Amazing Grace (to be edited)

Chapter 1

This is my second piece posted, yet the idea just popped into my head recently, so forgive me, because I will most likely be writing each chapter from scratch. Well, readers, enjoy!

Rated for: profanity, darker and intense topics that may be uncomfortable for some readers

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Parent-teacher conferences tonight. I was jittery, as any parent of a first-grader. It seemed that at this age we knew how much of a handful our children were at home, and always hoped they werent quite so difficult at school. I slipped something moderately nice on. My outfit consisted of a floral shirt with black dress slacks and some non-flashy heels. I ran a brush through my long black hair, and then walked towards the garage, grabbbing my bag, and hopped into the car. I had sent Grace, the first grader in question, to daycare thirty minutes earlier.

There was no one home to watch her, there never was. It was hard being a single mom sometimes, but I manged. I had a reasonably sized house, a car, and enough money to get food on the table and clothes on our backs. Sure, I worked both day and night shifts at times, but i managed, didn't I?

When home, I never let on how exhausted I was to Grace. It would just dampen her life, always having to put her mother first, always worrying about me. Besides, I could take care of myself. I just hoped that Grace was doing well in school so I didnt have to put something else on my already-too-full plate.

I drove up to the school, and cruised around for about five minutes looking for a parking spot. This was the busiest time of the school year, and I didn't know why the school never thought of breaking up conference times instead of having all the parents swarm to the school in a measely three hour period. But, that was beside the point; I had more important things to think about than conference improvements. I had Grace to think about.

After I parked I walked up and into the building and a woman with a way-too-creepy-to-be-real smile handed me a map which I quickly discarded of. I was soon standing outside Mrs. Jared's classroom. In a few minutes two parents walked out and Mrs. Jared ushered me into the room. She was a pretty young woman with long curly blonde hair. We sat down in some chairs that were way too small for comfort and the conference began.

"Mrs. Macintosh, right?" Mrs. Jared asked cheerily. It always annoyed me when people assumed I was married.

"Ms. Macintosh, if you please." I said slightly snootily. Her smile dampened for a second, but she shuffled some papers and it came back quickly.

"Grace is wonderful in class, always paying attention, and her grades are doing well. In fact, she is one of my favorite students." Mrs. Jared began. I let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Well, is there anything we need to discuss then?" I said, more chipper now.

"Um, actually, yes. This has nothing to do with grades, but I've noiticed hat Grace is always saying that her head hurts. I send her down to the nurse, and in about fifteen minutes she comes back saying that the nurses gave her some medicine and said that she wasn't sick enough to be sent home. This has been happening quite frequently, and I was just wondering if it has been brought to your attention yet."

"No, it hasn't. Sure, there have been a couple occaisions where she's come home saying that, but I've dismissed it as a one-time deal." I said thoughtfully.

"Well then, I really don't have anything else to discuss with you; Grace is an eccellent student. I hope she gets to feeling better soon." Mrs. Jared said sincerely. We said our goodbyes and then I was off to pick up Grace from daycare.

The events that had just unfolded spooked me. There was the possibility that this was minor and I was making much too much of a fuss, but then again...

I didn't let my mind linger. I got to the daycare quickly, paid them, and was soon back in the car, this time with Grace.

"So, how are you feeling, hun?" I asked, glancing at where she was seated in the back from my rear-view mirror.

"Ok." She said solemnly.

"Does your head hurt at all?" I asked her yet again. Grace was silent, "Well?"

"A little bit." She said quietly, almost guiltily, rubbing the back of her head.

"I'll tell you what: Tomorrow we'll go see the doctor and he'll make you feel better." Grace smiled. How I wished what I just said was going to be true.

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It would be greatly appreciated if you commented, voted, or fanned. Thank you all for your support!

-Ian (or Nagini, as some call me)

These charicters are fictional. Any resemblence to actual people is unintentional.