First Day of School, His Fall

On my daughter Lily Lane’s first day of middle school enrollment, I waited for her at the school gate.

My phone buzzed nonstop with notifications.

“Lily’s parent, do you live up in the mountains with no signal? Why aren’t you saying anything? The whole class is waiting on you.”

“Yeah, it’s just a jump rope. Do you really need half a day to think about it?”

It turned out the parent committee was organizing a group purchase of professional jump ropes for the fitness test, and I was the only one who hadn’t responded yet.

I quickly replied in the group chat:

“Thank you for the reminder, but we won’t be buying the jump rope for now. Lily’s sister Sophie just finished her high school entrance exam, and the one we bought her is still in perfect condition. Lily can use that.”

Unexpectedly, right after I sent that message, I was removed from the group.

Still puzzled, I received a message from the homeroom teacher, Mr. Brown.

“Come tomorrow to process your daughter’s withdrawal. The principal’s wife said if you can’t even afford a $200 jump rope, your child doesn’t deserve to be in the same class as her son.”

I immediately texted my father Charles Lane: “Since when did Crestwood Academy let outsiders call the shots?”

Half an hour past dismissal time, Lily still hadn’t come out.

I thought of going into the classroom to check, but a security guard yanked me back roughly at the entrance.

“Who are you? What gives you the right to just walk in?”

I explained I was there to pick up my daughter. He looked me up and down with disdain.

“The principal’s wife said anyone entering the school must show proof of fifty million dollars in assets. This is the nation’s top elite school—you don’t just walk in.”

“Look at you, you clearly don’t have that kind of money. Get out before I’m forced to hit a woman.”

Anger flared in me. Who had come up with these ridiculous rules?

Just as I was about to argue, I ran into Ms. Miller, who used to be Sophie’s homeroom teacher.

“Ever since the principal’s wife came, she’s replaced almost everyone in the school and made up all kinds of absurd rules. Most of the younger teachers quit, only us older ones nearing retirement are still here. Don’t even get me started.”

“She gave us these visitor cards as so-called staff benefits. Even our family members can’t come in without one. Here, you can borrow mine.”

Though uneasy, my worry for Lily outweighed everything else. After thanking her, I hurried toward Lily’s classroom.

At the door, I heard harsh curses. Following the crowd’s gaze, I saw Lily standing drenched beside a bucket, her face and clothes smeared with black ink.

A woman in a purple dress was yanking Lily’s hair viciously, demanding that she kneel and apologize to her son.

Fury surged through me. I rushed over and shielded Lily in my arms.

Seeing me, Lily finally broke down in sobs, clinging to me, unable to speak.

I stroked her back gently, soothing her, then turned to the woman in purple.

“What did my daughter do that you would treat her like this? If you don’t give me a reasonable explanation, I’ll sue you for bullying and intentional harm!”

The woman spat at me.

“Like mother, like daughter. Both of you are stubborn and sharp-tongued.”

“Sue me? Your daughter stole from my son, and I haven’t even settled that with you yet. And now you dare put on an act?”

Laughter rippled through the classroom. Lily raised her tearful eyes.

“Mom, this pen was clearly a gift from Dad. He’s saying I stole it.”