I really wished I could just disappear the moment I sighted the Mayor's wife. I didn’t know why I felt intimidated by her imposing figure, perhaps because I wasn’t as exquisitely dressed and had been snubbed earlier by her.

Well, I was in for another surprise when she walked past me to the teacher in blind rage.

"Where is she? I heard George's son was responsible for my daughter, and I was told his mother had arrived already.”

I guessed the teacher was equally stunned, because she couldn’t say a word. She simply gestured toward me, standing meekly by the door, feeling ready to be chewed up.

Should I kneel...