Chapter 618: Assigning Seats
Miranda hadn't expected to be overshadowed by Cecilia, even in her own home. To change the subject, she initiated a discussion about the kindergarten's planned reforms. The other mothers eagerly engaged Miranda, leaving Cecilia momentarily sidelined.
The conversation highlighted the intense competition among children, even at the preschool level. Jonathan's international kindergarten already incorporated bilingual instruction, math, and various enrichment activities from the start. Many mothers, hoping to secure the best education for their children, actively sought Miranda's favor.
To Cecilia's surprise, Miranda began assigning classroom seating arrangements. The small class of twenty students saw Miranda strategically allotting the best seats—front and center—to the mothers who most flattered her.
Miranda then turned to Cecilia: "Ms. Cecilia, Jonathan has excellent grades. He probably doesn't need a front-row seat like the other children, does he?"
While Jonathan's seating preference was immaterial, Cecilia refused to let her son be disadvantaged. She decided to fight for what she believed was right.
"And what about Felix? Is he also sitting in the back? He should have good grades, shouldn't he?" Cecilia inquired with a subtle smile. Her question implied that if Felix wasn't in the back, his grades must be poor.
Understanding the implication, Miranda quickly responded, "Oh, well, Felix has poor eyesight."
Cecilia immediately countered this by pointing out Helen Simmons, a less favored mother whose son, Terry Rogers, wore glasses. "Then shouldn't Terry be in the front row? How could you place him in the corner?"
Miranda froze, unprepared for Cecilia's tactic of involving other parents. She had secretly planned to have Helen's son expelled due to her husband's near bankruptcy.
With many witnesses present, Miranda had no choice but to assign Terry a front-row seat. Helen offered Cecilia a grateful glance. Priscilla Carey, Dorothy's mother, then stepped forward: "Ms. Miranda, my daughter's eyesight isn't good either. Could you move her closer to the front, preferably with the other girls?"
Other mothers followed suit, each voicing their concerns. One cited her son's distraction near the window; another requested a seat near the entrance due to her son's frequent restroom trips.
Cecilia quietly observed Miranda's struggle. After all, as president of the parents' association, Miranda had responsibilities to fulfill.
The seating arrangement process proved lengthy and arduous for Miranda. By the end, she realized Cecilia was a far more formidable opponent than she'd anticipated.
She abruptly ended the meeting, distributing parking permits. Cecilia noticed the permits were categorized into A, B, and C zones, similar to her son's preschool. Zone A offered the best parking, closest to the classrooms; Zone C was the furthest, with Zone D—unpermitted parking outside the school grounds—where Cecilia and others usually parked. The walk from Zone D to the classrooms took ten to twenty minutes.
By the time it was Priscilla's, Helen's, and Cecilia's turn, all permits were allocated. Miranda apologized, explaining the limited number of permits assigned to their class. The three mothers would be relegated to Zone D for six months.
Priscilla pleaded for an exception, citing the difficulties of carrying her infant daughter while escorting her son to school.