“You’re so talented and have so much potential. I used to tell your parents that daily,” Tracey said. She typed softly on her keyboard. But it soon became faster and more aggressive. “How would I tell them that their daughter had skipped two days of practice and failed her Junior Agent exam?”
Jioni stayed silent. She knew better than to respond to that. She readjusted herself in the seat ever so carefully. And her fake smile had shifted into serious concern. She braced herself and waited for Tracey to bring up her damaged arm and face. She waited as each silent second felt like a minute long.
“That’s why you avoid me,” Tracey rambled. “Because you know that I’d give you the talk. But just know that this comes from a place of love.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok,” Tracey softened her face again and continued to type on her laptop. “If you want life easy, you’ll attend those community lessons. And you’ll pass that exam, understood?”
“yes.”
“Good,” Tracey said. Then there was a beat. “Is there something going on, Jioni? It’s really late.”