“Are you going to make me?” Stephan challenged looking around making sure Awan wasn’t nearby.
“Let’s go Eli,” Reed tugged on his arm attempting to get friend to leave.
“He’s just going to follow,” Eli said watching Stephon warily.
“Then let him,” Reed tugged harder “remember what Mrs Currie said…”
Eli stared a moment at his friend “fine. Stephon can have this dumb old piece of grass.”
Reed led them over to where Tara was waving at them by the swings. She made a grimace at the boy following behind them. “Go away. You’re not wanted here.”
“Ooh I’m so scared,” Stephan waggled his fingers at her. “I can go wherever I want. I own this school.”
“Just because our teacher married your dad doesn’t make you the boss,” she pointed out, making Reed giggle.
“What do you think Eli?” Stephan smirked, daring him to contradict him.
“Tara let’s just go,” Eli gave her a pleading look with his eyes. “I don’t want trouble.”
“Yeah one jailbird in the family is enough,” Stephon taunted.
Stopping Eli whirled around to face the boy. “What did you just say?” he shouted.
Reed put a restraining hand on Eli's shoulder “recess is almost over. Let’s just go stand by the doors. You don’t want Mrs. Currie calling your dads.”
Breathing hard Eli turned to follow his friends. His dads had enough to worry about without getting a call from the school about him getting into another fight.
“What’s the matter? Chicken?” Stephon called after them. “Afraid your dad’ll go crazy? My dad says he’s unstable. Should be locked up for his own good and the good of everyone else.”
“Take that back,” Eli shouted whirling around to face him.
Smiling now that he’d gotten Eli to react, Stepan continued “my dad says he’s unfit. Best thing would be for the state to come and take the kids.” A nasty grin spread across his face “I bet you’re just like him. Crazy.”
“That’s an awful thing to say,” Tara gasped coming to stand beside Eli.
There was a flicker in Stephan's eyes that showed he knew that what he was saying was wrong but the smirk plastered on his face showed he didn’t care. “I bet he killed that guy. Just went all crazy on him and killed him.”
“Take that back,” Eli demanded “my daddy wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“Why should I? Everyone knows he wanted him dead…”
Screaming Eli charged, arms swinging. Stephon yelped and took off running across the playground. Eli chased after him wanting nothing more than to stuff the awful words back inside his head. His daddy would never hurt anyone, not anyone, not even the bad man who hurt him. He knew it in his heart.
“Eli Reagan.”
The firm angry voice had him stopping in his tracks. He should have known Stephon would run for the one teacher who would take his side no matter what.
Smirking from behind his new step mom and teacher. “I told you he hates me,” he whined “all I wanted to do was play with them.”
“That’s not true…” he let his words fade knowing from experience she wouldn’t listen.
“That’s it,” she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the school, marching him towards the principal’s office where she immediately launched into her version of what happened.
“I see,” the principle said turning to Eli asking “is that what happened?”
“Of course it is,” she shouted over his words, offended that he didn’t believe her.
His eyes never left Eli’s face. “I went to school with your Grandpa Riley. We were friends. You can tell me anything as long as it’s the truth.”
Taking a step away from his teacher Eli said “Stephon said some really bad things about my daddy.”
Huffing loudly Mrs Currie said, “you can’t honestly believe him. He’ll say anything to get out of trouble. I’ve warned him…”
“And I’ve warned you,” the principle cut her off. “Eli’s parents aren’t the only parents who have lodged complaints against you.”
“They’re just jealous that their kids aren’t as talented as Stephon is,” she said.
“You think so?” he asked “I suppose Eli is one of those talentless kids.”
“Well yes,” she nodded relieved that he understood.
“I’ve heard him play,” he smiled “he’s as talented as his dad and grandpa are if not more so.” He watched as his words sank in “your new assistant has been observing you while you’ve been teaching.”
“What,” she cried as if she just stepped into quicksand.
“I see that’s caught your attention,” he smirked. “She’ll be taking over your class. You’re fired.”
“It’s not like I need this job,” she huffed. “Don’t expect to see anymore of my husband’s substantial donations either.”
“I already have his pledge for this year and his promise for more. Did you forget we were old friends too? I think you’ll find him less understanding when he finds out the majority of what Stephon repeats comes from you and not from him as Stephan claims.”
Her eyes bulged a moment before she stomped from the room slamming the door behind her.
Shaking his head chuckling a little “I’m afraid that young woman is divorce bound.” Turning back to Eli “you do realize this doesn’t get you off the hook. I will be calling your parents.”
“Yes sir,” he said, regretting he let Stephon get to him.
“Take a seat in the hallway until your parents come to take you home.” When Eli reached the door he said “if Stephon is out there send him in. I need to talk to him too.”
“Dad,” Eli jumped up at the sight of Ethan walking towards him. Looking behind him “Daddy didn’t come?”
“I thought we’d have a little talk before we went home,” he frowned towards the young boy scowling at them from across the hall. He knew who the boy was. He was a little surprised that he was still here instead of leaving with his step mother.
“Come on Dad let’s go” Eli urged before Ethan had a chance to say anything in front of Stephon.
Feeling the tug on his hand Ethan let him lead him outside and towards the parking lot. He kept on going when Eli stopped beside the car.
“Dad where are you going?” Eli asked, puzzled thinking they were going to talk in the car on the way home.
“I feel like going for a walk,” he said waving for him to join him.
Joining him, head hanging low Eli asked, “are you mad at me?”
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Um…no,” he shook his head “Daddy said it was ok to defend myself.”
“Is that what you did today?”
“Well,” he stopped looking perplexed. Maybe he was in trouble after all. “Not exactly,” he admitted “but Stephon was saying some really bad things about Daddy.” Ethan smiled a little “your principal told me what that boy said and I’m proud of you for wanting to defend your Dad.”
“You are?”
“Of course. It’s important to know when to stand up not only for yourself but for those you love too.”
“Dad,” Eli stopped walking looking worried “is Daddy alright? He’s not crazy like Stephan said?”
“No he’s not,” Ethan knelt down in front of his son. “Your dad is sensitive and vulnerable right now. He’s been through a lot that most people would find shocking.” He could see in his son’s eyes the struggle to understand “let me ask you a question. How did you feel when Stephon said your daddy killed that man?”
“I felt awful,” he grimaced, holding his stomach. “I felt like I was going to be sick. I knew Daddy could never hurt anyone, not even the bad man.”
The certainty in his son’s voice made him smile. “Now imagine how your dad felt when the police took him into a little room and started to question him about how and why he killed that man. At one point they made him look at pictures of the dead man.”
“They shouldn’t have done that,” he cried tears filling his eyes.
“No they shouldn’t have,” he pulled his son close, hugging him tight. “That’s why your daddy is so withdrawn right now. He’s having to deal with all these bad memories and being accused of something so awful has made him heartsick.”
“What can we do to make him feel better?” Eli asked, leaning in close to his dad. It was kind of scary thinking his daddy was hurting so much. People sometimes died when they hurt bad enough.
“We give him lots and lots of hugs and kisses. We show him how much we love him,” he said.
“And we don’t tell him all the bad things people say about him,” Eli added.
Sighing, Ethan shook his. He was afraid this was what Eli would want to do. Hide the ugliness that others say to protect his dad. “No we can’t do that. It wouldn’t be right. He needs to know these things even if it hurts.”
Taking his dad’s hand Eli asked, “why do people say mean things that they know will hurt someone?”
“I don’t know,” he ruffled his son’s hair. “I suppose they want to make themselves feel better.”
Puzzled, he asked “you mean Stephon is mean because he’s unhappy?”
“Maybe” he shrugged “he just might want attention and going about it in the wrong way.”
“I think he’s just mean.”
Chuckling a little Ethan silently agreed with him.
“Is Daddy safe now that the bad man is gone?”
“Yeah I think so,” Ethan replied, turning around and leading them back towards the school.
“Good,” Eli gave his dad a relieved smile “but if he’s not you’ll protect him, right?”
“With my life,” he promised.
“You should have been here,” Reed enthused as they sat down for lunch.
Glancing at Eli, Awan said “you didn’t tell me anything. Did Stephon bother you while I was out?”
Shrugging, Eli said “a little” he mumbled looking away. “No more than usual.”
“That’s the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard,” Tara huffed, rolling her eyes. “Stephon got his stepmom fired.”
“How?” Awan asked, watching Eli carefully. Knowing his friend, he probably felt bad.
“Oh he said a bunch of bad things about Eli’s Dad.” Reed explained with his mouth full. Swallowing “you should have seen it. Eli was so mad he chased Stephon all the way across the playground.”
“Yeah the little weasel tried hiding behind Mrs Currie,” Tara added laughing so hard she snorted. “I wish I had seen that,” Awan munched on his peanut butter sandwich. “It really wasn’t anything,” Eli mumbled uncomfortable with the way his friends were talking about what happened.
“It was too,” Tara contradicted him “Mrs Currie deserved what she got.”
“She lost her job,” Eli cried “and she might even get a divorce.”
“So what,” she shrugged unconcerned.
“It’s my fault,” Eli pushed his half eaten lunch away. “I just wanted Stephon to leave me alone and to stop saying those things about my dad. I didn’t want to get her fired.”
“That’s not your fault,” Reed stood to throw his trash away. “She could have stopped Stephon herself. She chose to ignore what he was doing.”
“That’s part of her job,” Tara followed Reed. Stopping she said “talk to him Awan. He’ll listen t o you.”
Eli watched his friends walk away. A moment later they were laughing as they dared each other to go higher on the swings. “Well,” he challenged Awan. “What do you have to say?”
Shrugging Awan popped the last of his sandwich into his mouth. “What do you want me to say? You did get her fired.”
His mouth dropped open. “Well yeah…but I didn’t expect you to agree with me.”
Chuckling a little as he stood up “I don’t.”
“But you just said…” scrambling to clean up his lunch Eli hurried after Awan. "What do you mean you don’t?”
Sitting on one of the benches close to the swings Awan sighed. “Well Mrs Currie could have been a better teacher. If she had been she’d never have let things get to the point where her job was in danger.”
“I guess,” Eli sounded perplexed watching his friend.
Smiling a little, Awan continued “I’m guessing she was warned. Adults like to warn people of what might happen if they don’t change. She chose not to listen. If she had she might not have lost her job.”
“So you’re saying it’s not my fault.”
“Yep,” he smiled, smugly swinging his feet.
Considering his words Eli nodded. Changing the subject he asked “why were you gone so long? Were you sick?” He’d wanted to ask earlier but didn’t want to do so while Tara and Reed were around. Awan didn’t like to talk much about himself, especially not around a bunch of people.
Nodding “you could say that.”
Frowning Eli reached a hand out to touch Awan's arm. He snatched his hand back when Awan cried out in pain. “What’s wrong? What did I do? Did I hurt you?” Jumping to his feet “I’m going to get the school nurse.”
“No don’t,” he cried standing up to block Eli from going. “I’m fine. Really.”
“You don’t look fine,” he could tell the smile on his friends face was forced. He’d seen his dad in pain before and that was the same look he had. “You’re hurt. You should have the nurse take a look.”
Grabbing Eli by the arm, Awan said “no I’m fine. I fell but it’s fine now.”
Eli’s face scrunched upin concern “is that why you were out? You were hurt? Did your dad take you to see the doctor?”
“Yeah and I’m fine,” he mumbled, not looking at Eli.
“But you’re still in pain” he stood indecisively “I think we should have the nurse double check.”
“No,” he cried “I’m fine.”
“I don’t know,” he took a step around Awan.
“I’ll prove it to you,” he said “let’s join the others and I’ll push you.”
“But…”
“I wouldn’t be able to push you if I was hurt,” Awan said as he ran towards the swings “come on before it’s taken.”
“Oh alright,” he muttered, running after his friend. He couldn’t be that hurt if he wanted to push him on the swings, could he?
Previous/Next