Page 15 of Mr. B

“Hmm.”

“I don’t see the big deal. I’ll be away from home in Boise, too, just not quite as far as San Francisco. But now, this thing with Dad. She’d probably be okay with that since he’s there. Shouldn’t I be able to make my own decision about where I want to go?”

“Um…I tend to agree with that statement. But…”

“You’re not my parent.”

“Right.”

She finally made direct eye contact with him. “Would you talk to Mom about it?”

“I’m not so sure she’ll listen to me. Or that it’s my place.”

“Would you try? I don’t understand why I need to waste two years in Boise just because she doesn’t want to let me get too far away.”

Wes leaned back in his chair. “I’ve heard you play, Bailey. You’re very talented. I didn’t realize you were into classical music, though.”

“I love it. I just don’t get to play it with the orchestra. Mr. Fuller likes more modern stuff. But he’s heard me play, and he said I was good. I think I’m good.”

He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “Bailey, I will talk to your mom about this.”

“You will?”

“Yeah. No promises, though.”

“Thank you.”

“The most important thing you can do right now is to keep playing. Everything else will fall into place.”

She stood, then blushed. “I guess I wanted…well, you’re so much cooler than Mom and Dad.”

“If I truly were your father, you probably wouldn’t think so.”

Bailey left the office, and Wes swiveled in his chair for a moment. Cassandra usually left by four. He should just get it over with. He left his office and ran into Polly in the hallway.

“Headed home early again?”

“No. I need to talk to Cassandra. Is she still in her office?”

“I haven’t seen her leave.” Polly looked at him for a moment. “Does this have anything to do with her daughter just leaving your office?”

Wes smiled. “Above your pay grade, Polly.” He looked at the papers in her hands. “Are those for me?”

“Yes. Permission slips for the senior class trip.”

“Why so many?”

“Mr. Bishop asked you last year if he could open it up to more kids by fundraising for those who couldn’t afford it.”

“Oh, right. Only Mr. Bishop isn’t here this year.”

Polly held out the papers. “Do you want to be the one to tell some of these kids they can’t go?”

“Um…no.” He took them from her. “Is this the whole senior class?”

“I believe so, sir.”

“And what’s the status of the fundraising?”