“You in trouble again?” William asked gravely at dinner. “We’ve been called to the school tomorrow. You’ve only been back for a few weeks.”
She threw him her sweetest smile. “No, Daddy, of course not. I got 95% for my Maths test. It’s probably about my election as school leader.”
But William and Jeanne knew it was not about her maths test or her School Leader election when they walked in to find the Principal, Deputy Principal and all Leisha’s teachers sitting grimly on one side of the staff room.
“It’s a bloody jury,” Leisha laughed.
“Sit down, Leisha!” said the principal. She turned to Leisha’s parents. “Thank you for coming today. This is a very serious matter, very serious indeed.”
Leisha’s parents sat stoic and silent.
The principal continued. “Leisha doesn’t have the necessary application to her studies to pass Year 12 to the school’s standard. All the teaching staff report she’s disruptive in class, does no study for tests, is frequently late with her homework.” The principal stood up. “We’ve decided she should be made to repeat Year 11.”
“But she got straight As,” frowned Jeanne.
“More luck than hard work,” replied the principal, leaning toward Leisha. “She must learn to work hard. Lose that rebellious streak. Learn the rules apply to her.”
Leisha eyeballed the staff. “You’re kidding me, right? Straight As not enough?” They were all so serious! She wanted to laugh. She wanted to walk out. Instead she smiled and said, “You can all go-”
“Leisha!” William shouted angrily.
Jeanne and William mumbled something about talking at home, and got out of there as fast as they could, Leisha tagging behind as if she’d been given an early minute.
They’d grown tired of the drama. Their sons were currently both studying law, and then there was Leisha, sticking out like her hair.
Not a word was spoken all the way home. Jeanne and William had learned to face the vagaries of Leisha by getting clear in their own minds first before venturing an opinion, knowing she’d take on anything they said.
In the kitchen Jeanne put on the kettle and William got out the teacups. Leisha knew things were big when they didn’t call the servants in. She sat at the table, filing her nails, waiting, until the cups of tea were brought over. She suspected there was whisky in her father’s cup. She knew she’d gone too far, but she was past caring.
She said calmly, “I want to travel.”
“Travel where?” asked Jeanne incredulously.
“I want to see the real world. I’m sick of resort holidays. Another year of school and I’ll go crazy.” She smiled at her father. “I’ll learn more by traveling, Daddy.”
William and Jeanne signalled each other with their eyes. They couldn’t imagine the trouble Leisha might get into. At barely seventeen! They had a duty to look after her.
Then again, they could do with a break.
They booked her a ticket that afternoon, and Leisha was out of the country by the end of the week.
Joni Page 