Page 12 - My FlipBook

was because of that document that she got to keep her bookbag
and use the elevator.
“I think my 504 is fine.” Mari's brows drew closer together
as she looked at Mrs. Moore, who was in charge of her 504.
Mrs. Moore looked down at her shoes. “I haven’t had any
issues.”
“The administration thinks that it would be best for every-
one, to make school as successful as possible for you, that you
either use a wheelchair during school hours or pursue using a
prosthetic limb.” Mrs. Fulston spoke with an eerie calmness,
the same as you might do with a wild animal.
Mari had heard the words, but that couldn’t possibly be
what this woman had said.
“Mom.” Mari turned to her mother. “Is she serious?”
Karen took her hand. It was shaking the tiniest bit, telling
Mari that a rage was building.
“You realize you are asking our family to spend money on
very expensive medical equipment?” her dad said, an edge to
his deep baritone—the same tone Mari heard before one of
her brothers got grounded for life.
“And it is not like we can snap our fingers and Mari will
have a new prosthesis. They typically take months to fabricate
correctly.” Her mom spoke in clipped tones.
“It’s about the safety of Mari and the entire student body,”
Mrs. Fulston said. “We ask that you make a decision, or we will
have to consider moving Mari to a self-contained classroom.”
“This morning wasn’t even my fault.” Mari’s voice was
rising.
“But you did fall in the cafeteria as well.” Mrs. Fulston’s

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