Chapter 25 - The Middle School Tour
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Miles was eleven years old, navigating the awkward, terrifying transition between childhood and adolescence. It was time to start looking at middle schools.
Adrian and Claire spent weeks researching public and private options, prioritizing environments that fostered independence rather than rigid conformity.
Evelyn, predictably, had strong opinions on the matter.
She invited them to lunch at her newly renovated townhouse. The pass-through Claire had designed looked stunning, connecting the rooms beautifully without sacrificing the home's character.
Over salads, Evelyn handed Adrian a glossy brochure.
"St. Jude’s Preparatory Academy," Evelyn announced. "It is the finest institution in the state. The alumni network is unparalleled."
Adrian glanced at the brochure, recognizing the name. It was the same hyper-competitive, rigidly structured boarding school his mother had forced him to attend.
"He's not going to St. Jude’s, Mother," Adrian said, sliding the brochure back across the table.
Evelyn’s posture stiffened.
"It guarantees a path to the Ivy League, Adrian. You are limiting his potential by ignoring it."
"I am protecting his childhood," Adrian corrected firmly. "He likes art. He likes building things. St. Jude’s crushes creativity in favor of test scores. I lived it. I won't put him through it."
Evelyn looked at Claire, perhaps expecting her to be the voice of reason.
"We’re looking at the magnet school for the arts downtown," Claire said seamlessly, presenting a united front. "They have an incredible robotics program Miles is very excited about."
Evelyn looked between them, her lips pressing into a thin line. She picked up the glossy brochure and placed it back in her purse.
"I see," she said simply.
She didn't argue. She didn't threaten to withdraw financial support they no longer needed. She simply accepted the boundary.
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"The robotics program sounds... modern," Evelyn offered stiffly, picking up her fork.
It was a microscopic concession, but it spoke volumes about the massive shifts in their power dynamic.
