I couldn't understand why they were doing this now. They waited until I was 18, about to finish my last few months of high school. I knew things hadn't been the same at home for a while but I always figured that they'd work things out. After 25 years together, people don't just split up. If they had made it this long, they should try a little harder, see a counselor, do something. Other kids at school had parents who went through divorce but I still felt alone.
After my grades started to slip, I had to have an appointment with Mr. Adler, the school guidance counselor. He was a nice guy but I didn't want to see him. So my grades weren't as high as they used to be. Why does that mean I have to sit through a lecture on personal responsibility?
I went to his office at the end of the day for our little conference. I waited and waited and he finally finished up with one of my classmates and called me into his office.
"Hi Sarah. Why don't you have a seat?" Mr. Adler said.
He pointed to a chair. His office was small, cluttered, and cramped. Between his desk and bookshelves he had managed to shove a small table and three chairs into the middle of the room. I suppose it was to make students more comfortable. He was less the stern counselor lecturing students from behind his large oak desk and more the compassionate older friend who cared about his students enough to try to relate to them on their level. I had a seat at the table and Mr. Adler sat down across from me.
"I assume you already know why you were called in here this afternoon," he continued.
I looked down at the table and mumbled a "yes, sir."
"You've always been a good student. But lately your teachers have been concerned about your classroom performance. You've missed 10 days of school so far this term and your grades have gone from As and Bs to Cs and Ds. I'm hearing that you have trouble concentrating and turning in your assignments. How are things at home, Sarah?"
He reached across the table and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Is there anything going on that I should know about? Any big changes in your life?"
I looked up from the table into his eyes and started to cry. Things were horrible at home. My mother was always so sad now. She stopped getting out of bed and I had to take care of my little brother and sister to make sure that they did their homework and had something to eat. I had to take care of my mom to make sure she didn't go mad with grief. The words started to spill out of my mouth and I told him everything. I needed to talk to someone, anyone, and he let me open up to him.
Mr. Adler got up and came over to where I was sitting. He wrapped his arms around me and ran his fingers through my hair.
"It's okay Sarah," he said sympathetically. "It's okay to cry. You don't have to be strong all the time."
"But I do," I sobbed. "James, Rebecca – they need me. I have to take care of my family."
"Shhhh. It's okay Sarah."
He pulled back my head from his shirt and dried my eyes with his hand. I was so embarrassed. His shirt pocket was drenched in my tears.
I opened my mouth to apologize but Mr. Adler put his finger over my mouth.
"Sarah, you are one of my best students. I know you have plans to attend college next year and that you've worked very hard to get where you are. I know you'll need scholarships and for that you'll need to have good grades, even in your last term. I want to help you because I care about my students. You can't tell anyone about this though. I don't want the other students to be jealous. Can you keep this a secret?"
"Yes sir. I understand," I said, completely unaware of what he really meant.
Mr. Adler released his embrace, walked behind his desk, and sat down in his chair. He motioned for me to come over and I walked up to his desk. He opened a few windows on his computer before looking up at me.
"Sit down here, I want you to see this," he said tapping his thigh. I felt weird sitting down on my counselor's lap but I didn't want to upset him after he had just agreed to help me. I looked at the screen. It was a request for a recommendation from State University.
"See Sarah, they receive grade reports from the school each term and they want to know if there is any reason why your grades have dropped so suddenly. They want to know if you have a legitimate reason or if you are just lazy so they know whether or not you are the caliber student they want to admit to their program."
I nodded in understanding.
"I need to know whether or not to recommend you for admission. You are a good student Sarah, but are you willing to do whatever it takes to succeed?"
He slid his arms down from the keyboard and wrapped them around my waist.
I nodded. "Yes sir, I'll do anything."
