They get home ten minutes later. They all get out and walk in the house. "Tori. Anna. Go play." Troy said. The girls dropped their backpacks and ran to play in Tori's room. Troy and Gabriella sat on the love seats and turned to face their son. "Ok, Zac. Mommy told me what Anna told her. Now why did you laugh at your sister and call her a nerd?" Zac stayed silent. "Speak, Young Man and answer my question."
"It was funny. And the whole class did it."
"Ok. Don't laugh just because the rest of the class is." Gabriella said.
"And you know your sister is smart. So why didn't you do anything to defend her?" Troy asked in his still mad tone.
"It was funny."
"Zac, you're older than she is by three minutes. And being her brother, you're supposed to defend her. I'm VERY disappointed in you. No play time until tomorrow. Go to your room and think about what you did. We'll come get you when dinner's ready."
Zac teared up and ran to his room. Gabriella started tearing up and put her face in her hands. "Where did we go wrong with him? What did I ever do to make him like this?"
Troy pulled her into his lap and she cuddled into him. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. "We didn't go wrong anywhere. And you didn't do anything to make him like this. This was of his own choice. Don't blame yourself, Hunny."
"But I feel as if it's my fault."
"It's not, Baby. You didn't do anything wrong raising him." He said in reassurance and pulled her away enough to kiss her softly.