Sarah waved frantically at her son when she saw him walk out of school. He dipped his head down. He was embarrassed. Cute, she thought. Her mom had always embarrassed her as a teenager. Sarah felt it was sort of her right to get her kicks in here after years of Drew screaming in various supermarkets, cafes, and once, oh horror of horrors, a funeral.
He clambered in the front seat and she ruffled his hair. He didn't stop her.
"Hey bud, where's your sister?"
"I don't know she went to study at some friend's house."
Huh. That was vague. "Um, what friend, Drew?"
"I don't know, Kasey or Katie or something."
"Oh. I don't know that one."
"Seemed like a new friend," came the mumbled response.
"Sure. A new friend." This was good, wasn't it? New friends were what Amber needed. As far as Sarah was aware, Amber didn't actually have any friends at all. She was always such a sweet kid, but wise far beyond her years and very mature. Other kids never really knew how to respond to Amber so as a teenager she'd just attach herself to whichever boy she thought would scare Sarah the most. It worked.
"Mom, can we go, please?" Drew asked, breaking her chain of thought.
"Yes, sorry, let's go." Sarah started up their old car.
Drew nodded and stared out of the window. Oh, what she wouldn't give to know what that boy was thinking.
It was like he'd read her mind. "Mom, I've got something for you. From my teacher."
Sarah's stomach dropped. A note from a teacher was never good news. What had Drew possibly done? Perfect, sweet, quiet Drew. It couldn't be that bad, could it? Bad enough to send a note home though. Sarah prayed it was minor. Nothing to do with drugs or theft and she'd be thrilled.
"Here." Drew thrust the crumpled up note from his back pocket at her.
"Drew, I'm driving, could you read it aloud for me?"
"But it's addressed to you?"
"I know but it's about you. There's nothing in it I'm not gonna tell you. Go on, speak nice and clearly."
Drew sighed like she was making him climb Everest and tore open the note.
"Dear Mr and Mrs Holt..."
Sarah snorted "'Mrs'! Why do they always assume I'm a 'Mrs'. And that I'm married! And that I'm married to a man, for that matter!"
"Mom..."
"Sorry, carry on."
Drew sighed again and continued. "Dear Mr and Mrs Holt, I am writing to you concerning your son, Drew. He's in my 7th-grade math class. Recently, his work has been impressing me more and more. So much so that I'm having to give him work from my 10th and 11th grade classes, just to keep him occupied."
"Drew!" Sarah exclaimed. She was almost tearful. No teacher had ever written to her to compliment her kids before. Ever.
"Can I finish reading?"
"Yeah, go on."
"As such, I was going to recommend to the school that Drew be placed in the gifted and talented class. I'd hate to see him get bored and waste time in mine. I was going to discuss this with you at the recent parents' evening, but really I just want your blessing that you think this would be the right thing for Drew. For what it's worth, I certainly do. Yours, Mr Graham."
"Buddy..." Sarah gushed, her heart swelled with pride. She knew he was special, that he was gifted, but now somebody else had acknowledged it too.
"Mom, don't be weird, it's not a big deal."
"Are you kidding me? It's the biggest deal! I'm so proud of you, Drew." Sarah smiled. She wished she could reward him somehow. Take him for ice cream or buy him a video game but there just wasn't the money for it this month. "Hey, bud, what was that about a parents' evening? Did I know about that?"
"Oh... no. I just forgot to tell you."
"You just forgot?"
Drew nodded. Drew never forgot anything. Did he think she was going to embarrass him that much? Or was is it that he wouldn't be able to have both parents' there like the other kids? Either way, it wasn't important.
Sarah nudged her son playfully. "Hey, wanna watch stupid TV and eat popcorn when we get home?"
"Yeah, ok."
He didn't sound overly enthusiastic but Sarah could tell it made him happy.
