True Blessings

Chapter Seven

Like many schools, McDonald Lemon Middle School had a guard at the main entrance and Christie had to put her name, address and reason for visiting on a sheet before the guard would call anyone for her.

"This matter is concerning my grandson, Sammy Haines, who is staying with me while his father is in Texas with the Guard," she said. "I have a permission slip I need to give someone here so he can take the bus to my home."

The guard, an older black man with white hair and beard, picked up a phone, spoke into it, then cradled the handset.

"Mr. Wallace, the assistant principal, will be here shortly."

"Thank you."

"Shortly" was fifteen minutes later, when a thin man about six feet in height arrived.

"Mr. Haines?" he asked.

"Miss Haines," Christie corrected, turning to him.

He stuck a hand out to shake but the criticizing look in his eye told her more than the firm grip of the handshake.

She pulled a printed copy of Arnold's email from her pursed and unfolded it.

The assistant principal read it, his lips pursing as he did, then lowered his hands.

"I need to see your ID."

Christie looked at the guard. "Didn't I just show you an ID?"

The guard shrugged and Christie dug into her purse to retrieve her wallet, hir anger obvious.

"Two forms of ID," Wallace said. "Both need pictures."

She stopped. She only had one form of identification with a picture of her on it. She told him that.

"Sorry. For the safety of the children, we have strict policies and you need another form of identification. It's town policy."

Christie studied him a moment then said, "School policy or annoy the transgender woman policy?"

He turned away, saying, "When you have your second form of identification, we'll talk again."

The guard stood. "Ma'am, I have to ask you to leave, please."

Drawing her lips into a thin line, she whirled, storming from the building.

******

Christie was angry enough to be very loud when she arrived at the Department of Education offices in the town's municipal campus.

"I need to know my grandson is going to get to my home safely without my needing to pick him up at his house!" she hissed to the receptionist. "And I did not care for Wallace's rude manners!"

"Let me get someone to help you," the man said, lifting a phone as he punched buttons on the keypad.

Moments later, a short, heavy man arrived, finding a stern-faced, angry woman standing in the waiting room, arms folded to her chest as she looked out a window.

"Miss Haines?"

She turned. "Yes. And you are?"

"Chuck Price, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. What is the problem?"

As Christie explained, Price's face showed concern and confusion.

"Let me call the school and ask what is going on," he said. "We do not require two forms of picture identification. He may ask for another ID if there is question of the first, but it needn't have a picture on. And I certain hope your gender identity wasn't the problem."