The last student Pat Tarleton had suggested Aline work with was Valerie Long. Because she was a junior, the discussion of college choices could wait.
It was one of the economics teachers who brought matters to a head by stopping by Aline’s office and telling her that Valerie was totally indifferent in class and seemed to be almost in a trance.
“Maybe if you talk to her, you can find out what the problem is,” the teacher said.
The next day Aline scheduled a meeting with Valerie. When the girl came into her office, the sad expression on her face and in her eyes was clearly visible. Aline wondered if grief over Kerry’s death might be the cause of her malaise.
She decided to go directly to that subject. After Valerie took a chair opposite hers, Aline said, “Valerie, I know many of the girls are very upset by Kerry’s death, and I hear that you were very close to her.”
“I loved Kerry. She was my best friend in school.”
“Then I can understand why you feel so bad about her death.”
“No, you can’t.”
Aline paused, hoping Valerie would say more. But when she didn’t, Aline knew that there was no point in pressing her. Instead she said, “Valerie, I reviewed your records. Your marks at your former school were very good. They were strong after you arrived here last January. But then they fell off considerably. And this year your teachers are concerned that you seem distracted in class.”
I am distracted, Valerie thought, but I can’t tell why. Instead she said, “I miss my friends in Chicago. They’re all there. My stepfather changed jobs, and overnight they told me we were moving. I wanted to live with my grandmother in Chicago and stay in my former school, but they wouldn’t let me.”
“What about your biological father?” Aline asked.
Valerie smiled spontaneously. “He was wonderful. I was Daddy’s little girl. He found out he had brain cancer and was dead in two months.”
“How old were you when that happened?”
“He died on my eighth birthday.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m sure that was very difficult for you.”
“Whatever. My mother knows better than to have a celebration on my birthday. She remarried two years ago. Wayne,” she said derisively, “is twenty years older than my mother.”
There are multiple reasons Valerie is floundering, Aline thought. She misses her Chicago friends. She lost Kerry, her only friend here. She’s still grieving for her natural father, and she resents her stepfather.
Aline decided that the next thing to do was to arrange a meeting with both of Valerie’s parents and discuss with them Valerie’s obvious resentment about the move. And if that might be a factor in her lack of interest in her schoolwork.
“Valerie,” she said, “as you know, Kerry was my sister. I of all people can understand how sad you are to lose her. It’s hard to make friends in a new environment, especially when all the other students have known each other for a long time. I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to lose your best friend.”
“You have no idea how difficult it was,” Valerie said.
“Valerie, I know that Kerry would want you to make new friends and keep up with your schoolwork.”
“I’ll try,” Valerie said indifferently.
Then as she looked into Aline’s face and saw the sadness in her eyes, she wondered if someday she could tell Aline what was really going on.