Gemotions

The air in the school cafeteria smelled of stale pizza and something vaguely reminiscent of floor cleaner. Clara felt a strange, prickly sensation across her skin. The teacher's name on the list, Mr. Harrison, was the same man she'd had in high school. He had been a nice enough person, but his relentless cheerfulness and over-the-top positivity had always gotten under her skin. Now, her son, Ethan, would have to endure the same thing.

She wanted to call her husband and vent. She wanted to scream. Instead, she took a shaky breath and leaned forward, trying to look normal for her son.

Ethan was already chattering away with a classmate. Clara reached for a napkin, but she just fumbled it. She took another breath, and tried to smile.