Gemotions

The car keys felt heavy in Ben's hand, as though made of lead. He knew. He simply knew. He'd been bracing himself for this moment. And there it was, printed in bold, the teacher's name on the back-to-school list: *Ms. Harrison*. The woman who had given him detention for every little thing. The woman who made him feel like he was constantly getting in her way.

His breath caught in his chest. He imagined all the things she would say, and the stories she would tell. He pictured the parent-teacher meetings, the polite small talk. A groan escaped his lips.

He slumped against the car door, his shoulders slumping. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to flee, to vanish. His son, Sam, bounced out of the house, a backpack slung over his shoulder, a grin on his face. "Ready, Dad?" he asked. Ben forced a smile, the muscles in his face tight.