Parent-Teacher Meeting.

That Thursday at 16:00 the school is filled not with students, but with parents. Slowly, more and more people start arriving to the different parent-teacher meetings. You’re in your classroom waiting for people to arrive.

Being honest. A part of you expected no one to show up. Considering that, the fact that 5 people arrived on time is incredible. One of those people is a short old lady with dark skin and gray hair. Her face has lots of wrinkles and doesn’t look like she’s healthy enough to be out of her house much. She immediately comes up to you and introduces herself as Ingrid Green, Gabriel Green’s grandmother.

“You’re Mr. Sinclair, right? I’m so, so sorry for what my grandson did to you! So sorry! He doesn’t know how to control his anger,” she starts, her words filled with that special love and kindness of a grandmother. “Did he hurt you too much?”

You give her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Mrs. Green. Thank you for your concern. Are you here representing Mr. Gabriel’s parents?”

“Yes. I’m his official guardian. His father is in prison, you see, and his mother is… well, we don’t know where she is.” She grimaces, an expression that hurts your soul.

“I see. Thank you for telling me. If possible, I would like us to work together and see what we can do about your grandson. I believe he can be much more than he thinks he can.”

“I always tell him the same thing! Thank you, Mr. Sinclair! Whatever you need, just tell me!” The old lady nods enthusiastically.

She goes and sits down in her grandson’s spot. In the next 10 minutes, 6 more people come for a total of 11. You can’t help but notice that the parents of Vanessa, Erica and Wendy aren’t here. You wanted to talk to them. You’ll have to call them later. Veronica’s parents aren’t here either for that matter.

You start the meeting with the people present. 11 people out of 20 isn’t terrible according to your colleagues. You tell them of the different activities the school has in schedule for this month and the next. Many of the people present are very happy to hear about the change in attitude in their kids. The mother of Ryan Foster even raises her hand to speak, saying her son told her you had him clean up one of his graffities (which she thinks was well deserved) and asks if it’s true they’ll be able to paint the walls out in the yard.

“The matter is still being discussed with the headmaster,” you tell her. “Personally, I hope we can do it. Many students here are into that sort of art.”

There are a couple of minor complaints about it, worries that kids will paint inappropriate things on the walls and such. You know you’re gonna have to stop more than a few students from drawing penises, but you’ll just have to pay attention. You’re thankful the matter is settled peacefully though.

When there’s about 20 minutes left of meeting, you hear a soft knock on the door before it slowly starts sliding open. Behind it you see… a police officer.

A well-built man in police uniform and hat in hand looks at you with an apologetic smile as he speaks.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m Veronica Young’s father. I’m so sorry for being late.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Young. Please come in.” You nod to him.

He nods back thankfully and takes his daughter’s seat. You continue from where you left off and the meeting is finished without much issue. Thank God. People say goodbye to you, polite smiles and all. Man, you were dreading this but you guess the parents that come to these things are the ones that care. Case in point, the last one to leave is Veronica’s father, but not before talking to you.

“I’m so sorry for being late, Mr. Sinclair. My name’s Raymond. Usually it’s my wife that comes to the meetings, but she’s sick today. As you can see,” He points to his uniform. “I left work in a hurry.”

Man, it feels so weird to have people older than you, like Mrs. Ingrid and Mr. Young, call you ‘Mr. Sinclair’.

“I understand, Mr. Young. These things happen.” You smile and start telling him the most important points he missed, for which he’s very thankful. “Let me take this opportunity to say, Mr. Young, your daughter is a very diligent and smart girl. It really feels like she wants to get the most out of school.”

“Thank you. Yes, she keeps saying how she wants to finish school and go to a far away university to leave this town behind.” The big man sighs.

“I see. Well, with her grades that may very well happen. What worries me, however, is her relationship with her classmates.”

“Oh?” Mr. Young asks, curious. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sure you’re aware that her interests are very different to her classmates’. I believe she’s already decided that she’s different and can’t get along with them. I spoke to her on Tuesday about this. Did she tell you?”

He smiles. “She did. She said, and I quote, ‘it’s the first time a teacher actually gives a damn’.”

You have a hard time believing that, but it’s true that most teachers in this school are tired of the conditions they have to work in and barely care about the kids they work with anymore. You can’t really blame them. You’re just a few steps away from that and it’s only your first month.

“I’ll talk to her about it, but still…” He sighs heavily. “I know this isn’t good to say, but… her classmates ARE different. They have… different priorities.”

“They’ll never know unless they try to get to know each other. I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Young. This town is… complicated. But I think there's still time for these kids to choose what and who they want to be.”

“Glad to see someone else believing it. I was starting to think I was going crazy.” He sighs in relief as he smiles at you. “Good to have you in this school, Mr. Sinclair.”

He shakes your hand and leaves with a satisfied expression.

On your part, you allow yourself to let out a long, heavy sigh. It feels so weird to hear yourself talk like that. If you could quit, you would, but so long as you’re these kids’ teacher, you’re responsible for their education, both in academics and life. At least, that’s what your teachers were for you.

Before getting ready to leave, you check the app on your watch.

G. Ingrid – Aff. 21 (+21)

Y. Raymond – Aff. 18 (+18)

Oh wow. And many of the other parents’ scores are around 10 points as well. It seems you left a good first impression. That’s a relief.