Chapter 5 - Cracks in the System
Rachel stiffened in her chair, her face going pale again. "Oh no. I'm sorry, Mr. Thomas. Helen was just trying to help me. Please don't blame her."
Principal Thomas held up a hand, a small, unexpected smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "Mrs. Miller, relax. I didn't say I was angry with Helen. I said Mr. Grant was angry."
He walked over to the desk and leaned against it, looking down at the blue folder in my hand.
"In fact," Mr. Thomas continued, "I told Mr. Grant that if he felt his corporate policies couldn't withstand the scrutiny of a school nurse protecting a child, he was welcome to file a formal complaint with the school board. I also reminded him that the school board employs three prominent local attorneys who would love nothing more than to look into his labor practices."
Rachel let out a breath that sounded like a sob. "You... you did?"
"Of course we did," Mr. Thomas said softly. "We are a school, Mrs. Miller. Our primary job is to teach, but we can't teach children who are living in a state of terror. Helen told me what Sophie said before she fell asleep. It broke my heart."
He looked at me. "Did you show her the Care Fund?"
"I was just about to," I said.
"Good. Because I already called the treasurer," Mr. Thomas said. "We have enough in the reserve right now to issue an emergency check for four hundred dollars. It will be ready tomorrow morning at nine. It’s a grant, not a loan. It will cover the four days of work you’re missing."
Rachel covered her mouth with both hands. The tears came fast now, silent and heavy. "I don't know what to say. I've never... nobody has ever done anything like this for us."
"You're part of Oak Valley now," Mr. Thomas said. "But we have a bigger problem. Mr. Grant might not fire you tomorrow because he's scared of a lawsuit, but he will find a reason to let you go next month. We need a long-term solution."
As if on cue, Sophie stirred on the cot. She let out a soft moan, her small hand reaching out blindly. Rachel immediately got up and went to her, rubbing her back until the little girl settled again.
"She needs to go home and get into a real bed," I said. "And you need to sleep too, Rachel."
May you like
"I'll carry her to your car, Mrs. Miller," Mr. Thomas offered.
As they prepared to leave, I looked at the blue folder still on my desk. The money would fix this week. But what about next month? What about winter, when the flu season hit? The system was full of cracks, and Sophie was just one child trying not to slip through them.
