Parent's Day.

It was my second Parents Day. All around me scent, aftershave and new clothes lent the school an elegance not seen since the Blessing.
"This is Cleopatra's mum," said Eleni, introducing me to her with a well-guarded smile. "She would like to know how her daughter is doing."
Mrs. Cleopatra was stern and built like a walrus. I eyed her carefully. She looked like the sort of woman you did not trifle with - flirtation tactic out of the window - nor were you too hard on her daughter because she'd give her hell. No gentle giant, this.
"Well?" she asked brusquely. It was quite obvious she had little time for mere teachers. However, duty called, and a mother had to do what a mother had to do, and a teacher had to do what a teacher had to do.
"Cleopatra's a nice girl-" I began.
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Cleo.
"Really, she's a nice girl, but-"
"She doesn't do any work and hates English, I know."
"Well, you might put it like that "
"But she says you're not strict enough. You should hit her. She's been bone idle since the day she was born."
"I don't think you'd appreciate it if she came back from a class with a bruise on her cheek, Mrs. Cleo."
"Nevertheless, be harder with her."
"She needs to do more homework, too."
"She says you never give her any."
"Once a week, sometimes twice a week."
" I see. Do you think she'll pass First Certificate?"
" I doubt it."
"Oh. Very well, then. She must work harder."
"Yes."
"I'll tell her that."
Without a word, she stomped past Eleni, who would have needed plastic surgery to rescue her smile at that moment. The next person in was a man.
"Dimos' father," said Eleni.
"Dimos is a nice boy - " I began.
"Yes, I know. They all say that."
"But maybe he needs to work at his grammar a little."
He nodded sagely. "Yes. That's what they all say."
"And possibly his vocabulary as well."
"Yes, so I'm led to believe."
"And his writing could be less confused if he wants to pass Proficiency."
"Yes, that's what I've heard. He wants to be a journalist."
"And I think he should concentrate more in class. His listening skills need fine tuning. His reading comprehension needs work, too."
"Yes. But he's a nice boy."
There was an awkward silence.
"Is that it, then? " asked Dimos' father.
"Yes," I said. "Oh, and his pronunciation...."
"Oh, good, thank you very much." And he left. I looked at Eleni. She shrugged her shoulders. What could you do? What could you say?