Teaser Tuesday

I know, I've been ignoring you folks lately. Just been busy, but I have been writing. Look! Here's the proof!

The classroom door opened to reveal our school guidance counselor, Ms. Laury.

“Can I speak with Ian please?” she asked the teacher. My stomach fell. The class snickered and people asked me what I did already as I stood. Clay grabbed the edge of my shirt. As I looked back, he gave me a reassuring smile which I couldn’t return. Our new friend Mei-Li kept her eyes down. At least she was pretending to mind her own business. I liked that.

“Let’s go Mr. Quinn,” my teacher hustled me along. Ms. Laury gave me a smile and held the door open for my exit. Closing the door behind me, she led me a little ways down the hall where people couldn’t watch us out their doors.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

“Now Ian, before I start I want to let you know that everything is going to be OK.” My stomach was no longer resting in my knees. It had fallen to the floor. It’s never good when someone starts out a conversation with words like that. I tried to swallow past the lump that sprouted in my throat.

“Just tell me what happened,” I said.

“There’s been a little accident.”

“What kind of accident?”

“…Your father hit a mailbox. He’s OK,” she stressed. “The car is a bit of a mess, but he’s OK. Your mother is at the hospital with him. She just didn’t want you to worry if you got home later and no one was there.”

It’s horrible to say this, but relief flooded through me as I heard it was my father and not my mother in the accident. I bet it had something to do with the copious amounts of JD I saw him pour in his coffee this morning. Asshole. I hate to say he deserved it, but he kind of did. I hoped it might wake him up a little to his…problem, but I doubt it.

“OK Ms. Laury. Thanks for letting me know.” She placed her hand on my arm.

“If you need to talk Ian, please don’t hesitate to come to me.” I felt kind of bad for her. There was never anyone in the guidance office. Not for a lack of issues around here, but no one would admit them to a school official, that’s for sure.
“Thanks Ms. Laury.” She patted my arm again before turning to head back to her office.