Eleanor Bates
Disclaimers: I don't own Once Upon a Time. Also, this story is a spin – off from La Lisboa's original "Thicker than Water."
This time we'll here from Mrs. Bates, the director of the PTO and one of the teachers at Henry's school. It takes place in chapters 39 and 41.
Eleanor was a little confused when she found out Mr. and Mrs. Nolan were Henry Mills's aunt and uncle. Most people who came to the PTO meetings were parents, after all. But Eleanor had to admit, she was glad to have them there. They both had great ideas and seemed well – suited for defusing arguments. She hoped they plan to come to more meetings.
When Henry arrived in math class the next day, Eleanor couldn't help praising his aunt and uncle. "I think your aunt and uncle are wonderful people, Henry. Do you know that? They really helped me at the PTO meeting last night."
Henry eyes lit up and he nodded eagerly. "I know! I want to be just like them and my mom when I grow up."
Eleanor smiled at the boy. "That's great to hear." Henry seemed to have wonderful role models in his life. And was even better was the boy realized it. She sat down at her desk and opened her textbook. "Did everyone do their homework last night?"
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Eleanor was grateful that Mr. and Mrs. Nolan seemed very interested in the PTO. They helped with the pumpkin sale, and they volunteered to sell refreshments at the Halloween Dance.
Speaking of the Halloween Dance, she was a chaperone this year. Fortunately, all the children seemed to be behaving this year. So far, there were no fights or wild dancing where kids got hurt. And she didn't smell any drugs around either.
Just then, Eleanor heard to boys screaming at each other. One of them looked like he might throw a punch any minute. It looked like she'd spoken (or thought) too soon. She marched up, stepping in between them. "Calm down, please, or you will have to go home. Do you understand?" she asked firmly. Her voice left no room for argument.
"Yes," replied a familiar voice. Eleanor turned and realized it was Henry Mills. He seemed to be dressed as a prince of some sort. What was that nice boy doing in a situation like this?
"Yeah, sure Mrs. Bates," replied the other boy.
Eleanor decided to keep a close eye on both of them for the rest of the night. Luckily, neither of them got into a fight, or even another argument for the rest of the night. She did notice Henry acted strange around his uncle, though. In the first place, he kept glancing toward his uncle's refreshment booth all the time. That wasn't a problem. Eleanor was aware Henry knew his uncle was at the dance. Perhaps it made him self – conscious. Or maybe he just liked knowing the other man was there, considering he looked up to him so much. But what was really odd was that Henry kept calling him something other than "Uncle David." It started with a "G." Eleanor couldn't figure out what that meant. But she remembered him screaming something about a "G" when he fought with the other boy. Talking about his costume?
But Eleanor was concerned about Henry. She looked up his file when she got home and found out Henry actually lived with his aunt and uncle as well as his mother. That explained how close he was to them. He was also only living with the family recently. Last year he had been sent to a foster home because his adoptive mother died. Poor kid. It was actually surprising he was doing so well.
Or was he? What did that word meant that he was calling his uncle? "Great one? "Graduate?" Eleanor shook his head. She couldn't think of anything that made sense. And why was he saying the same thing when he screamed at the other kid? Was Henry looking up to his uncle in an unhealthy way? Associating him with…a storybook prince like he was dressed as? Eleanor rolled her eyes at herself. You're being ridiculous!
But those concerns wouldn't leave her mind for the next couple of days. What should she do about them? Should she call the boy's mother? Emma Swan, according to the record? Should she wait and see if Henry got worse…or did something else?
But Mr. and Mrs. Nolan were at the PTO meeting again this week. She decided to talk to them. They knew each other, after all. They might be less likely to become defensive if she voiced her concerns.
I don't think this "Voice" is quite as good as the others but I thought I'd post it anyway.
Please let me know what you think, whether it's good, bad, or in between.