Parent-Teacher Conference

A father discovers his daughter's problem.

Prompt for 6/16
Write a story that includes the words: drawing, play, horse
Final W/C 300
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Sam drummed his fingers on the student desk, plastic chair groaning beneath him as he spilled over either side. The mechanical whirs of the printer down the hallway punctuated the silence. Tiny legs squeaked in cadence with his bouncing leg.

His eyes settled on the folder propped on Ms. Patterson’s table.

“MAYA”

Sam’s gaze drifted, searching for signs of his daughter. Toys scattered from the day’s chaos, a nook opposite filled with books. On the window wall were dozens of pictures from her students.

A diorama illuminated by the setting sun caught his attention. Sam and Maya spent a week of evenings on this - an Egyptian pyramid crafted with a pull-away section.

“Sam?” Mrs. Patterson called, pulling him from his thoughts. “Sorry I’m late.”

He watched unblinking as she retrieved the folder and set it in front of him. It was thicker than he expected. “Let’s talk about Maya.”

She interlaced her fingers, resting her hands on top of the folder. “Maya’s been spending a lot of time in the corner reading lately during play-time.”

His heart sank. There it was, the accusation.

“I think this shows something wonderful about her.”

She flipped open the folder and handed him the top sheet. Her handwriting filled every open line, outside the borders, sideways.

Ms. Patterson thumbed through the pile. “Every single page in this folder is like this, Sam.” She pulled out another: one half filled with writing, the other an elaborately drawn scene.

She retrieved a few sheets from the printer.

“I want you to keep this one.”

Titled, “Adventures with Dad,” he smiled.

“Oh, one more thing Sam,” Ms. Patterson dug through her desk a moment. “Maya forgot this, we had show and tell today.”

Sam reached for the horse figurine.

“You’re doing great Sam,” she offered. “Maya’s wonderful.”