Meeting Guppy

[piwakawaka]

Today Tiwa is looking grown up today and feeling it, she's wearing a long sleeved blouse to cover her tattoo and a swirly flower skirt.

She had to go in front of a class and all her professors have been stressing, you have to look like the adult. Its not that much fun, but the lesson went well and the teachers there seemed to like it.

Now she's stretched out on a couch with her shoes off and a mystery.

Comments

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well he was being hassled by some of the kids that were just starting with Coral; hopefully the school will take a firm hand with them once they're fully initiated." Guppy says.

"If all else fails, I'll get him to wait nearby."

[piwakawaka]

"I hope so. Have you heard good things about that school?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"To be honest? I've heard variable reports." Guppy says.

"Coral took five lots of entrance exams, and got just one waiting list place, poor kid. There's a bit of a rumour that Holby High ends up with the girls who didn't pass the exams for the other four. Not good for the self-esteem of the kids, really.

But it looked like it's still a very decent school when we went on the open day, and it seems to do reasonably well in the league tables. If she's not happy there, she can always take the exams for the others again next year."

[piwakawaka]

"That's hard, exams mean well but I don't like them."

[guppy_sandhu]

"It's part of the deal, unfortunately." Guppy says.

"Plus the fact that she really wanted to go to Jackson Street with Fry."

[piwakawaka]

"Yeah, I know. I keep learning about them."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I understand what she means - she hangs out with Fry's friends a lot. But Jackson Street only takes kids with a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum, and then prioritises by need. She might have a couple of traits she shares with Alex, but it's nowhere near enough to warrent taking her out of mainstream school."

Guppy shakes his head. "What she actually needs is to spend more time hanging around with neurotypical kids, not less."

[piwakawaka]

"I think she'll make friends from what she said. Then she'll have some friends of her own along with ones she shares with Fry. She's really adaptable."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Coral's a positive and determined girl when it comes to making friends. She tends to just keep being nice to people until they give in, and doesn't take offence easily. Probably a side effect of growing up with Fry."

[piwakawaka]

"We're kind of alike that way."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I can tell." Guppy says.

"Maybe you can give her tips on how not to get taken advantage of in the process."

[piwakawaka]

"I will, its not too hard."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Am I right in thinking you're a teacher?" Guppy passes the tea up. "Or a trainee teacher?"

[piwakawaka]

"Just training for now. I have to show that I can be responsible."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I'm sure you'll be all right with that." Guppy says, amused.

"If my kids ever give you trouble, you can always leave me a note at the bar."

[piwakawaka]

"I'll remember that but I'm sure they won't."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Okay, well just if you want to communicate with me." Guppy says.

[piwakawaka]

"Thanks."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Was there anything you wanted to ask?"

[piwakawaka]

"I don't think so. What about you?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Not that I can think of. I try and keep close tabs on my kids as best I can. Especially with Fry, I try and keep tabs on who he's hanging around with. Make friends with the familis if possible. Without being too overprotective."

[piwakawaka]

"That makes sense."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I'm not going to be able to keep him out of trouble all the time." Guppy says. "So I just try to advise, so that he can learn to make his own decisions."

[piwakawaka]

"He's pretty good at that when he understands how things work."

[guppy_sandhu]

"He is." Guppy says. "But any twelve year old needs guidance."