Chapter Six

Any toffee left in Cori's treat bag was eaten and it was worth the indigestion.

"There was more toffee out there," Drew said entering the kitchen. "Where is it?" "It's long gone and was delicious, too," Rick grinned.

"You two are adults, right?" Brianna asked.

"In theory," Drew said. "And on paper."

The dads' first parent-teacher conference at Brianna's new school was that afternoon, the school only had a half day. Drew was lucky enough to go to this one because chances were he wouldn't get to more with his schedule at the base. Brianna wasn't worried about her grades or anything her teachers might say about her school behavior but she was worried about her parents' reaction to a secret she had been keeping from them. "Brianna talks about you guys so much, and her sister, too. She's truly grateful she met you that night," one of her teachers, who didn't look more than eighteen said. "She said she never thought she would see Cori ever again and missed her. Cori sounds delightful, a handful but delightful."

That was a true statement.

Another of Brianna's teachers said the girl liked the fact not as many people here said much about her having gay parents, like they did in Texas. But she was looking forward to going home. They did learn something Bri wasn't telling them. A brother-sister set of twins in her class who were giving the girl a hard time about having been a foster child for so long. The girl said most girls in foster care turned out to be hookers or strippers before they were went to jail. The brother said Brianna's dads only adopted her "out of pity."

"I'm surprised she didn't tell you," the teacher said, when Drew said it was the first time they were hearing of this.

Rick wanted to know if this had been going on since the beginning of the year and if the school know why weren't they notified by the school. As close as Brianna was to them, she was fourteen. Teenagers didn't tell their parents everything.


"I can't say much more regarding other students, but Brianna isn't their only target. The administration has put the two under suspension till further investigation, they haven't talked to your daughter yet," the teacher said. "I can't speak for Brianna; she's not in trouble, she a great student. But I can guess that she hasn't said anything because she has many more defenders and friends than bullies. Other students stand out for her swiftly and she does the same."

"I didn't tell you about the two stooges because I knew you guys would be mad and it's not like it you could do anything 'bout them. Other parents tried. And they don't get pick on me for long before someone intervenes," Brianna said.

Drew took a deep breath.

"But honey, that's not the point. They shouldn't be bully you at all. You or anybody."

"I know, but it's not like I believe what they say no matter how much they say it."

"And that's great," Rick said. "But you still shouldn't have to listen to it every day."

If the administration wanted to speak with Brianna the two would know first because one or both would have to be present. Thus they would have to get a phone call that hadn't occurred.

The teen twins in question unknown to the men were the grandchildren of someone they both knew; the drill sergeant now Major who trained them in boot camp he man was a ball buster even then, there wasn't a thing as grown men they didn't call them in their heads. Although the siblings lived with their parents, their grandfather was in charge of picking their school because he funded it. It was the first time his little darlings had caused trouble in their school by bullying. They were on their third private school.

And grandpa was fed up with it.

He was going to cease paying their tuition, leaving them to public school.

Something he would realize made the two spoiled siblings angry. Their reaction to their grandfather's making them attend public school (which the two thought they were too good for) would get them in trouble with the law and in turn away from Brianna and Burlington, Vermont.