The New "Normal"

Chapter 1

Emma couldn't believe it as she walked down the school hall with the behaviorist at her school. She really did it this time.

"Emma, what did we talk about last week?" Mr. Jordan, the behaviorist, asked the seven year old girl as they walked down the hall hand in hand.

"To listen to the teacher and follow directions." Emma whispered barely audible. Mr. Jordan was giving her his very serious, stern face and it made her extremely nervous.

"Then why am I being called down to your classroom if you already know this?" Mr. Jordan asked her sternly and disappointedly.

"I don't know." Emma answered shyly.

"Emma we can't keep doing this. You have to learn to listen and not argue with your teacher or get in fights with the other children or you will end up here with me again and again. You obviously have not learned from last week since we are here again." Mr. Jordan told her frustratedly as they reached his office. "Sit down, Emma" he instructed as he eyed the principal as she walked out of her office at the same time.

"Is there a problem Mr. Jordan?" Mrs. Etnyier asked while giving Emma a concerned, serious look.

"I'm afraid so." Mr. Jordan answered eyeing Emma, "We are having a little trouble listening and starting fights in her classroom." He told the principal as he sat down at his desk.

"Not making good decisions today are we Ms. Nolan?" Mrs. Etnyier asked Emma concerned. Emma liked Mrs. Etnyeir and Mr. Jordan which made this even more harder because she did want to do her best because them being disappointed in her was like her parents being disappointed. Not good.

"No ma'am." Emma whispered and looked down. Being in the room with both the principal and the behaviorist made her feel very nervous. She didn't know why she did what she did, she just snapped. "Her temper got a way from her" as her father would say. Emma thought to herself nervously.

"Well I will leave you with Mr. Jordan to deal with this situation but Emma, I expect better from you young lady. You can do much better than what we have seen lately." Mrs. Etnyier told her sternly but kindly. She was a very nice principal and Emma really did like her, but she could be scary when Emma was in trouble.

Mrs. Etnyier walked out of the office and Emma looked around the room nervously. She hated to be in trouble in his office. It never ends up well.

"Emma I'm going to have to call your father and let him know what is going on. We can't have you misbehaving in class, starting fights, and talking back to Mrs. Robertson, do you understand?" He told her seriously as he began to dial her father's number.

"Yes sir." Emma answered close to tears. She knew her Dad would not be happy and she wasn't looking forward to this.

"Mr. Nolan?" Mr. Jordan asked over the phone.

"Yes, can I help you?" David asked curiously.

"Hi, this is Mr. Spencer from Emma's school." Mr. Jordan told him.

"Oh hello, is there a problem?" David asked concerned now that Emma's school was calling, this wasn't the first call he got from Emma's school lately.

"I'm afraid so. Emma has been pulled from her classroom again for arguing with the teacher and then getting in a fight with another student. I'm afraid being that this is not her first warning she will have to be sent home today." Mr. Jordan informed David while eyeing Emma with disappointment. He really liked Emma and hated to see her in so much trouble. He usually could get through to the troubled students in the school, but Emma was not opening up to him and it was frustrating.

"I am so sorry for my daughter's behavior. I will definitely be coming right now for her. Is the other child ok? Is there any injuries that we will need to pay for?" David asked concerned and frustrated with his daughter's behavior. He had hoped that after the last week he had gotten through to his daughter and hoped she would turn a new leaf, but apparently not.

"Fortunately, the other child is ok. They broke up the fight before any real damage was made thankfully." Mr. Jordan told him over the phone.

"Ok, good. Again, I am so sorry for Emma's behavior. You can be assured my wife and I will take care of this. I will be on my way now." David told him as he was getting his keys.

"Ok thank you. We will see you soon Mr. Nolan. Bye." Mr. Jordan told him and hung up the phone.

"He will be here soon. Now I need to go check on another student. So the ladies in the office will be watching you and I expect you to behave. They will give me a full report and if we need to we will have another talk when I get back if you do not behave. Got it?" Mr. Jordan warned her.

Unfortunately this sparked a temper in Emma.

Maybe Mr. Jordan did not care about her, but just about the other dumb kid.

'Ugh and now he tells me to behave otherwise we will have another talk?! Fine if he doesn't want to waste time on me then fine! He can just leave but he better not expect me to sit here and "behave" as he says because I WON'T!' Emma thought to herself angrily.

Mr. Jordan saw a little pout from Emma and feared this was not the end of Emma's temper tantrum today. "Are we understood, young lady?" Mr. Jordan asked again when Emma refused to look at him and sat crossing her arms in his office.

Emma rolled her eyes and answered angrily, "Fine!"

"Emma Nolan, you can cut it out with the attitude young lady you are already in deep enough. Now I will be right back and I expect you to heed my warning.' He told her sternly and led her to the desk in front of the two office ladies desks and right in the middle of the principal's and his office. " Ladies I will be right back, just checking on another student. Emma's father is on his way and I will have my walkie with me if you need me." Mr. Jordan informed the office ladies.

"Ok, I am sure Emma will do just fine." Mrs. Johnson said kindly. She was such a sweet office lady.

"Thank you. I will be back Emma. Listen to Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Hansen." Mr. Jordan told her and walked out of the office. Hoping that Emma would just listen for once.

Emma rolled her eyes as he walked away. She was most definitely not going to listen to anybody if it was up to her. And she would not be a sitting duck for when her father walked in…Nope she had a plan.