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He looked back longingly at the children and then joined us. Mr. Kotes walked with us into the building.

"It's down left" he said. nodding.

"Yes. I remember," Mommy told him. She held my hand and Noble's and marched us to the superintendent's office. Mr. Kotes remained with us. I looked back at him, and he smiled. but I didn't understand why he was with us.

The superintendent's secretary put the phone down just as we entered the office and turned our way.

"Mrs. Atwell?" she said. smiling.

"Yes," Mommy said. She glanced at Taylor. "Hello, Mr. Kotes."

He simply nodded and looked stern.

"I'll let Dr. Camfield know you're here," the secretary said and buzzed the superintendent.

Noble's eyes were everywhere. He couldn't drink in machines, plaques, and other personnel fast enough.

"Stop gawking at everything," Mommy muttered, shaking his hand and his arm hard. He quickly lowered his eyes.

"Please go right in. Mrs. Atwell," the secretary said. She smiled at me. but I didn't smile back. I sensed that for Mommy this was not friendly ground, and therefore I was on guard against everything and everyone.

Mr. Kotes did not follow us in. Mommy glanced back at him, and he whispered that he'd be waiting if she needed him. We entered the office. It was darkly paneled with a very big dark wood desk. Mr. Camfield stood up and came around his desk to shake Mommy's hand and greet her.

He was a tall man, as tall as Mr. Kotes, with hair that was as ebony as Daddy's. He wore a light brown suit and was a handsome man with a strong, firm mouth, firm jaw, and two very dark brown eyes. He smiled at Noble and me and stood back as if to admire us from a distance.

"Good-looking children," he said.

"I got your letter. Dr. Camfield. You might have been told that I lost my husband just a little less than a year ago and that I."

"Yes, yes, please, sit," he said, indicating the sofa to the side. There was a chair across from it with arms made of the same wood as the desk.

Mommy tugged us both to the sofa and sat.

"I must admit I didn't know about your personal problems. Mrs. Atwell. It's difficult enough for me to know about the family matters concerning the students who actually attend the school," he began.

Mommy didn't look like she cared. She reached into her soft briefcase and pulled out a folder.

"These are the IHIP's you demand."

"I don't demand them. Mrs. Atwell.

The state demands them," he said softly, holding that smile around his eyes.

"Yes, well, here they are," she said and dropped them on the coffee table.

He glanced at them and nodded.

"Fine. Ill look them over and get right back to you," he said.

"And here is my letter of notification. As I said. I was concerned with many, many other matters this year, and this just slipped past me."

"I understand fully, Mrs. Atwell, Please accept my belated condolences as to that." he added.

That? I thought. Was that supposed to be Daddy's death?

"I'd like to get the testing done as quickly as possible." Mommy responded without saying thankyou.

"I have everything set up for the children. Mr. Katzman is waiting for you in Room 32. My secretary, Mrs. Donald, will show you and the children to the room."