Chapter 14 - THE PEOPLE AT THE GATE
There were nine people outside the school Monday morning.
Nine was enough to look like fifty when cameras pointed at them.
Three carried American flags. Two carried signs saying SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. One sign said FIRE THE TEACHER. Another said STOP INDOCTRINATING CHILDREN.
Nobody seemed sure what indoctrination had to do with a third-grade project.
Across the sidewalk, four other adults held signs criticizing “military propaganda in elementary schools.”
They had apparently arrived after seeing the local streamer’s video.
Ben watched the scene from two blocks away inside the minivan.
Clara sank lower in her seat.
“I hate everybody.”
Lauren rubbed her shoulder. “Temporary feeling.”
“No. Permanent.”
“Fair.”
Principal Danner called.
“We’re moving the presentation. District training room, after school. No media.”
Ben looked at Clara.
She whispered, “I don’t want those people there.”
“They won’t be.”
The school day went badly anyway.
A substitute had accidentally left the classroom television on a local news page during recess. Clara’s school picture appeared for several seconds before Mrs. Patel shut it off.
Two students argued over whether Ben was “a hero.”
Mason said, “My uncle says the whole thing is fake for attention.”
Clara snapped.
“Your uncle is stupid.”
Mason shoved his chair back.
“My uncle is smarter than your dad.”
Clara threw an eraser.
It hit him in the cheek.
The room went dead quiet.
Clara stared at her own hand.
Mrs. Patel closed her eyes.
“Clara. Hallway. Now.”
Ten minutes later, Clara sat in the counselor’s office crying so hard she hiccuped.
Lauren arrived first.
“I messed up again.”
“Yes,” Lauren said.
Clara blinked through tears.
“You’re supposed to say it’s okay.”
“No. You threw something at somebody because you were angry.”
“He was being mean.”
“Still not okay.”
Clara rubbed her nose.
“Am I suspended?”
“No. You lost recess tomorrow, and you owe Mason an apology.”
“He won’t forgive me.”
“That’s becoming a theme this week.”
Clara gave her mother an offended look.
Lauren pulled her close.
“I love you. And you still don’t get to throw things.”
At 3:30, Ben arrived with Scout for the relocated presentation.
He had changed into jeans and a plain gray polo.
Clara looked at him.
“No uniform?”
“Nope.”
“Why?”
“Because today is about your project, not my shirt.”
She nodded.
They entered the district training room through a side door.
Twenty-two students were already waiting.
So were their parents.
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And in the last row, alone, sat Ms. Harrow.
