Just In Time (The Santa Clauses)

What You Need From Me

It felt a little weird the first time Scott and I had talked about him retiring from the North Pole. He had devoted himself to being Santa long before we had gotten married. Together we had worked on raising our children and making a life for ourselves.

I'll admit it had taken a little time to get used to living in a world of magic. I had traded being principal for teaching elves, then as time went on I morphed into more of a motherly figure when I had children of my own.

Many of the elves had moved on from the North Pole to get married and have children of their own--many of whom I had the honor of holding and seeing them grow up. It made leaving a lot harder to say goodbye when Scott and I decided to head back to Chicago.

"Hey, Carol?" I was just getting around to setting up a medium-sized frame with a photograph of my parents when the school secretary, Mrs. Hamm, stuck her head into my office and looked around with a wide smile. "Looks like you're settling in nicely. Just in time for your ten o'clock appointment."

"Go ahead and send them in." Grabbing one more picture from the few left, I placed the picture of Charlie, Cal, and Sandra decked out in ski gear on the dark wood cabinet leaning against the back wall.

"Right in here. Principal Calvin will see you now." Mrs. Hamm ushered the three of them in, closing the door behind them as soon as they filed into the room.

"Nick. Thank you for coming in. I see you brought Mira and Seth with you." I told him as he stepped forward to shake my hand, his tired blue eyes meeting mine. As he stepped aside, Mira's gaze flickered up to mine at the mention of her name, while Seth walked around her to sit down in the chair she was standing by.

"Thought they should meet you before they start getting settled into school--considering this is the third school we've been to in five months." He started tiredly, gazing over at his children. Mira was picking at her nails, and Seth was staring up at the wall. "The last one I lost my job because I constantly had to leave to pick up my children after they kept ending up in the principal's office."

"I want you to know I've read over Seth and Mira's files extensively, and I hear your concern about wanting to help your children in any way possible." I patted the files sitting next to me on the desk as I looked over at Seth and Mira who looked like they wanted to be anywhere but here. "There are a lot of things I want to go over with you when we have more time. Today, I would like to address how this all began."

"After their mother passed away, Seth got bullied so much by other students, he started skipping class. His grades began slipping and he started destroying school property. Mira was teased for not having a mother. I don't know half of what's going on with her. She's become so withdrawn, she barely says a word to anyone. It's a struggle to get either one of them to do their homework each night. I no longer have the energy to fight with them about it."

"It's understandable, given everything you've all been through. It sounds like you weren't helped in the way you needed."

"Thank you. I tried to get a meeting with the school counselor in their last school, but the truth was they were swamped and not equipped to handle all the students in the district where we were living. Nobody was. "You have children?" I followed his line of sight to the pictures, more specifically to the one I had just put up of Charlie, Cal, and Sandra.

"Three. Two sons and a daughter."

"Then you know what it's like to want everything for your children."

"I do. And I want you to know I will do everything for your children that I would do for mine."

"Can we go now?" Seth interrupted the conversation, rolling his eyes as he made a move to climb out of his seat. However, Nick was one step ahead of him and was already holding his backpack so he couldn't run out the door.

"Sit down," Nick growled in a low tone, keeping a hold on him in such a way Seth begrudgingly settled back into his chair.

"I think we're about done here," I told Nick, although it was also just as much for Mira and Seth. "However, I will make myself clear that if anything I've read in those files ends up happening at this school, you will be back in this office with major consequences on your end. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Seth stated quietly, not looking at me. Nick nodded, finally releasing a hold of Seth's backpack, although he didn't seem to notice when he did.

"I take it you both know where your first class is? I suggest you head there now."

"No staying out for hours. I want you both home after school." Nick left his warning as Seth disappeared out of the room. "I should get to work. It's my first day on the job."

"Of course." Shaking his hand, he leaned over to kiss Mira on the side of her forehead. She was busily drawing a flower bracelet on her wrist with a blue pen.

"I love you. I'll see you at home tonight." He called over his shoulder, although she didn't seem to hear him. I half expected her to get up after him but she continued to sit in the chair as she pulled her sleeve down.

"Mira?" She gave me a shy gaze at the mention of her name. "If there is anything you ever want to talk about, know my door is always open."Do you know who your homeroom teacher is?"

"Mrs. Faraday." She said quietly, placing the blue pen back into her pocket, and pulling her sleeve back down over her arm.

"She's on the other side of the school. If she gives you any issue about being late, let me know and I can write you a pass for today."