Thursday.

Bella is the perfect 4(almost 5) year old. She never gets into fights, eats all her vegetables, doesn't throw tantrums, her grades are good and she's always coming home with shiny golden star stickers on her worksheets. Sarah has told him that while she does tend to get a little raucous around Leah, she is polite to a fault, never forgets to say 'please' and 'thank-you'. She even shares her toys with Jake (except for her barbies). All in all, she's a good kid. So on Thursday, Chief Swan is confused when he gets a call at the station from the school, asking him to come down because Bella got into a fight in craft class. He hurries down, ready to defend his daughter, only to find Bella sitting on a chair, swinging her legs unabashedly while the Principal tries to comfort a crying Jessica. Jessica's mom comes in just after Charlie and rushes to comfort her daughter while Charlie stands behind Bella's chair and runs a hand over her head. When Jessica's sniffles have subsided, her mom turns to the Principal and calmly asks for an explanation.

(Flashback)

Jessica skips over to Bella and Lauren, who are comparing the fishes they have cut out of colored paper. Lauren's is big and purple. Bella's is small and silver.

'Guess what?' Jessica says. 'My mom is taking me to the aquarium on Saturday. Do you want to come with us?'

Lauren smiles. 'Yes, we can go see a purple fish.'

Bella frowns. 'There are no purple fish.'

'There are.'

'No.'

'Yes.'

'No.'

'Yes.'

Jessica stomps her foot. 'Stop fighting. We'll find out on Saturday.'

Bella looks at her. 'I can't come.'

Jessica is confused. 'But your dad never says no.'

'She's just scared that we'll find purple fish there.' Lauren says.

'There are no purple fish.'

Jessica interrupts before Lauren can reply. 'Why don't you come and see?'

Bella turns to her. 'I can't. Leah and Rach and Becca are coming over for the weekend.'

'But you see them every day.' Jessica protests.

Bella shakes her head. 'Leah is my best friend. I won't come.'

Lauren nods, pointing towards Bella's fish. 'She's going to give this fish to Leah.'

Jessica sees red. She and Bella play together all the time in school. They even entered the poem reciting competition as a team. Leah doesn't even go to their school. She should be Bella's best friend. Not Leah. Leaning forward, she tries to grab the fish and tear it in half. But somehow, Bella is faster. Clumsy Bella who can't even walk without falling down reads Jessica's intentions in her face and grabs her hand before she can reach the fish. She shoves Jessica back with surprising strength and Jessica falls down with a muted thud. Lauren's screams attract the teacher.

(End flashback)

After making the girls apologize to each other, the Principal asks Charlie to stay back. She is a short woman who wears her hair in a tight bun, perhaps in an effort to appear intimidating. But her voice is soft when she asks Charlie whether Bella is seeing a counselor.

'Why?' Charlie is startled.

Gently, she explains that growing up without a mom might be hard for a child, leading her to act out like she did today.

'But she was just 8 months old when Rene and I got divorced. And Rene barely has any contact with us.' Despite his words, Charlie is suddenly unsure. He has never had any complaints from Bella about the absence of her mother. But then, Sue and Sarah are always there. Charlie doesn't know if that's a good thing or bad. He asks the Principal if she knows any counselors who work with children. She recommends one in Port Angeles. Even though her demeanor is perfectly normal, Charlie can't help but feel that she's silently judging him for not thinking about this earlier. After leaving her office, he calls work and takes the rest of the day off. On the way home, he buys Bella an ice cream cone with two scoops of strawberry.