When the first bell rang, Birdie was the last one in.

She shuffled through the door, backpack sliding off one shoulder, eyes fixed on the floor.

She went straight to the back and stood beside her chair, not touching it.

I didn’t make a scene.

I walked back, quietly lifted the chair away from her desk, and set it against the wall.

“You can stand as long as you need to today, Birdie,” I said softly.