They Rejected My Daughter novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Podium

"Mrs. Staniforth," the board president said. "If you would take your seat."

Lorna did not move.

"There must be a mistake," she said, loud enough for the microphone. "This is Ruby Sharples's mother. She told me she worked in an office. She told me she did filing."

"I told you I work downtown, in an office," I said. "I did not say I did the filing."

A ripple of laughter went through the room and died at once.

Lorna stepped down from the podium and stood against the wall with her face blank.

I took her place and adjusted the microphone.

My hands were steady.

"Good evening," I said. "Mrs. Staniforth asked what I do for a living. I'm the superintendent of this district. I took office earlier this month, and tonight I asked to sit with the parents."

I looked out at the faces.

"I want to say first what I am not doing. I haven't put my daughter back on any list. I haven't asked anyone to do it. If the roster is fixed tonight, it will be fixed because it was wrong, and for no other reason."

Somebody in the back began to clap, and stopped.

"Second, Mrs. Staniforth said I took a child in the middle of the night. A girl knocked on my window at midnight, wet through, and told me she was afraid to go home. I called her father before breakfast. He is sitting in the fourth row."

I nodded toward the aisle.

Chloe's father stood up, slowly, and sat down again.

"Mrs. Staniforth, may I ask you a question?"

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