Abby slammed the door to the kitchen in her wake, staring at the tile in an odd mix of anger, sadness, fear, and humiliation. Ma had sent her home from school early for the first time since she had almost thrown up in the second grade. (Granted, that was last year.) Too filled with conflicting emotions to eat, she remained motionless as memories of how she gave the world's most deserved black eye replayed in her mind. Trevor Lowry was a bully. He deserved that punch.
When she heard the kitchen door open, she wished it was her mother. It was always easier to explain reasons when the questioner was not treating her like a suspect to a crime. Ma would have scalded her in a loving way, then the conversation would have ended. To her dread, her father entered the kitchen. He looked confused rather than angry.
Abby refused to acknowledge her father's entrance. As soon as he knew she was listening, the questions would start. Or so she thought. She had never been sent home from school for fighting before so she didn't know what her dad would say.
"Aren't you gonna ask me why I punched Trevor?" Abby broke the terrifying silence.
Jack thought for a moment, "What did he say to make you so angry?"
"He stole Maggie Porter's lunch and then said she ate too much anyway and that her dad needed to get a real job instead of hiding in an office all day."
Abby cried like a toddler. Jack let his little girl sob into his shoulder, waiting for her speech to return.
"Abby, sometimes people say things that hurt our friends, but you can't punch someone for saying something mean."
"He stole. That's illegal, " she argued.
"How about the next time he steals a lunch box, you tell me and I'll deal with the problem."
"I just thought that if I could be brave at school, you wouldn't have to leave so much."
A tear escaped the corner of Jack's eye.
"I'm sorry you're sad daddy," Abby wiped away the tear with her little hands.
"It's not your fault," her dad smiled, then added, "I just need you to know that whenever you need me, I will always be there. No matter what."
"Promise?"
"Promise"