chapter eleven: Aster's parent-teacher conference turned into a confrontation between teacher and parent. Who's responsible for providing the extra support students like Devin need--teachers or parents or the school or...?
photo by ldyck
Chapter twelve
Lately, in hushed voices, when they thought he wasn't listening, Devin's parents spoke about someone named Aster. By listening closely, Devin broke the code--Aster was Aster Stevens was Mrs. Stevens was his teacher. He didn't like what he heard--he didn't like his dad's heavy voice or the sadness in his mom's--and so when Aster said, “Devin, please continue reading.” Devin's creative dyslexic brain played with the name. Aster. Aster? As... "Nah, I don't think so, Assburn."
The classroom fell silent. No one dared move, or breathe.
“My name is Mrs. Stevens, young man.”
“Assburn. Assburn. Assburn,” Devin chanted.
Aster sent Devin a glance as warm as ice. “Class, please place your heads on your desks.”
A sea of heads lowered like a wave onto their desks. Every head lowered but Devin’s.
“You all look like a bunch of robot dorks,” he told them.
First, the boys raised their heads. Then much more slowly the girls’ backs straightened until they sat bolt-upright in their chairs. Elizabeth Joy was the only pupil whose head remained on her desk.
“Devin, do as you’ve been told.”
“Shut up, Assburn. I’m no dork.”
Other boys picked up the chant. “Assburn. Assburn. Assburn.”
Elizabeth Joy straightened her back, raised her head, and snickered.
Aster flew down the aisle to where Devin sat defiantly, teetering back in his chair. “I said put your head on your desk.” She grabbed his head and slammed it onto his desk. The sound of bone connecting with steel echoed down the hall.
***
The office door was open a crack. Aster leaned into the gap and squeaked, “You wished to see me, Principal Fraser.”
“Come in and close the door.” Crisp words. With a wave of his hand, he directed her to take a seat.
Most of what was said was a blur to Aster but she did hear him say, “I had great respect for you as a teacher but...” and “immediate suspension” and “termination”.
Aster's toxic relationship with Devin continued until Aster lost control of her classroom and herself and--and now she must deal with the aftermath.
