296 Jake’s Old School 1 (2/2)
They arrived at USC, where Mary was able to meet the head coach and the host player taking Zeke in. They made plans to meet up tomorrow for the school meetings once again.
Mary then set off, back to Jake's old neighborhood.By the time she reached the elementary school, it was noon, so she decided to give Doug a call.
”Yes?” He answered mindlessly like he didn't even check to see who was calling. Talking could be heard in the background making it feel like he was in a crowd.
”Hi Doug, it's Mary.” She told him why she was calling. ”I'm at Jake's old elementary school, about to go in. They aren't going to give me a hard time for poking around, will they?”
”I've called early this morning.” Doug replied. ”I even spoke with the principal personally. She's got all the information on all his old teachers and what he was like in school. If you do come across any problems, just call me. I'll have my phone on me all afternoon, but if I don't pick up right away, just call again until I do.”
”Thank you so much Doug, I appreciate all that you do.” Before hanging up she thought about Sunday's trip to his house. ”Did you guys know that Jake and his mom didn't live in that house all his life? I spoke with a neighbor man, who told me that he remembered them moving in when Jake was a toddler.”
Doug sighed. ”No, we don't really look into places of residence too deeply. Especially when they lived there for ten years. I can have someone look into their old residence but it'll take some time.”
”The neighbor told me he would ask around too.”
”Great. Hopefully something will come up for either of us.” He rushed to say his goodbyes and quickly hung up.
Mary shook her head, dismayed with Doug's sudden hang up. It sounded like he was extremely busy all week. Maybe he was getting a new case like Jake's? Her heart sunk at the thought of there being another kid having to fend for himself against his own parents.
She tried to clear her head and dispel the thoughts. Her focus was Jake for right now.
She had parked in the school's small parking lot, and got out to take a better look. The school seemed to have the same rundown look as the houses that surrounded it. It looked bleak. She could never imagine sending her kids to such a depressing looking school. A learning environment should be clean and bright, not surrounded by trash and dead trees.
She gathered her nerve and walked up the pathway to the front office. She was greeted with a single receptionist, who was texting away on her phone. ”Excuse me?” The receptionist looked up. ”Hi. I'm here to meet with Principal Lambert?”
”Yea, just go on back. Her office is the only door open. Can't miss it.” The receptionist pointed down a hall that could certainly use a new paint job.
Mary frowned at her attitude, but did her best to not get upset. She moved down the hall and found that the receptionist was accurate to say she couldn't miss it. The principals office door was the only one wide open, while all the other offices were dark and closed off.