Disclaimer: I don't have any rights to Degrassi TNG I adore all the writers but I am not on the payroll lol the credit for these characters goes to Linda Schuyler and all the great writers for the show.

"So, why am I giving you off early again today?" Spike asked Manny as she began to straighten her client's hair.

"I don't really know, one of Chrissy's teachers has been trying to get me to come down to that school for the past week." Manny sighed as she put the finishing touches on her last client's style. "There you go Mrs. Betty, I'm all done." Manny smiled as the elderly lady pulled a ten dollar bill out of her pocket and handed it to her.

"It's probably nothing at all my dear," Mrs. Betty started as she admired her hair one more time in the mirror. "Teachers just like to waste our time, my Ethan always had me at his school, and it was always for nothing." Manny laughed with her client as she walked her up front.

"You are so right Mrs. Betty, but we have only been back in Toronto for two months. I never really got in trouble when I was at Degrassi, so why would she?"

"Well, our children will always manage to surprise us." Mrs. Betty said as she paid her bill. "Excellent work as always Manny. I'll see you in two weeks. Oh and I'll be bringing my granddaughter in, it's her first communion, so she must look precious."

"Aww, I remember my first communion," Manny laughed. "Thanks for all the advice Mrs. Betty, I'll see you in two weeks."

Ok Spike, that was my last client, I gotta get out of here." Manny said as she hurried to clean her station and clock out.

"Ok, just thought I'd warn you though, Ms. Liza called and she said traffic is terrible with the rain and all." Spike said nonchalantly.

"Oh that's just great, I can't wait to hear what this woman says about me being late," Manny said as she ran out of the door. The drive back to her old alma mater was slow and nerve wrecking. It seemed like the clock was moving ten times faster than normal, and the traffic was moving slower. She finally reached the school and literally jumped out of the car and ran into the building, not even caring that she was getting wet from the rain.

"Sorry I'm late," an out of breath Manny said as she hurried in to her teenage daughter's classroom.

"Um are you, Manuella Santos, Christina's-" Mrs. Beston looked down to her notes to make sure she was not mistaken.

"Mother? Yea I'm her mother, now what seems to be the problem?" Manny asked annoyed as she slid into one of the desk.

"I'm sorry, I was just expecting a much older woman, you look like you could be her sister," Mrs. Beston laughed nervously.

"Look, Mrs. Beston is it, I'm not trying to be rude, but I could be at work making money right now, so could we please get to the point of this meeting." Manny said in a now very annoyed tone.

"Frankly Mrs. Santos,-"

"Ms," Manny corrected, "I'm not married."

"Of course, Ms. Santos. I think that we should do this another day. I am on my way home and you are fifteen minutes late for our meeting, I'm sorry." Mrs. Beston flashed a shocked Manny a smile as she began to pack her things.

"Now wait a minute," Manny started as she stood up. "I had to beg to get off of work early for this meeting, I had to loose pay. I flew across town and traffic was terrible. Please, there isn't going to be another day when we can have this meeting." Manny pleaded angry and annoyed.

"Fine, but we'll have to get right to the point," Mrs Beston said giving in. Your daughter has been demonstrating very poor conduct in her classes this year, and has engaged in several verbal, and physical altercations with her classmates. We feel that these problems, and that her behavior, may be directly related to her relationship with her family, and desperate need for attention. Let me ask you Ms. Santos, how is your relationship with your daughter, and what about Christina's father." Mrs. Beston flashed Manny a fake smile as she opened Christina's files.

"Oh I get it, you think I'm a bad mother." Manny began, now getting offended.

"No, I would never suggest that-"

"I think you just did Mrs. Beston, I will punish Christina for acting up in class, is there anything else, since I had to take the afternoon off or ..."

"Ms. Santos, our job as educators is to help your daughter to develop into a responsible citizen, we are not here to point the finger, or throw the blame card around. All we want to do is address the problem and tackle the issue head on."

"I understand Mrs. Beston," Manny said with a fake smile. "It won't happen again."

Manny rose from her seat feeling her anger build inside her. Christina was going to get it tonight, she was certain.

"Christina Marie Santos!" Manny yelled as soon as she entered her home that afternoon. "Get down here right now!"

"What Ma," Her daughter asked with an attitude as she ran down the steps.

"What the hell are you doing at that school, do you know how much it absolutely sucked having to go down to my old school, and have that woman basically tell me I suck at life."

"Aww ma Mrs. Beston is a hag bag, don't take it to heart." Her daughter said as she began to plunder through the cabinets.

"What's all this about you fighting, I don't understand?" Manny asked confused. "You are way to pretty to be a fighter."

"It's no big deal, some people just said some things that upset me. I am sorry you had to leave work early, I won't let it happen again." Christina said sincerely as she began to fix herself a snack.

" I know it won't, because you are going to pay me back for all the hours of work I missed, and then some," Manny said sternly as she grabbed the bag of chips from her daughter's hands.

"What, how am I going to do that!" Christina said outraged.

"By working as my assistant in the shop. I already talked to Spike on my way home tonight. This way, I will be able to keep tabs on you at all times. You're going to come to work everyday after school, do your homework, and do odd jobs around the shop. You have all these teachers thinking I am the worst mother alive, and you are going to have to pay me back."

"But Ma," Christina started.

"No buts about it Christina. We've only been back in Degrassi for two weeks, and I am not letting you turn into some delinquent."