Daddy's Secret Empire
Since I was running late to pick up my son, Kyrie Stone, from school, I did not have time to change out of my work clothes from the construction site inspection. Right at the preschool entrance, I ran into one of his classmates' parents.
The man, Adam O'Neil, looked me up and down and asked, "You're Kyrie Stone's father, right?"
I nodded politely, about to introduce myself. However, he suddenly scowled and snapped, "No wonder he acts so poorly behaved at school. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
I frowned immediately. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
He scoffed, getting even more aggressive. "Nonsense? Kyrie shows up to school wearing weird clothes and brings all these ridiculous toys. It's distracting my daughter, Sarah, so much that her grades are slipping."
I was speechless, wondering how Sarah O'Neil's declining grades were Kyrie's fault.
When I stayed silent, Adam got even bolder. "Just look at those dusty clothes you're wearing. Do you even have the money to send Kyrie to an elite preschool like this, or are you just some laborer trying to keep up appearances?"
I thought Adam was insane. After all, Kyrie was attending our family-owned preschool.
How was that trying to keep up appearances?