I opened the cabin door and saw someone sitting on the chair turn around to which I let out a little scream and fumbled with my steps falling onto the strangers lap. 'Not a first good impression'
'Falling onto someone's lap that too on the first meeting. Shame on me'
The stranger caught me by my shoulders and stood up, pulling me up along with him. Unlike me he wasn't shocked, was he expecting me here?.
Pulling myself away from him I straighten myself up to look more closely at this tall well built figure standing in front of me. The stranger happened to be very handsome- indeed very handsome. He wore a white dress shirt with black pants, hair styled well, his face was a bit rough, tanned, green emerald eyes that lacked lustre but had depth to them, he looked to be in his thirties. I realised I was making him uncomfortable with all my gawking as he cleared his throat.
I broke loose from my gawking and asked him "Excuse me what are you doing here?"
"I am Daniel Warren, Rose Warren's Father," he said, handing me his card. With a 'o' expression I took the card and walked towards my side of the table.
Sitting down and motioning him to have a seat which he did. "You study here?" I asked jokingly but this man didn't seem to appreciate my humour so I decided to continue.
"So Mr.Warren what brings you here?" I asked him as I kept the card and the file I was still holding on the table.
"Didn't Miss Daisy inform you that I would be waiting in here for you?" He said clocking his brow.
I tried to remember our conversation but nowhere did she mention about someone waiting for me here.
Sighing at our schools principals forgetfulness I answered "she must have forgotten"
"So Mr.Warren, what was it that you wanted to speak to us before we spoke with Rose?" Picking the file I had placed I opened it to read through it once again.
"About Rose's behaviour.." he hesitated. I looked up to see him fumbling with his watch, with an expression of disappointment plastered on his face. I have had many parents come in but each had their own expressions, some would be furious on their children, some would be bad at the system, some would never admit to their children's faults.. we had many but never had I seen someone look so disappointed..it seemed like he was not disappointed with his daughter but rather himself.
"Mr.Warren your daughter, Rose. I know her, I was shocked to hear this about her..she's been an amazing student but for the past few months her behaviour has changed and we would love for her to go back to the happy, cheerful and excellent student that she once used to be." He nodded.
"I have gone through her past test results, here you can see them for yourself" I handed him the file and took it hesitantly in his hands and flipped through the pages, with each turn his expression kept changing.
"I don't know what has happened recently but her grades are getting worse and the amount of complaints we've been getting from her other teachers is pilling up day by day. Here in the file we have the complaints that the teachers have written.. the other day she called one of our teachers a slut, one student a bitch which is not excusable"
"I-I understand, there's just some things she's been through" he said, his grip tightening around his wrist as if he was stopping himself from doing something. His jaw twitched as he looked away.
"Mr.Warren if there's something you want me to know don't be hesitant. If it's personal, a family matter perhaps you could trust me with it, it'll be confidential, just between us." I said as I tried my best to assure him.
"Whatever the reason is, if it is affecting Rose mustn't we try to help her with it, make it better for her hum?"
For a few minutes we both sat in silence then he began fumbling with his watch again. A nervous habit I guessed.
"My wife and I are going through a divorce" with that he stopped. He then looked up expecting me to say something "I understand" was all I could say.
"So Miss Anna when would you like to come by?" He asked. I looked at him confused.
"Pardon me, what do you mean by 'when would I like to come by'?"
"My house"
"Your house!" I asked with shock evident in my voice.
"Yes my house, to-to tutor Rose, I hope miss daisy informed you about it...in fact she recommended you, she said yours is the only class Rose is attentive in and doesn't behave the way she is with other teachers" he said in a matter of fact kind of way.
"She always spares me the important details" I said through gritted teeth. Looking up I gave a faint smile "but I am sorry Mr.Warren I don't home tutor kids, she can wait after school I'll help her with it then". I said as I started to clear my desk.
"Anna please" he said, stopping me by holding my hand down on the desk. The way he called my name did some things to me. I looked at his fingers wrapped around my wrist and then at him. Hesitantly he loosened his grip and retreated his hand, looking down helplessly at the table he whispered 'Please Miss Anna'
"After school would be difficult for her, she's already told me that she wouldn't attend them and I don't want to force it on her, knowing I partly the reason she's acting the way she is" pleading and guilt slipped through his voice and I gave in.
"Okay."
"Okay?" He asked me as if he didn't hear me the first time.
"Yes"
"Then Maybe you could visit today by seven, so you could perhaps you two could get comfortable"
"That sounds good to me, but please don't let other parents know...I am making an exception for Rose"
"I won't." He assured me. "The address is on the card" he said getting up and walking towards the door.
"I will be there," I said as I walked him out.
"See you later Miss Anna" he said, giving me a small nod and then left. I watched him turn at the corridor and got inside my cabin again. I picked up my register and put Rose's file in my drawer. While doing so the little Business card Mr.Warren gave me fluttered to the ground. Immediately I bent down and picked it up.
I looked at the card in my hands inspecting it while thinking about the conversation we just had, how Mr.Warren called me by my name..how desperate he sounded...I slowly turned the card around to read it again, I don't know why I missed it but the card read: Daniel Warren.....Director.