Chapter 10: Conflict
Muffin sat on the chair outside the principal's office. She scowled as she looked ahead. She had a bruise on her cheek and an ice pack on her forehead. She didn't care about the injuries. She'd won. What she did care about was the jerk sitting two seats away from her, Marty Mastiff. She sneered at him. "You learn to keep your fat tongue in your mouth you-"
She was cut off by the door opening and the principal stepping out.
"I've taken the liberty of calling both of your parents." She said, looking at both of the battered children, "Once they arrive, we will hear both sides of what happened and work to settle the matter. Until then, you two will sit in my office and say or do anything, am I clear?" the principal said, looking at Marty and Muffin with her hands on her hips.
"Fine." Muffin said, glaring at Marty.
Both children got up from their seats before walking into Principal Greyhound's office and seating far apart from each other. Muffin sat there, glaring daggers into Marty's eyes before looking down at her feet.
Five minutes later Stripe had arrived and Marty's mother was there. The two looked at each other and sat beside their children. "Thank you both for coming out. Your children had a bit of an altercation on the playground and I wanted to make sure you were both here while we get to the bottom of it."
"Of course Principal Greyhound, that's what I would like to understand as well." Stripe said before looking at his oldest daughter. "Muffin, could you please tell me and Principal Greyhound why you attacked Marty?" He asked kneeling down to her level.
Enter
"He said Socks and her friends were freaks." Muffin said. "And he wouldn't take it back. So I beat him up."
"I see..." Principal Greyhound replied with a raised eyebrow before turning her attention to Marty, "Marty, is this true?" She asked the Fawn Mastiff.
"Yeah, so? She started it!" Marty frowned. "You tried to hit my sister!" Muffin growled.
"Muffin honey, please calm down." Stripe said, trying to calm his daughter down. "Marty, I want you to be honest with me. Did you try to hit Socks?" Principal Greyhound asked looking directly into the English Mastiff's eyes.
Marty looked away. "Yeah, I guess."
"I see, so not only did you call Socks and her friends names, but you also tried to hit her as well and lie about it to my face... I expected better from you, Marty." Principal Greyhound said, shaking her head in disappointment. "And Muffin, while I understand you were defending your sister and your friends like any other older sibling would, please come get a teacher rather than use your fists." She said, turning to Muffin.
"I gave him a chance. I asked him to repeat himself and he said he called her and her friends freaks. Then he made fun of me and said I was just some weird girl who talks too much. Socks came over to see what was happening and he tried to push her over. I stopped him and told him to leave us alone. He didn't, so I made sure he wouldn't make that mistake again." Muffin stated calmly.
"I understand Muffin, but violence shouldn't always be the answer to every conflict." Principal Greyhound explained to the Greyish Blue Heeler, "Marty, I think it's best that you keep your distance from Muffin, Socks, and her friends. If you cause any more trouble, I will take more direct measures. The same goes for you, Muffin." Principal Greyhound said, looking at Muffin. "Now, have I made myself clear?" She asked, glancing at both of them.
"Yes, sir." Muffin said looking at Marty with a coolness in her eyes.
"M-Muffin, you call Principal Greyhound Ma'am..." Stripe said, trying to correct his daughter while holding back a snicker.
"But aren't all important ladies called sir? You call mum 'sir' when you're in your bedroom and Socks and I are supposed to be sleeping."
Stripe's blood ran cold as his eyes widened in horror, "T-That's for different reasons... Principal Greyhound, is there anything else we need to go over?" He said trying to change the topic.
"Um... Well, your children are both being let off with a warning. But if this happens again there will be consequences."
Stripe nodded his head, "Y-Yes Sir- I MEAN MA'AM! Come on, Muffin, we're going home!" Stripe said, grabbing his daughter and hurrying out of the office.
Muffin drug her feet as she walked down the hallway. They reached the car and she was buckled in the back. "It's not fair." She pouted.
"What do you mean, Muffy?" Stripe asked, looking in the rear view mirror. A part of him knew she was talking about getting in trouble, but a part of him thought that maybe there was something more going on.
"Why does he think it's okay to talk about Socks like that!" Muffin scowled.
"While it was wrong of him to say what he said, it's probably because he doesn't understand why your sister and her friends are the way they are. You understand why, right Muffy?" Stripe explained before asking with a raised eyebrow.
"Because he's a cunt?" She suggested.
"Muffin Cupcake Heeler! We don't use that kind of language. Where did you hear that word?" Stripe asked, shocked at what word just left his daughters mouth.
"Uncle Rad said it at the cookout last weekend." She replied. "He was yelling at David."
Stripe placed a hand on his face, frustrated at his oldest brother. "Muffin... what Uncle Rad said was not a very nice word. It's not a word you want to say around people because you could hurt their feelings. Do you understand?" He explained to Muffin.
"But I want to hurt Marty's feelings. I want to hurt his face!" She said.
"Muffin, Principal Greyhound just explained to you that violence is not the answer. I know you're still upset with Marty, but now his mother will make sure he learns his lesson. So, the best thing to do is to let this go, okay?" Stripe asked, turning around to look at the angry Greyish Blue Heeler.
"But why do people get to keep talking to Socks like that? It's not okay! She's not bad or mean? So why do they make fun of her?!"
"Muffin, please calm down honey..." Stripe said, in a calm tone. "Why don't we try some breathing exercises?" He suggested before taking a deep breath.
"No! I'm not upset about me, I'm mad about how people keep being bad to Socks and Jeffrey and Jackie. They're just a little different and it's wrong that people keep making fun of them just cause of how they aren't the same!" Muffin was now crying. "I love Socks and I don't like her being sad!"
Stripe got out of car and walked to the backseat before unbuckling Muffin and hugging her close to his chest, "Muffy... it's okay, just please calm down... daddy doesn't like it when you're upset... now, I want you to breathe with me, okay?" Stripe asked as he rubbed her back.
"I will not calm down! This is rightwous fury!" She shouted. "Righteous fury?" Stripe asked. "What… how'd you learn that?" "I will make sure Socks and all the other kids like her are loved and respected!" Muffin declared.
"Muffin please... look at me.." Stripe said, looking into his daughters eyes. "Muffin, I love the fact that you love your sister and you want to protect her and her friends, but you can't go around fighting everyone that doesn't like her or them... because that's how life is. Yes, it's unfair. But it's like your Grandad Bob always told me, and your uncles... you can't make everyone happy, and you can't make everyone like you. The best thing you can do is ignore them and keep living YOUR life the way YOU want to." Stripe said, remembering what his father had told him years ago.
Muffin nodded. "But it isn't fair. It's like in the 60s how dingoes had to fight for their rights. Socks is the same way with her friends. Marty can say that stuff and just get a warning! He should've gotten in real trouble!"
Stripe continued to rub his daughters back, "And he has, his mother will see to it that he faces the consequences of his actions. While I don't approve of what you did, I am very proud of you for defending your sister and her friends."
Muffin looked up at her father with tears in her eyes. "Dad, can you help me with a project. I have an idea."
"Of course I'll help you. That's what dad's do, what's your project about?" Stripe asked with a smile, wiping the tears from her eyes with his thumb.
"I'm gonna make a presentation. I need you to make a few calls. And I need some poster board." Stripe called the school as well as a few friends of his, while Muffin, and later Socks and her friends-who had come with their parents okay-made some posters. The presentation was scheduled for Friday.
By the time Friday had rolled around Muffin with help from her father, her mother, and her uncle Bandit had finished her presentation. Parents, teachers, and students all gathered around, ready to see what the presentation was about. "Okay Muffin, are you ready?" Stripe asked, looking at his daughter.
"I think so." She nodded. She walked out onto the stage and held her microphone. "Hello. My name is Muffin Heeler and I'm here to talk about neurodivergence." She paused as Socks and Jeffrey came out holding signs. Socks' said neuro and Jeffrey's said divergence. "Neuro means it has to do with the brain. And divergence means not the same as usual. When a person is neurodivergent they have a brain that works a bit different than some other people's." She paused and turned as Bandit walked on stage.
"Hello everyone, my name is Bandit Heeler. I'm Muffin's Uncle, and I have ADHD." Bandit introduced himself to everyone.
"ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder…" Jeffrey said, "Is a condition where people can have trouble with focusing attention, hyperactivity, and being impulsive." He looked at Bandit with a smile. "I have ADHD too."
"But despite that, my uncle Bandit had managed to hold a job in Archeology, which means he digs up things from lost civilizations!" Muffin explained her uncles occupation, "Could you tell everyone how long you've worked in Archeology?" She asked, looking at her second oldest uncle.
"Well, I got started about twenty years ago. But I've been working at the Brisbane Natural History Museum for about fifteen years." He explained.
"And has your ADHD held you back from completing your job at certain points in your life?" Muffin asked before pointing the microphone at her uncle.
"Not really. It just meant I had to learn to study differently when I was in school. But at my job it just means I get to to work at my own pace. Being an archeologist I work from home a lot in order to do my writing for my job."
"Do you hear that? Even despite having ADHD, my Uncle Bandit still perseveres and manages to get his job done!" Muffin said, speaking into the microphone. "If my Uncle Bandit can do it, then I know with enough patience and understanding, then Jeffrey can be as successful as my Uncle Bandit!" Muffin said, pointing at Jeffrey.
Jeffrey smiled. "Thanks Muffin." He nodded. Muffin nodded at him and then moved to the next card. "Now we're going to talk about autism spectrum disorder or ASD…"
Just then, Stripe's colleague Bertram, an orange and White Brittany, walked out onto the stage waving.
Bertram cleared his throat and addressed the crowd. "Hello, my name is Bertram and I am on the Autism Spectrum. I work with Muffin's father, I'm a financial advisor."
"Could you explain what that means, please? Muffin spoke into the microphone before pointing it at the Orange and White Brittany.
"I help people decide how to save their money." He explained.
"That's sounds like a great job. Does Autism affect you in a way that hinders you from completing your job?" Muffin asked Bertram.
"Not really. I do have some difficulty with social interaction, but most of the time I can get by just fine." He noted. "Though ASD can manifest in many different ways."
"That's right, Autism can affect a lot of people in different ways! For example, certain things like touch can sometimes overwhelm someone with Autism." Muffin explained to the audience.
"And for others it can be smells or lights." Bertram said. "I know I'm more sensitive to some sounds."
"My sister Socks can't handle being hugged, but over time, she's been getting better at it slowly but surely." Muffin said, looking over at his little sister. "But even despite that, I still love my sister, and I know that she'll grow up to do great things just like my Dad's colleague, Bertram!" She said, gesturing to Bertram.
"Having things that are a little different doesn't make you less. It just makes you different. All of us are different in some way." Muffin said. "That's right Muffin." Bandit said. "And we should celebrate how each of us is unique."
"Only by trying to understand someone and not shunning them. Can we make things better for people who are struggling but can help those to come in the future." Bertram added.
"So, this next week is going to be neurodiversity week at school. We'll be learning about different types of neurodivergence and how they effect people." Muffin explained.
"So be sure to ask someone what they like or don't like or what certain things they can or can't handle." Bandit said, "That way, you know what to avoid when you're around that person."
"And remember, people are still people. No matter who they are." Bertram concluded.
"My name is Muffin Cupcake Heeler, and this has been my presentation on Neurodivergence. Thank you for coming!" Muffin said before taking a bow.
After the presentation Muffin walked off the stage with her friends and noticed Marty talking to Jackie. She immediately frowned and walked over, but realized Marty seemed apologetic.
"Muffin... I'm sorry for calling your sister and her friends freaks... I'm also sorry for trying to hit Socks too." The fawn English Mastiff said with a look of shame.
"Thank you for apologizing." She nodded. "I'm sorry I hit you too."
"It's okay... to be honest, I had it coming." Marty replied, rubbing his arm.
"Um… hey, I don't want to be weird but can he sit with us?" Jackie asked.
"R-Really, you want me to sit with you, even though I was being a drongo?" Marty asked surprised.
"Mum says to forgive. And you seem like you not all bad." She shrugged.
"Oh, thanks... now that I learned more about all of you, you're not bad either or I mean you weren't bad in the beginning... you know what i' trying to say?" Marty asked blushing nervously.
"I understand." Muffin nodded. "And as long as you don't do anything mean again you're welcome to be part of our group."
"I promise I won't! Especially after you punched me, you punch really good for a girl." Marty replied, rubbing the area where Muffin had hit him.
"Thanks. I take karate lessons." Muffin said.
"That's cool, what about you, Socks? Do you or your friends have any hobbies or activities?" Marty asked, looking at the other members of the friend group.
"I like drawing." She said.
"Oh, what do you like drawing?" Marty asked raising an eyebrow.
"Lots of things. I'm working on drawing my house right now." She said.
"Oh wow, that must take a lot of time to do." Marty replied, surprised.
"It takes time, but I like it." She said.
"Do you think you could show me it someday if you want to?" Marty asked, intrigued by how good Socks art must be.
"Sure!" She smiled, her tail wagging. "Do you draw too?"
"Sometimes, but it probably doesn't look as good as yours probably does..." Marty replied nervously.
"It's okay! We all learn!" She said.
"Cool..." Marty replied with a small smile as his tail started wagging.
The group talked a bit more and Bandit walked over to talk with Stripe. "So, do you think it worked."
"I think so, that Marty kid looks like he learned his lesson... in more ways than one." Stripe replied with a chuckle.
"Well, I'm glad." Bandit smiled. "You've got a good kid, Stripe. Muffin did a good thing for her sister."
Stripe smiled before patting his older brother on the back, "Thanks, Bandit... your kids are great too." He replied.
"We did pretty good." Bandit smiled, "And Rad isn't half bad either."
"How's Brandy and Austin been lately?" Stripe asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"They're both doing well." Bandit said. "You know this parenting thing… it isn't easy."
"No, but it's worth it." Stripe replied.
Loyalguard600: A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter of Parenting. It was nice to help T.S.G. with this! Be sure to sure to stay tuned for the next chapter and the next chapter of Life of Levon that's coming soon!)
Suburban_Guy: A/N Hello! I hope you all enjoyed this! Thanks again to Loyal for helping me out with this! More is on the way, and I am sorry for the wait between chapters!