A DAUGHTER'S SHAME

Mr. Sheepshanks, the headmaster of the Queen Ann's School for Girls in London, had heard enough of the disturbance down the hall. Poking his head out from his office door, he spied one of his schoolmasters scolding a student. As he approached, he could hear them.

     "… and in the year of our Lord 1829," Mr. Droning finished, "it is unthinkable for a student to deny such a request. I could demand it, young lady."

     After Mr. Sheepshanks arrived, twelve-year-old Sherena Hornsby twirled the curls in her nest of red strands over her right temple.

     "But, Mr. Droning," Sherena said, "it is difficult for my mother to leave home."

     Mr. Sheepshanks glared at Sherena. "I can hear you all the way down the hall. Now, what seems to be the matter?"

     Mr. Droning stretched the features of his face and whined like a young boy whose older brother had just stolen his toy. "This is Miss Hornsby, sir, and she refuses to bring her mother to school tomorrow. All the other girls have agreed to do so."

     Mr. Sheepshanks eased a hand on Sherena's shoulder. "How long have you been attending this school?"

     Sherena stared at her feet. "Two years, sir."

     Mr. Droning waved his arms like he was trying to swim through the air. "And when you first came, that was the only time I ever saw your mother."

     Sherena stepped out from under Mr. Sheepshank's hand. "And that should have been enough for you, Mr. Droning … no disrespect intended, sir. You know what she looks like, and you spoke with her."

     Mr. Droning stared at Mr. Sheepshanks. "Perhaps it is her mother's uneducated manner of speech. As I recall, she is cockney." Turning to Sherena, Mr. Droning smiled. "That is nothing to be ashamed of, my dear. There are other girls whose mothers are less educated. The important thing is that you get a good education." He glanced at Mr. Sheepshanks. "And that she can pay, sir."

     "Any trouble with tuition?" Mr. Sheepshanks asked.

     "None, sir. She has always paid on time."

     Mr. Sheepshanks guided Sherena toward the school exit. The hall clock read after three, and the other girls had gone home. "Now, you run along home, Sherena. Where do you live?"

     "Cavendish Square, a short walk from here, sir."

     "Good. Then in the morning have your mother walk here with you so she can meet the other girls in your class and their mothers as well. Now, that will be easy enough, will it not?"

     Sherena stopped and offered Mr. Sheepshanks a beggar's face. "I do not mean to be difficult, sir. I like coming here. I have learned so much, and I am sure that you are preparing me for a wonderful life … but I cannot bring my mother to this school ever again. She must remain home … a-a-and you must understand and trust me when I tell you this."

     "Totally unacceptable," Mr. Droning said to Mr. Sheepshanks, scrunching his hairline down to his eyebrows.

     Mr. Sheepshanks turned the girl to face him and smiled. "Look, if Mr. Droning needs all the girls to bring a parent then why not bring your father instead?"

     "He died four years ago, sir."

     Mr. Sheepshanks sucked in his lips and let them out again. "Well, then bring your mother and let us have an end to all this." Sherena shook her head. "Now, do not go against me on this. I am the headmaster in charge of all the school and I say bring her. We will be looking forward to seeing her tomorrow."

     Sherena realized that she dare not answer one way or another, but she knew she could never bring her mother to school-and that was just how it had to be. She pulled her eyes away from the two men and marched toward the exit.

Sherena arrived at school the next morning without her mother and dashed into Mr. Droning's class. She ducked down as low as she dared in her regular seat. Mr. Droning made the rounds talking to all the parents seated in special chairs along the back of the room as more entered. Then it came time to start class, and all the students sat in their regular seats. Mr. Droning took his usual position at the head of the class.

     "Good morning, all. I am Mr. Droning, and I am so glad that one hundred percent of the students brought at least one parent for today's morning session. It is a very special day, for each girl will come before the class and tell the parents what she has learned since the beginning of the school year and how she feels about the school. We have never done this sort of thing before and are very proud to start a new yearly tradition here at Queen Ann's School for Girls. After the children have all spoken, the parents will have an opportunity to ask questions."

     Sherena raised an eyebrow when Mr. Droning called the first girl to speak. He hadn't scolded her for failing to bring her mother.

     Perhaps with all the parents around, she thought, he hadn't noticed.

     Mr. Droning called on each girl by seating arrangement, but when he came to Sherena's seat, he skipped over her. That made her suspect that Mr. Droning wasn't fooled after all. It still worked out for Sherena, for she knew that nothing Mr. Droning could do or say could equal the pain of bringing her mother to school.

     After the last girl spoke, Sherena expected Mr. Droning to continue with the question-answer part with the parents. Instead, he glared at her.

     "Sherena Hornsby. You are the last to speak. Come forward please."

     Sherena swallowed hard and trudged to the front of the class.

     "Now, Sherena," Mr. Droning continued, "tell us of your experiences at Queen Ann's School for Girls."

     Relieved that Mr. Droning did not question her about her mother, she told everyone why she liked attending the school.

     "That is all very nicely explained, Sherena," Mr. Droning praised. "You seem quite happy here."

     "Oh, I am, sir."

     Mr. Droning waved a hand toward the back of the room. "Let us see what your mother thinks."

     Sherena froze and glared at Mr. Droning as he continued to wave his hand. "Allow Sherena Hornsby's mother to enter, please."

     Looking to the back of the room, Sherena gawked as her mother entered escorted by the school clerk.

     "No!" Sherena yelled. "Get her out of here. You had no right to bring her." She turned and pulled on Mr. Droning's arm. "Please! Get her out!"

     "Why? She looks fine enough. Of course, this is not the mother who registered you in this school two years ago. Perhaps you would be kind enough to explain that."

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