To say that Jessica was apprehensive about the 'meeting' was an understatement. The last few days have been something of an uncomfortable possibility for her: the family of one her students may be keeping a secret.
Soon everyone that formed the meeting and were invited would be showing up soon. The meeting would only be consisting of those who were at the party or parents of the children because they didn't want the whole community to start getting uncomfortable or accusing the family of something that very well may not have been true; if they started speaking to others then it would only get out of hand since it's a small city where most knew each other but was still quite large.
Soon, Jessica heard the bell ring and immediately felt her anxiety rise. Deep down she was excited to uncover a mystery (probably because she is a curious person) but given the sensitivity of the subject, namely Ellie, it made her feel guilty at discussing what is essentially gossip at the moment.
Opening her door, she saw Danny, Mandy & Connor, Edward & Janet, Vicente & Emily, Susan, Tim, Zaira & Carlos, Amelia & Jack, Hana, Hannah & Lucas, Alice, Thomas, and Henry & Melanie (invited by Jessica to Henry's surprise) coming in one by one, perhaps synchronized to immediately get started on the topic at hand. She was able to count a total of twenty parents, not everyone but she understood that not everyone could make it.
*The meeting starts*Before having everyone come over, Jessica decided it would, at least, make the meeting a bit easier if everyone could have some snacks and beverages. Thank goodness too since she was sure everyone would need some refreshment during the meeting.
"Hey everyone, I made you something before you all came so please feel free to eat as much as you want before and while we talk if you would like." Most of those present then went over to get something to eat and get comfortable, knowing that they were going to be sitting down for a while. Again, Jessica felt like they were anxious, perhaps they wanted to know more about what they saw but finding no joy talking about another one of their semi-close group (because of their children but still close enough to talk to one another).
After everyone ate and got settled in, Jessica began to speak. "Hey everyone, I just want to say that for the moment, that we should not get too emotional here or loud please, we are just here to talk and understand what has been going on recently."
Various voices chimed in agreement, however, Henry began to speak.
"I understand we should be civil and private about this but I did speak with Jon just earlier today and he seems adamant that it is just a matter of familial love, bonds and all that other stuff. I definitely had some concerns and suspicions but shouldn't we have invited Jon if we were going to talk tonight anyways?" When no one spoke up immediately, he continued, "I was surprised that y'all were planning on doing this and since I thought the same thing but with so many of us, it feels like we are going behind his back."
Mandy spoke up, "Henry, look we all get it but we didn't invite him because we aren't sure if it really was necessary yet. It would only make him and his family upset if they thought we were judging them or talking behind their backs like gossip instead of taking it as us being genuinely concerned and understanding."
"Okay, fair, I guess you are right. We should try to understand this before we involve him and make him think we are merely trying to pry, I learned that the hard way earlier," finished Henry.
*Concerns out of the way, the actual conversation starts*"If I were to be honest with you, I found it endearing in a way. Jon's little girl needs someone who can be nice and sweet in a way like a mom even if it is his gardevoir, Celia. It may be a bit unusual but the kid would probably not be as sweet as all the other kids without some maternal figure to help make her feel loved," spoke Zaira.
"Hmm, yes but for the children, it's not something that they can understand at their age and I don't want them to get confused on what pokemon can be, not all pokemon are sentient or even nice at all, and I don't want them to think they can adopt any pokemon, turn them into family members or worse," Mandy interrupted. "I don't have a personal issue with it but I do think it can leave the wrong impression on our kids and I think that is enough to warrant discussion, then hopefully, some clarification and a solution from Jon." Many of them nodded their heads in various levels of agreement. It may be a tiny bit harsh but it is true.
"Well that is the issue though, is it just some sort of unique living arrangement and family-esque dynamic or is there something else going?" Everyone then looked over at Viciente as he resumed speaking. "I don't have a problem with Jon and his family, and I can certainly understand trying to love and provide for his family but wouldn't the way he is dealing with it be a bit weird. I didn't get to see everything that happened but my wife and Bee have told me enough that I think Jon isn't handling it like a normal person," Vicente stopped there for a breath.
Once catching himself up, he continued, "I mean it is endearing like someone said earlier and his daughter does need motherly love like all kids but it surely can cause emotional troubles for her later because of the abnormal relationship she has with Celia, not as a protector but as a 'momma'. Plus, Jon doesn't seem to think it is an issue, maybe losing his daughter's mom made him latch onto his gardevoir for some emotional support," he finished.
It was a possibility and everyone there had their own views, though they couldn't help but feel that maybe there was something that needed to be agreed on so as to help a part of their little community grow healthy with support from all over.
*Is Ellie the daughter of Celia, the daughter of a gardevoir?*At one point, Susan, who barely spoke if just to make small talk or agree with someone, then talked about how they noticed that Ellie had some blue tint to her hair and thought it was cute that she got her hair highlighted or colored in.
"I do have to say though that I know it is unusual but I think it was nice of Jon to allow Ellie to get her hair highlighted or whatever with that really dark blue in her already dark hair," she said, talking to Hana.
Jessica overheard the conversation and, without hesitation, responded a little too loud, "Oh, it isn't highlights or hair coloring, it is her actual hair color."
Multiple "whats", "huhs", and "natural hair colors" were heard. It was immediate that the confused parents asked her to elaborate.
Reluctant at first, she then spoke, "you all have to remember, I have been teaching your kids since last year when they joined school as preschoolers, I had Ellie in the same class as them and I saw her hair." She then explained that her hair has always been that way since she first started teaching her last year in pre-k." It wasn't too noticeable last year since I was getting to know your children's aptitudes, personalities, and what not but I definitely noticed this year."
And before she could stop herself, "plus she has these slightly pointed ears, ears with blunted but still pointy tips a quarter inch higher than most adults. And they were definitely real and attached to her because I accidentally brushed one with my hand when checking her for injuries at school one day. She felt it too because her ear twitched at the contact. I was surprised but I think they are kinda cute on her."
Some expressed doubts about Jessica seeing her ears."What? How could she have ears like that? Wouldn't some of us have noticed them if they were that big?" Connor, who was silent the whole time except a few small comments, exclaimed. "I have seen that kid many times when taking Emma to school or the park to play with her and never saw those ears. Are you sure?"
Again, Susan spoke, "no, she is right, I saw them too. At the time, I thought I had hallucinated or thought they were part of some little birthday gift till now, but now I know since Jessica just verified it.
…
Everyone was silent. They were unsure of what that could mean. As if for a bit for a comedic routine and trying to ease the tension, Henry and Melanie began to joke with each other."Well that settles it Melanie, Ellie is Celia's real kid and we've been worried about nothing this whole time!" Melanie laughing with tears in her eyes, "you're right dear! We solved the case and now we can go home!"
They couldn't help it. All the other parent's started laughing at the absurdity of what was said. If laughter was contagious, then everyone was sick… except Jessica.
…
…
The lack of laughter made everyone stop. Looking at Jessica, they could tell she didn't share in their mirth. And for a good reason.
"I am not sure but I could believe that Ellie is Celia's actual child."…
"Absurd! It doesn't make sense, Jessica. A gardevoir having a human child doesn't make any sense! We were just joking," Henry exclaimed.
Jessica, not one to back down from her statements, told the parents that she doesn't think it is a joke. "I am not sure but I have been thinking about everything. I keep replaying in my mind the conversation I had with Ellie at school." No one could say anything at the seriousness of Jessica's admission.
"What I saw between Celia and Ellie, with the way that Celia showed her so much love and care, felt like the only kind of love and care a mother could give. Ellie, even though she was still crying and upset, was only able to begin calming down when she was in her arms. And where was Jon, not with her because he clearly knew she could handle it."
"It was her eyes that I saw too when they were so full of distress and tears, maybe it was a trick of the light or my imagination but I saw a red tint to her brown irises, red that only a gardevoir could have…again, I am not sure but I swore for a minute I saw red before she closed her eyes. It is just a possible that I imagined the whole thing but I seriously doubt it"
…
Everyone had gone silent for a minute. Some, looking a little uncomfortable, noticed it was getting late and wanted to go home to get rest and tuck their kids in. They talked for another minute, agreeing that they would speak with Jon soon, sometime over the weekend, to settle everything and stop them from creating any more unnecessary drama amongst themselves over the Haynes family. The storms will be coming in soon.