‘No.’
‘The song, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ ” is from Oklahoma! It is a beautiful morning, isn’t it?’ Maggie smiled, trying to be cheery. In fact, it was cool and sunny, and this morning when she’d checked the garden, she’d spotted buds on her peonies, balled like tiny fists.
Anna started texting, and Maggie looked over, wondering.
‘Anna, if you don’t mind my asking, who are you texting?’
‘I’m not, I’m using my app. It’s called Calm. Ellen turned me on to it.’
‘How does it work?’
‘You choose what you’re interested in, like calming your thoughts, reducing anxiety, helping you sleep, or building self-esteem.’
‘So what did you choose?’
‘All of the above.’ Anna smiled.
‘I had no idea they had apps like that.’
‘I have a ton.’ Anna started scrolling through her phone. ‘Pacifica, Chill, Relaxed State, Nervana. Jamie really loved Nervana. She was into the breathing and meditation apps like Headspace. Her parents worried she’d commit suicide, but she never would. They had her on the suicide-prevention apps like Crisis Care and some others.’
‘There are apps for suicide prevention?’ Maggie felt a pang for teenagers in so much pain. From her postpartum days, she knew how it felt to have anguish you couldn’t wish away.
‘They used an app that searches your social media for the words “kill myself” or “kill yourself.” It even searched her texts and emails, like, if she said KMS in a text it meant, kill myself. KYS is kill yourself.’ Anna frowned. ‘I don’t think they had the right to do that. They invaded her privacy.’
‘I guess sometimes you have to protect your child from herself.’
‘But maybe if they hadn’t pushed her, she wouldn’t have left school.’ Anna looked at the high school as they rounded the curve. ‘Do you think I’m too dressed up?’
‘No, you look great.’ Maggie glanced over, and Anna had on one of her new boho dresses, a flowy affair in dark blues. Her brownish hair swung shiny to her shoulders, complementing her lovely blue eyes.
‘It was dumb to dress up. I look like a tryhard.’
‘What does that mean?’ Maggie smiled. ‘I try hard.’
‘It means you’re thirsty.’
‘I’m thirsty, too!’ Maggie said, and they both laughed. She turned into the entrance, steered toward the parking lot, pulled in, and they walked to the school, which was modern and newly renovated, with tan stone and four large panels of glass above an overhang for the main entrance.
Anna looked this way and that. ‘That must be the student lot. I can’t wait to go car shopping.’
‘We will, in time.’ Maggie had forgotten to talk to Anna about the new car. They entered the school’s bright entrance room, with its large black rug that read LM in maroon letters, then went to the main office, another large, bright room with a long counter of light wood. The school staff worked on sleek desks behind the counter, and a waiting room held maroon-padded chairs organized in a square.
They went to the counter, and a blond staff member approached them with a smile. ‘May I help you?’
‘Yes, I’m Maggie Ippoliti, and I have an appointment to register my daughter, Anna Desroches.’
‘Great, Maggie.’ The staffer turned to Anna. ‘Anna, I’m Judy, and welcome to Lower Merion. Did you bring your papers?’
‘I did, right here.’ Maggie dug in her purse and extracted a thick folder of documents that James had emailed them. ‘Here’s her immunization records, transcript, Social Security card and birth certificate, and bills showing proof of residence. I also filled out the Parental Registration Statement.’
‘Thank you so much. I’ll get these photocopied.’ Judy took the folder and turned to Anna. ‘We’ll get you into classes tomorrow. I’m going to introduce you to your guidance counselor, and she’ll go over your schedule with you, then give you a quick tour.’
‘That sounds great.’
‘Thank you,’ Maggie said, then they were taken down a hallway blanketed with colorful college pennants to the Guidance Center to meet Brittany Holt, a young brunette in a Lilly Pulitzer dress. Brittany’s office was covered with inspirational posters and a metal rack of pamphlets: Straight Talk for Teens About Alcohol, 37 Scary But True Facts About Drugs, and When Is It Rape? Maggie eyed the titles, realizing that she had a whole new list of things to worry about, while Brittany and Anna talked about her course schedule.
When they were finished, Brittany stood up. ‘If you have time, I’d like to show you around.’
‘Sure, thank you,’ Anna answered, and Maggie followed them out of the office and into the large hallway area packed with students plugged into iPhones and carrying backpacks, purses, and gear bags.
Brittany nodded. ‘This is a really busy time, changing from A lunch to B lunch. The bus schedule determines our hours, and the high school gets the earliest pick-up.’
‘My old school was much smaller.’ Anna scanned the scene, nervously.
‘Are you planning on taking the bus or driving, Anna?’
‘Driving.’
‘Then you’ll need a parking permit. You can apply for one in the office.’ Brittany turned to Maggie. ‘Don’t let our size worry you, as a parent. Even though we have a lot of students, we have an excellent student–teacher ratio.’
‘That’s great.’ Maggie smiled, and Brittany led the way past a collage with scenes of the school, which read Enter To Learn, Go Forth To Serve next to a placard of a bulldog, the school mascot. Students checked Anna out, but she looked down. Brittany pointed out the gorgeous Bryant Gymnasium donated by the basketball-playing alum Kobe Bryant, then the well-appointed library, display cases of trophies, and a banner that read Governor’s Award for Excellence in Academics. The tour ended at the cafeteria, which was massive, with students laughing, talking, and eating at long gray tables, between two all-glass walls.
‘Oh, there’s those girls from Phrases.’ Anna pointed at one of the tables, and Maggie saw a table of three girls, all wearing funky clothes like the ones at Circa. She recognized the girl in the middle from the Facebook picture.
Brittany glanced at her phone. ‘There’s still ten minutes. Let’s take a peek inside, shall we?’
Maggie nodded. ‘Great idea. Anna, you can say hi to those girls, introduce yourself.’
‘No, thanks,’ Anna answered quickly. ‘I don’t want to go in.’
Maggie looked over. ‘You sure, honey? I’d like to.’
‘I don’t need to.’ Anna met her eye meaningfully, then turned to Brittany. ‘Can I use the bathroom?’
‘Of course.’ Brittany pointed. ‘The ladies’ room is on the left.’
‘Be right back.’ Anna edged backwards, and Maggie watched her go, guessing that Anna didn’t want to be introduced with her mother.
Brittany leaned over. ‘She’s a very smart, sweet girl, but she seems quiet.’
‘I know.’ Maggie felt defensive on Anna’s behalf. ‘I think she’s overwhelmed. The school she came from was more sheltered. She’ll get used to it in time.’
‘Right, I saw Congreve online. It’s much smaller. But don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her.’
‘Thanks. She’s worried about making friends.’
‘She needs to join something. That’s the best way.’
‘We talked about that. She likes poetry.’ Maggie pointed to the Phrases table. ‘They’re the Poetry Club, right?’
‘That’s one name for them.’ Brittany sniffed.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Strictly between us?’ Brittany leaned closer. ‘And this is just my opinion, okay? That table is the Island of Misfit Toys.’
‘Really?’ Maggie thought back to the pamphlets in the guidance office. Drugs. Alcohol. Suicide. She fell into a troubled silence as Anna returned with a smile.
Brittany turned to her. ‘Anna, it was wonderful meeting you.’
‘You too, thanks so much.’ Anna shook her hand. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Maggie extended a hand to Brittany. ‘Thank you so much. We really appreciate your time.’
‘You ladies are welcome to stay for lunch. It’s Pizza Day.’