Off the Beaten Path

Shiffie returned home from school and went into the kitchen for a snack. As usual Mrs. Kanner was on the cordless. “Bina I’m telling you the third-grade girls will calm down. Just give it time.” She motioned with her fingers for Shiffie to sit down. Shiffie pulled out a chair and helped herself to a mocha cookie and apple juice. “Patience my dear ” her mother continued her phone call “we’ll talk tomorrow in my office at two sharp. Bye now.

“Hi Shiffie ” Mrs. Kanner said. “I got off the phone quickly so I’d have time to chat with you! How was school?”

“The usual 12th-grade business you know with midterms next week ” Shiffie answered cautiously.

“Right ” pounced Mrs. Kanner “and what’s happening with your model lesson?” “Huh?” spluttered Shiffie as she swallowed juice down the wrong pipe.