Can I Speak to Sterling’s Parents?
Last night was Back to School Night at Sterling’s school. Everything went as it should, until near the tailend of the night when the teacher asked to speak to Sterling’s parents.
Uh, oh!
Considering all the possibilities that had already been floating around my mind AND knowing what a quiet and shy little boy Sterling is (NOT!), the fact that the teacher singled us out among all the parents to speak to didn’t bode well.
One of the day’s class assignments was for the kids to draw their families. Oddly, Sterling drew only me and grandpa. Normally, mom would be the first person he’d think of, the rest of us mere afterthoughts. The teacher asked him why he hadn’t drawn his mom.
He put his head down. “She’s not there anymore,” he said.
Puzzled, the teacher asked where she was.
“She’s gone!” was his reply.
Now in shock, his teacher tried to recall whether she’s stuck her foot in it, and forgotten about the news of a death in the family. She thought she’d recalled seeing Kim recently on the first day of school, but was uncertain. She even resorted to checking the paperwork we’d submitted to verify her intuition. She still wasn’t sure.
The teacher returned to Sterling and confronted him. Again, she asked Sterling where his mum had gone.
“Mexico,” was his surprising response. He then went on to say that both his mom and sister were in Mexico, while he stayed home with dad.
Both of us parents and the teacher had a good laugh when she saw the two of us that same night at Back to School Night. My wife’s never even been to Mexico…
Once again, that child’s imagination amazes me! I was prepared for a touching story about how mommy is at work now and isn’t at home to play with me all day, but no…she’s in MEXICO! :)) The next question that comes to mind is, when did she go and why didn’t she invite us??