“Now, what can I do for you?” She faltered when she saw Malik’s glowering face.
“My daughter tells me you’re making a spectacle of her in front of the class.” His dark eyes pierced hers.
“I what? Would you mind explaining?”
“Oh, come now, Miss Conroy. Let’s not play games.”
“Mr. Malik, I’m not playing games. I’ve done everything I can to make Lena feel comfortable. She’s alovely child, just very quiet and shy. But I’m pleased that she’s made real strides already this year in math. As you know, it’s very difficult for her.”
“Yes, you’ve certainly pointed that out to the whole class.”
“I have?” Anger sizzled up her back.
“I’m tired of your innocent look, Miss Conroy. Sitting my daughter in the back of the room with another student is not my way of helping a child who belongs in special education. She should be taught by a teacher, not a fellow student.”
With her frustration growing, Jane responded like a witness facing a jury, carefully selecting her words and trying to remain calm. “Many children sit at the back tables for rewards, as well as special help, Mr. Malik. I haven’t singled your daughter out in any way. The other girl is her friend, and they work together.”
Afraid of losing courage, she snatched a breath and plowed ahead. “And I’ve checked her records. She’s not a special ed student. She’s shy, but once she gains confidence, I believe she’ll be able to learn with the group rather than needing individual help.”
“And what makes you an authority on my daughter? She’s always been backward. You’re prejudiced, Miss Conroy. You’re making a spectacle of her and getting some sort of pleasure from it.”
Jane’s blood curdled. She wanted so badly to tell him that he was the one causing his daughter’s problems, belittling her and calling her “dumb.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Jane said. “I’ll be happy to arrange for her to be tested again by one of our special education staff.”
Malik slapped his fist on his stocky knee. “I thinkthe whole bunch of you are in cahoots. You toss the problem back and forth, protecting each other.”
Frozen with fear, Jane stared into Malik’s fiery eyes, his face twisted in contempt.
“Then feel free to have her tested on your own,” Jane said. “You can call the intermediate school district, and I’m sure they can advise you. Or use the Yellow Pages. Whatever makes you confident that Lena’s getting a fair assessment. In my judgment, her self-esteem needs bolstering. Once she has some confidence, she’ll learn like any other child.”
With the speed of light, Malik rose, knocking the chair against the wall. “I can see that you’re no more cooperative than that other woman. I’d hoped Lena would have a male this year, someone with brains in his head.” He pointed his finger in her face. “You’ll hear from me again. You can be sure of that.”
In a flash, Malik bolted from the room, leaving Jane shaken and confused. Her tense shoulders relaxed as she released a breath from her throbbing lungs. She had no idea how to deal with someone that unreasonable.
Chapter Five
T rying to decide what to wear put Jane in a quandary. Never in her life had she felt so tense about a dinner date. But then, she’d never been asked to the home of a man’s parents before—at least, not since her teenage years. That was a long time ago.
Though she was anxious to tell Kyle about Sam Malik, she feared it might turn the evening into a “downer.” It could wait.
After one more search through the closet, Jane settled on an earth-tone print skirt, which draped nicely over her hips, and a rust sweater that complemented her red hair. She wanted to look especially right for Kyle’s folks. Not too prim, but proper. With makeup in place, she dressed, then paced.
When Kyle arrived, he grinned and handed her a tri-fold paper.
She laughed at his concocted protocol pamphlet and read the
“My daughter tells me you’re making a spectacle of her in front of the class.” His dark eyes pierced hers.
“I what? Would you mind explaining?”
“Oh, come now, Miss Conroy. Let’s not play games.”
“Mr. Malik, I’m not playing games. I’ve done everything I can to make Lena feel comfortable. She’s alovely child, just very quiet and shy. But I’m pleased that she’s made real strides already this year in math. As you know, it’s very difficult for her.”
“Yes, you’ve certainly pointed that out to the whole class.”
“I have?” Anger sizzled up her back.
“I’m tired of your innocent look, Miss Conroy. Sitting my daughter in the back of the room with another student is not my way of helping a child who belongs in special education. She should be taught by a teacher, not a fellow student.”
With her frustration growing, Jane responded like a witness facing a jury, carefully selecting her words and trying to remain calm. “Many children sit at the back tables for rewards, as well as special help, Mr. Malik. I haven’t singled your daughter out in any way. The other girl is her friend, and they work together.”
Afraid of losing courage, she snatched a breath and plowed ahead. “And I’ve checked her records. She’s not a special ed student. She’s shy, but once she gains confidence, I believe she’ll be able to learn with the group rather than needing individual help.”
“And what makes you an authority on my daughter? She’s always been backward. You’re prejudiced, Miss Conroy. You’re making a spectacle of her and getting some sort of pleasure from it.”
Jane’s blood curdled. She wanted so badly to tell him that he was the one causing his daughter’s problems, belittling her and calling her “dumb.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Jane said. “I’ll be happy to arrange for her to be tested again by one of our special education staff.”
Malik slapped his fist on his stocky knee. “I thinkthe whole bunch of you are in cahoots. You toss the problem back and forth, protecting each other.”
Frozen with fear, Jane stared into Malik’s fiery eyes, his face twisted in contempt.
“Then feel free to have her tested on your own,” Jane said. “You can call the intermediate school district, and I’m sure they can advise you. Or use the Yellow Pages. Whatever makes you confident that Lena’s getting a fair assessment. In my judgment, her self-esteem needs bolstering. Once she has some confidence, she’ll learn like any other child.”
With the speed of light, Malik rose, knocking the chair against the wall. “I can see that you’re no more cooperative than that other woman. I’d hoped Lena would have a male this year, someone with brains in his head.” He pointed his finger in her face. “You’ll hear from me again. You can be sure of that.”
In a flash, Malik bolted from the room, leaving Jane shaken and confused. Her tense shoulders relaxed as she released a breath from her throbbing lungs. She had no idea how to deal with someone that unreasonable.
Chapter Five
T rying to decide what to wear put Jane in a quandary. Never in her life had she felt so tense about a dinner date. But then, she’d never been asked to the home of a man’s parents before—at least, not since her teenage years. That was a long time ago.
Though she was anxious to tell Kyle about Sam Malik, she feared it might turn the evening into a “downer.” It could wait.
After one more search through the closet, Jane settled on an earth-tone print skirt, which draped nicely over her hips, and a rust sweater that complemented her red hair. She wanted to look especially right for Kyle’s folks. Not too prim, but proper. With makeup in place, she dressed, then paced.
When Kyle arrived, he grinned and handed her a tri-fold paper.
She laughed at his concocted protocol pamphlet and read the
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