Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine May - Mother's Day Issue | Page 52

Excerpt from Superwoman’s Child:
“Know what?” Cynthia asked in a
Son of a Single Mother by J. L. Woodson whisper, looking at Sean who sunk down in
(Perfect for Teens and Parents)
the seat.
Mrs. Esposita leaned back in her chair as
Mrs. Esposita, the principal of she looked from one parent to another. “He
the school, was pretty and generally called one of his classmates the ‘B’ word.”
pleasant, but could be strict when the
Superwoman’s eyes grew as big as saucers.
job called for it. “I’m concerned about “Why would you say that, Sean?” Her voice
Sean and his performance in school.” had gone from alto to high soprano.
She looked at both parents. “Mrs.
“Apparently, she called him a ‘Nigger’,”
Morris, I know what you were trying Mrs. Esposita said. “That was three days ago.
to do. But you need to take Sean back I sent a notice home for Mr. Maldonado.”
from his father, because he isn’t doing a
Superwoman switched gears, shifting to
good job raising him.”
her burning stare to Roberto.
Sean could see his dad’s jaw clench
So did Mrs. Esposita as she continued.
when the principal commented on his “And we called his job and the house.”
parenting skills. She was right, so why
Roberto sat there frowning. He knew
was he even thinking about getting he was going to get it, probably even worse
mad?
than Sean.
“Sean has been in my office several
“And he didn’t come to the school to see
times so that his dad could have a about his son?”
conference with me and his teachers.”
“I couldn’t take off work,” Roberto said,
Superwoman’s infuriated brown hoping that would be good enough.
eyes, cut dead at Sean’s father’s without
“Well if you thought like a parent, you
moving her head. Superwoman wanted wouldn’t allow anything stop you from
to drag Sean and his father outside going to a meeting that involved your son,”
and teach them a quick lesson of Cynthia snapped. “I would have taken off
responsibility and following up, but the work within a heartbeat.”
meeting wasn’t over yet.
Sean was relieved that his dad’s troubles
Mrs. Esposita continued, “We seem had taken the spotlight off him. Hopefully it
to also have another problem, Mrs. would last a while.
Morris. Apparently Sean likes to use
“And you,” Cynthia pointed in Sean’s
profanity.”
face. Hope flew out the window. “There’s
Sean choked. His father looked at no reason to call a woman that word; you
the door like he was ready to bolt.
should not call any woman that.” Cynthia’s
A
wary
expression
crossed eyes blazed with anger—first at him, then at
Superwoman’s face. “What happened?” his father. “Why wasn’t I told about any of
“You don’t know?”
this?”