The little girl tried to prove her innocence, her young voice rising to its loudest pitch. "Teacher Nash! I'm not making things up."
Teacher Nash couldn't keep a straight face, a blush slowly creeping up her cheeks.
The little girl pointed a small finger. "Mommy, look! The teacher is blushing. She's lying."
Teacher Nash was speechless. "..." She forced a smile. "Claire, why would a teacher lie?"
The little girl was about to talk back.
Teacher Nash cut her off. "Claire's mother, you should do something about her."
The little girl was so flustered she was on the verge of tears.
Cecilia Adler understood now. The teacher was the one with the problem. But considering it was their first meeting and Claire's schooling depended on this woman, she decided to play along. "Claire, what the teacher said about you isn't wrong. You're tough, not naughty, and honest."
