Mattie and Chloe's School
Arriving at the school ten minutes sooner than they should have, Mac and Harm entered the office looking very troubled. The secretary called both of them into the principal's office where Mattie and Chloe were sitting, each with an ice pack on their respective injuries.
"What happened?" Both Mac and Harm looked at each other when they realized that they had asked the same question at the same time. The principal responded leaving the four with little thinking to do.
"Have a seat, please." Waiting for both adults to find their seats, the principal paused a moment before continuing. "Mattie, since this seems to be your second time in here for mouthing off, would you like to explain what happened?"
Mattie was on the verge of saying no, when she caught Harm's look and decided against it. "Chloe is in my... English... class. Harm told me I had to apologized for what I said to my teacher. I came in right after lunch so I wouldn't have to say sorry in front of everyone. That's when she came in," Mattie emphasized 'she' while pointing towards Chloe, "and heard the end of my apology. She must have heard something about me going in the Navy and she just flipped out at me. She said that everyone in the Navy was a loser and that they were lying to themselves if they thought they were defending the country." Looking at Harm, Mattie continued, "I tried to remember what you said... but it's different when it comes from your peers than when it comes from some lonely... from my English teacher."
Chloe, who until this point had remained quiet, finally found her voice. "It's true. She'll just grow up, have kids, and ditch them on their birthday!" Realizing she'd ruined her stoic demeanor, Chloe found great interest in the floor tiles.
Finishing the story for both girls, the principal spoke up. "Look, I know that both girls have been under a great amount of stress. Still, fighting is against the rules. If it had been just verbal, I think we could have worked it out, but when Mattie threw the first punch..." The principal looked to Harm and Harm nodded, knowing the truth already. "We are going to have to suspend them both—three days. It's standard for fighting. But, if it happens again, it will be longer."
Standing up, Harm took Mattie by the elbow, not hard but making sure she knew she was in for it when they got out of there. "Thank you for calling me. After these three days are done, Mattie is going to wish she was in school."
Mac stood up and made eye contact with the principal as well. Motioning for Chloe to go ahead of her, the two followed Harm and Mattie to Mac's vehicle.
Mattie was the first to speak. "You drove the same car?" she stammered, incredulously.
"No talking." Harm spoke, leveling her with a look. "You two are in so much trouble." Harm looked to Mac for reinforcement.
Getting in the vehicle, Mac started the engine and looked at Harm. "Your place or mine?"
"Neither. Take them back to JAG. I have an idea..."
Arriving at the school ten minutes sooner than they should have, Mac and Harm entered the office looking very troubled. The secretary called both of them into the principal's office where Mattie and Chloe were sitting, each with an ice pack on their respective injuries.
"What happened?" Both Mac and Harm looked at each other when they realized that they had asked the same question at the same time. The principal responded leaving the four with little thinking to do.
"Have a seat, please." Waiting for both adults to find their seats, the principal paused a moment before continuing. "Mattie, since this seems to be your second time in here for mouthing off, would you like to explain what happened?"
Mattie was on the verge of saying no, when she caught Harm's look and decided against it. "Chloe is in my... English... class. Harm told me I had to apologized for what I said to my teacher. I came in right after lunch so I wouldn't have to say sorry in front of everyone. That's when she came in," Mattie emphasized 'she' while pointing towards Chloe, "and heard the end of my apology. She must have heard something about me going in the Navy and she just flipped out at me. She said that everyone in the Navy was a loser and that they were lying to themselves if they thought they were defending the country." Looking at Harm, Mattie continued, "I tried to remember what you said... but it's different when it comes from your peers than when it comes from some lonely... from my English teacher."
Chloe, who until this point had remained quiet, finally found her voice. "It's true. She'll just grow up, have kids, and ditch them on their birthday!" Realizing she'd ruined her stoic demeanor, Chloe found great interest in the floor tiles.
Finishing the story for both girls, the principal spoke up. "Look, I know that both girls have been under a great amount of stress. Still, fighting is against the rules. If it had been just verbal, I think we could have worked it out, but when Mattie threw the first punch..." The principal looked to Harm and Harm nodded, knowing the truth already. "We are going to have to suspend them both—three days. It's standard for fighting. But, if it happens again, it will be longer."
Standing up, Harm took Mattie by the elbow, not hard but making sure she knew she was in for it when they got out of there. "Thank you for calling me. After these three days are done, Mattie is going to wish she was in school."
Mac stood up and made eye contact with the principal as well. Motioning for Chloe to go ahead of her, the two followed Harm and Mattie to Mac's vehicle.
Mattie was the first to speak. "You drove the same car?" she stammered, incredulously.
"No talking." Harm spoke, leveling her with a look. "You two are in so much trouble." Harm looked to Mac for reinforcement.
Getting in the vehicle, Mac started the engine and looked at Harm. "Your place or mine?"
"Neither. Take them back to JAG. I have an idea..."