Free Difficult Lessons by Tammie Welch Page B

try to set something up this evening. I know it is Friday evening, but can you be here in two hours?”
    Sara’s head was spinning. She was trying to absorb all of this. She did not expect this to happen this fast. “Yes. I can be there. You will be right there with me won’t you?  I don’t want to say anything that I shouldn’t.”
    “Of course I will be. I wouldn’t be much of an attorney if I wasn’t there to support my client, would I? Oh, I almost forgot. You have an ally that you might not know anything about. Terry Lyons from the school board called me after he got the letter. He is backing you one hundred percent. I will call him and ask him to be here also, if that is all right with you.”
    “He left a message on my machine. I was not sure what it was about so I did not return his call. I need all of the support I can get right now. Should I call him back?”  Sara’s head was beginning to pound.
    “I’ll call him for you and have him meet us here.” Karen’s voice was very reassuring.
     
    ***
     
    Cynthia put her arm around Sara’s shoulder to steady her as they walked into Karen’s office. Sara felt like she was going to pass out at any second. Her stomach was in knots and her head was aching. She was glad Cynthia had agreed to be there with her. Sara had called her parents on her way to Karen’s office. She wanted to let them know what was happening, but she did not want them there. They did not need to be subjected to any of this, but it would come soon enough.
    Mr. Lyons stood and hugged Sara. “Ms. Carson, I wanted you to know that not everyone is against you here. I was one of two dissenting votes when Mr. Michaels brought this to us. Mrs. Susan Caine was the other one. She had family obligations tonight or else she would be here also. She did give me a written statement to give to the reporter. Ms. Jameson has it if you would like to read it.”
    Sara smiled weakly. “Thank you for the support. Please relay my appreciation to Mrs. Caine also.”
    The door opened and in walked Kendra Breeden. Everyone looked in her direction as she made her way through to an empty chair. She dropped her large bag and quickly introduced herself to everyone. Once she had made her rounds with handshakes, she sat down and pulled a folder from her bag. She took a notepad from the folder and began flipping through the pages. 
    “Ms. Carson, I am sure that Ms. Jameson has briefed you on our conversation this afternoon,” she said as she looked in the bag for a pen. 
    “Yes she has. I am glad you are giving me an opportunity to tell my side of things.” Sara’s mouth was dry from the nervousness.
    “This just came to my attention today. Someone called and expressed concern about you as a teacher at the high school. He wouldn’t leave his name, but he encouraged me to look into the situation. He said I might find an interesting story. I started digging. I talked with Mr. Michaels, but all he would give me was a letter stating that you were not being rehired due to undisclosed issues. I then contacted the Board of Education’s office. I happened to get Mr. Lyons on the phone. He gave me Ms. Jameson’s number. I contacted her and here we are. Please tell me exactly what has led up to this, from your perspective. Don’t try to be objective. That is my job. I do want to cover all sides of the story in my article, if there is a story here.” Ms. Breeden smiled at Sara.
    “Does this really have to be published? This is all kind of personal for me.” Sara fixed her eyes on Ms. Breeden.
    “I understand you not wanting this to be made public, but I will be honest with you, Ms. Carson.” Ms. Breeden looked sincere as she spoke. “I don’t think that the gentleman that called me will give up easily. I think if I don’t write this story, he will go to someone else. Others might not give you a fair shake.”
    Sara understood what Ms. Breeden was saying. She relayed everything that had happened, occasionally