Chapter 31 #2
He looks down. “She told the whole class I was being moved down a few sets. She gave me another zero on my test. I just don’t get it.
When she went through the answers, I know I put all those on my sheet.
So I told her that. But she said I was being cheeky and then started on.
So I said ‘get lost’ as she went past me. And then left.”
“They called your dad. He’s been to the office to find me. And you. He’s worried sick.”
Noah rolls his eyes. “Only because Ms Nellis and the school called him. And he would have been embarrassed. He backs her up. I don’t want to go back. Can I go to another school? I’ve been looking with Ollie. There’s one in London that helps dyslexics. Can’t I go there?”
Oh God, what a useless parent. I didn’t know there were specific schools. I’ve been so wrapped up in my business and then Jude that I haven’t looked for Noah. And I should have.
“We’ll have a look at it. Dad said the school is threatening suspension.”
“Yeah, because they think I swore. I’m not a total idiot. I know you can’t do that. But she doesn’t listen. I can’t use my sheets in her class. It’s a joke.” I can see the frustration oozing from him.
We sit for ages, talking through things, and he shows me his test with all X’s on the sheet in red.
He seems calmer, and we’re working through a bit of a plan.
He’s happy to go apologise. Not for swearing, as he said he didn’t.
But for leaving. He knows he shouldn’t have done that.
And for saying ’get lost.’ But he’s trying to say he said it to himself, and not directly at her.
And it was more ‘get lost, I am right’ other than a direct command to her.
I’m advising a contrite apology, as Jude steams through the door. He heads straight for Noah, pulling the boy in for a hug. Noah’s eyes fill with tears. Lord, if he starts I will, and I have to stay strong and in control.
“Let’s get a table. Ollie’s nearly here with Nat,” Jude says gently to us both, kissing me tenderly. “It will all be alright. We’ll sort it.”
We move to a table, food is ordered, and we sit waiting for it and my other sons.
“Did you swear at her?” Jude asks outright, his eyes direct.
Noah responds in the exact same way. Eyes clear and guileless. “No, I did say get lost, but more get lost, you’re wrong rather than anything else. She marked my test as all wrong. I know I got all those answers. It’s the same every time. But she won’t seem to listen to me.”
“Well, it will get sorted. What’s the plan, Emma?” Jude looks expectantly at me.
“Apology, then we’ll see about the suspension—”
“You’re joking.” Jude drops back in his chair, staring directly at me.
“No. He left without telling anyone.” I point at Noah.
“Under extreme provocation. His needs are being ignored.” He starts checking things off with his fingers.
“He gets no help in that class, for whatever reason.” He nods at Noah, and Noah nods back.
“Nothing is constructive. There’s been no feedback on how to improve, just the terrible scores.
What difference will moving him down sets make?
That will just impact all his options. He’s fine in his other classes.
She has no plan in place. He isn’t going to magically get ten out of ten. ” He looks at us both for agreement.
I hadn’t thought about that. I am a bad parent.
“Fair enough it was not the right thing to do to leave.” Jude gives Noah a you know you shouldn’t have stare, and my son looks down. “But apologise? No.”
Noah is looking at Jude as if all the stars from heaven have landed on his head. Jude is sat with a face like thunder.
“I want to go to another school. One in the city.” Noah is striking whilst the iron is hot. “Ollie and Cal found it. It’s Westmead. A private school, but it has special lessons for dyslexia and extra tuition.”
“You didn’t say it was a private school.” My voice betrays my shock. I’m not sure I could afford any additional expense on top of everything else.
“Let’s worry about that later,” Jude pipes up as Ollie and Nat come through the door.
Nat, with a tear stained face, runs straight for Noah and throws himself on him. “Everyone was talking about it. They said you were expelled.” Nat starts to cry again, and I pull him onto my lap.
“Ice creams all round, Martin,” Jude shouts to the owner, trying to distract Nat from having a meltdown in hysterics.
The tale is told again, and my head is spinning.
I need to protect Noah, but how can I afford a private school?
I’ll have to speak to Mum and Dad. I’m running through my expenses and income, trying to find a solution, as the ice creams are delivered.
The boys seem almost happy now, if you ignore the tear stained cheeks of both of my youngest sons.
“Ollie, can you call your dad?” I say to him.
“I already did as we were on our way here. He said he’ll come back into town.”
I nod and we sit and wait.
Nigel storms through the parlour doors, the little bell jangling madly.
He takes in the scene from his perspective.
All our boys tucking into huge ice creams. Jude sat holding my hand and his arm around Noah, looking at his test paper with him.
I watch all his thoughts and emotions run across his face.
And the one he lands on lastly is anger. My insides take a nose dive.
“So this is how you punish bad behaviour? Give them all ice creams. He should be at home, or up at that school apologising. Not sat laughing it up, being rewarded for his vile language towards a teacher.” He doesn’t even say hello to the boys.
“And were you going to tell me you’d found him?
It’s a good job Ollie calls me, and answers my calls and lets me know.
I was halfway home and had to turn around.
” He’s got his hands on his hips. And is spitting venom.
“Dad, I never swore.” Noah is half standing, trying to explain himself. “I never—”
“Don’t lie. I hear you all the time at home, teaching Cal how to swear. Every word over the last few weeks has been a swear word. Amy had to tell you off.” Nigel’s face is puce. The disdain in his voice hits Noah in the chest, and I see him deflate.
“I said ‘bloody’ that day.” Noah is again trying to defend himself. “Cal swears all the time.”
“And that is swearing. And no he doesn’t.
Clearly your mother has no discipline in her home.
Maybe you all ought to come live with me.
” The silence that descends on the table is heavy as that bomb lands.
“In fact, get up now, Noah. And I’ll take you into school.
I’ll ring Ms Nellis and you can apologise and hope they take you back.
” He’s on a roll, his plan set, he's all about the implementation now.
“I don’t want to go back. I’m going to a different school. Aren’t I, Mum.” Noah pushes further into my side. He feels like he’s trying to climb back into the womb.
I start to explain our plan. “We’re going to—”
“He is not. He is going back to that school and doing what he is told. Up, Noah. Now.” Nigel has taken a step forward.
“I don’t want to. Mum—” his face shuts down as he edges closer still.
“Nigel, the boy was crying when we got here. Maybe we ought to wait til everyone is not so emotionally charged.” Jude has taken hold of Noah’s hand as he addresses Nigel calmly.
He might as well have thrown a grenade into the mix.
Nigel’s face turns purple. His eyes are crazed.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do with my kids? You shouldn’t even be here.
These are my kids and my ex-wife. Nothing to do with you.
In fact, you should leave and let us, his parents, sort him out.
” Nigel’s lip is curling, and his eyes shoot poisonous daggers at Jude.
“I want him to stay,” Noah wails and hangs onto Jude’s arm.
Nigel’s face morphs to brick red. Nat is on the other side of Jude and hangs onto him, too. I close my eyes. This is not going to end well.
“Ollie, Nat, Noah. Let’s go. I’ll take you home, sort out this mess, and let your mother and her boyfriend come home at their leisure again. When they’ve concluded,” he pauses, “their business.”
He moves to take a hold of Ollie’s chair and I see Jude go to get up. This is going to boil over. Nobody is de-escalating. I need to take charge.
These are my kids and what I say goes. Nobody else.
I stand up, pulling myself to my full five feet three-and-a-quarter inches.
“Nigel, that is enough. These children are going nowhere. Jude is going nowhere. If you want to go up to that school, feel free. But my kids are not going there anymore. They are going to a private school in London. Ollie is nearly done there anyway, and will be in London mostly next year. I am working in London, so I might as well move the boys there.” I take a deep breath, and wait for the blast furnace to erupt.
Nigel snorts. “So you’ve totally taken the side of a child over an experienced educator. You’ve been taken in yet again. Absolutely believed what he’s told you.”
I take a hold of Noah’s hand. “Yes. He might be a bit cheeky, but he doesn’t lie.
He owns up. I had a run in with the same teacher.
The school is a good one, and I’m sure she is an excellent teacher, but she’s not the best teacher for Noah.
For whatever reason, she won’t even allow his extra help sheets.
” I’m trying to be calm, de-escalate the race to the bottom of insults Nigel started.
“He doesn’t need extra help,” Nigel spits at me.
“He has dyslexia. And while we’re talking about it, so does Cal. I can’t do anything for Cal, he’s not my child. But Noah is, and I can help him.” I stand taller. “If you want to apologise, fine. We won’t be. And we will be leaving.”
I sit back down, confident I am making the best decision for my sons. “Eat your ice cream boys. We’ll go home afterwards.”