Chapter 21 - The Village School
|
As late August approached, it was time to address the reality of Leo’s education. In the city, Leo had been enrolled in a highly prestigious, hyper-competitive private academy that prioritized academic prestige over child welfare. Richard refused to subject his son to that environment again.
He drove Leo down into the valley to visit the local village elementary school. It was a charming, single-story brick building surrounded by massive oak trees and a large, grassy playground featuring a bright red slide.
They walked into the main office, where they were greeted by Mrs. Higgins, the school principal and kindergarten teacher. She was a warm, slightly plump woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile.
“You must be Leo!” Mrs. Higgins said cheerfully, stepping out from behind her desk to kneel down to his eye level.
Leo shyly hid half his face behind Richard’s hand, but he nodded slowly.
“I heard you like to bake apple muffins and build treehouses,” Mrs. Higgins continued, magically knowing all the local gossip. “We have a very special building block station in our classroom. Would you like to come see it?”
Leo looked up at Richard for permission. Richard smiled and nodded encouragingly.
They followed the teacher down the brightly decorated hallway into a classroom flooded with natural light. Colorful finger paintings lined the walls, and the atmosphere was undeniably joyful and chaotic in the best possible way. There was no pressure, no strict uniforms, no cold elitism.
“I like it here, Daddy,” Leo whispered, his eyes scanning a large shelf of dinosaur books.
“I like it too, buddy,” Richard agreed.
May you like
He looked at Mrs. Higgins, extending a hand to shake hers. “He will be starting on Monday, Mrs. Higgins. Thank you.”
As they drove back to the estate, Leo didn't stop talking about the dinosaur books. The anxiety of social interaction that had plagued him in the city was already melting away, replaced by the innocent excitement of a normal childhood.
