Chapter 114

Cleo and Emma dropped the children off at school the next morning. Cleo arranged to meet with Andy's classroom teacher, Mrs Mara Green. Mrs Green taught all of the older mer-children as well so she knew the families well.

"Hi Mara, how are you this morning?" Cleo greeted her.

"I'm well thank you, dear" Mrs Green replied with a kind smile. Mrs Green was dressed appropriately for her name. She was a short woman with grey hair, wearing a lovely green skirt and cardigan. "How can I help you?"

"I wanted to talk about Andy," Cleo said. "I have reason to believe that some of Andy's friends are being mean to her. Andy hasn't given me any specific details, but whatever it is, it's making Andy not want to come to school,"

"Ah," Mrs Green nodded. "Thanks for letting me know. I have an idea of who might be the ringleader in this. I'll talk to the class about the importance of using our kind words and gentle hands today, and pair Andy with a buddy over the next few days so she isn't by herself during the breaks,"

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Cleo said. "And what will happen if it doesn't improve?"

"I think we'll leave that discussion until we have a better understanding of what is going on, and see if these strategies work first," Mrs Green smiled kindly. "Myself and the duty teachers during breaks will keep an eye on Andy, and see if we can uncover the bigger picture."

Cleo thanked Mrs Green, and returned to the playground. She gave Andy a big hug and a few words of encouragement before she left for work.

OoOoO

Mrs Green's discussion with the class appeared to help.

Mrs Green buddied Andy up with Evelynn in class, and asked Evelynn to play with Andy. So that Andy did not feel singled-out, Mrs Green buddied each classmate up into pairs as well. Evelynn, or 'Evie,' as she was called, was a sweet little girl with dark brown hair. She was quiet but kind and fiercely loyal.

In the days following, Andy came home from school over the next few days smiling and talking all about the craft project she was working on with Evie. Jennifer had seen Andy and Evie playing together on the space-hoppers at lunchtime.

OoOoO

"You look excited Andy," Cleo commented as she handed her daughter her homework. Andy put it in her bag. Everyone was getting ready for school.

Andy retrieved her green, yellow and blue coloured sandbag lizard and put that into her bag as well.

"I am," Andy said, "Evie is going to bring her lizard to school. She said hers is purple, pink, blue AND orange! My Lizzie and her Betty are going to be friends," Andy smiled, "We are planning on playing hide and seek with our lizards today,"

"That sounds like fun," Cleo said with a smile, "Make sure not to let Lizzie and Betty get lost,"

"We won't. We can look after them, Mum," Andy replied earnestly.

"Of course you can, silly me!" Cleo said. "I'll have to meet Evelynn someday, since you two are becoming good friends,"

"Yeah," Andy nodded, grinning.

"We're all ready!" Emma called from outside.

"Got everything?" Cleo asked Andy and Jennifer. The two girls nodded.

"Great," Cleo said. "So are we!" Cleo called out to Emma. "Let's go,"

OoOoO

Jenny was happy – the protective older sister feeling. Andy appeared to be doing much better. She would have to thank Evie one day. The ten year old smiled as she walked across the field to the area in the junior school where Andy and Evie had been having lunch most days. As she got closer, she noticed that Evie was by herself.

"Hi Evie," Jennifer said.

"Hi Jenny," Evie replied with a smile. Jennifer noticed Lizzie and Betty the sandbag lizards were perched on top of the younger girls' bags.

"Where's Andy?"

"She just went to the toilet," Evie said quietly.

"Okay, thanks Evie. Let her know that I came to say 'hi,'" Jenny said.

"Okay," Evie smiled.

Coincidentally, Jennifer's journey back to the senior school took her past the closest toilet block. She wondered whether she should wait for Andy since she would likely be out in a minute. As she got closer, she heard the voices of six year olds.

"You're just an ugly baby," the first voice said.

"No I'm not!" the second voice replied. Jennifer stopped in her tracks. Andy had said that.

"Are too!" the first girl said. "You should go back to preschool where the babies are. I have the best dress. Your clothes are ugly,"

"Ow!" Andy exclaimed. The other girl was poking Andy's chest – poking the clothes. "Stop it, I don't like it," Andy said in a timid voice. The bully laughed.

Jennifer felt the protective anger building inside her. She moved purposefully into the toilet block.

"No one wants to play with you or be your friend," she said. "You're too ugly,"

"That's not true," Andy retorted. "Evie is my friend now,"

"No," the bully said, "She's just your friend because Mrs Green made her your buddy,"

Jennifer rounded the corner as a tear rolled down Andy's cheek.

"How dare you speak to my little sister that way!" Jennifer bellowed. "You have to be nice to her. To everybody,"

"No," the bully said with a laugh.

"You have to stop being mean," Jennifer said red-faced. "Remember what Mrs Green said about kind words and gentle hands?"

"Yeah. But that's silly," the bully said. As if to prove this, she pushed Andy over onto the concrete floor.

Jenny saw red. All logic flew out the window.

"That's it!" Jenny exclaimed.

Water came from everywhere suddenly. Jennifer channelled it in two streams towards Andy and the bully so quickly no one saw it coming.

"Stay away from my sister!" Jennifer said, using her powers to push the bully against the wall, away from Andy.

Andy's jaw was wide open. The bully looked terrified.

"Jenny! Stop!" Andy exclaimed.

Andy's voice appeared to jolt Jennifer back to reality.

"Oh no," Jenny said quietly, letting the water drop to the floor. Andy was quick enough to use her own powers to stop the water from hitting them.

The bully stared at them in shock. A few seconds later, she ran out of the bathroom as quick as she could.

"What have I done?" Jenny whispered. She shook her head. "Are you okay, Andy?"

Andy nodded, getting up from the floor and wiping the tear from her cheek.

"We're not allowed to use our powers at school Jenny," Andy said gravely.

"I know," Jenny said apologetically. "I don't know what overcame me. Big sister protectiveness I guess," she said sheepishly. "You have to know that none of what Eila said is true," Jennifer said, squeezing Andy's hand. Andy shrugged, shaking her head.

"None of what she said is true," Jenny repeated. "You are beautiful and grown-up, and you have lots of friends – all of us back on Mako and Evie of course. We should go ask Evie!"

"Okay," Andy laughed, smiling gratefully. Jennifer grinned.

"Mrs Green! Mrs Green!" they heard Eila shouting. The grin disappeared off Jenny's face.

Jenny and Andy shared a look. This was not good.

Hand in hand, they walked out of the bathroom ready to face the music.

"What has happened Eila?" Mrs Green said.

"Jennifer McCartney attacked me with water," Eila whined. Mrs Green frowned. She saw Jenny and Andy nearby. Mrs Green waved them over.

"You attacked Eila with water, Jennifer?" Mrs Green asked.

"Eila was bullying Andy, Mrs Green," Jenny rushed. "I heard her saying lots of mean things, like how Andy was an ugly baby and that no one wanted to be her friend,"

"That's not true!" Eila said. "Jennifer attacked me!"

Mrs Green raised her hand indicating for them to stop.

"I find it hard to believe that Jennifer would attack anyone unprovoked. What happened, Andy?"

"I went toilet, then Eila said I shouldn't be there, and said lots of mean things," Andy said with a frown.

"Eila, I think we will need to have another talk about kind words and gentle hands," Mrs Green said calmly.

"Jennifer has magic powers!" Eila exclaimed. "She pushed me to the wall with them! The water came out like 'whoosh!'" Eila actioned it with her arms.

Mrs Green sighed.

"Come with me Eila," she said. "I think it would be best if you stay on the senior school side for now, Jenny,"

Jennifer nodded her agreement. It seemed like Mrs Green did not believe Eila's story about her magical powers. Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay, Andy?" Mrs Green asked.

"Yes," Andy nodded.

When Cleo picked up the children from school at the end of the day, Mrs Green had a brief discussion with her. Mrs Green explained what had happened at lunchtime that day, and mentioned the tale the three girls had told.

Cleo's surprise was taken as 'disbelief', rather than just shock that her daughter had used her powers that way. Mrs Green reassured Cleo that now that she knew more, she and the other teachers would be able to put a better plan in place. To support Eila, and positively reinforce appropriate behaviour, but to also protect Andy.

On the swim home, Cleo talked with Jennifer via mindspeak.

'You used your powers against the bully?'

'Yes, I'm sorry,' Jenny replied. 'I don't know what came over me. She pushed Andy over, Mum – I had to stop her,'

'I understand that, honey. It is fortunate that Mrs Green didn't believe Eila, and that no one else saw. You can't use your powers like that at school – or against anyone. You could hurt someone; it can be dangerous'

'I know. I am really sorry. It won't happen again,' Jenny said forlornly.

'It's okay, sweetie. Thank you for protecting Andy,'

Cleo felt Jenny's surprise over the mindspeak connection.

'I'm glad I could be there,' Jenny said.

OoOoO

A few days later…

"But Mum, it really happened. Jennifer McCartney really made the water push me!"

"Eila, you need to stop going on about this. There is no such thing as magic! Can you put that loaf of bread in the trolley?"

At the supermarket of all places.

Ryan grinned. He had a lead.

A/N: Hi everyone! I am back!

I am now a qualified Speech Language Therapist, in permanent full time employment :D It's been a long 5 years studying, but I made it! My graduation ceremony is in a few weeks :) It is such a good feeling to be done and working. Sorry it has taken so long for me to update, but I've been focusing on finishing my masters, and settling in to my new life as a professional SLT in a new city.

Thanks everyone for reading this! Thanks for sticking it out!

Thanks especially to those who reviewed since my last update. I love you all a lot! You inspire me to continue writing.

Thanks to Makodragon, samandfreddie, YaleAceBella12, CrazyHayniac, Walker, Rock Mint Swirl 22, Nightengale, MissBluebird99, Guest.

(I wrote a long authors note and then silly site didn't save it, so now I'm re-writing this...and it doesn't look as nice haha, oh well!)

See you all next time!