"Where have you two been?" Miss Mason asked as she glared at them from the other side of her desk. "Well? One of you needs to tell me," she demanded. Poppy looked over to Mollie, who was on the brink of tears. "Poppy? Mollie?" she asked angrily. At this, Mollie burst into tears. Poppy moved towards her and gave Rachel a glace that said "look what you've done." Rachel moved from her desk and put her arm around Mollie.
"Sorry, Miss Mason," Poppy said.
"That's okay. Mollie, what's wrong?" Mollie didn't answer.
"Mollie, tell her," Poppy prompted. They moved over to the sofa in Rachel's office where Mollie composed herself. "Just what you told me," Poppy said as she gave Mollie a reassuring smile.
Mollie repeated her story to Rachel, who was horrified to hear what had happened to her. "I'm sorry, Mollie, so, so sorry. But it's over now. He won't hurt you again."
"Thanks, Miss."
"That's okay Mollie. We can help you now. Do you know what you're going to do with the baby?"
"I'm keeping it, Miss."
"Okay, that's a brave decision." Rachel paused. "Do you two feel as if you can go back to class today? Or do you both want to sit in here for the rest of the day?"
"We can go back," Mollie answered.
"Okay." Both girls stood up to leave and as they were walking out Rachel called, "Oh Poppy!" Poppy turned around and wondered if she was in trouble. "I think I can let you off skipping class just this once, and that's only because you were needed."
Rachel cancelled her meeting for afterschool so she could talk to Poppy. When they were both home, Rachel gave Poppy a lecture about 'why lessons are important.' Poppy hardly listened but promised that she'd never skip class again… unless it was necessary.