Chapter 7

Loid was giving a presentation to his superiors when the secretary came in and she gave him an apologetic look. "Excuse me, sirs," he said to his superiors before looking at the secretary. "Yes, Miss?"

"I apologize for interrupting, sir, but the school called after they couldn't reach you by your cell phone," she said respectfully.

"The school?" He asked in confusion before his eyes widened. "Anya. Is she alright?"

The secretary looked worried. "There was an incident at school and Anya is at the nurse's office getting treated for some scrapes. The principal wouldn't tell me how she got hurt, but was requesting you come straightaway. They couldn't reach your wife for some reason."

"She may be in a meeting. I'll call her," Loid said. "Thank you informing me."

He turned to his superiors. "I'm sorry, sirs, but there was an incident at the school and my daughter is hurt," he said.

One man nodded. "Go on," he said understandingly. "We can finish this tomorrow."

The other two men nodded and Loid left, calling his wife, who replied after a couple rings. "My love? Is everything alright?" Yor asked. "You never call during work."

"The school called my workplace. Anya's hurt," Loid said.

"What?!" His wife said in shock before looking at her phone and seeing she had a few missed calls from the school. "Oh, no. I didn't even realize they called. I was in a meeting and my phone was in my purse. I just got out of the meeting now."

"It's okay," he said. "I'll meet you at the school. The secretary said the principal didn't say what had happened."

"That's a bit suspicious," Yor said before sighing. "Alright. Let me inform my boss and I'll meet you at the school."

Fifteen minutes later, Loid arrived and saw his wife arrive at the same time. Both went into the school and straight to the principal's office. The door was opened and they first saw their daughter with a few bandages on her face and hands while tears ran down her face and her hair had twigs and leaves caught in it. Two boys were sitting in some chairs away from Anya and one held his chin up with a haughty attitude while the other looked over at Anya worriedly.

Loid turned to the principal. "What happened?" He asked, just managing to keep his anger under control as Yor went over to their daughter.

"I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding, sir. It's nothing more than a child falling down and accidentally hurting herself," the principal said reassuringly.

The younger boy looked up at him and then at Loid. "Sir? I can tell you what happened," he said.

"Be quiet!" The older boy beside him hissed.

Yor glared at the older boy before turning to the younger boy and her expression softened. "Come here, young one," she said gently and the boy came over to her, to which she and her husband kneeled down to the boy's height. "Now, can you tell us exactly what happened, sweetie?"

The boy nodded. "Anya was playing on the sidewalk with the chalk when Kenny came up to her and pushed her. He called her a bad name and when she got up again, he continued to push her. She ran but when they got near the edge of the playground, Kenny shoved her hard into the brush pile Mr. G had gathered this morning," he said. "I tried to get him to stop and I tried to help Anya, but Kenny pushed me away, saying that Anya deserved it."

"Now, Jimmy, stop lying to Anya's parents," the principal said.

The little boy looked at him. "But I'm not lying, sir," he said. "Kenny did something bad."

"He's lying, Dad," Kenny said.

Loid now saw the situation and he stood up. "So that's why you wouldn't tell the secretary over the phone what happened," he said. "Because it involves your own son."

Yor stood up, looking upset. "Surely you were going to punish the boy for hurting my daughter?" She said. "After all, bullying isn't allowed in this school, am I correct?"

"Now, sir, madam, why are you believing Jimmy? I'm sure Anya simply fell down, nothing more," the principal said, trying to keep his cool.

Loid felt very upset now. "I see," he said.

Just then, a lady walked in and with her was a gentleman. "Pardon me," she said.

The principal stood up. "Superintendent," he said in surprise.

She gave him a curt nod before turning to Anya's parents. "Is your child alright?" She asked. "My husband is the groundskeeper here and he witnessed your daughter being pushed into the brush pile he had made earlier this morning."

"Anya is doing a bit better, but still upset," Yor said, having gone to check on her daughter again. The child had calmed down a little, but sniffled, holding her arms out to her mother, who picked her up and hugged her comfortingly.

"Understandable," the superintendent said before turning to the principal. "I've gotten too many complaints about you, sir, and it's time something was done."

He stood up in anger. "I am the principal here," he said angrily.

"And I'm the superintendent," she said, keeping a cool head before looking at the boy. "Jimmy, did Kenny push you as well."

"Yes, Auntie Claire," he said. "I tried to stop him and help Anya, but he pushed me into the brush pile too."

The man with the superintendent cleared his throat. "I agree with the superintendent that Kenny does need to face the consequences of his actions," he said.

"And he will," said a teacher who just came in. "I'm Kenny's teacher and one of my students told me what happened."

"I trust proper punishment has been decided?' The superintendent said.

"Yes. Kenny will be required to write sentences and he will not be allowed to go on the field trip planned for later this month," the teacher said, nodding her head. "I have already informed Kenny's mother and she should be here soon."

Just then, another woman came in and she didn't look happy. "I was wondering why my son was acting like a bully," she said before glaring at the principal. "Should have known you were allowing him to be."

"Kenny did nothing wrong," the principal said.

"Oh, but he did," Kenny's teacher said. "We have cameras that saw the whole incident and if we have to go to the police, we will."

Kenny's mother nodded. "Either you have him face the consequences for his actions or you can face the police," she said to her husband, looking firm.

Kenny looked afraid and his father sighed. "Very well," he said softly.

"You will also step down as principal," the superintendent said. "I cannot allow someone who allows bullying to be the principal at this school."

The ex-principal was about to say something, but his wife gave him a stern look and he kept his mouth shut before telling Kenny to get his stuff and the boy did so under his mother's stern gaze.

The superintendent turned to Loid and Yor. "I'm so sorry this happened," she said. "I can excuse Anya for the rest of the day."

"Thank you," Yor said with a nod as her daughter clung to her.

"Jimmy, grab your things too. Uncle Fin and I will take you home."

"Yes, Auntie," the boy said.

Loid took a deep breath and let it out, glad the situation was resolved.

Now he could focus on helping his little girl feel better.


Had to include a bit of conflict, but man, one thing you don't do is hurt Anya or say something bad to her. I actually saw a clip on YouTube from the show where one guy said something he shouldn't have and Loid straight up punched the guy off his feet for it. He's a very protective father.

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418