Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll

Author:Elle McNicoll [McNicoll, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

PARENTS’ EVENING

“Ramya is one of the brightest, and most verbally gifted, children I’ve taught.”

Mr. Ishmael says this to me, Mum, and Dad with proud desperation. It’s Parents’ Evening. We’re all in the main hall of the school, each teacher sitting at their own individual table. We’ve already been through science and math, both of which were brutal. I think he’s trying to throw me a lifeline. One I intend to swim right by.

“Apparently her written work does not reflect that,” Mum says guardedly.

“I think that’s due to a lack of confidence,” Mr. Ishmael says sympathetically. “Her dyspraxia makes using a pen very uncomfortable—we understand that. We’re hoping the workshops and the supplementary tools will ease that a bit.”

“Yes, I love having a massive rubber tool on every pen to let the other kids know I can’t write.”

“You can write,” Dad says, turning in his seat to look at me. “You just need help to do it neatly.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do,” I mutter.

“You see?” Mum turns to Mr. Ishmael. “This is what we wanted to discuss. Recently, her behavior has deteriorated. We didn’t raise her to talk like this.”

“Transitioning into a new school can be incredibly turbulent,” Mr. Ishmael says in his calm, authoritative voice. “As well as moving from London to Edinburgh, Ramya is adjusting to a lot of things.”

He smiles at me in that kindly way that makes me wince and want to run away.

“I know what a good student Ramya is.”

I wish he wouldn’t be nice to me. It’s easier to misbehave when you know they expect it of you. That a part of them wants you to, so they can justify giving up on you. He’s not giving up, and it makes me want to lash out.

I look across the hall and spot Aunt Leanna and Marley. They’re sitting with Miss Bates, the head of history. She’s beaming and gesturing wildly, clearly gushing with praise about Marley. Leanna is smiling proudly at my cousin, who is blushing fiercely.

I wrench my eyes away and glare at my shoes. Envy burrowing into me and making me seethe.

Suddenly, someone shrieks. We glance over to see Mr. Cohen. He’s holding the handle of a water jug that has shattered. He’s covered in cold water, and there are ice cubes splattered on the floor, along with broken glass.

“Accidents happen,” Mr. Ishmael says, getting to his feet. He hovers for a moment and then sits back down when other members of staff rush to help. “Gosh, always excitement during these things.”

The parents are all asked to attend a talk on child safety while we go through to the lunch hall for a book fair. I move as if I’m sleepwalking and don’t acknowledge Marley when he catches up to me.

“How was it?” he asks breathlessly as we shuffle into the adjacent hall.

“Awful,” I say flatly. “You?”

I know already.

“It was okay.”

I bristle at his false modesty. “Liar. They love you.”

“It was fine.”

“Oh, sure.”

I follow wordlessly while Marley thumbs through books with a fervent excitement I can’t understand.

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