Disclaimer: I don't own Jessie
"Jessie," Burtrum said, "Are you alright. You look frustrated"
"I am," Jessie said, "I have tried everything to get Luke to behave but NOTHING WORKS. Even getting mad at him doesn't work"
"Well of course it doesn't," Burtrum said, "He sees that as a good thing."
Jessie groaned.
"Well I've tried everything," she said, "I don't know what to do. I've tried lecturing him, no TV, acting in a hurtful way towards him, taking away privileges-"
"Sounds like you've tried every punishment but punishment isn't going to work in Luke's case," Jessie said.
"Why not," Jessie asked.
"Luke watched his parents die in front of his eyes," Burtrum explained, "and his older sister died trying to save him. He acts out to get a release from his guilt and anger and fear"
"You know," Jessie said, "It would have been nice to know this oh I don't know SIX MONTHS AGO!"
Jessie was annoyed but not at Luke. She was annoyed that she didn't know this information. Had she known she wouldn't have handled the situation in the same way she did.
"Well don't shoot the messenger," Burtrum said
…
Jessie knocked softly on the door to Luke's room.
"Come in," Luke said.
Jessie walked in the room.
"Hey buddy," Jessie said, "I think I need to apologize to you. I thought when you acted up it was just because you were being difficult, but what I didn't know was that you were going through a lot of difficult stuff"
"It's okay," Luke said, "You couldn't have known."
"Well I promise you," Jessie said, "I promise you two things. First I promise I will never be hard on you for things you can't control. But I promise also I won't let you get away with what you know you can because it wouldn't be good for you."
"Thanks Jessie," Luke said and hugged her.