Chapter 8

Several student parents didn't say anything, but their stance was clear.

Principal Harrison's face was grim, but after much hesitation, he turned to me.

"How about this, Ms. Sterling, I'll transfer you to be a subject teacher for the freshman class? You won't have to be a homeroom teacher anymore, and it might be easier on you."

Was he asking me to back down to these parents?

I looked up, scanning the crowd, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a contemptuous look.

It was Caleb, hiding behind the adults.

When our eyes met, he instinctively tried to look away, but then, as if realizing something, he nonchalantly met my gaze.

In that moment, I understood his thought—

"I don't want you to teach me, so what are you going to do about it?"

His despicable character was laid bare.

I was fed up with this utterly selfish family; being in the same room with them made me sick.

"Fine, I'll go with your suggestion, Principal. I won't be the homeroom teacher for sophomore year (Class 3) anymore."

Principal Harrison breathed a sigh of relief and turned to discuss which class to assign me to.

Caleb's mom looked triumphant:

"Ms. Sterling, you should actually thank me! You just had surgery, and your body's probably too weak to even teach. I'm being very generous by not letting the school fire you!"

The students in the class were so angry their eyes were red:

"Ms. Sterling was hospitalized because she donated bone marrow to Caleb! Without Ms. Sterling, Caleb might not even be alive!"

"Why should Ms. Sterling be transferred? Why don't you transfer Caleb instead?"

Caleb's mom exploded:

"My son's recovery is because he's blessed! Ms. Sterling is as skinny as a stick, what good was her bone marrow anyway?"

"Even without Ms. Sterling, there were plenty of people who would've donated bone marrow to my son!"

The surrounding teachers let out faint sneers:

"Yes, your son truly is blessed. Where else would you find someone like Ms. Sterling these days? From now on, I guarantee no one will ever be kind to your son again!"

The sarcasm made Caleb's mom's face turn even greener.

But I was done arguing with them.

I led my students back to the classroom. Before I could say anything, one girl started tearing up:

"Ms. Sterling, I don't want you to go!"

"Caleb is a jerk!"

They were my students, after all—kind-hearted and righteous.

Kids are the least tolerant of injustice.

With such a group of indignant students, I knew very well that Caleb's days ahead wouldn't be easy.