I Hope I'm Making You Proud

Chapter Three

The smell of the school hit her as soon as she walked in. The halls were empty, with the exception of the usual "rebel" student walking around. The school wasn't necessarily beat down, but it could use a giant makeover.

Mona walked to the main office, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. She opened the door and was overwhelmed by the smell of ink and coffee. She looked around to see giant printers and three little rooms in such a small space. Along with the three little rooms, there was a medium sized room that was vacant. Mona wondered why they left that room empty, but her thoughts were interrupted by the woman at the front desk.

"Hello ma'am. Who are you here to meet?" She says in a nasally voice. Mona looks down to her name tag and sees that her name is Mrs. Glenn.

"I'm here to see Principal Edwards. Is he here?"

Mrs. Glenn looked up and looked displeased.

"Yes ma'am, Principal Edwards is here. Do you have an appointment with him?"

"Oh, I wasn't aware that I needed to schedule an appointment."

"Things usually get busy this time of year, with the senior pranks getting out of hand and all."

"But isn't that what the deans are for?" Mona wonders out loud. Mrs. Glenn looks up at her again, evident that she just wanted to leave.

"I can check if he can see you right now. Can I have your name?" She says, as she rolls out the keyboard.

"Mona. Mona Sanders."

Mrs. Glenn freezes and looks up at Mona. Pity and remorse are clear in her eyes. She doesn't even have to say it; Mona already knows what she realized.

"Uhm, he's free. It's the second door to your left." Mrs. Glenn says in a quiet voice.

Mona gives her a small smile and starts walking away when Glenn calls out,

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

Mona knew she said it out of the goodness of her heart but these past weeks have been all about fake pity and more unimpressed side chatter.

She knocks on the door and she hears a deep voice bellow, "come in."

Mona sits down after getting the greetings and remorse out of the way.

"What brings you here, Ms. Sanders?" Principal Edwards asks.

"I was just wondering, do you guys have a guidance counselor or school therapist in this school?" She already knew the answer but she needed it to be confirmed.

Principal Edwards awkwardly shifts and says,

"No, Ms. Sanders. We had one about two years ago but she quit. She said that rarely anyone went to her." He says.

"Mr. Edwards, I apologize if what I'm about to say is going to come off as rude, but that is no way to run a school. My daughter said that maybe she would've been saved had help been there when she needed it. But when she needed it the most, there wasn't any."

"Ms. Sanders, I understand you feel distressed about your daughter and her unfortunate death but there was simply no reason to keep a school therapist if no one was going."

"What if someone in this school right now is going through what my daughter went through? What if they're trying to find help, a therapist, but they can't because it's too pricey? What if they need there to be help in the most accessible way possible?"

"I don't have the answers to your questions right now. But, Ms. Sanders; is this what you wanted to see me about?"

Mona takes a deep breath, wanting to keep her tears at bay.

"I want to make a center in this school for the teenage children who need help, with a certified therapist. It was my daughter's dying wish; she wanted me to make sure no one else hurt or died the way she did. And I'm here to make this wish come true."