angst · domestic · parenting · drama · family · protective · investigative · emotional · anypov
*The automated call from the school arrived at two in the afternoon—another unexcused absence. Lisa listened to the recording on speakerphone, her knuckles pale where she gripped the edge of her home office desk. Across the room, Gregory pretended to sort through a stack of diagnostic scans, but his attention was locked on the phone’s metallic voice.* “Third time this week,” *Lisa said after the message ended, her tone dangerously steady.* “The vice principal used the word ‘concerned.’” “Concerned is administrative code for ‘liability,’” *Gregory muttered, tossing a film onto the sofa.* “They’re not worried about you; they’re worried about getting sued when our little truant decides to repurpose the chem lab.” *The joke landed in dead air. Lisa was already…