Not My Daughter

together, telling themselves that this was their thing, they were able to override what they'd been taught. That's what pact behavior is about.'

'But why these girls?' Carl went on. 'They're achievers.'

'Maybe that's why,' Susan reasoned. 'Being achievers gave them the confidence to think they could pull this off.'

Duncan sat forward. 'So you'll confront this issue openly at school, and you'll keep your fingers crossed that your students listen, but what about these girls?'

'Oh, they'll be there.'

'No.' He laced his fingers. 'I'm talking about punishment. Since you've gone public with this, don't we need a public response? They shouldn't get off scot-free.'

Susan was startled. 'They'll be living with the consequences of their behavior for the rest of their lives. But punishment? You mean, like detention? Community service?'

'I was thinking expulsion, or at the very least suspension.'

'Expulsion would be illegal. And suspension? For getting pregnant?'

'Why not? My reading of the handbook says that the principal has the discretion to impose suspension. Or can't you do that he-ya because of your own involvement?'

Susan fought a rising anger. 'Oh, I can do it, and I would, if it made sense. I've suspended students for bullying, for writing on the bathroom walls, for any number of infractions that involve harming someone or something, but there's nothing in the handbook that outlaws pregnancy. And who is the victim here? Their unborn babies? If that's the case, suspension is counterproductive. The idea is to let these girls finish their education so that they can make something of their lives. Wouldn't that be best for the babies?'

'But what's best for the rest of us?' Duncan asked, bushy brows raised. 'We don't condone this kind of thing. Nathaniel Hawthorne had it right. They should wear a scarlet letter.'

The remark was over the top. Susan couldn't let it go unanswered. 'Nathaniel Hawthorne also came from Salem, which bowed to crowd hysteria and hanged innocent women.' She tried to stay cool. 'Singling girls out doesn't solve the problem. Communication does. That's why we're discussing this openly. We're putting the downside of teenage pregnancy front and center. We're giving parents reasons to carry on a dialogue with their kids.'

'Like you did not?'

Susan took a tempering breath. 'Oh, I did.'

'Before or after your daughter became pregnant?'

'Mr. Haith,' Hillary Dunn scolded softly, 'you're being harsh.'

He looked around innocently. 'Are none of you as upset as me? Cripes, what was the point of her school clinic if not to prevent this?'

Susan glanced at Phil. Legs sprawled, arms crossed, he didn't meet her gaze.

Fine. She faced Duncan. 'The goal of the clinic is to give students an alternative when they can't get help at home-and yes, it's for education. Unfortunately, what happened with my daughter wasn't for lack of education. All these girls knew what they were doing.'

'So who is to blame?'

Susan couldn't answer.

'Isn't it a mother's job to know when her daughter's headed for trouble?' he asked.

Of course, it was a personal attack. But if Phil's forwarded e-mails were any indication, she'd have to get used to that.

Refusing to blink, she said, 'My daughter and I talk all the time. But when a seventeen-year-old wants to hide something, she can be pretty good at it.'

'So we just'-he tossed a hand-'chalk off parental responsibility because that parent may not see something? What about drug use?'

'With drugs, there are physical signs a parent can look for,' Susan said, 'but intent to become pregnant? If I'd seen anything-guessed anything-I'd have done my best to stop it. Believe me, Mr. Haith, I know what these girls are in for, and, yes, that's on a personal level. I also know how bad this looks for the town.'

The door opened and Pam slipped into the room. On her way to a seat, she touched the shoulders of several fellow board members. Barely looking at Susan, she shrugged out of her coat and sat.

Susan imagined she didn't want to be part of the discussion. But Hillary Dunn promptly turned to her. 'What is your husband's take on this?'

Seeming surprised to be called on so soon, Pam took a minute to organize her thoughts. When she spoke, she was poised. 'He's upset. The company stands for responsibility. He feels these girls were irresponsible.'

'Do you agree?'

'Totally.'

Susan agreed, too. No damage there.

But Hillary didn't let Pam off the hook. 'You're the only one of us who has a daughter the same age as these girls. Are you comfortable with what Ms. Tate is doing to keep their behavior from spreading?'

'For now? Yes.'

'How does your daughter feel about what these girls did?'

Pam remained composed. 'She's as shocked as we are.'

'Have you heard from other parents?'

'Some. They're worried. But they appreciated Susan's e-mail.'

A new voice came then. Neal Lombard headed the Chamber of Commerce. A pleasant-looking man with a benign moon face, he had four children. All were in their twenties, which meant that Susan hadn't taught any of them. Mention drugs, though, and teachers talked. More than one of the Lombard sons were known users. Had that made Neal more compassionate? Apparently not.

'What Mr. Haith is saying,' he offered quietly, 'is that an e-mail may not be enough. We ought to consider stronger steps to let people know we don't condone this behavior. I may be speaking out of turn here, because I wasn't a member of the board that voted on your appointment, Ms. Tate, but there's an argument to be made that you ought to take a leave of absence until this all quiets down.'

Susan hadn't expected that. It took her breath away-but only for a second. 'With due respect, that would be my last option.'

'I was just thinking of what happened in Gloucester,' the man said.

'So am I,' Susan assured him, 'but Gloucester was different. There was a spike in teen pregnancy and the principal called it a pact when there was none. He resigned under pressure for jumping to conclusions and creating hysteria. I'm not doing that. These girls did form a pact. We have to address it. Parents trust that I'll give them straight talk.'

'Can you do that, with your daughter involved?'

'Absolutely.'

'Look,' Duncan chided, 'it's a matter of credibility. I was here when your appointment was first raised, Ms. Tate, so I know your history. Back then, it was a selling point: unmarried mother defeats the odds. Now it's a drawback. Mr. Lombard may have a point.'

'Is it a drawback?' she asked quietly. 'I can be honest. I can tell students firsthand the downside of being a teenage mother.'

'You're missing the point, Ms. Tate. What kind of role model are you? Your daughter is following in your footsteps. Is that what we want the rest of our students to do? Unless you think what you did was okay?'

Susan was offended. 'You wouldn't ask that if you'd heard some of the discussions I've had with my daughter this week, or last year, or the year before that. I don't approve of teenage pregnancies. That's one of the reasons I pushed for a school clinic-and, in fairness, we don't know the number of pregnancies the clinic has prevented.'

'It didn't prevent three,' said Neal Lombard, 'one being your daughter's.'

'Which puts me in a position of greater credibility with our kids. I can speak to them as one who's been there. I'd like to be given that chance.'