Chapter 2 - THE FIRST REPORT
Three weeks earlier, Rosalie came home missing six dollars.
Not a crisis.
Seven-year-olds lose money.
The six dollars had been in a small envelope for the school book fair.
I asked:
“What happened?”
She said:
“I gave it.”
“To who?”
“Brady.”
“Why?”
“He said bus-stop tax.”
I almost laughed.
Not because taking money was funny.
Because the phrase sounded like something children invented after hearing adults complain about toll roads.
“What does bus-stop tax mean?”
Rosalie shrugged.
“He says big kids get snacks.”
“Did you want to give him the money?”
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“He said if I don’t, I stand in mud.”
I called the school.
Assistant Principal Ellis sounded concerned.
“We’ll speak with the students.”
The next afternoon she called again.
Brady denied taking money.
Jasper denied seeing it.
Two older students said Rosalie sometimes gave Brady snacks voluntarily.
One said children traded things at the stop.
No camera covered the period before the bus arrived because the municipal pole camera nearby faced the intersection, not the sidewalk.
The bus camera showed only loading once the bus arrived.
“Does Rosalie have any proof?”
I disliked the question.
“She’s seven.”
“I understand.”
“She reported six dollars missing.”
“And we’re taking that seriously.”
Then:
“We also have to be careful before accusing another student of theft.”
Correct.
I knew that.
Still hated it.
Rosalie got the six dollars replaced.
By me.
That may have been the first mistake.
Not because I should have denied her the book fair.
Because replacing the money made the incident disappear functionally.
Nobody had to resolve what happened.
She bought a book about sharks.
Brady stayed at the bus stop.
May you like
Life continued.
Until another child lost something.
