The principal paused briefly, as if giving the class time to process what had happened, and said:
— The thing is, her mother… has already arrived.

The students exchanged confused, nervous glances, as if trying to spot someone hiding between the desks. The teacher froze with a strained smile, expecting anyone to walk in… except the person standing right before her.

— The parent is already here, — the principal repeated. — Because it’s me.

A dead silence fell over the room. Someone gasped, someone just stood there, stunned. The teacher seemed to deflate as if the air had left her body.

— I deliberately kept our relationship secret, — the principal said. — So no one would think she receives special treatment. My daughter uses a different last name.

She walked up to the desk:
— Since the question of honesty has been raised so sharply, we’ll check the test immediately.

A few minutes later, the result was obvious: flawless. Again.

The principal turned to the teacher, her voice steel-cold:

— Now tell me. What disciplinary action do you think would be fair… for the school and for yourself?