More Than Allies Read Online Free PDF Page B

invited you to speculate. She was an interesting woman, and Maggie had always admired her. She didn’t have time, though, to analyze her; twenty-seven high school juniors were pouring into the room.
    She wrote out another question, then turned to call the roll.
    The last period of the day was a free one for Mrs. Tobler, but Maggie wasn’t supposed to leave until four. She tidied the two piles of papers she had collected in class, then took a paperback book out of her purse. It was a collection of short stories by women, all having to do with love and family. What didn’t have to do with love and family? Business and war, she supposed. Did women write about those things?
    A student came in and said there was a phone call for her; she could take it in the library.
    She ran to take it, worried it was the baby. It was Polly, to say that Jay’s teacher had called and she needed to go over there as soon as she was free. “He seemed to think Jay’s not doing so well,” Polly said. “He assured me it’s not an emergency. And Maggie, Stevie’s feeling much better. She doesn’t have any fever at all.”
    Maggie took her time slip down to the front office and laid it on the counter. The secretary tapped it with her long nails. “We really aren’t supposed to check you out until four.”
    â€œI have to be over at the grade school.”
    The secretary looked at her, clearly disbelieving, but was twenty minutes worth a confrontation? She pulled the slip of paper toward her. “Mrs. Tobler will be back tomorrow, you know.”
    â€œI’m so glad,” Maggie said.
    The children had already cleared out of the building and the buses were gone when Maggie reached Jay’s school. She walked quickly to his classroom. Jack met her at the door, took hold of her in that kind of squeezed-upper-arm grasp he had, and suggested that they go down to the office.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she demanded. His overly concerned expression alarmed her.
    â€œNow don’t worry, Maggie,” he said. “There’s nothing really wrong. ”
    â€œBut—his grandmother said—”
    â€œCome, why say everything twice?”
    He led her into the principal’s office. The principal was a pretty, plump, very sweet woman, well-liked by everyone, and she was sporting the same damned look as Jack.
    Maggie sank into the one soft chair in the office. Jack sat on a straight-backed chair a little closer to the principal’s desk. Mrs. Cecil. The kids all called her Miz-C.
    â€œJay?” Maggie said.
    â€œOh, he’s gone on home on the bus,” Mrs. Cecil said.
    â€œHe had a hard day,” Jack said.
    â€œHe’s such a sweet kid,” Mrs. Cecil said.
    â€œUsually,” Jack added.
    â€œWhat has he done?” Maggie asked.
    â€œIt’s not so much one thing—” Mrs. Cecil said, “—as it is a pattern that seems to be emerging.”
    â€œOf what?” Maggie asked.
    â€œThere was one thing today,” Jack interjected.
    â€œJack thought it was so close to the end of the year, we could let things go by—” Mrs. Cecil began, but Jack interrupted her. He leaned toward Maggie, his arms resting on his knees.
    â€œHe sprayed a boy today, on the stage.”
    â€œSprayed?” Maggie’s immediate image was of her son peeing on someone’s foot. He used to do that when he was little. On his own foot. When he first started peeing standing up. He didn’t always wait for the stream to end. He was in a hurry to get away, and he’d let go too soon.
    â€œAnd a little scuffle ensued,” the teacher added.
    â€œEnsued,” Maggie repeated. Spoken in that isolated way, the word had an exotic sound, like a greeting in another language.
    â€œThey were working on the play for Spanish night,” Jack continued.
    â€œMrs. Jarrett,” Mrs. Cecil said. Jack stopped talking. He pulled his hands