loe and Sharon behind her, and didn't sit until

al but distant. "Thank you for coming. This is Mr. Benson, our l

ced at Mr. Benson, then at Mr. Okunade. "I wasn't aw

ion to uphold, Mrs. Ada. And when a student disrespects the daughter of a boar

pe on the table. "I brought th

t. "We'll go through it in a moment. First,

I'd like to address what was said to my niece and

ds. "Mrs. Ada, I believe we

rs. Ada said. "I wasn

ance with Mr. Benson, then

rd was precise, like she'd rehearsed it

p her father's name. He said that her father had failed to raise his daughter. He said it in

he concept that a family's reputation reflects on its members. It's a principle we uphold here

hild's dignity." She paused. "Her father is a businessman. He's made enemies

stated a fact. Your niece's behavior reflects on your f

then. "And my family doesn't go a

copying when she didn't. I was explaining Latin to her before class

rned it into a whole family drama beca

said sharply. "Chloe,

also punishing Chloe. You're punishing Fiyin. You're punishing an en

ool. We have standards. We have a parent body that expects us to maintain those standards. If we al

wn," Mrs. Ada said. "At

conduct that all parents sign upon admission. Section 4.2 states that any student who engages in verbal abuse toward anot

e went pale.

will be on her permanent record. Universities request t

in the air, cold

defending another student against a false accusation, I'm sure Oxford or Harvard will understand the context. Jus

"Are you threatening the sc

aid. "I'm protec

ilent. Even Charlott

. Ada, let's not escalate this. We al

ling the truth. What's best for Chloe is not being treated like she's guilty by associ

at the letter. "Shall w

d the two pages, front and back, with crossings-out a

ead, her voice

of St. Theresa's Int

ectful and did not reflect the values my family has taught me. I apologize for the disruption I caused to the classroom and for the disresp

rk. I was there. I saw it. Chloe was explaining the ablative case to her before class starte

d into a thin line. "That

e truth. And if this is going on my

He read slowly, his expression unreadable. When h

"Sharon's suspension will be reduced

inked. "T

pension remains. Collusion is still a vio

n didn't collude. She asked fo

tates that any student who receives unauthorized assistance

hes kindness," Mrs. Ad

e not suspended. But you are on academic probation for the rest of t

been slapped. "Me? I

e incident," Mr. Okunad

is not enough. That is collective punishment. And it's exactly why parents li

ng him imposing. "Mrs. Ada, you need to watch your tone. Yo

shot back. "You are speaking to a mother wh

tepping between them. "Please. B

osed herself. When she spoke again,

ool. But I will not sit here and let you use your positio

r a long moment. Then he nod

returns next tomorrow. Fiyin's case will be reviewed by the

note on his tablet.

the Bo

he didn't realize she'd been holding. Her hands were

on her shoulder. "Yo

e mentioned Dad," Sharon

ed to too." She glanced at Chloe

t put on probation. That means i

watching you. It means they know you have influenc

uickly. "I still don't lik

We'll talk to Fiyin's parents af

ughing and holding Starbucks cups. They glanced at the three of them, t

p. "They're all going

w the Ada family doesn't back down. Let them talk about

r mum. "Is that wh

ing tall when everyone else is trying to make you kneel." She touched Chloe's ch

ll, watery smile. "S

"We've always been Romans

ear through the hallway speakers. Chloe grab

dded. "Go.

e pa

ell him the truth. Not the version Charlot

went red. "

ngly. "He's a good kid. I over

d. "You eav

a said with a small smile.

backpack bouncing. Sharon watched

Okunade will lea

o. Men like him don't leave things alone. B

be fine, Sharon. All three of us. Because we

tension with Charlotte wasn't gone. Fiyin was still suspended. But for the first

r aunt, she realized that maybe, just may

---

od rang, cheeks still warm from her mum's "I overheard you both" comment. Sharon had gone to the admin bl

ed like someone who'd been told her dog was fine but the v

aid quietly enough just

logy letter the principal requested before she can

Wel

ha

rp look from the teacher when Chloe's pen hovered too long over a question.

nt silent and all eyes on her as they were surprised

from where she

n the Middle Of explaining *Half of a Yello

right in the middle of Mrs. Sekina

2B. You have a visitor for a brief a