Friday's Child Read Online Free PDF

had bus duty right after school.”
    â€œWell, let’s get started then,” Carol said briskly. “I’ve had an opportunity to discuss Mr. Friday’s concerns with him for a few minutes before the rest of you were free.”
    Michael removed his attention from Kate’s chest with effort. “I don’t have concerns. ” He stressed the last word ironically. “I’m damn mad.” He paused, but his words didn’t elicit any reaction from the group except polite interest. “It seems to me, Mrs. Bleakney, that your teachers are more concerned with trying to force conformity on the students than with encouraging originality.”
    â€œThe concerns I shared with you yesterday, Mr. Friday, were not about Chloe’s lack of conformity,” Kate responded, “although I do expect some level of uniform behavior from the students. There are certain behaviors that are necessary in order for our school to be a safe environment where children can learn. But my main concern about Chloe is that she cannot adequately monitor her own behavior to the extent needed for her to learn at the same pace as others.
    â€œMr. Friday—” Kate leaned forward, her expression sincere “—Chloe is a sweet-natured, creative little girl. She has many friends and is truly a joy to teach. But I worry about her. Her activity level is a problem, but with careful manipulation of the environment, her needs can be met in the classroom. Her distractibility is more troublesome. She simply isn’t capable of maintaining her attention long enough to complete a task.”
    His brows lowered. “She’s excitable, I know that. But that doesn’t mean something’s wrong with her, for Pete’s sake. I can’t believe she’s all that different from the other kids you teach.”
    â€œI believe what Kate is saying is that it’s the degree and frequency of Chloe’s behaviors that make her stand out from the others.” An older lady was speaking. The counselor? The nurse? Michael couldn’t remember. “We are not doctors here, Mr. Friday. But hyperactivity, distractibility and a short attention span are symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. We could clear up our questions about Chloe if you would agree to take her to her pediatrician for an evaluation.”
    Michael stared hard at the woman who was speaking. He focused on the last word of the ominous-sounding name. Disorder. They were asking him to believe that something was wrong with Chloe. That she was abnormal in some respect. He shook his head disbelievingly, swinging his gaze from onesomber expression to another. They had to be kidding. Chloe was the light of his life, the most precious thing in it, and so sweet and good he frequently wondered how he’d ever gotten so lucky.
    â€œI can see it was useless to come here.” He addressed the principal in a tight voice. “It’s obvious that I made a poor choice when I selected your school for Chloe. If your employees can’t accept their students as individuals—”
    â€œI can assure you that you didn’t make a mistake in choosing the Children’s Academy for your daughter. At the risk of sounding biased, we’re the finest private elementary school in the state. I’m sorry that Chloe’s attention problems have taken you by surprise, but surely the kindergarten teacher at her school last year shared similar concerns.”
    â€œShe was living with her mother last year. I never actually spoke to her teacher. Deanna gave me regular reports on her progress.”
    Carol exchanged a look with Kate and then pushed a white folder toward Michael. “This is Chloe’s cumulative folder, containing all her school records. As her parent, you have a right to examine it at any time and to receive copies of anything you wish.”
    Frowning, Michael picked it up and flipped through it. The contents were