Free Elephant in the Sky by Heather A. Clark Page B

breath before asking, “How often is it happening?”
    â€œIt goes in fits and spurts, but I’d say twice a week. Sometimes more.”
    â€œTwice a week?!” I spurted. “Why hasn’t anyone contacted me before now to let me know? I was just with Mrs. Spencer last week and she said nothing had happened at this school!”
    â€œNothing severe enough to involve the principal. So Mrs. Spencer hasn’t been involved at all.” Mrs. Brock looked at me inquisitively as she continued. “Mrs. Carter, hasn’t Mr. Carter told you about this? I’ve had several conversations with him about it. Knowing what has happened to Nate at other schools, I’ve been very proactive about informing your husband about everything that goes on here.”
    â€œNo. He hasn’t …” I was livid, and ready to hurl words at my husband when I saw him next. I felt my face turn a hot shade of red.
    â€œAs far as I know, they haven’t physically hurt him at all. But they do like to tease him quite a bit, unfortunately.” Mrs. Brock paused. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking mildly uncomfortable. “I think Tyson and the others who go along with him see Nate as an easy target.”
    â€œBut why Nate? Are there others that get picked on too?”
    â€œOccasionally. But, Nate … well, he sometimes does things that the other kids aren’t used to. He acts a bit different from the other kids.” Mrs. Brock paused again. I met her glance and found compassion in her eyes. I knew she was a wonderful teacher who cared about Nate’s best interest.
    â€œSuch as jumping on the desk and acting like a hyena?”
    Mrs. Brock nodded. Of course the other kids would have thought that was odd. His own mother thought it was strange behaviour.
    â€œHow about other things? Do you have any other examples of things?” I asked, beginning to absorb what Nate was facing on an everyday basis at school.
    â€œHe does sometimes act out of character and gets fairly wild. I have a hard time containing him, on occasion. But other times he goes into a shell and won’t say a word to anyone around him, including me. I don’t push him too hard when he gets like that because his teacher from last year said it didn’t work very well.” Mrs. Brock looked directly at me. “I have to tell you, Mrs. Carter, that I am concerned about Nate. He flips back and forth between extremely frenzied and then, out of the blue, almost nonexistent. I’ve never seen such an extreme spin of emotions.”
    â€œI see. And have you talked about this with Pete, too?”
    â€œA little bit, but our conversations have been more centred on the teasing from the other kids.” Mrs. Brock glanced at her watch. “We’re almost at the bell, but I don’t want to brush this off. I’m always available to talk about Nate. Perhaps we could book an appointment with both you and your husband to discuss this further, if you’d like to chat more?”
    â€œI appreciate that, thank you. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
    â€œYou’re very welcome. And I will take very good care of Nate and his ankle today. Will it be you or your husband picking him up at lunch?” Mrs. Brock now rushed her words, anxious to finish our conversation before the bell rang.
    â€œPete will be here. I need to get to work.”
    â€œOf course. Well, I’ll be sure to relay anything to Mr. Carter that you both need to know.”
    I thanked Mrs. Brock again and rushed into the classroom to say a final goodbye to Nate, who hadn’t moved an inch and was still staring at his desk. As I kissed his cheek and brought him in for a hug, I saw the haunted, hollow look in his eyes, and knew without a shadow of a doubt that my son was, indeed, somehow broken inside.

17
    Nate
    I am back in my bedroom. By myself. But that is okay, because I want to be alone.