They Rejected My Daughter novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: The Box

The Ridgeline library held forty staff members on folding chairs at seven-fifteen on Monday morning.

I stood at the back by the returns cart, in the gray coat, with the board president beside me.

Lorna Staniforth had come in a charcoal suit with a man in a tie who carried a leather folder.

She did not look at me.

She walked to the front table and turned to face the teachers.

"Thank you all for being here," she said. "I know the past weeks have been terrible for this school."

Nobody answered.

"I've served this community for six years. I have paid for your buses and your risers and your carpet."

She looked slowly down the rows.

"A handful of people want to take that apart. I'm asking you to sign a letter in support of Howard Haskins, who has given twenty-six years to these children."

Her lawyer opened the folder and held up a single typed page.

"It only needs your name," Lorna said. "If we stand together, the board can't touch us."

A long moment passed.

I watched a teacher in the second row look at the page.

I watched her look at the one beside her.

Ms. Walmsley stood up.

She had her old green coat on and a folded sheet of paper in her hand, and her voice was dry and perfectly calm.

"I'd like to read something too," she said. "It's very short."

She unfolded the paper.

"Three years ago, a boy lost his seat. Two years ago, a girl. Last year, another boy. Every one of them has a donation next to the name. I've been told you can sign a letter. I'd like to know who will sign this."

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