What I Did

Everybody, thank you so much for your comments!!! I was awake this morning after letting the dogs out at the ass-crack of dawn, trying desperately to go back to sleep already, thinking about all of this.

Sarah mentioned that reading groups of words at a time is called intuitive reading; I haven't looked that up yet, but that's *exactly* what I've always done, and I'm sure that's what Josie's doing as well. I didn't know there was a word for it! I'll bet that's what those 'read faster' companies teach, come to think of it. Anyway, cool that there's a term for it!

I read all your responses, and decided to ask Josie if it would be OK if I mentioned what was going on to Girl's mother, and she actually said yes, which I wasn't expecting. To be honest, I thought she'd say no, my entire dilemma would be a moot point, and I could move on, because she's not usually one to get riled up enough to want my help with anything. Generally, when people say things, she doesn't care, and brushes them off. That tells me that she's really, truly upset, which in turn made ME more upset about it.... so, you guessed it, I emailed Girl's mother.

I was very careful, and asked if she could do me a favor and talk to Girl about some things she'd been saying to Josie, and explained everything that had happened. I emphasized that we really like Girl, and that I know that this isn't her usual behavior, but that whatever is going on really needs to stop because Josie is either going to start yelling or crying pretty soon, and I didn't think that would be good for their friendship. I explained how hard Josie has worked, and that she's already really disapponted about the team having to be let go this year, and that I hadn't said anything before because I figured when meetings started that things would work themselves out, but since there aren't going to be meetings, and it's still happening, I decided to talk to her, and I hoped that that was OK.

I haven't heard back, and I'm trying not to be concerned about it. For all I know, she hadn't checked her email yet, which would be a little weird, but could happen, since they were having internet trouble earlier in the week. Josie said that Girl didn't bring it up at lunch today, which could either mean that Girl got tired of it, or her mother, who works there, caught her in the hallway and told her to cut it out. Whatever. It's funny what kind of monster rises up inside you when you think there's something going on with your kid, isn't it? I really don't care if Girl doesn't like me anymore, or if her mother is upset with me, or any of that, as long as my baby isn't getting picked at anymore. Well, maybe I care a little, but it's OK. My only concern is that Girl will be mad at Josie for telling me, and my getting her into trouble, if that's what happens, but I don't think that will happen. She's generally a nice girl, and I think she will be genuinely sorry once she realizes that this has been a Problem. I hope.