by Elsie Davis
Now the principal threw back his head and outright laughed. It surprised Molly. It had been so long since she’d heard an adult laugh, especially a man. Her father was always frowning, or upset, or just plain angry.
“You’re a smart kid, Molly. You have a great imagination.”
Molly couldn’t figure this guy out? “So, you’re not going to suspend me? Or give me after school detention?”
The gray-haired man with the young man’s face tilted his head like Tweety Bird. “Why would I do that?”
“Because what I did was… wrong.”
Mr. Kidd nodded.
Uh oh. Was this it? Had she slipped and fallen into his trap? Was he now going to tell her that she was doing what she did for attention? She’d watched a couple of episodes of the Dr. Phil show with her grandma. This was some of that reversal psychology.
“I’ve read your file,” he said. “Before coming to Barton Elementary, you’ve been to three different schools in the past six years.”
“My family moved around a lot.”
“But you’ve always received high marks in your academics…and a lot of notes about your behavior.”
Mr. Kidd lifted his brow at her. But he didn’t roll his eyes like the last two principals did. Or like her father did when she tried to talk to him but he was too busy, always too busy.
Mr. Kidd didn’t look too busy at all. He didn’t frown or look upset, or angry. He was still smiling at her.
It reminded her of how her mom smiled. In fact, his laugh had also reminded Molly of her mom. It had been so long since she’d heard her mom laugh.
“I think you’re a special kid,” Mr. Kidd was saying. “In fact, you’re my favorite kind of kid; smarts and imagination. I think you can fit in here if you give us a chance.”
Molly felt something twitch in her chest. She gazed up at the principal and the sincerity in his gaze. He wasn’t playing any tricks. He meant it. Maybe he wasn’t like the rest? Maybe she could give him a chance?
“I will have to call your parents.”
And now she wanted to revoke that chance. Her shoulders slumped at the thought of her mother receiving yet another call from a school. “It’s just my mom.”
“I’m guessing by your tone, she won’t think the fairy eraser was funny?”
“She would’ve thought so. Before the divorce. Now she’s always so serious.”
Instead of reaching for the phone, Principal Kidd leaned forward. “My parents are divorced too. They got divorced when I was your age.”
Molly spied a picture at the corner of the principal’s desk. In it was a picture of an even younger version of the man, still with gray hair. He wore a square cap on his head and was dressed in a dark cape. Likely his graduation. He was standing between two smiling adults.
“Yup, that’s them. Oh, they get along. They just weren’t right for each other. They’re both happily remarried to other people.”
Molly knew her dad was seeing other women. He’d started while he and her mom were still married. Maybe that’s why they got divorced? Molly wasn’t sure. But her dad did seem happier now. The few times she’d seen him since the divorce.
Her mom hadn’t dated any other man at all. Maybe her mom should start to date? Then maybe she’d laugh again.
Just like the principal laughed…
Molly looked up at Principal Kidd. He didn’t have a ring on his left hand. She hadn’t seen any pictures of him with women his own age. Just pictures of him with his parents and with kids.
“What’s your mom’s name?” he asked. “Oh, I’ve got it here. Kylee...”
“Kylee Romano,” Molly finished for him. “But she’s going by her original name, her maiden name.”
“Kylee Bauer? Your mom is Kylee Bauer?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
Her mom had grown up in the small town of Saint Judith’s in Northern Virginia. Molly had never visited before now. Her grandparents would always come to visit wherever they were living at that moment in time. Molly and her mom were living in Grandma and Grandpa’s old house now that they’d retired and moved to Florida.
“Yeah,” said Principal Kidd. “Yeah, I know Kylee Bauer.” His eyes got that gooey faraway look like a Looney Tunes cartoon character when they fell in love.
Wait? So, Principal Kidd knew her mom. And he got the lovey-dovey look just at hearing her name. And he wasn’t married.
A plan began to form in Molly’s brain. One that would require a bit of imagination and probably some fairy sparkles if it were to work.
Head to Amazon to purchase or borrow your copy of MOMMY LOVES THE PRINCIPAL so that you can keep reading this contemporary romance series today!
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