The next day, after I got the kids to school, I was at the library when I got a phone call from an unknown number.
"Hello, is this Ms. Storm? This is Kingsbury Middle School. Alicia Grimm gave us this number in case we needed to get ahold of you." I straightened up, worried.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, it appears that Donovan got in a bit of a fight with a fellow student…." I shoved my books in my backpack.
"I'll be right over."
I spotted Donovan sitting in the office, his arms crossed across his chest. There was someone taking to the secretary, so I sat down next to him.
"So, first day at school and already in a fight? Nice work." No response. "Fighting never solved anything…"
"Whatever." Well, at least he spoke. I sighed and leaned back.
"Why'd you do it?" I asked. Donovan shrugged. "So I came all the way down here and you got into a fight for no reason?"
"He said that I should be happy my mom is dead cuz now I get a celebrity family." My eyes bugged out, I knew it.
"What?" I asked in a deadly voice. Then I glanced up to see a boy sitting a ways off, holding his nose with a Kleenex while being coddled by one of the secretaries.
"That him?" Donovan nodded, stonily.
"You didn't hit him hard enough." Donovan glanced at me surprised. I shrugged, but I was furious. Where did that kid get off saying something like that?
I signed him out, saying I would see he got properly disciplined at home. Of course what I did do was buy him lunch and ice cream.
On the way back to the school to pick up Becca, I glanced at Donovan and then away, clearing my throat.
"I'm sorry I said that last night. It was very uncool of me." Donovan shrugged.
"You were right." I felt like a hug might be a little much for his ego, so I settled for patting him on the back.
When we got to the school, we went to the office, where we were going to meet Becca, but she wasn't there. Frowning, I asked the secretary if she had seen her.
"Oh, her father came and picked her up. Told me to tell you that he would call you." I froze and I heard Donovan stand up behind me.
"Not possible." I said through gritted teeth. "Her father was not allowed to pick her up today. Or any day for that matter." The secretary began to look uncomfortable. That could be because I had just phased her hands to the desk.
"He had a note from her mother…"
"Also not possible – her mother is dead and her guardians would rather let rabid dogs come and get her than her father." Donovan stepped up to the counter.
"It's true. Plus our dad hasn't seen us in years except for the funeral." Then the phone rang on her desk. I let the secretary go and she picked it up.
"Kingbur—oh, um….ok." The secretary looked up at me, her eyes wide. "It's for you." I grabbed the phone and put it to my ear.
"Go to Grimm's apartment, bring the boy. Leave your phone and tell the secretary that everything is fine. Anything funny, the girl pays for it. We are watching and listening." Then there was a dial tone. I replaced the receiver and looked at the secretary.
"Well, that's all cleared up. Apparently, he was allowed to come today and pick up both kids, but then Donovan had to go and get in trouble. Sorry for the mess up." I should have taken up acting. Then I spun around, grabbing Donovan.
"Where are we going? Whats going on?" He asked, as I dragged him along behind me.
"I need you to do everything I say, ok? This is going to be a bad day." I said grimly as I tossed my phone in the trash outside. For the people who took Becca, that is.