– It's your fault for making a public display of this boy's name today. You singled him out from all the other kids. Gave him presents, fed him a dinner party and had the other children sing you a song in honour of his birthday. No one had ever celebrated a personal holiday within the walls of this institution until that moment. And I'm guessing they never will. Anyway, we need to undo what you've done today, just as publicly. And from now on, I hope Mrs Director will see to it that this sort of thing is not repeated. – Patricia's mother arrogantly stated her grievances of the day.
– Well, either that or let's have a holiday for all the children. That would be fairer. – Derek's father supported his mother's monologue.
– And more costly… – summarised the headmistress.
Mrs Donova froze, as if she had lost her breath from the words spoken to her by the parents of the children, who were now looking at her as if she were an enemy of the people. Obviously, the woman had not expected such a reaction, both from the children, who had reported about the holiday in a distorted form to their parents on the same day, and from the parents themselves, who began to defend the truth, which was not the truth. After a few seconds of pause, the educator took the floor, trying to explain how things had really played out.
Ms Donova: ‘I apologise if in any way I have offended you Patricia, and you Derek. Indeed, I took the initiative to organise a small celebratory dinner in Theodore's honour with my own money, which only added up to…’
– Mrs Donova. We are very pleased that you admit your guilt, but we are not interested in your excuses, which you have so carefully prepared. What's done is done. The question is how to remedy the situation now. Please bring to this office the presents you gave this boy. -Patricia's mother interrupted the teacher.
– But why? What are you going to do with these poor balloons? – The teacher asked in an incomprehensible tone of voice.
– You are in no position to argue with me now, let alone raise your voice at me! Do what you are asked to do and don't argue. We are looking forward to seeing you… – a woman with a child in her arms answered the question dryly and imperiously. The teacher looked at the director of the education centre. The director nodded and pointed at the door, as if agreeing with the words of the disgruntled parent. It was understandable. No director needs a scandal, especially a scandal made out of nowhere. Mrs Donova lowered her head wistfully and left the office. Theodore felt guilty at that moment. His mood had plummeted. He froze in one place, staring at the floor and picking at it with the toe of his boot.
– Oh, my God! What shamelessness! Standing there and arguing with me. I hope you don't have all the teachers like that! – broke up mum, summing up another indictment.
However, she was politely and tactfully interrupted by the headmistress: ‘Believe me, Mrs Weinschein, our teachers are the best in their field and are specially selected. Mrs Donova is no exception.’
Patricia's mum: ‘I don't really believe it anymore. Considering that this is not the first time she's done something wrong…’
Headmistress: ‘I think we've dealt with the last situation. It was an accident. No one could have foreseen it. There's no need to put it all in one pile.’
The door to the office opened and a kindergarten teacher came in with two yellow balloons that belonged to Theodore. She handed them to the boy again. He grabbed the ribbons, looked at them and immediately let go, staring at the floor again. The balls scattered around the room in different directions and as if magnetised to the ceiling, which was quite high. So it would have been impossible to get the balloons without a ladder. This gift was already no fun for Ted. Who needs such surprises, which spoil his mood and make him feel heavy at heart?
– Wretched boy! What are you all looking at? Get those damn balls down at once! Now! – The mother became hysterical, jumping up from her seat and dropping her own daughter on the floor, forgetting that she had been sitting on her feet. The girl fell and hit herself, screaming at the top of her voice in pain. The teacher rushed to the child to check her condition and help her. But the mother pushed the teacher away with force and hatred that she could hardly stay on her feet. The mother's face changed. In an instant she turned from a fury and a witch into an angel, covering the fallen child with her wide snow-white wings. Mrs Weinstein began to comfort the girl and help her up.
– My favourite child! I'm sorry. Mummy was a little overexcited… Where's the bobo? Mummy will blow and everything will heal!’ she babbled fearfully looking at her daughter and worrying that nothing would happen to her little creature.
– It's all right, Mummy. – Theodore slowly approached Patricia and took a tissue from his pocket, handing it to the girl. Theodore slowly approached Patricia and took a napkin out of his pocket and handed it to the girl. Patricia smiled in response to the gesture and taking the napkin from the boy's hands, continued to use it to wipe away the tears running down her face. The headmistress rose from her seat and leaning on the table with both hands calmly said: ‘There he is! The act of a true gentleman of our time. Well done Theodore. That's the way to behave with young ladies. Mrs Donova, please take Theodore back to the corridor so that his father won't lose him. Otherwise, he might leave without him, like he did six months ago…’
The teacher nodded and together with Ted they left the office, closing the door behind them.
– What do you mean? Left without him? – Patricia's mother looked at the headmistress with a puzzled look in her eyes.
– You see, not everyone in this world, unfortunately, is as lucky to have parents as your children are lucky to have you. This boy, from birth, has been deprived of a full life with his family. His mother is dead, his father is taking her death hard, Ted has no grandparents. No one cares about him except you and me. And if we turn our backs on him and take our anger and our rage out on the boy, what will his life become? What will he become? Today's situation… it's such a small thing. And you've made such a big deal out of it. It's not worth it. Believe me. The joy Mrs Donova gave him today was like a glimmer of light in his grey family life. Considering that it was the first birthday in five years of his life that Theodore had ever been congratulated by anyone. – said the headmistress, encouraging parents and their children to sympathise and understand.
– It can't be! How? The first birthday in five years? That's just awful! – began the discussion between the children's father and mother.
– You should not judge the situation without fully understanding it… You heard something from your children, but as it turned out, the information was somewhat embellished. And now, let's finish discussing this topic and not come back to it again. – The headmistress summarised the conversation as she escorted the visitors and students to the exit.
Choice of school
It was the last year of the CEC. The spring of the year 747 had arrived. The carers and parents already knew the potential of the children and had to think about finding a place for their future enrolment. The next stage of education was compulsory along with the education centre. There were only two schools in Gaya. One was a sports school that trained future boxers, mixed martial arts fighters and footballers. The other trained farmers and technicians to help fix agricultural equipment that often broke down due to years of use. For other specialities, one had to travel to another town or village to learn them.
It has to be said that in the CEC where Ted was trained there was no directive from above to increase the number of farmers. Firstly, there were plenty of them, and secondly, educators conscientiously identified the strengths of their students and honestly recommended the direction for a particular child in which he could succeed in the future. Although moving to a larger settlement was an unaffordable luxury for the majority of the population, parents were able to provide support to help their child choose a speciality exactly as recommended by the CEC staff, or at least close to it.
The director of the education centre convened the parents' council of the group in which Theodore was studying to advise on each child and to provide a list of schools for admission. A similar counselling session was held for each