Ahaha, back to this again. Let’s just say this is a great way for me to stretch my writing muscles. And reading everyone else’s take are always very fun.
Photo Prompt:
Ordinary
Luke toppled over the Lego man with a triumphant shriek. Joanna frowned. He wasn’t a disruptive child, so this out-of-ordinary episode had her concerned.
“Indoor voices, Luke,” she chided.
“It is indoors!”
Joanna paused. “This is how loudly your parents speak at home?” She hadn’t heard anything about divorces or seen any signs of abuse. Not yet.
“Yep!”
“Has it always been like that?”
“Nope,” Luke shook his head. “Only last weeks.”
She made a note to call Luke’s mother after school. But right now she needed to remind the boy exactly how loud indoor voices were supposed to be.
A Gaslit Space 
Unfortunately parents’ squabbles and troubles in general always affect the young uns~
Ain’t that the truth! Yeah, the young folks sometimes need a bit of cuddling.
Joanna needs to be a little understanding.
I think she’s just has a lot on her plate. But yes, she needs to pay a bit more attention sooner.
I would not want to be in her shoes.
She’s not picking up the signals, is she?
Well, she is going to try to contact the parents later. It’s just currently, she needs a more controlled classroom, I think.
someone n eeds to start paying attention and administering help. Nice story.
Hopefully Joanna would be able to. Or at least alert the right people eventually.
Thanks!
I hope so.
It’s good she’s going to call and check. Kids pick up on their parents emotions so easily. Nicely written!
Thanks so much!
I do sympathise with teachers who are expected to look at 30 kids and pick up on all their individual emotions. Hopefully Joanna can help this one out.
Yeah she got a tough job ahead. But I have confidence she’ll manage!
Ah, to remain calm in the storm. To be heard above the crazy crowd. Deep sigh. Nicely done.
Yeah, being surrounded by so many children all day can’t be easy. And thank you!
You’re welcome.
A teacher’s lot is not an easy one. There’s a lot more expected of them than just teaching. Nice one.
Here’s mine!
Definitely. And thank you for commenting!
Judgmental a little, Joanna? Shouting doesn’t always mean divorce or abuse, love. I hope Luke gets the support he needs – from her and at home.
Yeah she jumped the gun bit, huh? But perhaps she had a rough childhood of her own and this reminded her of those times.
I think it’s great that the teacher looks out for the kids. If the parents shouted for weeks… not the casual disagreement.
Hopefully they’re just going through a rough patch and things will calm down soon. Poor Luke.
Indeed…. well penned…
Thanks!
Some kids are just loud by nature. It isn’t always a sign of abuse, unless, as it seems in this case, it is unusual behavior for that child.
I’ll never forget a student I had years ago who never raised his voice, but the words he spoke quietly were full o venom, threat, and anger.
Oh no, that just sounds so sad. I hope he turned out okay in the end.
I don’t know. We moved away, and I lost touch. But I hope.