“Ah, you’re here! I was just about to find you,” Susan replied, her voice overly cheery. But her eyes betrayed a flicker of something else—perhaps guilt or defensiveness.
“Why can’t Lily swim, Susan? She’s been looking forward to this all week,” I pressed, my voice steady but firm.
Susan hesitated, glancing around at the other parents who were now subtly tuning into our conversation. “Oh, it’s nothing personal,” she began, but I could sense the deflection coming. “I just thought it might be a bit overwhelming for her. You know, since she hasn’t taken formal swimming lessons like the other kids.”
