Henry ran into the house, slammed the door and went straight to his bedroom, leaving his mother standing at the bottom of the stairs wondering what the hell had just happened..
She placed his bag on the floor near the coat rack and took off her shoes whilst considering her next action. Henry had been quiet when she picked him up from school. Only replying to her questions by huffing as though he'd aged a few years over night. This was not her sweet little boy.
A few moments later, she tentatively knocked on his door, calling his name as she pushed it too. She clutched her chest at the sight of him curled up on his bed, sobbing into his pillow. She didn't want to add words, instead, she gently approached him before beginning to rub circles on his back.
After a few minutes, Henry's sobs began to lessen, and he turned to face his mother.
"Henry, sweetie, please tell me what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I'm just being silly. Honestly." She stroked his hair.
"Henry, nothing that makes you this upset is silly, okay?" He sniffed and nodded.
"Some of the kids in class were saying that since our family has moved into town, everything has gone to shit!" She winced at his use of language but refused to let it show in this instance.
"What do you mean Henry?"
"Malcom said that his mom was saying there's a seedy club that has opened up in town and some of the men are using its hor… hors.."
"Do you mean whores Henry?" It wasn't something she wanted to teach him, but she needed to know what was being said, and it wasn't as though he hadn't heard the word anyway.
"Yeah, our town is now full of whores and people have been out late at night drinking in the streets, creating havoc and the Sheriff does nothing about it. She said that the Sheriff lets it happen as he is the owner's friend. His mom said it started becoming bad when the club opened as people were out drinking late… I think they live close to the club and hear and see a lot, but 'dad' as Malcolm called him doesn't do anything as he's the owners friend. He said the town was better before we arrived." She pulled her boy in close.
"Oh Henry, this is not your fault okay. I would love to be able to say that what he says is a complete lie, but we didn't know what it was like before. It probably is a lot louder now, with people out drinking far later in that area, but that's not your fault."
"No, but Killian doesn't help. He's meant to be the Sheriff but he cares more about his dodgy business than us or the people of this town."
"That still doesn't make what this Malcolm said to you fair. It is not your fault Henry and I can promise you that this will all be over soon. One way or another, you have to trust me on this okay?" She cupped his face in her hand and tried to convince him as sincerely as possible. He nodded slowly as the last few tears fell.
"Does Regina know what he said to you? She must have noticed you were upset." There was no way Regina wouldn't have done something about this if she knew, surely. He shook his head.
"No, she wasn't in today, we had a substitute." That was when Emma remembered Regina had an appointment with her audiologist to be fitted for trial hearing aids.
"Of course. What happened after, did you say anything to him?"
"No, I just ran off. He said it in the playground. I just stopped hanging around with him, but then in class everyone was whispering about me."
"What about Nicholas?"
"He's still my friend. He told me not to worry about it and that they'd forget about it soon." Thank God for Nicholas.
"Well, you know what, he's right. Just ignore them and they will get bored eventually and if it carries on tell Regina. Do you want me to have a word with her?" Henry buried his head into her neck for a moment and she resumed rubbing his back.
"No, I will tell her if it carries on. I promise. Are you going to tell Killian?"
"Do you want me too?" Henry thought for a moment before shrugging.
"I don't know. I don't want him to get mad again, he's been better this week." Emma couldn't argue with him on that and she didn't want to rattle him before this weekend either.
"Okay. We'll keep this quiet, but if it becomes a problem or carries on, I will have a word with him." She pulled him close again. "This will all be over soon I promise." She really hoped the FBI would be able to take action sooner rather than later, the most important thing in all of this was trying to shield Henry as much as possible. She had not seen this coming at all.
Emma had decided Henry needed a chill film night to take his mind off things, so they sat down to start the Star Wars films from the beginning – again. Sometimes they preferred to watch in order of production, but this time they went with storyline. The Phantom Menace was one of her least favourites, but at least she could take the time to catch up with Regina.
Emma: Hey! How did today go? Did you manage to find hearing aids to trial?- E
Regina: Hi, it went okay. It was quite gruelling, lots of different tests followed by a fitting. These are more general to see if I get on with them. If I do I can have ones moulded to my exact ear shape. They've some sort of frequency modulation device that comes with them and I can change its settings. Hopefully there will be one that helps me hear the children's voices better in the classroom. That's the main reason I wanted them, but I won't really know until I jump into it. It's at a setting he thought may be most beneficial, but I know how to tweak it, should I need. It's going to be trial and error. It may also work in some situations better than others and perhaps even make it worse on occasion. I don't think I'd wear them to that arcade for example. How has your day been?
Emma really hoped the aids would be beneficial to Regina, just to make her life a bit more manageable. She knew there were times she struggled.
Emma: That's great, I really hope they will work for you. Henry struggled in school today without you. Can you check in with him tomorrow, just make sure he's okay? He's been a bit down this evening.- E
Emma was torn with what to do about Henry, but she needed to trust him and see how this panned out and she didn't want to betray his trust.
Regina: Oh okay, is there anything I should know?- R
'Arrgghh'. Emma threw her head back on the couch, eliciting a glance I from Henry. She quickly rubbed his arm in reassurance.
Emma: I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone, hopefully it will blow over and it's just kids being kids, I just wouldn't mind an extra eye. If it was anything major I promise I would tell.
Regina could respect that, but there was that word again – major.
Emma: Okay, don't worry about him; I will make sure he's okay in school tomorrow.- R
School started pretty well and the creative writing session was as popular as ever. Regina was pleased to see Henry seemed content. She had her aids in for the first time in a natural, testing environment. She was definitely finding it easier to hear the children when they were close to her, further away it was still a cacophony of voices and background static, but that wouldn't change. When it was quiet or someone was close though, it definitely seemed to be helping with speech perception.
It was during recess that she found it more difficult. As a lot of the surrounding noise was heightened, but it was not orderly. She made sure she scanned the playground to ensure the children were all behaving. She hated playground duty, but everyone had to take their turn.
It wasn't long before she saw a sea of children rushing to a particular area. That never bode well. She ran towards the commotion. As she neared, the ringing in her ears became unbearable as the sea of shouting youngsters assaulted the air in loud waves consisting of cheering and high-pitched screams that only younger children seem to be able to achieve. She winced in pain and quickly whipped them out as she neared the epicentre.
Henry was screaming for Malcolm and Nicholas to stop fighting. Nicholas now had Malcolm pinned against the floor by his throat, Regina had no chance of hearing what they were saying as she pulled them apart before holding them at arms length. They were still shouting at one another, Regina was really beginning to struggle and the stinging pain was still there. Henry could see the dilemma playing out on her face.
"Stop it! Stop it!" She finally shouted out, not really hearing her own voice, but hoping they would listen. She looked up to see if they were listening to her. All three boys that surrounded her were looking at her in concern. She'd take it, she didn't care.
She looked at the rest of the children who were clearly settling. "Go back to your own business." She hoped she'd authoritatively, but mildly instructed. She watched as they slowly began to leave in their little friend groups before returning to the three boys. "You three. Follow me. Now!"
She led them straight to Mary Margaret's office.
"Regina?!" Regina had barged into her office, not even knowing if she was there or otherwise engaged. Fortunately, she was sat amidst a mound of paperwork. Mary Margaret instantly shot up and approached the confused and disorientated looking woman. She gently placed her hand on her arm. "Is everything okay?" Regina was internally panicking she still couldn't hear little more than the ringing and realised how dependant she was on the little speech she could hear to be able to understand what people were saying by lips alone.
"Henry." She finally blurted out; then found some resolve. "Malcolm and Nicholas were fighting in the playground. It had something to do with Henry. They are all sat outside." Mary Margaret nodded realising a few things at once and led Regina to a seat, sitting her down. She'd have to deal with the children first. She opened the door to see the three young boys. They were sat there in silence looking like scolded puppies, but it was clear no one was seriously hurt.
"In. All of you. Now! and take a seat." It was rare she had her no nonsense voice on, but all three of these boys recognised it for what it was. She watched them walk and slump effortlessly.
"I understand whatever may have happened had something to do with Henry. The only way all three of you will receive any lenience for this will be by you telling me the complete and utter truth. No omissions. Henry, you first." She glanced over to Regina to see her staring at them and clearly concentrating. Henry hung his head, but knew what he had to do.
"Yesterday, Malcolm began saying some mean things to me. He told me that this town had gone to 'shit' since we'd arrived and that my 'dad' was useless and whores were now running rampant." Henry looked down, not wanting to see anyone's face right now.
"Right. Malcolm, is this true?"
"It's what my mom said," he blurted out. "It's really loud on the weekend by our house now near the new club. There are 'sluts' everywhere and people out all night dancing, singing and fighting. It's driving my mom crazy. She said it's all gotten worse since the new Sheriff came and he's always there hanging around with the owner. It's their fault." Mary Margaret placed her head in her hands for a moment before releasing a dramatic puff of air.
"Oookaay. Why were you fighting?"
"It wasn't me it was him," he said pointing to Nicholas. "He pushed me first."
"Nicholas?"
"He was shouting at Henry again calling his family scum. I asked him to stop but he wouldn't so yes, I pushed him." Mary Margaret sat there considering this for a moment.
"Okay firstly, we do not tolerate any kind of violence in this school. Do you understand?" Sheepishly nodding was clearly all they could manage right now. "Secondly, Malcolm, did you say those things?"
"Yeah, but it's what mom told me."
"Okay, yes the club has bought more people to our town and I agree that it can be very lively on certain nights. The Sheriff has only just started the job, you don't know that he isn't actually there to try and help resolve this issue." Mary Margaret knew that wasn't likely at all, but his mother didn't necessarily know that. "These things take time and unless laws are being broken, it's not as easy as you think to just 'sort out'. What is definitely true is that Henry and his family are NOT scum. I don't know the Sheriff that well, but Henry and his Ma are loving, kind individuals who certainly do not need you, or anyone else, sharing false and hurtful information about them. How would you feel if someone came up to you calling your family scum and your mom nasty names?" It was clear her words were getting to him, he was young and, in reality, he had little idea what he was doing and certainly no clue what he was saying. She didn't for one moment think any of them knew the meaning of the words 'whore' and 'slut'.
"I'm sorry Henry." Malcolm was contrite as he looked to Henry. Henry offered a small smile.
"It's okay, I just don't want you saying bad things about my Ma."
"I won't. I promise." Offered Malcolm sincerely. Well that went fairly well, Mary Margaret hoped this would be the end of it.
"I am very pleased you've apologised and you've accepted Henry, unfortunately, I am still going to have to call in your parents to discuss this, as bullying and violence is involved. You will all be sent home for the rest of the day afterwards but, if your parents can be as mature as you are about this, I'm hoping we can put the matter behind us and you will all be back tomorrow." They all nodded in acknowledgment.
"Good! Now I would like the three of you to sit in the waiting room until your parents arrive." As soon as they left, Mary Margaret made contact with all three of the boys moms who were going to make their way in. She then turned to Regina who was still sat there like a lost sheep. She watched her for a few moments before Regina turned her attention to her boss.
"Regina, can you hear me?" Mary Margaret spoke normally in her direction then noted Regina struggling. She repeated 'can you hear me', but this time ensuring her mouth movements were clearer. Again, she received little more than a pained expression. She grabbed a note pad and pen and slowly approached her friend and settled beside her. She tried once more. "Can you hear me." Regina nodded in the negative. Mary Margaret began to scribble something down.
"So you can't hear me even at this distance? What happened?"
"I can't even hear myself in any clarity right now." She blurted out, trying to keep the panic in her voice at bay. "I saw a commotion and ran to it. I had my new hearing aids in. As I neared, the screaming and shouting became louder and louder, then higher in pitch. There was this terrible ringing sound that suddenly exploded. I pulled the aids out but it made little difference."
"Is it still there?" Mary Margaret wrote again.
"Yes, but I do think it's quieting, it's hard to tell, it's certainly not as piercing as it was before. Thank God!" Regina said as a tear escaped. This had been a complete shock to her system.
"Well that is good. Hopefully it will settle in time." Mary Margaret placed her hands to Regina's ears and pressed her forehead against her friends, hoping to bring any semblance of comfort. She couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through right now. She picked up the pad and pen. "Look, I want you to go home, get some rest and call me in the morning." The pixie haired brunette looked to her friend who merely nodded as she wiped her tears away. Under any normal circumstance Regina would fight going home till she was blue in the face. She'd even come in on crutches for a week with a sprained ankle. Mary Margaret pulled her into a hug. She wanted to say it would be okay, but realised that would be pointless, though she then said it anyway, to herself more than anything else.
Not liking the attention anymore, Regina rose and nodded to Mary Margaret before walking out of the office and heading straight home. She'd not even registered Henry calling out to her. She couldn't face anyone right now.