, you have about 15 seconds to put your books away and circle up for meeting,â she said. Lena didn't even have to start. That was the beauty of Fourth Grade. By now the kids were pro at school. They heard instructions and followed them. Puberty hadn't begun to mess with them yet for the most part so they weren't too cool for everything. One by one they arranged themselves on the wooden benches that circled the perimeter of the rug. Lena was about to lead them in their morning meeting when a knock came at the door. She sighed before turning her attention to Phoebe. âMorning Leader, could you read the message, please?â
âSure thing, Miss Ives,â Phoebe responded cheerfully. Lena could always count on her. She got up and walked to the door, glancing at Phoebe pointing to the greeting before stepping outside, shutting the door behind her as quickly as she could.
Lena found herself face to face with Marcus' caretaker, Rupert, a six foot gentlemen clad in an impeccable black suit and tie. Next to Rupert was Marcus Graves, who was kicking at the floor, head tilted towards the ground. The âsorry we're lateâ song and dance had already begun.
âMaster Graves regrets his tardiness,â Rupert stated. âIsn't that right, Master Graves?â
âC'mon, Rupert. Just let me in already,â Marcus grumbled. He peered up at Lena, brown eyes hiding under black bangs, and what was unmistakably swelling just beneath the left one. âPlease?â
âMarcus, do you need to see the nurse?â Lena asked.
âBasketball hit me in the face,â he said too quickly for her comfort. âI was playing after school yesterday.â
âI see. I have some ice in my mini-fridge if you need it. Go get some and join meeting.â
âThanks,â Marcus said, nodding as he dashed under Lena's arm, letting himself into the room with a slight slam.
âI'm terribly sorry about this,â Rupert said, adjusting his tie.
âThe tardiness or the black eye?â Lena asked.
âYoung boys are active. And clumsy at times.â
âMr... Rupert, was it? I will need to speak to Mr. Graves. I've called. E-mailed. Checked in with Principal Barnes. Nothing. Can you please, please, have him contact me?â
âRest assured, Miss Ives, you shall be hearing from him by the end of today. Now, I should let you get back to your students. Good day.â
 Rupert turned on his heel, marching down the hall without so much as a glimpse back. Lena fought the urge to run after him; she had already let a student lead most of the meeting without her. Had an administrator been walking by at that moment, Lena would have been in enough trouble as it was. No. She had to go back in and document. She had a paper trail dating back from the first week of school. Grade level meetings were happening today and Lena wanted to be prepared, even if she had a feeling of what to expect.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. A math lesson involving fractions and splitting pizza made the students hungry enough to start asking for lunch an hour ahead of schedule. Lena kept them occupied with reading while she did assessments with Lucas, Claire, and Tristan. Soon enough, it was time for them to pack up for recess and lunch. Lena dismissed them to their lockers in the hall, leaving a Post-It on Marcus' desk with two words â Let's talk. Once all of the other students had left the room, Lena sat with Marcus on the benches. Lena noticed that he made good on her offer, holding an ice pack just below his left eye. He gave Lena a smirk and a slight shrug. She noticed him wince as his shoulders dropped back down.
âBasketball, huh?â Lena asked.
âNot really. Got in a fight with some bullies,â Marcus said. âThey were being mean to my friend.â
âYou sure they were bullies?â Lena asked.
âThey were pushing my friend down and kicking him. Calling him names. Sounds like bullies to me, Miss Ives.â
It was believable enough. Lena had seen Marcus develop friendships with his classmates in the three months she had been teaching them. They were obsessed with comics and always acting out these good versus evil scenarios. Marcus tended to be too good at times, and she had to remind him during those first few weeks that heroes didn't always have to resort to violence. It was a lesson she still had to impart, it seemed. Assuming Marcus wasn't lying, which Lena didn't quite believe. âYou can call adults for help, you know. Don't forget that.â
âYeah,â Marcus grumbled. âCan I go now?â
âNeed an ice for the road?â
âNah. I'm good,â Marcus said as he passed the lukewarm pack to Lena. His eye was looking a lot better. âThanks though.â
Lena gave Marcus a small wave as he bounded out of the classroom. She checked the clock, 11:33. Lena would have a grade level meeting in her room in roughly two minutes. The best opportunity to bring up her student of concern. Again. Lena grabbed her grade book and small notebook containing several weeks' worth of notes on Marcus. His tardies. His injuries. His aggression. Each incident detailed with dates and times. It couldn't be ignored. Not without severe legal ramifications for her and for the academy. Lena sat on one of the desks, looking up when she heard the door open. Principal Frank Barnes walked into her room. Alone.
âLena. Prepared as ever,â he said.
âIndeed, Mr. Barnes,â Lena replied. âAre Priscilla and Betty coming?â
âI decided that today would be dedicated to something I know has been on your mind and doesn't really concern the rest of the grade level.â
Finally, Lena thought to herself. âWell, I have a lot of information to share and I appreciate the time to-â
âLena, I need your notes on Marcus. And I need for you to stop taking them.â
Lena could feel the air grow heavy. She clutched the notebook in her hands, mind racing with reasons as to why this request was being made of her, few of which were good. âHas the guidance counselor agreed to speak with him?â she asked.
âMr. Graves has informed the school that Marcus will be evaluated outside of the academy. He will be gracious enough to share results with us when they come in.â
âWhen did you find this out, Mr. Barnes?â Lena asked. âBecause I have been trying to contact Mr. Graves since school started and-â
âAbout that, Lena,â he stated, firmly. âAny further contact with the Graves family will be through me. Your job is to teach Marcus and seventeen other students.â
âMister... Frank. I'm sorry to be so forward, but I can't ignore everything I've seen. Marcus has been absent at least once a week in the past month, and he's late almost every day. He's bruised. He's angry. He's-â
âThe only son of our school's largest donor and a man who I had to talk out of homeschooling for about an hour and a half this morning,â Principal Barnes sighed. âLena, I don't like this either. I have heard your concerns and while I commend you for following protocol and keeping notes, I have to ask you to think about Hopewell Academy. Think of what will happen if we lose Mr. Graves and all of his donations.â
It made Lena sick to her stomach. This wasn't ideal by any stretch. When Lena made the jump from teaching public to private, there was a lot she had to learn. Not least of which was understanding just how powerful certain families were when it came time for conferences, grading, and galas. She had thought she had seen it all when she had a senator's daughter two years prior. But this... this was power far above that level at work. Mr. Graves was a multi-billionaire with outposts on every continent. It was Hopewell's highest honor to have attracted him and his child. Lena didn't want to be the reason why Hopewell Academy lost Marcus Graves, but she sure as hell didn't want to be the reason why Marcus Graves kept getting hurt.
âI'm thinking of what will happen the day Marcus doesn't come in because of something that man has done to him,â Lena said, voice quivering in an attempt to hide rage. She took a deep breath before handing Principal Barnes the book. âHere, these are yours now, sir.â
âI thank you for your cooperation,â he said. âYou're a dedicated teacher, Lena. But you need to trust me on this. Marcus is an active child, moreso than his peers. You're jumping to conclusions.â
âIf you say so, sir,â Lena replied. She knew better than to argue at this point.
Any further observations she would make would have to be on her own time. Outside of school hours. Â
