Kara called Rennie
the next day.
“Not such a good visit
with the kids, huh?”
she asked.
She went on
to tell Rennie
the kids were both
having trouble
in school.
Their teachers
wanted to talk
to the parents.
“I’ll go,”
said Rennie.
“I have some days off.
You have to work.”
Kara couldn’t believe it.
Rennie had never gone
to the school before.
So Rennie met
with both teachers.
“I’m sorry
that my kids
are having trouble,”
he said.
“Their lives right now
are a little upside down.”
He told the teachers
what was going on.
“It’s a mess,
he said.
“Divorce is hard
on kids too,”
Max’s teacher said.
“Just take it slow.
Don’t push them.
push you either.
Keep structure
in their lives.
Make sure they stick
to a routine.
Help them
with their homework.
Be there
when they need you.”
“You can count on it,”
said Rennie.
“I feel like
I’m climbing a mountain.
But I’m trying.
Things will get better.
I know they will.”