The Perfect Solution-A Suspense of Choices Read Online Free PDF

head again and he jerked back further. "But this was all arranged after you were brought to school. Your auntie is busy and your mom forgot to give me the password." The woman smiled sweetly at Brhin before turning to the teacher. "I guess it's because she is so ill. She's been ill and trying to fight it all week, probably the flu."
    "No, I won't go." Brhin shouted and slapped his palm on the table. His little body filled with fear and anger sat stiffly in the chair.
    Every argument Brhin gave to the contrary, the woman explained away. The teacher tried to stay focused on the conversation while keeping a wary eye on the activities going on around the room, but soon gave up. The children were pulling out containers and tossing out the contents of puzzle pieces, small toys and blocks. Irritably, she thought about how it would take the rest of the afternoon to clean the room and in exasperation, Stephanie removed Brhin from his chair and placed him in the woman's arms.
    "Listen Brhin its time to go home. I have to take care of the other children. It’ll be all right. Soon you’ll be home with your mother and all will be well."
    Placing a tight grip around Brhin's angry, struggling body the woman informed the teacher about his jacket.
    "Black leather, zips down the front with an attached hood."
    "I'll get it." Volunteered Ms. Franklin, anything so she could get back to work before anyone else came in. The children had now turned the room into a disaster area and she had no doubts at all that it would take forever to get it into order.
    Crossing the room to the coat closet Stephanie reached in and removed the jacket from the hook bearing Brhin's name. A folded piece of paper fluttered unnoticed from his pocket and onto the floor of the closet. Before being carried out of the room Brhin tearfully begged the teacher to call his mother. The misery in his little eyes tugged at Ms. Franklin's heart and she took a step towards him. Nearing the woman's right shoulder, Stephanie watched the tears roll down Brhin's cheeks and a rush of doubt crawled up her spine.
    "Ma'am? Maybe I..." she reached to remove him from the lady's grasp.
    The woman interrupted her by abruptly sidestepping and walking towards the door, saying 'I can't stop now, I have to take him' as she walked out of the room. Increasing her pace, she rushed down the hallway and practically ran out of the double-glass doors.
    A myriad of questions began swirling around Stephanie's brain. What have I done? What was I thinking? Did I do the right thing? Why had Brhin been so upset? He should have been happy to be going home. Maybe he just didn't like the woman. Children could be like that. She reasoned. And then again, I wonder if I should go and tell Mrs. Julioux about the incident.
    Looking around the room, she was astonished at the total chaos. Toys were now everywhere. Almost every child seemed determined to entertain himself with whatever item he or she could find. Unmade cots were still scattered around the room. And a few adventurous older boys were attempting to jump across cots placed near a wall. Three toddler girls were having a screaming, yanking match over a single multi-colored tennis shoe that obviously belonged to neither of them. Two little girls were running back and forth, racing to put snacks by each name tag on the second of the three large round tables, while the smallest table in the room was being pushed around by four overzealous young males trying to arrange the room into the order it had been before nap time.
    There is no way I can leave this room, Stephanie decided. I already feel as if I've made one of the biggest mistakes in my life by sending that child away. What in God's name was I thinking? After all the classes that I have taken, I should have known better than to place that child in that woman's arms. I should have made an effort to call his mother. How could I let my frustrations rule my good senses? And if I walk out of this room, something