Chapter 3: Standing Up in the Silence

The idea of having a reasonable conversation with the other parent instantly vanished.

My patience evaporated, replaced by a hard, cold anger. I felt foolish for thinking I could handle this quietly, for trying to appeal to reason when the situation called for something stronger.

I even felt my earlier politeness was laughable.

I pictured myself at the last parent-teacher night, making small talk and exchanging recipes, and wanted to roll my eyes at my own naiveté.

With people like this, there’s no need to be polite first and then tough—it’s better to go straight to confrontation.

I straightened my shoulders, set my jaw, and resolved to stand up for Evan, no matter who might judge me in the group chat or at the next PTA meeting.

I opened the class group chat and sent ten dollars directly to Tyler’s mom.

"We don’t keep cash at home, so I’ve paid the money for your kid. If your son still needs money, maybe you could apply for group donations."

No one replied. But for the first time all day, I didn’t feel powerless.