Vydia 4

During all the commotion, I still have enough presence of mind to watch both Sunil and Fatima. Fatima looked happy finding out I would be her partner; uptight when it was in question; then relieved. Sunil, the emotions were stronger. He's scared to death. There has to be some tragedy explaining his family return from the USA.
Irritated as I am, I still feel sympathy for Derek. He has a job as bad or worse than mine.
As others start the tentative process of pairing off, I show Fatima the workbooks and texts on the shelves. Derek starts the same with Sunil.
By morning recess bell, I am actually just a bit relieved. No doubt thanks to her important mother, Fatima's English reading skills are where they should be.
As everyone rushes out the door, Mrs Beharry intercepts me. Fatima waits outside the door with the look of a condor.
Uneasy smile, "sorry I had to do that. My duty."
I nod. Pointless to argue with grownups.
"I wanted to talk of a more personal matter. How is the tone in your house following the death of your father?"
"Truth is ma'am, I don't know."
"Don't know?"
"Can't say if it would be the same as others? Or worse?"
"So your mother is difficult to deal with?"
"Ma'am she always was. Now just more so."
"Let's start with basics, a year of grief. Whether he was good bad or ugly as a husband, the year is fairly universal."
I nod.
"Manner of death has an impact. Suppose it were predictable, an illness that takes a period of time. Easier to cope with, to adjust. A sudden death, harder, a shock. Suppose it were a noble death, like hero dies trying to save child. Again, easier to cope. Any death well as well as stupid as your father's, much harder to cope with."
I nod.
"So put up with her. Stay out of argument. I'm here if you need a sympathetic ear."
"Thank you ma'am."