“We wrapped up the district review this morning, Rachel,” Principal Davis said, setting the envelope on the corner of my teacher’s desk.

I got up off the floor, smoothing the front of my blue summer skirt with both hands.

“What did the school board decide?” I asked, keeping my voice calm and even.

“The ethics complaint your mother filed has been formally dismissed,” he said, adjusting his glasses.

“The board issued a full exoneration.”

He took a folded document out of the envelope and laid it on the desk in front of me.

“Your summer contract is fully reinstated, and your full-time teaching job for the fall is confirmed,” Principal Davis added.