Page 13 of Troublemaker: The Big Picture Edition

“Maybe? Can I just have one for home?”

“Sure, why not. You can use it to count up all the times I was awesome.”

“I don’t even need all my fingers for that,” he deadpans.

This kid.

“Harsh.”

“How many notebooks do I need?”

“Hang on, I just got an email from your new teacher.”

It’s only addressed to me. Not a bcc email to all the parents. Which is weird and slightly disturbing.

TO: [email protected]

FROM: [email protected]

SUBJECT: school supplies

Dear Mr. Vega,

Good morning!

I hope this email finds you well and as prepared as possible for Ryder’s new school year! I am the new second-grade teacher here at Silver Lake Elementary School, and I have the note from Mrs. Hernandez (at the front office) to address emails to you regarding Ryder Tully-Vega this year. I just wanted to make sure that you received the email I sent a few days ago. The one regarding Ryder’s school supplies. I didn’t hear back from you, so I wanted to confirm that you have the list. I’m attaching it again here.

Please let me know that you got this!

Thanks so much!

I look forward to meeting Ryder next week.

Best,

Miss Stiles

Well, at least there are about six fewer exclamation points in this email.

“What’s she say? Is it about me?”

“She just wants to make sure we got the list of school supplies. Hang on.”

I reply with a three-word email and then open up the list.

Miss Stiles. Another “Miss.” I hope this one isn’t going to be like Ryder’s first-grade teacher. She eye-fucked me so hard at the parent-teacher conference, I was chafing by the time I got out of there.

I finally look over at Ryder, who’s watching me with an expression on his face that nearly breaks my heart. It’s concern. For me. Why would my seven-year-old son be worried about me?

“What’s wrong, buddy?”

He shrugs. “Are you sure you don’t want a donut?”

“Yeah. But let’s try to get everything on this list, and then if we have time, we’ll see if they have the new Mario.”

“Okay!”

“Okay.”