LA MORENITA, Chapter 12

Norm couldn’t believe his ears. “How did you get yourself thrown out of school? What were you thinking of?”
Maria handed him the note from Mrs. Nelson. He read the note, then looked at his daughter in disbelief. “You hit a girl? You punched her in her nose? What is wrong with you!”
Araceli stared at the floor.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said. “When it comes time for you to go back to school, your mother is not going with you. I am. We’re going to get this straightened out, once and for all.”
Three days later the suspension was lifted. Norm took Araceli to school and waited in the principal’s outer office for Mrs. Nelson. His presence in the office caused a stir, because he was remembered from his last visit and because he was dressed in a form-fitting tee shirt and blue
jeans.
After a few minutes, Mrs. Nelson arrived. When she saw Araceli, her face got red. “What’s the meaning of this?” she asked. “I told you not to come back unless you were accompanied by one or both of your parents!”
“This is my parent,” said Araceli, pointing to Norm.
If Mrs. Nelson’s face had flushed before, it was only high pink compared to the bright crimson it turned now. Flustered, confused, and a little aroused, Mrs. Nelson began to back-pedal and apologize.
Norm interrupted. “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s a common mistake. Everybody makes it.”
Mrs. Nelson explained in excruciating detail what she thought had happened between Araceli and the other girl, although she didn’t observe the event and had no way of knowing what really transpired. Norm waited until she finished. Then he turned to his daughter and said, “Young lady, I don’t ever want to have to come back here again, do you hear me? I was
supposed to be working out in the Two Hundred Area an hour ago. I can’t keep doing this, or they’ll fire me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good. Then let this be the end of it.” He turned to Mrs. Nelson, who still had a bit of a blush to her complexion.
“Thank you, Mr. Schmidt, for coming out to see me on this matter,” she said. Then she turned to Araceli. “I hope you learned your lesson today, young lady.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You should do what your father says. He really cares about you.”

During the final few days of the school year, Mrs. Nelson eased up on Araceli. She made less comments about her handwriting. She graded Araceli’s papers less harshly. And every now and then, she would ask Araceli how her father was doing.