The Next Chapter

Lunch, Thanksgiving and Incoming Bad Weather

Okay, we're starting the sequel for A Fresh Start. This will probably be slow going as I want to make sure I tell Marie's story well and appropriately. I'd like to thank all of my readers from A Fresh Start and their stories about their children with Autism. Your recollections will help me tremendously in Marie's story. I'm an educator and I'm familiar with the educational ramifications of Autism, but not living with a child with Autism on a day to day basis.

Anyhow, Twilight is not mine. Never will be mine. Ever. *WAAAH!* David, Lizzie and Marie are mine in a literary sense. Ren, too.

Chapter Nine: Lunch, Thanksgiving and Incoming Bad Weather

I was sitting in a local restaurant, waiting for Alice and Rose. They had just finished parent/teacher conferences before the Thanksgiving break. I was idly playing with my cell phone as I sat in the booth for my two best friends. Esme had offered to watch the children while I went out to lunch with them.

"Bells!" they called. I turned and saw them looking all professional from parent teacher conferences. Alice was in a pair of khaki dress pants and a deep eggplant sweater. Rose was in a teal blue shirt and black pants. I felt sadly under dressed in my beige corduroys and pink turtleneck sweater.

"Hey guys," I said as I got up from the booth. I hugged them both and we settled into our seats. "How were conferences?"

"Boring for me," Alice said. "I only had a handful of conferences. The joys of being a 'special.'"

"Yeah, you suck," Rose grumbled. "We were busy each minute of both days of conferences. I barely had any time to pee or eat dinner. Not fun."

"How's Merritt?" I asked.

"Gone," Alice said with a triumphant grin. "He was placed on administrative leave because of his handling of your situation. If he comes back this year, he'll be doing 'bitch' work at the district office until his contract is up."

"Nice!" I said. "Who's the interim principal?"

"We tried to get you to be the interim principal, but the district office said that you were taking medical leave before you took a position as the head of curriculum and instruction," Rose said, pouting. "Are you okay, Bells?"

"Well, after that tumble with those boys, I had several minor fractures in my jaw and my ribs. Ren told me that I have early onset osteoporosis because of my hysterectomy. I was prescribed some medication to hopefully reverse my bone loss. Anyhow, I was toying with the idea of being a stay at home mom. I had informed Merritt of my decision earlier in the week with the fight with boys. Anyhow, with my injuries and Marie's recent diagnosis of autism, I worked with Dr. Sancken and Dr. Eddy to take an extended medical leave for the rest of the year. Then, on July 1st, I'll be starting as the head of curriculum and instruction. I'm going to telecommute three days a week and work in the office two days. Plus, I'd get a hefty pay raise and they'd pay for me to get my doctorate and superintendents endorsement."

"Two Dr. Masens in the same house. That's scary," Alice snickered.

"Tell me about it," I laughed. "How's Evan, Rose?"

"Ugh, so much like his father, it's hysterical. I mean, that boy is fucking huge," Rose laughed. "How was Seattle?"

I told both of my friends about what happened in Seattle: the good and the bad. They were thrilled that Marie was talking and using her words. On the flip side, they were ready to seriously maim Dr. Kate.

Get in line, sisters.

We ordered our food and gossiped about the latest happenings at Cherry Blossom. Alice was trying to fend off the new music teacher who had developed a huge crush on her. Alice was his mentor and subsequently helped him out a great deal at the beginning of the school year. Now, he was following her like a lost puppy dog. Alice tried, on numerous occasions to explain to him that she was married with TWO children. He still flirted. Alice was tempted to get 'Property of Jasper Whitlock' tattooed on her forehead.