Susan was putting groceries away in her kitchen when she heard the insistent knocking on her front door. She hurried through the living room and peered through the peep hole in the door. A frown crossed her face as she opened the door and David glared at her.

"Hi," she said in confusion and stepped aside so he could come in.

"What in the hell did you do?" he cried. Susan closed the door and leaned against it as she watched him pace.

"He is just a kid, Susan," David said angrily. "A sixteen year old kid."

"A kid with some anger management issues," she said calmly.

"Why didn't you tell me about it first? " he said as the pacing stopped. "We could have gone to his parents…."

"We thought about that," she interrupted as she crossed her arms in front of her. "Then we realized that it was really a school issue. It happened at school."

"Yeah, and the school has zero tolerance toward bullying…" He shook his head in disgust.

"And they should have a zero tolerance policy…" David rolled his eyes.

"Jake is hardly a bully, Susan," he said.

"Susie has bruises that say otherwise."

"They pulled him out of class and suspended him till the end of the marking period!"

"Just long enough for Susie's bruises to fade…." Their eyes met and held steadily.

"I could have called the police, David," she said finally. "This was clearly an assault." David shook his head.

"Assault?" He snorted and shook his head again. "He just pushed her out of the way!" Anger began to build in her.

"Assault," she said firmly. "you know, I have seen Jake at 25 and 30 and 40….hell, I have even seen him at 60! And I have seen what …Jake… can do to his girl friend and his wife…..and his kids. Don't tell me that it wasn't an assault. Maybe this will be a wake up call to get himself under control before it's too late." David shook his head again.

"Well, I hope you know what you're doing," he sighed. "There's been some talk around the halls. I'm not sure things will go easy for Susie now."

"She can handle it," Susan said curtly. "It was very brave of her to go to the administration with me."

"Stupid, you mean," he sighed softly. Susan's brows furrowed as she straightened and opened the door again.

"I think you need to leave now," she said. David scoffed.

"I mean…now," Susan said. "I am trying to be patient but you have really tested me. I am not sure I can respect someone who would make light of this. Especially a Teacher."

"Susan…." He said as a confused smile crossed his face.

"Please leave, David," she said again. "Now." He moved toward the door and stopped to put his hand on her shoulder. Susan shrugged and glared at him. Wordlessly he shook his head again and left. Susan shut the door and her shoulders sagged. What if he was right? What if it had been a mistake to report this? What if they did take it out on Susie? Kids could be cruel.

Susan was still wondering as she stood side by side with Susie at the counter fixing dinner. She eyed Susie sideways as the girl put together a salad.

"So…..how was school today?" she asked finally.

"Okay," Susie sighed as she sliced a cucumber. "It's winter, you know?"

"Yeah….." Susan nodded.

"Dreary…." Susie sighed again. Susan slipped a pan of rolls into the oven and then turned to the girl.

"No gossip about the deal with Jake?" she asked as she leaned her hip against the counter. "I mean, you can tell me, Mom. I'm a grown up now." Susie looked at her with a frown and then laughed.

"It's fine," she giggled. Susan studied her seriously and Susie shrugged. "Really!"

"Are Brett and his buddies still walking you to class?" Susie shook her head.

"I told them they didn't have to since Jake was gone."

"No emails?"

"I don't open them." Susie picked up the salad bowl and headed for the table. She set it down and opened the refrigerator for the bottles of salad dressing. She turned and saw Susan still studying her.

"What?" she asked. Susan sighed.

"I was thinking," Susan said. "You know, if it does get rough, we can send you to your mom's…or maybe to Heather's to finish the school year." Susie shook her head emphatically.

"No," she said. "I'm fine."

"Susie..." Susan said quietly. The girl shook her head and turned to her.

"If I leave," she said. "Then he would have won. I am not giving him – or anyone else – that kind of power over me." Susan sighed heavily and then drew the girl into her arms and hugged her.

"Besides," Susie said as she pulled away. "I have the 'goon squad' if I ever need them." Susan laughed.

"Oh…that makes me feel much better," she said sarcastically. "I relish the thought of you surrounded by hunky athletes. Sex, drugs, alcohol and all that….." Susie chuckled.

"Naw…" Susie said. "They've all taken a vow of abstinence." Susan frowned and then nodded slowly.

"Abstinance is good," she said slowly. Susie laughed again.

"Brett wears a promise ring," she said. "Haven't you ever noticed it?" Susan shook her head.

"A promise ring for what?"

"His dad is going to buy him a car if he promises not to smoke, drink, do drugs.…or have sex…..until he's twenty one," Susie said matter of factly as she finished setting the table. "The ring is kind of a reminder." Susan's mouth dropped open and Susie laughed at her.

"Where can you buy these rings?" Susan drawled. Susie laughed and moved to kiss her cheek.

"You don't have to worry about me, Aunt Susan," she said as she turned to the kitchen door. "I'll get Cosmo for dinner."

"I really, really like your new friends," Susan called after her. She smiled as she heard Susie laugh. Susan shook her head.

"Wow…that is going to be one hell of a coming of age party!" she laughed softly.