Teen Trials

Happy Home

"Are you doing your homework?" Gloria asked.

"I don't see how that's any of your business." Emma told the older lady not looking up from her history textbook.

"What crawled up your ass?" Jamie asked her.

"Nothing. I'm just minding my own business. Y'all are being annoying."

"Why are you here on a Monday? Shouldn't you be at dance?" Gloria asked.

"Yeah, I thought you were gonna be out the rest of the month between dance and Christmas break." Jamie added.

"Again, not sure how that's your business. I'm clearly doing something." Emma sassed.

Jamie and Gloria exchanged looks unsure what to do with the surly teenager. She was sitting in the patient rep office, sulking.

Gloria excused herself and headed down to her boss's office. "What's up?" Amy asked, looking up from charts on her computer when Gloria came in.

"While I'm sure we all appreciate the extra day with the squirt, did you have to bring her to us in a bad mood?"

Amy groaned. She knew that Emma would be upset about having to miss dance, but they had been very clear with her about her grades not slipping, and when she had come to them that weekend, she had a C in history. They knew the girl hated the subject, but she was too smart to be pulling grades like that. "Ugh...I'm sorry." Amy stood up.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to do what I should have in the first place and make her sit in here with me." Amy said.

"She isn't being awful..." Gloria said.

"Awful enough for you to come in here."

"Then I take it back. It's just normal teenager stuff."

Amy shook her head. "She has to learn, Gloria."

"She is." Gloria said.

"Is she speaking to you in a way that I would allow you to speak to me?" Amy asked.

Gloria frowned at the younger woman in front of her. "That is a very high bar for a fourteen-year-old."

"One she needs to learn to rise to. Let's go." Amy said. Gloria shook her head and followed Amy out of the office, regretting going in to talk to Amy at all.

"Jesus! Get out of my face! I'm doing my homework." Emma snapped at Jamie.

Amy frowned at the nineteen-year-old. "Are you teasing her?"

Jamie lifted her hands in the air and backed out of the office.

Amy poked her head in to see Emma looking down at her book, refusing to acknowledge her. "Come do your homework in my office, please."

Emma shifted in her chair, but didn't look up or respond. Jamie whistled lowly, "Not good for you kid."

"Shut up." Emma snapped. "Don't you have a room you can be in?"

Amy turned to glare at the older girl. "Jamie find something to do, or I will find something for you."

"Yes ma'am." Jamie said. It was well known that Amy finding something for you was going to suck.

Amy watched Jamie walk away before walking into the office and crouching down by Emma. She lowered her voice so no one else could hear. "Do I ignore you when you speak to me?"

"No ma'am." Emma whispered, still not looking up.

"Do I treat you disrespectfully like you are treating me right now?" Amy asked softly.