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[isstillincharge]

Christa sat behind her desk and stared at the file before her. It belonged to a first grader by the name of Joanna McCoy, who had shown great aptitude on several tests the school gave at the beginning of each school year. The little girl was smart but also seemed withdrawn at times, which was way her teacher had brought it to Christa's attention

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[hesdead_jim]

Leonard knew the divorce was having a lot of repercussions, not just with himself but with Joanna, and Jocelyn. Try as he might to make sure it didn't affect his daughter it was impossible. Her whole world had been flipped, just like his.

He'd moved away from the family home, a way away from it. Close enough to see Joanna on occasion, but far enough to not be around things that reminded him of Jocelyn. The home he had wasn't anything to brag about, considering how much he had lost in the divorce, but it had a spare room for the rare times Jocelyn let him have Joanna for the evening, so they could have real father/daughter time together.

He'd taken the afternoon from work to go to the meeting at the school. He'd heard Jocelyn wouldn't be there so had jumped at the chance to be there for his daughter, for whatever it was he was needed for. He waited outside the room until he was told to enter, hovering by the door for a brief moment before fully entering.

"You asked ta see me?"

[isstillincharge]

When Doctor McCoy walked in, Christa smiled at him and stood from her desk. "Thank you for coming, Doctor McCoy," she said as she held out her hand to him. "I'm Christa Pike and I called you in because I wanted to discuss some of Joanna's test scores and a few concerns her teacher and I have."

[hesdead_jim]

He took the offered hand to shake it, though his look was utterly perplexed as she spoke. "I know she has high results but she doesn't cheat or anythin', if that's what yer goin' to go at," he had to defend her, in preperation.

[isstillincharge]

"We know Joanna didn't chest," Christa said as she pulled her hand back and allowed it to fall to her side. She then motioned for him to sit before doing so herself. "There are times when Joanna seems withdrawn and doesn't want to participate in class. Besides your divorce from your wife, has anything happened with her?"

[hesdead_jim]

This was more a conversation he was comfortable with, when it came to Joanna. He knew his daughter was bright - hell, she was the brightest of them all, he had no doubt of that - and to know her abilities were going to be realized and encouraged was something that made his pride in her only swell further.

"I'm sure she'll love th' opportunity."

[isstillincharge]

"Good. I'll have her teacher send a packet to both you and your ex-wife. That way both of you will know what she's studying and can talk to and encourage her," Christa said with a smile. She glanced down at the file again to see if there was anything else that needed to be noted. "Do you have any questions or concerns about the school?"

[hesdead_jim]

"Thank you," he smiled a small smile then, the first genuine one in the entire conversation. He was worried about Joanna, but knowing her future was proving bright was something that made him happy.

He considered his question for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "But, well, actually yes. If she proves herself with this work, what's the likelihood of her movin' up?"

[isstillincharge]

When he asked his question, Christa nodded. "We might. It depends on if there's a spot for her or not. And sometimes it's better to leave them in their class for now and allow them to apply for early graduation once they get older," she explained to him.

[hesdead_jim]

"Mmmm, well, it's good ta know. She's a smart lil' thing. Always pushin' herself for more. I know it'll make her feel... well, grown up, ta know she's doin' work for older kids," and that was Joanna through and through. Smart and determined; she already had the drive of her mother and intelligence of both her parents.

[isstillincharge]

Christa nodded and smiled. "Another girl from Joanna's class is in the advanced program, too, so she won't be completely alone," she explained as she leaned back in her chair. "Now for the fun stuff - Joanna's class is looking for someone to help with their field trip to the zoo next week. Interested?"

[hesdead_jim]

"Good," he paused then though and his eyes went slightly wide as he listened to her. He liked children - loved them, actually, and being a father was something he loved with all his heart, but spending all day at a zoo with so many children was daunting.

"I... would hafta check my work schedule."

[isstillincharge]

Christa nodded and wrote down a note. "Well, I suppose I'll have to touch base with you after you've checked your schedule," she said with a smile.