The phone call concerned her. Somewhat. Please call the school to inform us as to why your son is absent today. Or something like that.
"He didn't go to school today?" She sent the text to both of his siblings, knowing they were home with him when she left for work.
"What? I thought he did. Where is he?" his sister responded.
"That's what I am trying to figure out," Mom responded.
She knew panicking was premature. But still.
"Well, I just walked into the house, and he's not here," his sister texted back.
She called his brother's phone. He picked up, but just as quickly stated, "Mom, I can't talk right now. I'm at work."
Click.
She called a second time. She was at work too, but needed to settle her mind.
"Mom," is all he got out.
"Did you take your brother to school today?"
"Yeah. He was late. But I watched him walk into the school office," he whispered.
"That's all I needed to know," she quickly said.
Click.
Now, she was confused. It didn't make sense.
She looked towards the students, doing artwork, throughout the classroom. Painting.
"Class," she interrupted their energy, "I need to make a phone call. An important one. Just continue to work, but please lower your voices."
They did.
"Hello. Your Son's Middle School," the secretary greeted her.
"Hello. I received a call stating my son is absent from school today." She made herself remain calm.
"Yeah. It shows here he has been recorded as absent," the attendance recorder said. No concern in her voice.
"Okay. Well. My older boy said he did drop him off at school this morning. He should be there. Will you please check? Ease my mind?"
I didn't want to yell.
No point.
"Hold on."
Maybe two minutes later, her voice returned on the line.
"The 7th graders are at lunch right now. I am unable to locate the teachers. The bell rings in about five minutes. I will check when everyone is back in the classroom," is all the secretary gave her.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
She called her daughter.
"Call the school back. See if he's there," she blurted out. Her voice a whisper.
Click.
Not a minute later, she received a message.
"He's there!"
Sigh.
***
"How was your day?" she later asked her not-so-absent son.
