Darry
I sat in my office going over paper work but my mind couldn't help but wander. I was meeting with DJ's coach later today to talk about what he'd been going through with the team. I was worried it was going to make things worse for DJ- if the coach started giving him special treatment and it would make him a target. If he were to find another team he'd probably have to hide who he was and I definitely didn't want that either. Maybe another sport would be better than football, one with a smaller team.
"Darrel, your wife is here to see you," My receptionist said through the com and I smiled, pushing the tray with the blueprints on it back into my desk,
"Thanks Helen, send her back." There was a soft knock on my door and Charlotte opened it and she looked so beautiful. She came over and sat in my lap before kissing me,
"So DJ finally opened up to me about why he's so nervous about tonight… You're going to talk to his coach?" I nodded and wrapped my arms around her waist,
"I… He loves football. It's hard enough being as tall as he is and younger than all of his team mates but now that they're bullying him… I don't know that I feel comfortable sending him back to play with them babe."
She nodded, "I agree full heartedly. I wasn't sure if you were planning to pull him off of the team or what."
"I will do whatever he says he wants to do. If he doesn't feel comfortable on the team I'm not going to force him. There are other sports, individual sports where he won't be ridiculed by team mates."
We sat in silence for a few moments, just reflecting on what was going to come out of the meeting with his coach tonight.
"He was terrified to tell you, you know. I… I told him there was no reason to be scared… But last night he told you all on his own."
"You knew?" I asked gently and she nodded,
"He told me two months ago… He was scared you'd hate him. And I'm so proud of you for the way you handled it. He… God Darry I wish you saw his face when you sent him to bed… He was so relieved and… So happy that you accepted him. You mean the world to him you know."
"He means everything to me Char… He always has. If nothing goes like he wants tonight then we'll find a different team or a different sport, I don't care as long as he's happy. I refuse to let him be treated as if he's different and I won't let him be walked on."
She smiled and kissed me softly, gently wrapping her arm around my neck, "How's business otherwise?"
"Pretty good, things are a little tight and a little um… Rough on our job site on Peach Street without Olivia but things are going. These guys respected Olivia and she was understanding and this guy is a wake up call I suppose."
She nodded in understanding and I rubbed her back,
"How's the real estate coming?"
"Really good, we've only got a few more to sell on the development you're going to start by Fifth Line."
"They're selling real quick," I noted and she nodded smiling,
"They are. Lots of younger families too, but the really big corner lot was sold to an older couple with seven kids and thirteen grandkids from all around the states."
"Jesus Christ," I said and she laughed, patting my shoulder. She looked at the time and kissed me again,
"What time are you meeting coach?"
"I asked for four, since he's the coach at the school I figured I'd meet you for pick up and I'll stay with DJ and you could take Josie to the park or something while we talked… Unless you want to be there too."
She bit her lip and nodded, "I was hoping to… Maybe we could see if someone could take Josie?"
"Yeah I'll message them and see if anyone is able to." She smiled and kissed me,
"Well I'm going to get lunch with Beth, so I'll come back closer to the end of the school day?" I nodded,
"Yeah, how does three sound?"
"Sounds perfect babe. I love you, see you soon." She walked out and Two-bit texted me that he and Olivia were going to be taking a tour of the elementary school around that time and Josie was welcome to join them so I took him up on his offer. Charlotte was back exactly at three and we took her car to the school, luckily getting a spot before the mad rush of pick up time. The school was roughly half an hour away from where I worked so we were lucky to snag a spot. We waited for DJ and Josie to come out, he came out holding her hand and I waved when I saw Two-bit walking towards us holding the boys's hands. Olivia was pushing the stroller that Raven was in and both of my kids grinned when they saw who was coming over.
"Hey Josie! Did you want to come and walk around the school with us?" Olivia asked and she nodded excitedly, taking her hand. I gently rested my hand on DJ's shoulder, looking down at him, "Are you ready kiddo?" He nodded and I could tell he was nervous. He took my hand tightly and I squeezed his hand, walking into the school, going to the coach's office.
"Hi Darrel, Charlotte," he said, standing up to shake our hands, "Hey kiddo." He said smiling at DJ. He smiled nervously and we sat down in front of him,
"So what brings you three in here?" He asked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his desk.
"Well… I'm not sure if you've heard but the other boys on the team have been bullying DJ." Charlotte said, she could pick up that I was absolutely fuming already.
"I have heard yes. But not from your son, from the other boys. But frankly, I don't see it as bullying. It was a couple pranks."
I grit my teeth, "Writing 'fag' one someone's equipment isn't a prank, it's bullying." The coached rolled his eyes,
"It was a prank that was supposed to be harmless. You should know Darrel, you played all through high school."
"I played through high school but we were brothers. Nothing tore our team apart. If you don't make a stand against this bullying we're pulling DJ off the team." I threatened and I felt DJ squeeze my hand tightly.
"How do you want me to stop kids from talking? I can't control what comes out of their mouths." He said, leaning back in his chair.
"Enough. He's off the team and I want my money back." I said and the coach rolled his eyes,
"Look Darrel, do you really think this is the best way to fix this? Sheltering him?" Charlotte took a deep breath and I could feel my face heat up in anger,
"Sheltering him? Sheltering him? Oh, you're right, I'm sorry, I suppose you think the right thing to do is leave him on the team where the other boys don't support him and constantly ridicule him. Bullshit. We came on to your team because you made a promise to treat all kids with courtesy and that there would be no bullying tolerated. My boy hasn't felt safe at a practice in months and he hasn't come home happy either. I won't let him grow up doubting himself or being afraid to be who he is. If you're going to be a prick you can fuck off. If nothing is going to change DJ will no longer be on your team. If you're going to say that it's okay for those boys to treat him like he's any different than him, fuck you. Fuck you for being an absolute terrible human being." I stood up,
"I'll take the check with half of what we paid for him to play."
"No." The coached said, tempting me by raising his eyebrow.
"Really? Would you like me to pull the CEO into this? Because he's a buddy of mine and his brother works for me." He grit his teeth and wrote me the check and I slipped it into my pocket, looking at my wife and my son- who hasn't looked happier in months.
"Let's go guys." I wrapped an arm around my wife and DJ, walking out with them.
"Thanks Dad," DJ whispered and I hugged him tightly, rubbing his back,
"I will always have your side baby." He hugged me again and we walked around the school before seeing Two-bit and Olivia sitting in DJ's classroom, talking to his teacher. We knocked on the door and his teacher smiled, waving us in,
"Hello Mr. Miller," I said, shaking his hand. He smiled,
"Darrel, Charlotte I'm glad you're here. I'd actually like to have a chat with you both once I'm done with Mr. And Mrs. Mathews." We nodded,
"Sounds great." We went to sit with Josie as they continued chatting and Mr. Miller talked with Xavier and he seemed to relax when he realized DJ would be in his class.
Once Two-bit and Olivia were done we thanked them for watching Josie before Mr. Miller came over to sit with us and gave DJ a careful look before looking at us,
"How did the meeting go?" He asked and I sighed,
"He won't be playing on that team anymore." I had a good feeling that Mr. Miller had really been helping DJ and for that I was grateful.
"I'm sorry to hear that DJ… But you know that I've got your back in class okay?" He nodded but I knew that DJ was a confident kid in class and he wouldn't have many problems. Mr. Miller had a zero tolerance policy for bullying and I knew we lucked out getting him as a teacher.
DJ nodded and Mr. Miller smiled,
"While you're here I'd like to talk about DJ's marks. I didn't request an interview because there was no need to, his marks are very very impressive and I know you both help him and support him at home." Mr. Miller was a young teacher, Ponyboy's age. They were even friends in high school.
"Yes we do, we try to set aside an hour for reading every night and an hour after school for homework.
"And it shows. I also appreciate you don't allow very much time for video games, that puts him ahead of the game." I smiled, my son didn't have a very big interest in video games. His biggest interest had been football and it was breaking my heart he wasn't on a team anymore.
"I don't really like video games," DJ admitted and Mr. Miller grinned,
"Me either. So your cousin is going to start in our class on Monday, are you excited?" He asked and DJ nodded,
"Yeah! He's my new cousin but I can't wait to see him every day!"
Mr. Miller smiled, "Alright, well thank you for stopping in to see me."
"Of course Mr. Miller, thank you for having us and being here for DJ."
He nodded, "This isn't an easy time in his life and the least I can do is be someone he can lean on."
I shook his hand and we went to our car and I put Josie into her car seat, "Okay how does pizza sound?" The kids cheered and I grinned,
"Alright, I'll call ahead and order some pizza and wings."
"Garlic bread!" Josie said giggling and I grinned, calling the pizza place by our house.
By the time we got to the pizza place it was ready and I went inside to pay and DJ came in after a couple minutes while I waited in line,
"Mom said I could have a pop." I nodded,
"Alright, grab one from the fridge," He grabbed a pop and stood beside me,
"Dad?" He said and I looked down,
"I just… I just want to say thank you for sticking up for me… And taking my side." I wrapped my arm around him and rubbed his arm,
"Buddy, even though you're my son, I will always take your side and I will always do what I can to protect you. You're my everything and I couldn't be more proud of the man that you're going to become."
"You don't care that I don't like girls?" He asked shyly,
"Darrel, as long as you treat the person you love right and they treat you right, I couldn't care less okay?" He hugged me and I kissed his head, before paying for the pizza. I have to admit, back when Charlotte first told me she was pregnant I was terrified. I still feel amazed that I managed to raise Ponyboy, but it wasn't just me raising him. I'd essentially started raising Ponyboy when he was thirteen and I had the help of the other boys around so he could sort of pick and chose which qualities he liked and didn't like. With these kids I'd be starting from scratch and I didn't know how to do that.
He helped me carry the pizza out to the car and I grabbed some plates from the kitchen,
"Why don't we watch a movie with dinner?" I asked, knowing that we always ate at the table. The kids nodded excitedly and I handed plates out, opening the boxes while Char found a family movie to put on. I wrapped my arm around her as we watched the movie, half way through Josie went to get her colouring book and DJ curled up on the floor by Jake. I wrapped both arms around Char and I kissed her softly,
"We did good baby," I whispered and she grinned and kissed me back,
"You did good. I love you."
"I love you too."