Annie looked at her grandfather.
Jed waited while she decided whether to say anything or not.
She knew then Melinda must have told her parents about her problems at school and she should be mad at her best friend, but in a way she was relieved it was out in the open. And that her parents and grandparents were accepting about it. Especially her grandparents. She would never want to say anything that would hurt her grandparents.
"Okay, now will you tell me what's going on at school with kids bullying you about me? It hurts me so much that others are hurting you because of me. I would never want you to be hurt in any way because of me. Do you understand that?"
Annie nodded.
"Okay then, tell me what's going on."
"You won't get mad about some of the things said about you?"
Jed laughed. "Honey, I've been in politics for a long time and many things have been said about me and to me. I can guarantee you that I've heard almost everything. So no matter what these kids have said to you about me, I have probably already heard it or at least some variation of it. So it's okay with me. It won't hurt my feelings and it sure as heck won't affect my love for you or your brother."
Annie only smiled and hugged her grandfather again. "I love you, Grandpa."
"I love you too, Annie. Now, what did these kids say?"
Annie looked down at her lap.
Jed took his fingers and once again raised her face until she was looking him in the eyes. "Look at me, honey. It's going to be okay. Just remember I love you very much and you can't say anything that will upset me."
Annie gave him a brief smile and started to relate some of the ugly statements that the students had repeated to her that their parents had said to them.
"That President Bartlet is an idiot. He doesn't do crap when given the opportunity."
"President Bartlet can't find his way out of a paper bag."
"Bartlet is an asshole. He can't get along with any of the Republicans even if his life depended upon it."
"I wish President Bartlet would just go ahead and just die for all the good he's doing in Washington."
That last one made Annie start crying all over again. Jed pulled her close and hugged her until she was able to finally stop crying.
"Shh, honey. It's okay. These people are just angry. They don't really mean these things. They just don't understand that the words hurt others."
Finally, Annie quit crying and pulled away from the comfort of her grandfather's embrace.
"Are you okay with those words?"
"Of course not. But people will say them. But they need to say them to other adults. They shouldn't say them to their children who definitely shouldn't say them to other children. I'm so sorry you had to hear them."
"They come up to me in the hallway and after class and brag to me about how much they hate you and how much they want to see you mess up. I try and defend you. Sometimes I get very angry, but I know I can't fight back because if I did it would make the news and then you would hear about it and then it would embarrass you and Grandma Abbey and Mom and Dad. So I just have to stand there and listen to them."
"Next time someone comes up and starts to say something, can you just walk away?"
"I guess I could."
"You have other friends, don't you?"
"Yes, of course."
"Why, then, is it important to be a part of Steve's group? Isn't your group just as good as Steve's?"
"I guess."
"I bet it is."
"Then the next time one of these kids come up to you, just turn away and go find one of your friends and talk with them. Do you think talking to someone at the school, maybe a counselor, would help you get stronger in making some of these decisions? Or in trying to identify these kids that keep talking trash to you?"
"Maybe someone could help in getting me stronger in telling these kids to go away."
"I bet your mother will help arrange something like that. Do you want to talk with her now?"
Annie nodded. "But before that."
"Yes?"
"Grandpa, have I told you lately how much I love you and Grandma Abbey?"
"Annie honey, we never get tired of that. You can tell us anytime you want to."
They both hugged, knowing that the love between grandfather and grandchild was solid as a rock and could never be broken, no matter what the years ahead would bring.
