"Hello, is this Nishigaki-san?"

"Speaking" I said.

"Your son has been involved in a school fight."

"What?"

...

I arrive at the school. I was allowed to leave work early today after I told my boss what happened. Elma's still at work.

"Nishigaki-san I'm happy you could make it" the principal tells me. He's a man in his 50's.

Haru sits besides me very quietly, twiddling his thumbs.

"I'm sorry to hear about Haru. But my son is a good boy, Sir. I'm begging you not to expel him."

"Expel him? Why would I expel the school's prodigy?"

"Oh thank god." I heave a sigh of relief.

"Your son has shown marvelous abilities that kids around his age do not possess."

I'm surprised. I never thought Haru stood out that much. Kindergarteners don't get a report card so I don't know how he's performing.

"Well thank you. Haru is special."

The man smiles. "Haru, is there something you would like to say?"

"I'm sorry I was defending myself."

"Haru! Watch that attitude"

"I'm so sorry he didn't mean it."

"Nishigaki-San, how are things at home? You and your wife? Is there any type of violence Haru is exposed to?"

I'm taken aback by this question. "No. We don't condone violence in our home, Sir. Did Haru hurt anyone?"

My worry levels were going up.

"He punched Shinji-kun. Gave him a black eye."

"I see. Haru did you apologize? You can't punch people."

"But he told me my dwawing was stupid. He called it wetawted."

I quietly gasp.

"Haru, that's no excuse."

"I don't know what happened to me, Mommy Nai. I just felt very hot and punched him."

"I'm so sorry Haru did this. I will talk to him."

"Nishigaki-San, I assume Haru will apologize to Shinji-kun by the latest tomorrow morning?"

"Yes Sir, thank you for your time."

I take Haru home with me. All the while he was quiet. He doesn't even touch his afternoon snack.

Elma is already at home.

"I read your texts. Is Haru ok?"

Haru slams his bedroom door.

"I think I know how to handle this" I say to Elma.

She nods.

We enter his room.

Haru is listening to music on his tablet.

"Hey baby. Let's talk. Why don't you take off those headphones?" I tell him.

He doesn't even look at us. Elma slowly takes off them.

"Haru, Nai told me everything that happened today."

"Shinji was being mean to me."

"Sweetheart I know." I sit next to him.

"How did you feel when he said those things about your drawing?"

"Really angwy."

"People will tell you all sorts of mean things in life baby, but you will have to resist the urge to punch them...violence is never the answer."

"But what do I do when someone is mean to me then?"

You stand up for yourself. Some people, you just ignore to show you're the bigger person."

"Yes I agree with everything your mom is saying. Haru, we have to try our best not to let people know you're a dragon. Showing so much power will draw attention to you."

"What will happen if people find out?" He asks.

"Well they might want to do bad things to you. To humans, dragons are just fairy tale creatures. We know better baby" I rub his shoulders comfortingly.

"Haru, some humans are weak in mind and spirit. That's why they are so insecure. You must forgive them. I've had humans do some bad things to me as well." Elma says to him, while holding his chin so he was looking at her directly. She smiles warmly at him.

"Sometimes you should laugh it off too. Like if that kid bothers you again, tell him "Ok, is that all you have to say' and walk away. He will get tired picking on you and will move on on to someone else.""

"Why are people mean?"

Elma answers. "Because some people are just mean. Maybe they grew up in a place where no one showed them love. Maybe they just choose to be that way. Are you following?"

"It's true. You were right to be angry but never hit another kid again. You will apologize to Shinji tomorrow, promise?"

"I pwomise."

...

At bed:

"Elma, sometimes I don't think I'm cut out for parenting. Today when I heard what Haru did, my heart sank. It's one of those things you would not like to hear as a parent."

My voice begins to break.

She looks at me. "You handled that pretty well, Nai."

"I don't know. When I heard what he did, I didn't feel disappointed in him. I was mostly disappointed in myself." My tears start flowing.

"Are we good parents?" I ask her.

"Yes. Yes we are. Nai, we are doing our best. Everyone makes mistakes. Forgiving and forgetting is important."

Elma comforts me.

"I guess you're right."

"I wish I could have been there with you at the school."

"It's ok."

"You had a long day. Let's get some rest and in the morning we'll talk more."