A Simple Mistake

This story is by Lisa M. Walton and was part of our 2024 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Everyone is entitled to a second chance. Especially ten-year-olds. That’s what Josie Parker told herself as she gathered her Stanley cup, laptop, and a pile of math tests and hurried to the door.

But then she stopped, dropped her backpack, and turned back.

Josie tiptoed into Dylan’s room. She smiled and resisted the urge to stroke his soft cheek. Derek would kill her if she woke the baby this early, so she satisfied herself by inhaling his sweet infant smell. Her beautiful rainbow baby. She was so lucky to have him.

Libby’s feet pitter-pattered down the hall toward her morning dose of Bluey. Josie followed her daughter into the family room. “Hey, baby!”

“Mommy!” Libby beamed. “You’re home! Is it the weekend?”

“No, it’s Friday. I’m leaving now. I just wanted to say goodbye.”

“Oh, okay,” Libby said, frowning. Josie ruffled her golden hair and planted a kiss on her head.

“But . . .  tomorrow is Saturday. I’ll make waffles.”

“With chocolate chips?”

“Of course! Love you lots, Libby!”

“Love yous more, Mommy!”

Derek emerged from the bedroom, buttoning his shirt. “Everything okay?”

“Yep. Just running late.”

He gave her a quick kiss, but Josie threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply.

Derek squeezed her close. “Wow! Maybe I should get up earlier.”

She gave him a half smile and stepped away, swiping at a tear. 

“Seriously, babe. Everything okay?”

“Probably just hormones.” That’s what Dr. Macon told Josie when she complained about feeling anxious at her postpartum appointment, and while she thought the explanation was a bit dismissive, she’d been using the excuse for the last five months. Luckily, Derek never questioned it.

 

 

Josie exhaled as she pulled into the parking lot. The sun peeked over the horizon, turning the sky a brilliant pink. It was Friday, before a three-day weekend–Misty Valley still observed Columbus Day, and while Josie disagreed with the holiday, she was grateful for a day off. 

But first, she had to get through the day.

Her stomach twisted.

Eight days ago, Grant Gossmer brought a loaded gun to school. He kept it in his backpack and, throughout the day, secretly showed it to three classmates.

After the third incident, Kayla Markus quietly, and with a degree of awareness that fourth-graders should not possess, passed a note to Josie alerting her that Grant had a gun.

Josie stared at the words, her fingers growing numb around the note. Her heart thundered in her chest. She kept her eyes glued on Grant, who was, luckily, sitting in a bean bag chair with his back to her.

Stay calm. The gun’s been there all day. He doesn’t know you know.

She walked to the cubbies, grabbed Grant’s backpack, and sprinted to the office. All she cared about was getting it far away from her students. She didn’t think twice about leaving the class unattended.

A few moments later, Officer Ken arrived to collect Grant. “Hey buddy, can you come with me?” He gently laid a hand on Grant’s shoulder. Grant shrugged and stood up.

“Why don’t you take the kids outside? It’s a beautiful day.” He nodded at Josie, and she knew it was not a suggestion.

Back in the classroom, it was obvious Officer Ken had searched the room. It wasn’t a mess, but everything was off-kilter, and the students noticed.

“Somebody was in my desk!”

“Mine too! And my bookbag was on Jeremiah’s hook.”

“I can’t find my lunchbox!”

Josie murmured reassurances and helped the kids get ready for dismissal.

“Mrs. Parker, your hands are shaking,” Tanya said.

 

  

 

After school, Josie visited Millie Harrison, the principal.

“Josie, what a day,” said Millie. “How are you?”

“How am I? How do you think?” Josie’s hands were still trembling.

Millie smiled. “Now, Josie, it’s not that bad. Nothing happened.”

“A child brought a loaded gun into my classroom.”

Millie nodded. “Yes. But he didn’t threaten to use it.”

Josie’s mouth gaped. “Is that the standard? Whether he threatened to use it?”

“Of course not. All I’m saying is it could have been much worse.” 

You don’t say.

Millie assured Josie that it was “a simple mistake.” Grant only realized the gun was in his bag after he arrived at school. He never planned to use it. “So, no harm done.”

Josie rolled her eyes.

Millie explained that Grant would serve a five-day suspension for bringing a weapon to campus “due to district rules.” She made it sound like this was a bad thing.

“And then what?” said Josie.

“Then he’ll be back.”

Josie frowned. “Will there be any special procedures in place?”

“Like?” 

“I don’t know. A search? Metal detectors?”

Millie scoffed. “Come on, Josie. Are you afraid of a ten-year-old boy?”

“No. I’m afraid of a loaded gun.”

“It was an accident. What would you have me do? Expel him? For a simple mistake? There was no real threat. He’s a little boy. He deserves a second chance.”

Josie rubbed her eyes and choked back a sob. 

“Josie, you need to get yourself together. I know you’ve only been back a short time. You’re still frolicking in the land of lullabies and rainbows. But you’re being too sensitive.”

Seriously? Josie narrowed her eyes. “You’re making a mistake.”

Millie sneered and tented her hands on the desk. “Everyone makes mistakes, including you. As you know, students are never to be left unattended in the classroom. I’ll let it go today because of the circumstances. But don’t let it happen again.”  

 

That night, Josie rehashed the incident with Derek. “That’s awful, babe. But it sounds like you handled things. Those kids are lucky to have you.”

Josie gnawed on her lip. After retelling the story, it didn’t seem so bad. Millie was right; nothing had happened—not really.

Maybe she was too sensitive. Grant was just a child. Of course, he deserved a second chance.

But Josie was not convinced that Grant was the one who made a mistake. As his return drew closer, she couldn’t eat. She couldn’t sleep. Each night, she woke in a cold sweat when gunshots pierced her dreams. 

Josie did not want to give him a second chance. 

 

 

 

Josie scanned her keycard, waited for the buzz, and then juggled her bag to unlock the deadbolt. Too bad all this security could not protect against threats that came from inside.

She paced the classroom and picked at her nail polish while she waited for her students. But, when the children arrived, their vivacious energy and infectious giggles put her body, if not her mind, at ease. Students wandered over for a hug and to tell her silly anecdotes about their mornings, and she felt lighter. She loved these kids.

Then she saw him.

Grant strolled into the classroom in a new camo hoodie. Fear snaked up Josie’s throat. She should tell him to put the hood down, but what did it matter? She was more concerned about what was concealed in the giant pocket.

“Hey, Ms. Parker! Did you miss me?”

“Welcome back, Grant,” Josie said flatly.

“Look at my new shoes!” He held up a foot so she could admire his Nikes.

Josie told him about the new classroom policies: all snacks and lunch boxes had to be placed on the counter at the beginning of the school day–no exceptions.

Grant shrugged and put his snack and lunch box where directed.

During morning meeting, Grant squeezed in beside Josie and grinned. “Can we play Crunchy Crunch?” he asked.

“Okay,” she said, not wanting to upset him. But as he laughed and played with his classmates, she smiled.

All morning, Grant stayed in his seat and followed directions. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it was a simple mistake. 

During reading, Grant raised his hand. “Can I go to the bathroom?”

Josie froze. What should she do? She couldn’t keep him confined to the classroom all year. But letting him go felt wrong. “Umm . . .”

The room was silent. Students looked from Josie to Grant. Then Grant jumped on her indecision. “What was that?  ‘Yes?’ ‘kay, thanks Ms. Parker.” 

Josie stared after him, open-mouthed, as he left the room.

“Mrs. Parker, are you okay?”

“Don’t worry. He’ll be right back.”

Josie shook herself from the daze. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today.”

“Are you gonna barf?”

“Maybe you’re pregnant.”

“Do you have COVID?”

She smiled and exhaled. She was being silly. The students weren’t alarmed. It was just Grant being Grant. She was too sensitive.

Then she heard it.

Pop!

“What was that?” 

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Students screamed.

“Get down!” Josie ran to the door and reached into the hallway for the doorknob. As her fingers grazed the meal,  pain seared her back.

She yanked the door shut, flipped the deadbolt, and stared at her hysterical students. She couldn’t even help them. 

Please. Let them be okay. 

She slid to the floor, thinking of Derek, Libby, and sweet baby Dylan. Please, please let them get a second chance.