Chapter 11
At 9:30 a.m., Ms. Parker was the first to arrive.
She stayed at the doorway, her voice gentle as she spoke to Anna.
"Anna, can you tell me the truth today?" Ms. Parker asked softly.
Anna stood next to me, clutching the hem of her shirt.
After a few seconds, she nodded.
"Yes," Anna said softly.
At 10 a.m., James showed up.
Grace arrived, too.
As soon as she walked into the hallway, she started shouting.
"We're just here to pick up our own kid, and we need the teacher here, too?" Grace shouted.
"What a joke," she muttered.
James looked grim.
Mary didn't show up.
He said she wasn't feeling well.
I opened the door and let them into the living room.
Anna sat next to me.
Ms. Parker sat across from us.
A stack of printouts sat on the table.
James spotted the papers and gave a cold, mocking laugh.
"Wow, Helen, you really think this is a courtroom, huh?" he sneered.
I said, "No need to exaggerate.
"I'm just here to clear things up."
Grace stared at Anna.
"Anna, come home with me," Grace said.
"Your dad didn't sleep a wink last night," Grace said.
"Your new stepmom was so upset she cried," Grace added.
"How could you be so heartless?" Grace asked.
Anna's hand trembled.
I didn't take her hand.
She glanced at me.
I just nodded.
She took a deep breath.
"Grandma, I don't want to go back," Anna said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Grace's expression darkened.
"What did you just say?" Grace demanded.
Anna's voice trembled.
"I don't want to live with you," Anna said, her voice shaking.
"You said I could sleep in at your place," Anna said.
"But when I was late, you told me girls don't need to push themselves so hard," Anna added.
"You said I'd have more freedom at your place," Anna said.
"But you always make me prep vegetables, go grocery shopping, open packages, and tidy up the living room," Anna said.
"It's not like I can't do it," Anna said.
"But you always call me over when I'm doing my homework," Anna said.
"When I say I need to study, you say my mom's taught me wrong," Anna said.
Grace slapped her thigh in frustration.
"Give me a break!" Grace exclaimed.
"So just asking you to help out is suddenly abuse?" Grace snapped.
Anna's eyes welled up with tears again.
"I never said it was abuse," Anna replied, her voice shaky.
"I just said I don't want it to be this way," Anna said.
James looked icy.
"Anna, don't go picking up your mom's attitude," James said.
"Your grandma's getting old. Shouldn't you be helping her?" James added.
Anna looked at him.
"Then why don't you help?" Anna shot back.
The living room went dead silent.
James's expression soured.
"I have to work," James said.
Anna said, "Mom has to work, too."
"When I was sick, Mom took time off to look after me," Anna said.
"Mom's the one who goes to parent-teacher conferences," Anna said.
"Mom's always the one cheering me on at my competitions," Anna said.
"Ever since I moved in with you, whenever the teacher tries to reach out, you act like it's such a hassle," Anna said.
"Dad, you said you'd stand up for me," Anna said.
"But you never did," Anna said.
James's face went stiff.
Ms. Parker cleared her throat softly.
"Mr. Thompson, if I could say a few words," Ms. Parker said.
"Anna's tardiness, missing homework, and lack of focus in class have all really started after she changed where she was living," Ms. Parker said.