Chapter 2 - THE CORRECTION LOG
Claire took Emma home that night.
Margaret was told not to follow.
Daniel gave a statement to police about the party assault.
The baton was collected.
Emma’s injuries were examined.
The shoulder mark was minor.
The eye swelling was older.
The forehead cut was healing.
No serious injury.
That should have relieved Claire.
It did not.
She could not stop thinking about the notebook.
CORRECTION LOG.
Grace Bennett, Claire’s attorney, photographed every page before turning the original over through proper channels.
There were dates.
Times.
Behaviors.
Consequences.
EMMA INTERRUPTED ADULT CONVERSATION.
Correction:
quiet chair — 20 minutes.
EMMA REFUSED EYE CONTACT.
Correction:
repeat greeting exercise.
EMMA CRIED AFTER BEING TOLD NO.
Correction:
reset.
Claire stared at the word.
“Reset?”
Emma sat beside her.
Silent.
Claire asked carefully:
“What does reset mean?”
Emma rubbed her hands together.
“Grandma makes me start over.”
“Start what over?”
“Everything.”
If Emma entered a room without greeting properly, Margaret made her walk back out and reenter.
If Emma slouched, she had to sit again.
If she cried, Margaret said crying meant the lesson had not worked.
Then Claire reached a later page.
REFUSAL TO FOCUS.
Correction:
balance drill.
“What is balance drill?”
Emma’s eyes filled.
Claire stopped.
“You don’t have to answer now.”
Emma whispered anyway.
“She makes me stand on the little stool.”
“What stool?”
“The one by the kitchen.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does she touch you?”
Emma nodded.
“With what?”
“The stick.”
Claire felt sick.
The baton from the party was not decorative.
Margaret used it to tap:
shoulders,
knees,
back,
hands
whenever Emma moved out of the posture Margaret demanded.
Grace read the final page.
Yesterday:
EMMA BROKE FORM AGAIN.
Result:
fall.
No explanation.
Just one word.
Fall.
Then the pediatrician called.
Claire had requested Emma’s recent records.
The clinic had six separate injury notes from the past eight months.
May you like
Every one listed:
ACCIDENTAL FALL.
