The young boy sat outside of the principal's office awaiting his fate. His feet hung off the bench, swaying to and fro while he thought of being outside running and playing with his dog Max. Soon, the door swung open and the secretary motioned him in.

"Come on, Charlie, he's ready for you," Ms. Allen said. Charlie's big blue eyes widened, he was terrified.

The principal, Mr. Dawson, sat behind his desk. He was an older gentleman with big horn-rimmed glasses. He always wore a white shirt, open at the collar with a tie hanging loosely around his neck. Clearing his throat, he sat back in his chair and looked very serious. Mr. Dawson wasn't very good at looking serious but Charlie thought he looked very serious today.

"Charlie, do you know why you're here?" Mr. Dawson asked. Charlie gulped and nodded.

"Yessir," Charlie said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you have to say for yourself young man?"

Charlie thought a moment before speaking.

"Well, sir, I think I ought to have to go home," Charlie beamed. All of eight years old, he truly thought in his infinite wisdom he would get to go home.

"Well, Charlie, I don't think so. I think you should stay after school in detention. You know we don't approve of throwing food in the cafeteria," Mr. Dawson explained.

"Well, sir, that's just it. I told the teacher I didn't throw the food," Charlied whined a little.

"Riiight..it was that girl," Mr. Dawson chuckled.

Yes, that girl. She was always getting him into trouble. One day, he thought to himself, one day.

"I promise sir, it was her. She threw it over my head makin' it look like it came from me," Charlie tried to plead his case.

"Well, Charlie, I'm sorry. You'll stay with Mr. Hoffman in detention." Charlie's heart sank and he felt sick.

"Not him, please sir. I'll..I'll stay a whole week with someone else, please," Charlie's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Charlie, I know Mr. Hoffman is tough but it's only one day, son. You'll be fine," Mr. Dawson nodded. Charlie was shivering now, shaking and on the verge of vomiting what little lunch he'd eaten before being falsely accused. He'd heard stories from the other children who'd had detention with Mr. Hoffman. One kid, Richie, was never the same. He quit talking and had to start going to special classes after his two days of detention.

Charlie slunk out of the office, glancing back with big sad eyes.

"Go on, son, it'll be okay," Mr. Dawson smiled.

Charlie went to the detention that day so many years ago. Charlie would emerge a different little boy. No more carefree days, no more smiley faces and no more happy times were meant to be. No, Charlie was a changed boy and he had a new mission in life.

This is the Charlie that sat staring into the night watching and waiting.

They were going to pay, all of them, one by one, they would pay.

******************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Coreeeen!" Vicki called from the inner office. Coreen made her way to her boss and rolled her eyes along the way.

"I saw that," Vicki told her as she sat in front of her.

"Saw what?" Coreen batted her thick black lashes as innocently as she could.

Vicki sighed, "Where's file that went with these photos?"

"Right there," Coreen pointed, "is that it?"

"Uh..yeah," Vicki ducked her head back into what she was reading. Coreen got up to leave and Vicki shot her a glance.

"Coreen, wait," Vicki blurted out.

"Yes?"

Since the sonogram appointment, things had been strained between the three of them. Vicki felt bad but had walled herself up so much, it was hard to get through the day sometimes. Coreen, ever her perky self, took it all in stride. Henry, however did not. Vicki's mind drifted to the week after the sonogram and the altercation she'd had with Henry.

"Vicki, just tell me what I've done. We've not been together since the sonogram appointment, is that what this is about? Coreen and the baby?" Vicki so badly wanted to tell him no but knew it was a part of what was wrong, the other part, however, was elusive to even her.

"No, Henry, your royal highness, this isn't all about you," Vicki had shot back. That was a month ago and they had not seen each other outside of work since then. Henry was withdrawn and sulked, Vicki was plain old bitchy.

Vicki shook her thoughts back to the present.

"What I wanted to say is.." Vicki searched for the right word, "congratulations. I've never really said it, but congratulations."

Coreen smiled and said, "Thanks. Vicki?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause problems between you and Henry," Coreen bit her lip. She'd been wanting to tell her that but the opportunity had not presented itself before now.

Vicki shrugged, "Eh, whatever. It's not like he's my man or anything." Coreen cocked her head, confused and went back to her desk. Vicki went to the window, hands in pockets and glasses on her head.

"Nope, not my man at all.."