So then they all followed him into his office. It was a very interesting office filled with odd things. Manny knew why she was here now, and did not want to be there. Mr. Raditch motioned for her family to take the three empty chairs across from him. All of this stress was beginning to take it's toile on her, and she tried to keep the tears in her eyes to hide the satisfaction that they had gotten her to cry.

"Now, Manny, what is this all about?"

"As if you don't already know." answered Manny with a cold drawling hiss.

"As a matter of fact I don't know. Your parents called me this morning, and asked me for an urgent parent teacher conference, telling me that they would fill me in when they got here, and that they also wanted you to be here. So even though I usually don't take action until I know what's going on I decided that they sounded worried, so I allowed they to come. I've told you all that I know, not tell me what you know."

"Why don't you make them tell you, they're the ones that are making such a big deal instead of being supportive?"

"Manuella, I think it's best if you tell him, then you might learn not to do stupid things."

"Well, somebody has better talk to me...right now."

"Fine you want to know what?" said Manny angrily through gritted teeth trying to keep the tears but not succeeding a single tear rolled down her cheek followed quite rapidly by others as the conversation raged on.

"Yes, I do want to know what. Would you be more comfortable if your parents left the room?"

She pondered that thought for a few seconds. Yes, she did want her parents to leave, but on the other hand she did not want to be left alone with Raditch to tell him the news..."Yes, I would."

"Well, then I'm sorry, but Mr. and Mrs. Santos, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

That shocked Manny, she had never thought Raditch to be the kind of person that would chose the child's sorrow over the parent's anger. After he had done that for her she knew that she owed it to him to let him know what really was going on. Then, you could see her parent's shocked faces on the other side of the window...so Manny began.

"Ok, please promise not to be mad at me, because contrary to my parents beliefs I am going to work to make this right, and I won't let my mistakes haunt me forever."

"Ok, Manny, I'm listening."

"Ok, well, it's like this...I'm pregnant."

"No offense, but I sort of figured that much, now what I'm wondering is How far along are you? Who's the father? and What are your parents doing about it?"

"Well, as far as I know I'm kicked out of my house for good, and I'm 3 months in"

"You left out the father part."

"Yeah, well, if I tell you will you promise not to say anything to him?"

"I promise"

"Well," she forced the next part out of her. Actually admitting it was like making it final, and she didn't want that, but sooner or later she would have to. "It's...Craig Manning."

"Craig? Ok, well, your parents kicked you out?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where did you stay last night?"

"At J.T. Yorke's house." Then seeing the look of concern in his face she added..."In the quest room...I'm not going to make that mistake again."

"Good, so are you going to be staying there throughout the pregnancy?"

"Well, we kinda told them that it was J.T.'s baby, but tonight we're going to tell them the truth, and I'm trying to get Emma's mom to let me stay with them. I think we can get that arranged."

"Well, I know you think of me as just 'mean old Raditch' but there are clinics that you can get into if you have nowhere to go, and I can get you in one if you need my help...Let me know."

"Thank you Mr. Raditch."

"Now, you can be excused, and I will talk to your parents for you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome...now go give this to your teacher...the last period just ended."

"bye"

Manny slowly got out of her chair, and walked to the door. She could not help but to like Mr. Raditch even more than she used to. Then, she walked out the door, and right past her parent's stare. They were VERY mad now, but Manny didn't care because they had abandoned her when she needed them most, so, they were as good as dead to her now.