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The teacher greets us at the door. The name sounds familiar to me and I think, trying to place it. “Is your husband an EMT with Bradford General?”
“Yes.” She smiles brightly. “He is. Do you know him?”
“I do; I’m a Lieutenant with the fire department. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, he talks about you all the time. I can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together. Trinity comes to class telling everybody about her firefighter dadalmost every day.”
Laughing, I reach down to tug on her ponytail. “I’m sure she does.”
“She’s very proud of you.”
“I’m proud of her too. I’m sure there’s some things we can work on, though?”
Mrs. Halcomb gives me a grin. “Trinity does have some room for improvement. Why don’t you come in and we’ll discuss it.”
I’m beyond nervous as I follow her into the classroom. This is a situation I’ve never found myself in before and, in some weird way, it feels as if this is also a report card on how I’m doing as a parent. I think I’m more nervous than Trinity is as I have a seat and prepare for the truth bomb of what I’m doing right and wrong.
“Trinity is an amazingly well-adjusted little girl. Your mom gave me a real quick run-down of what y’all have going on when she dropped her off the first day.”
“I’m sure she probably made it seem more pronounced than it actually is. While Trin’s mother isn’t a part of her life, she has an amazing babysitter who stays with her while I’m at work, as well as my family.”
Mrs. Halcomb is quick to assuage any fears I have about what she’s trying to tell me. “Trinity’s smart; she gets her work done on time and, although she talks a lot, I enjoy seeing her around kids her age. She brings a level of maturity many of the students don’t have.”
“Why am I sensing a but?”
It’s that awkward hanging fear that’s getting me. Like she’s about to make my world fall out from under my feet.
“As smart and as lovely as she is, Mr. Hines, she’s dealing with a sense of abandonment that I don’t think you realize she has. When you or Ms. Grimes drops her off in the morning, Trinity asks me how much longer it’ll be until she can see you again almost every hour.”
This absolutely breaks my heart. I had no idea this was happening. “I didn’t think she remembered what happened with her mom; she was so young.”
I look out to where Trin’s playing with a couple of kids from her class and I wonder how I can make this better.
“Respectfully, just because she doesn’t remember it doesn’t mean she won’t feel it. Kids are very attuned to the world around them. My guess is Trinity knows she’s different in some way compared to the rest of the kids in her class. They have a mom and she has a Natalie.”
“How can I help her?”
“The fact you’re asking that immediately instead of trying to convince yourself there isn’t a problem says a lot about the man you are, Mr. Hines. I suggest you get her an appointment with the school counselor and then see what they recommend.”
“I’ll do that immediately.”
She reaches out and makes a note on her legal pad. “I want you to know I’m in no way suggesting there’s a problem with Trinity. There isn’t.”
“I know. She’s always going to be different because her mom left her and we have to deal with it. I knew it would come up sooner or later. Guess I was just hoping for it to be later.”
“Other than that, she’s a joy in class. Of course, she could not talk so much.” She laughs and I join her. “But I have no issues with her and I’m glad to be her teacher.”
“Thank you.” I put my hand up to my chest. “That means a lot. I try very hard.”
“That’s evident in the daughter you’ve raised, Mr. Hines. I look forward to having her the rest of the year.”
She pushes over some paperwork for me to sign. Once I do then go over to grab Trin, we head out of the classroom.
“How’d it go?” She questions.
“Not too bad.”
“She said I talk too much, didn’t she?”
