“Well I think I have found the root of the behavior problems. It seems that the incident today was a misunderstanding but I brought to my attention that Jessica gets bored very easily and then causes problems in class.” Ms. Brown said with a half smile. Jess perks up when she hears that she isn’t in as much trouble as she thought. “I don’t understand I thought she was in trouble?” Bette gives Jess a curious look. “I think that Jess is not challenged enough in her class. When we run into this we usually move the child into a special program where they do academics for half of the day and then focus on extra curricular activities for the rest of the day so that they on the same level as the rest of the children her age.”

“Wait I don’t understand. Do you mean that you want to put Jess in a special class?” asks Bette.

“Yes, I think that she will like it much better. It is geared so that the students go at their own pace. It requires a bit more work that has to be done at home but we have found that the students who are in this program make better grades and are generally better behaved” she shot a glance at Jess “because they are always busy participating in activities that they find interesting. If it is alright with you we would to start her in the program after she returns from her fathers.” Ms. Brown smiles at Jess and then at Bette. Jess knows about the program because a lot of the kids in the art class are in the self-paced program. Bette sits back in her chair and soaks it all up. Jess looks at Bette.

“Please Mom can I do it. I promise I be good and try not to get into any trouble. Please. Please.” Jess begs. She puts her hands together and places them under her chin.

The Bette Porter Gallery

Jess runs in past Bette into the small room next to Bette’s office. Bette walks up to James’ desk. “James are there any messages?”

“Yeah, Catherine Opie called oh and Alice called twice no three times.” James smiled.

“Thanks.” Bette smiled. She walked into the small room that was full of Legos (Jess’s favorite toy) and the walls covered with Jess’s art work. Crayons, markers, and paper spread all over the floor. Bette banned paint when Jess ran out of paper and decided to redecorate the gallery. Jess was sitting at the small rainbow table continuing to build her Lego Castle that was left from the day before. Bette smiled as she watched play. Knowing that she still going to be just as mischievous as before.