That’ll teach her to call me ridiculous

Sassy had a dentist appointment today. There was a cavity in a baby tooth. I was all for leaving it, but the dentist pointed out that her permanent tooth was nowhere to be found yet, so she recommended filling it. No one but me thought pulling the baby tooth out was the right choice. So I made her an appointment for a filling.

This morning I wrote her a note to give her teacher to explain why I was taking her out early from class.

Dear Teacher,

Sassy has a dentist appointment today. I will pick her up at 10:30. Thank you.

Sassy had what could best be described as a minor apoplectic fit.

“You can’t say I have a dentist appointment. Mr. H will announce it to the class and then EVERYONE will know,” she said.

“Who cares?” I asked.

She shook her head definitively. “I’m not taking that note.”

Fine. I wrote a second note.

Dear Teacher,

Sassy has a doctor’s appointment today. I will pick her up at 10:30. Don’t tell anyone. Thank you.

Sassy gave me THAT LOOK. “I’m not taking that note either. That’s ridiculous. Why can’t you be normal?”

Do you remember that look the Grinch gets as he realizes just exactly how awful his plan is? It’s pure evil.

Draft number 3.

Dear Teacher,

Sassy has an appointment today with her parole officer. I will pick her up at 10:30. Thank you.

“That looks better,” she said. “Who’s a parole officer?”

“You can Google it at school later.”