Chapter 5
LILA
My brain feels fuzzy from a lack of sleep and so far, coffee isn’t helping. I went to Cara’s place for dinner last night and ended up hanging out until late. Despite that, I couldn’t fall asleep. My little rose toy finally came to the rescue.
Amos’s door is still shut. With us working opposite shifts, we don’t see much of each other, but I’ll catch up with him this weekend and see how his new job is going. At the sound of Sutton’s door opening, I snap Dusty’s leash on.
I could’ve sworn I heard him say something or make some noise last night right after I came. It could’ve been my imagination because that little toy makes my ears ring sometimes, and last night was no exception. Honestly, I doubt it was him. He works early and wouldn’t have been up that late.
He’s an ass, so if he did overhear anything, it won’t be long before he starts taunting me with it. I lead Dusty out the door, taking my cup of coffee along for our morning walk. When we return from our quick trip around the block, Sutton is just leaving, pulling the front door shut.
“You can leave it unlocked,” I call out and he nods.
Dusty paws at him like he hasn’t seen him in days. Sutton chuckles, sets down his water jug, and crouches down to pet him. He looks up at me, squinting in the bright sun. “Morning. Sleep well?”
Fuck.
His face is the picture of innocence as he awaits my reply.
Is he being a smart ass or am I reading into it?
“Fine, yeah.” I’m going to pretend he’s making the usual small talk whether that’s his intention or not.
“Let’s go, Dusty. You’ll make me late.” I tug his leash and he reluctantly follows me back up the steps.
When I glance back as the screen door shuts behind us, Sutton grins at me, but walks toward his truck without another word.
That…did not feel like a normal interaction. With him, it’s hard to tell. He could just be in a good mood and I’m being suspicious. Whatever. I’ve got to get to work. It isn’t until I’m nearly there and my stomach starts growling that I realize I forgot to eat breakfast.
A young woman is putting crayons out on the tables in my classroom. We sometimes have a college student shadow us or intern as assistants but we don’t have any scheduled as far as I know. “Hello?”
Her smile is bright and instant. “Hi.”
“Can I help you with something?”
Before she can answer me, Mrs. Thomas calls my name, her shoes clacking on the shiny floor as she rushes toward me. “Lila, I need to speak with you in my office, please.”
This can’t be good. Something fucky is going on.
She closes the door behind us and sits at her desk, gesturing for me to sit as well. “Did you take Freddie Morgan home when his mother failed to show up?”
Great. Someone ratted me out, though I can’t imagine who would even know. I’m not going to be questioned like a naughty child in a principal’s office. “I think you know I did.”
“You’re aware that’s against our best practices policy? In the event that a child is abandoned—”
Is she serious right now? “He wasn’t abandoned!”
“The protocol is to contact children’s services. They are better equipped to deal with whatever problem has arisen. We are mandated reporters.”
“Did you call them?” I ask.
The aggression in my voice makes her blink.
“Yes, I did. Not only did she fail to pick him up on Monday, Freddie disclosed to me yesterday that his mother is selling marijuana.” Mrs. Thomas handled my class dismissal yesterday so I could leave a few minutes early and now I bitterly regret it. That had to be when Freddie told her.
It’s not often that I lose my temper, but I’m teetering on the brink. This self-righteous, judgmental bitch doesn’t care about these kids. She cares about covering her ass.
“Let me guess. He said she works at a weed store.”
A smug smile flashes over her face before she reins it in and leans forward. “So he also told you, and you still decided not to make a report?”
Trying to resist the urge to reach over and choke this woman for siccing child protection agents on a single mother whose only crime was not being able to be in two places at once, I take a deep breath.
“First of all, I did not take Freddie home. I took him to the hospital, which was where his mother was. Her other child was in surgery for a broken arm. Which is why she hadn’t picked him up. ”
She opens her mouth to speak, but I don’t give her time. “And second, the weed store he’s referring to is a liquor store with a ‘We ID’ sign that he misreads as ‘weed.’ His mother works there.”
Her mouth pinches up. It looks like a tiny butthole, which tracks since she’s talking absolute shit. “Well, I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Clearly.”
“Regardless of Ms. Morgan’s hardships, it is against our policy to drive our students anywhere without a signed permission slip from the parent.” As she continues on her spiel of policy and insurance risks, I connect the dots. The woman in my room is a substitute.
“Are you firing me?” It’s the second time I’ve interrupted her and I’m not the only one fighting to hold onto a temper. The flare of her middle age, large pored nostrils displays that.
“I considered it. I can overlook your failure to notify child services since that can be a judgment call, but this is the second time you’ve violated one of our policies.”
That’s true. I gave a little girl my ham sandwich when she forgot her lunch.
It didn’t matter that I checked her file first to make sure she had no food allergies or anything.
She still should’ve gone hungry. Wait until she finds out I bought Freddie chicken nuggets. I’ll be facing the electric chair.
“You’re suspended for two weeks without pay effective immediately. You can return after fall break.”
Without responding, I get to my feet to leave before I say something that can’t be taken back. “Wait. You need to sign this disciplinary form.”
“No.” That’s the only answer she gets. If she doesn’t like it, fire me. I’m so sick of this place.
Not twenty minutes from the time I left home, I pull back into my driveway.
Another cup of coffee probably isn’t the smartest thing since I’m already hyped up and seething, but it’s all I want.
Dusty is happy to see me back so soon. I take him out to the yard and attach him to the long line so he can play while I sit on the porch to think.
Two weeks off unpaid won’t hurt me, honestly. I have plenty of savings and just as much money coming in from my side hustles. It’ll actually be three weeks off since the daycare closes for a fall break in September.
The temptation to quit was so strong while I was in her office.
Nothing would’ve felt better than to tell her she’s a heartless old bitch and to shove the job up her flat ass, but that would screw up my long term plan.
For years I’ve been saving, working side hustles, and living far below my means so I can start my own business.
I’m so close. Another year earning like this and I’ll be comfortable taking on a mortgage for a building.
I’ll use this break to work toward that plan.
Hunger starts to overwhelm my anger. There’s no point in sitting here fuming anyway. I need to call Freddie’s mom and warn her that she’s been reported and let her know I’ll happily be a witness for her if she needs one.
Maren sees me untying Dusty as she drives by and backs up to call out her window, “Hey, you’re off work today?”
“I am now. Are you busy? Want to come and listen to me vent?” She pulls into my driveway without any hesitation.
She joins me inside while I pour a bowl of cereal and sits at the table across from me. “You look tired. What happened?” Before I can reply, she drops her voice. “Did you sleep with Sutton?”
No, but he might have heard my vibrator. “What? No. If I slept with him, you'd know. I'd be sprinkling morning after pills on my cereal and checking myself into a mental hospital. Why would you think that?”
Maren shrugs. “I saw him getting home from work and whew. Maybe it’s the rugged jeans, boots, construction vest combo.” She flaps her hand. “Anyway, what’s wrong?”
“I got suspended without pay for two weeks.”
“You got in trouble at work? What did you do?”
The story of my morning pours out. My shoulders relax a little as her outrage on my behalf grows. There’s really something to be said about venting to a sympathetic friend. After I’m finished, Maren considers it for a moment. “Does that bitch live in town? Like do you have her address?”
My mood lightens considerably and I burst out laughing. “No, but I’d love to hear what you’re planning.”
“That’s to be determined. So, what are you going to do?”
“Use the time to work on my business plan.”
“For the indoor play center?”
“Yes.” There’s something I haven’t told my friends.
They know I want to open an indoor playground because there’s nowhere in town to take young kids to play, but not that I’ve already started buying the equipment.
I’m not sure why I haven’t told them. Maybe because it still seems like a silly pipe dream sometimes.
“I’ve been buying some secondhand equipment over the last year and putting it in storage.
Soft play stuff, inflatables, et cetera. ”
She sits back with a growing smile. “That’s great. Do you think you’re close to being ready?”
“I need another year to save for the mortgage down payment. There are plenty of empty buildings near downtown for sale. I’d like to get one where I can live on the premises too. That would save me on rent and stuff.”
“That’s smart. Are you still making good money on the underwear and feet pics?”
“Oh yeah. And I could be selling more.”
“Wear two pair of underwear at once.”
“Genius,” I laugh, putting my bowl in the sink. “Any other tips?”
“No, just do yourself a favor and take some time to relax. You’ve worked hard for a long time. Try to enjoy some of this forced vacation.”
It’s not bad advice. “I have every intention of sleeping late in the mornings.”
“Well, that’s a start.”