might have given him a disease. She’s a savage. I don’t want that uncivilized brat in school with my boy.”
Now Aunt Mary Louise stood up tall—she looked like a giant. Her eyes were flashing, and when those gold eyes flash like that, she’s real scary. I tell you true, nobody but a crazy person would tangle with Aunt Mary Louise.
“Most of the folks living around here would prefer not to have Ralph in school with our children, but we’ve been too polite to say so. If you were ‘civilized’—or at least mannerly—you’d apologize for Ralph’s ‘savage’ behavior, the behavior that forced Coleman to defend herself. If you were a good citizen and a good mother, you’d have put a stop to Ralph’s bullying a long time ago,” she said. Her voice was soft, but scary like her eyes. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
“Well, I never! We’ll see whose child has to leave school!” She stalked out and slammed the front door behind her.
I had to run to keep her from seein’ me, but even worried as I was about Coleman, I nearly laughed, ‘cause I was picturin’ her with a curly little pink tail pokin’ through the back of her tight black skirt.
Polly
After Mrs. Roberts left, she went directly to the school and tattled to Miss Seaman, who immediately called to cancel her appointment with Ida. Ida said Miss Seaman was officious and rude. She told Ida that she knew all about our conversation with Mrs. Roberts, so there was nothing to discuss. She understood our position and disagreed with it. She reminded Ida that she’d been concerned about Coleman’s social skills and hadn’t wanted her to skip grades—this was what came of ignoring the opinion of a professional. (Of course, Ralph would have attacked Coleman if she’d been in kindergarten, but never mind logic.) She’s arranged a teachers’ meeting later this week to decide what to do about Coleman and will let us know what they decide.
Miss Ida asked her about Ralph, and I can’t believe it, but they don’t plan to do anything about his behavior: “Boys will be boys,” Miss Seaman said, and he was “only playing” and didn’t hurt Coleman. She’s nothing but a parrot, echoing that boy’s fool of a mother. Then she announced that Coleman was suspended until a decision is made. Dinah is welcome to attend school. Ha! As if she would, or we would let her.
I think that tacky little Seaman snip is trying to get even because Ida wouldn’t discuss Coleman’s background or “peer groups” and the like with her, or agree to hold Coleman back on her say-so. Could she really believe that we would have a serious discussion about family matters with a nitwit like her? She and that odious Rita Roberts deserve each other. And I think that Hatley woman is mixed up in this, too—taking Billy Joe’s part along with Ralph’s. Well, she would, since he’s her brother’s child.
Naturally, Dinah isn’t going back till Coleman does, and Mary Louise alerted the Byrds, and they’re staying home, too—that’s about a third of the school. Freddy has been in class with Ralph ever since kindergarten, and he and his friends are making a list of all the children that horrible boy has bullied. Mary Louise and I are calling parents to let them know what’s happening at the school. I hold Miss Seaman responsible. It’s up to the principal to keep order and to make sure the children behave properly at recess.
Ida talked to Dr. Mann, and he’s consulting the school nurse, and they’re putting together a list of children who’ve been injured or frightened by Ralph and his cronies. Dr. Mann blames himself for Coleman’s troubles; he said he should have done something about Ralph long ago. He’s writing to Miss Seaman, with copies to the parents of Ralph and the other two boys, and to the entire school board, telling them what’s happening at the school, and what he thinks should be done—which is to stop the bullying. Everything will be
Now Aunt Mary Louise stood up tall—she looked like a giant. Her eyes were flashing, and when those gold eyes flash like that, she’s real scary. I tell you true, nobody but a crazy person would tangle with Aunt Mary Louise.
“Most of the folks living around here would prefer not to have Ralph in school with our children, but we’ve been too polite to say so. If you were ‘civilized’—or at least mannerly—you’d apologize for Ralph’s ‘savage’ behavior, the behavior that forced Coleman to defend herself. If you were a good citizen and a good mother, you’d have put a stop to Ralph’s bullying a long time ago,” she said. Her voice was soft, but scary like her eyes. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
“Well, I never! We’ll see whose child has to leave school!” She stalked out and slammed the front door behind her.
I had to run to keep her from seein’ me, but even worried as I was about Coleman, I nearly laughed, ‘cause I was picturin’ her with a curly little pink tail pokin’ through the back of her tight black skirt.
Polly
After Mrs. Roberts left, she went directly to the school and tattled to Miss Seaman, who immediately called to cancel her appointment with Ida. Ida said Miss Seaman was officious and rude. She told Ida that she knew all about our conversation with Mrs. Roberts, so there was nothing to discuss. She understood our position and disagreed with it. She reminded Ida that she’d been concerned about Coleman’s social skills and hadn’t wanted her to skip grades—this was what came of ignoring the opinion of a professional. (Of course, Ralph would have attacked Coleman if she’d been in kindergarten, but never mind logic.) She’s arranged a teachers’ meeting later this week to decide what to do about Coleman and will let us know what they decide.
Miss Ida asked her about Ralph, and I can’t believe it, but they don’t plan to do anything about his behavior: “Boys will be boys,” Miss Seaman said, and he was “only playing” and didn’t hurt Coleman. She’s nothing but a parrot, echoing that boy’s fool of a mother. Then she announced that Coleman was suspended until a decision is made. Dinah is welcome to attend school. Ha! As if she would, or we would let her.
I think that tacky little Seaman snip is trying to get even because Ida wouldn’t discuss Coleman’s background or “peer groups” and the like with her, or agree to hold Coleman back on her say-so. Could she really believe that we would have a serious discussion about family matters with a nitwit like her? She and that odious Rita Roberts deserve each other. And I think that Hatley woman is mixed up in this, too—taking Billy Joe’s part along with Ralph’s. Well, she would, since he’s her brother’s child.
Naturally, Dinah isn’t going back till Coleman does, and Mary Louise alerted the Byrds, and they’re staying home, too—that’s about a third of the school. Freddy has been in class with Ralph ever since kindergarten, and he and his friends are making a list of all the children that horrible boy has bullied. Mary Louise and I are calling parents to let them know what’s happening at the school. I hold Miss Seaman responsible. It’s up to the principal to keep order and to make sure the children behave properly at recess.
Ida talked to Dr. Mann, and he’s consulting the school nurse, and they’re putting together a list of children who’ve been injured or frightened by Ralph and his cronies. Dr. Mann blames himself for Coleman’s troubles; he said he should have done something about Ralph long ago. He’s writing to Miss Seaman, with copies to the parents of Ralph and the other two boys, and to the entire school board, telling them what’s happening at the school, and what he thinks should be done—which is to stop the bullying. Everything will be
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