Gemotions

"She's... meticulous," was all Mark could manage when his wife asked about Mrs. Davies. The words felt hollow, inadequate to describe the dread that had begun to simmer the moment he’d seen her name on the school's online portal. His son, Ethan, now had the same kindergarten teacher he had.

He busied himself with the dinner dishes, scrubbing at a spot on the counter with unnecessary force. His memories of Mrs. Davies were a blur of red pens and quiet reprimands. He was a rambunctious child, and she had often found his energy… inconvenient.

He glanced at Ethan, who was happily coloring at the kitchen table. The image of his son, subjected to the same judgements, filled him with a potent unease. He felt compelled to intervene, to protect, but how? He didn't know how to navigate this situation, nor what to do to help Ethan.