Principal Emma Moore faced yet another demand from Linda Carlisle, a privileged parent pushing for favoritism. Despite Linda’s harsh words, Emma stood firm, insisting every student deserved equal opportunity. The tension left Emma weary, carrying the heavy weight of fairness in a school struggling with limited resources and expectations. Alone in the quiet hallway, she sought a moment of comfort from Johnny, the aging janitor who had quietly held the school together for decades.
Johnny welcomed Emma with warmth and his famous bad tea, sharing stories of past school struggles and steady resilience. Their brief refuge was shattered when a group of boys mocked Emma, but Johnny defended her fiercely. That night, Linda threatened Emma, demanding Johnny’s firing for embarrassing her son. Emma’s heart broke when Johnny silently packed to leave, the sadness in his eyes revealing how much the school had taken from him.
