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He closed his hands around her arms, his mouth twisting with regret. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not supposed to get involved in situations like this, but I wasn’t going to ignore it.”
“I don’t understand why he didn’t come and talk to me. Or why he hasn’t been in class.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing, thank you. I’ll handle it.” She infused a lighter note into her voice to let him know it was just another situation to deal with, though the strangeness of it was making her uneasy.
She decided to go to the office during her prep period and talk to Principal Spruce. At the very least, she needed to find out why Todd hadn’t been to her class this week.
For the rest of the day, Lincoln went to talk to the sophomore literature classes. As Grace finished up grading papers during her prep period, her phone and email notifications pinged.
“Miss Berry, your presence is required in my office immediately.”
The message also appeared in a voicemail, as if Hank Spruce would take no chances of Grace missing it. Though she was accustomed to Spruce’s abrupt orders, the urgency of this one created a surge of wariness. Leaving her book bag behind, she hurried to the main office.
When she entered, Carrie stood from behind her desk so quickly that her chair rolled back. Her face was lined with worry.
“Grace, something is up, and it doesn’t look good,” she whispered, gesturing toward the principal’s office. “I just wanted to warn you.”
Grace thanked her and stepped into the office.
Oh, she was in trouble, all right.
Todd Oliver’s parents stood near the window—Mrs. Oliver was thin-lipped and tense, and Mr. Oliver looked as if he were a volcano about to erupt. Next to Spruce stood Bob Porter, the district superintendent. And apparently a “good friend” of Rick Oliver’s.
“Miss Berry.” Spruce stood from behind his desk. “I believe everyone knows each other, so no introductions are needed.”
Grace nodded greetings at the others, none of which were returned.
“What is this about?” Her throat was dry.
“I think you know,” Rick Oliver remarked.
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Todd has informed us that he wants to quit football,” Mrs. Oliver said tightly. “And we’ve learned that both you and Lincoln Atwood were responsible for his decision.”
Grace blinked. “I’m sorry, but that’s not true.”
“Todd claims that Atwood told him no one can make him play football,” Mr. Oliver snapped. “So instead of playing next year, hissenior year, he wants to dick around doing nothing. Did you and Atwood tell him to do that, too?”
“I don’t know what, exactly, Mr. Atwood said, but I assure you he would never suggest that any student—”
“We’re not holding Atwood responsible,” Mr. Oliver interrupted. “He’s not a teacher. You, on the other hand, have had it in for my kid since day one.”
“On the contrary, I’ve wanted Todd to succeed.”
“Miss Berry, you are the authority in your classroom,” Principal Spruce put in. “The Real World Specialists must adhere to a code of conduct, but ultimately the teachers are responsible for their students and, as I have told you, for the success of the specialists in their class. You must agree that this situation is the opposite ofsuccessful.”
Grace shook her head, her spine tensing. “Todd’s decision to quit football had nothing to do with his performance in my class.”
“That’s not the way we see it.” Mr. Oliver folded his arms over his barrel-like chest and narrowed his hard gaze on her.
“Miss Berry, since the beginning of the year, there has been a direct correlation between Todd’s grade in your class and his role on the football team.” Spruce thumped his fist on the desk. “We’ve no doubt that his loss of motivation is a direct result of your failure to help him pass your class.”
“I have done everything to help him pass my class, except do the work for him.” Grace’s tone came out sharp and determined. “Todd was supposed to come and talk to me early Monday morning, but he didn’t show up. He also hasn’t been in my class for the past three days.”
“Because you have ruined his high school career!” Mrs. Oliver’s voice rose a notch. “You’ve destroyed both his GPA and any chance he has for college football. He hasn’t been in your class this week because we refuse to let you corrupt him one minute longer.”
