Chapter 4 - THE FILE
Child protective services requested records.
Linda produced them immediately.
Too immediately.
A binder.
Blue tabs.
Dates.
Incident descriptions.
Title:
EMMA BENNETT — BEHAVIOR AND ROUTINE CONCERNS.
Rachel stared.
“What is this?”
Michael answered:
“Documentation.”
“For what?”
“Because every time we bring up Emma’s behavior, you defend her.”
The binder contained:
morning delays,
tantrums,
refusal to eat,
bedtime resistance,
hair-brushing arguments,
school reluctance,
crying when separated from Rachel.
Some entries were real.
Some were exaggerated.
One read:
EMMA REFUSED BASIC HYGIENE FOR 23 MINUTES, CAUSING FAMILY SCHEDULE DISRUPTION.
That was the morning Linda cut her hair.
Another:
EMMA DEMONSTRATES MANIPULATIVE ATTACHMENT TO MOTHER.
Rachel looked up.
“Who wrote this?”
Linda.
Then another section.
Recommendations.
STRUCTURED BEHAVIORAL PLACEMENT.
Rachel’s stomach dropped.
“What placement?”
Michael looked away.
Linda answered:
“Green Valley Academy.”
Rachel had heard of it.
A private residential behavior program three hours away.
May you like
For children.
Emma was six.
