The Homespun Holiday Read Online Free PDF Page B

I
am.  I also happen to be, among other things, Ms. Robbins’ employer and
friend.”
    Millie’s eyes dilated at that
statement.  They were friends?  Since when?  Where had she been when that
upgrade in their relationship had been made?  At best, she figured she was just
someone he tolerated in order to do his job productively. 
    “I’m also the guy that spent the
better part of the summer helping Millie watch over Paisley.  But most
importantly, I’m the person that explained the birds and the bees to our little
student here,” he continued, ruffling Paisley’s hair and pulling a giggle from
her lips.  “If there’s a problem with something she said this morning, then the
problem you have is ultimately with me , not the five-year-old child that
was only parroting what an adult told her.”
    “Sir, I don’t know if you or
Paisley’s mother are aware of just what words were coming out of this little
girl’s young mouth.  Ms. Simmons here, however, was there,” he stated,
gesturing at the rail thin older woman in the corner.  “She can tell you that
the vocabulary was certainly not something we can tolerate here at Taft
Elementary School. 
    Millie tried not to flinch as she
observed Paisley’s very judgmental teacher sitting in a straight back chair in
the corner.  The teacher hadn’t liked her from the very first day of class;
she’d made it clear that she preferred dealing with students that were from
two-parent homes.  And honestly, the woman looked like she’d been sucking on a
lemon for the last decade or so, and she was fairly certain that if Miss
Simmons bent over, they’d find a stick lodged firmly between her butt cheeks.
    “Principal Carter is absolutely
right,” Ms. Simmons’ nasally voice concurred.  “Paisley’s vocabulary was
atrocious this morning.  And the things she was sharing with our class were
entirely inappropriate,” the woman condemned, her gaze cold as it fell on the
child.
    Millie moved a step closer to her
baby as she saw the other woman glare at her kid.  “Paisley told the truth. 
Based on what she’s told me she said, none of the words she uttered can be
categorized as either vulgar or obscene as was indicated to me this morning on
the phone by Ms. Simmons,” she declared, staring the principal in the eye as
she spoke.  Honestly, she hadn’t intended to defend Paisley’s behavior when
she’d walked through the door, but that nasty look that the teacher had given
her child had changed her mind.  Nobody was going to crucify her child for
telling the truth – especially not a Kindergarten teacher that appeared to be
carrying a grudge against her student.
    “Perhaps I’m a bit out of the
loop,” the principal suggested, his gaze shifting from teacher to parent.  “In
the interest of fairness, maybe one of you could tell me what language was
used.”
    “Look, the kid used the word
vagina, penis, and testicles when she explained how babies were made.  She
heard a kid blowing smoke about finding Jesus under a leaf and decided she’d
tell him how it really happens.  Nothing she said was incorrect or offensive.  It
was factual.  If people can’t handle the truth, that’s hardly Paisley’s
problem, is it?”
    “Those are not words that any good
young child would know,” Ms. Simmons charged shrilly.
    Jerking her head toward the other
woman, Millie stiffened.  “Excuse me!  Are you implying that I have a bad child?”
    “Well, the absence of a father in
her life isn’t doing her any favors,” Ms. Simmons returned snidely.
    “That will be enough, Ms. Simmons,”
the Principal thundered before either Millie or Dr. Daniels could blast the woman. 
“You will apologize for that remark.  Now!  Because I can assure you that it is
certainly not the position of anyone else at this school.”
    Millie watched as the old bat
blushed.  “My apologies,” she mumbled, refusing to look toward Millie or
Paisley.
    “I can assure you that