Page 60 of Aaron's Patience

“Mrs. Jamison, what happened?” I asked.

“Please, step into my office. Mrs. Townsend, Diego’s mother,” she amended, realizing there was more than one Mrs. Townsend in this scenario, “is on her way. She should be here shortly, along with the other little boy’s father.”

“Kennedy, go sit by your brother,” I urged her toward the open chair next to Kyle, while Aaron and I followed Mrs. Jamison to her office.

“Why don’t you explain what happened while we wait for everyone else.” Aaron started in on Mrs. Jamison before she even had a chance to close her door fully. He planted his feet, folding his arms over his chest, staring the principal down.

“You said they got into a fight?” I questioned, drawing her fearful eyes from my husband to myself.

“They jumped on another little boy.”

“My children aren’t violent,” Aaron insisted.

I looked from him to the principal. “He means, they have never been in a fight before. I find it difficult to wrap my head around Kyle and Kennedy, let alone Diego, just ganging up on another child.”

A knock sounded at the door and a second later, Michelle opened it, entering.

“Hey,” she acknowledged Aaron and I. “Mrs. Jamison, what happened? I got a call saying the kids fought someone?”

“Mrs. Jamison was just about to explain how that’s even possible,” Aaron urged.

I watched as Michelle gave Aaron that same wary look most people did.

“Yes.” The principal nodded. “I wanted to wait until the other little boy’s parents were here, but since you three are already here, I will explain. It seems Kyle got into a disagreement with a boy from another class and Diego stepped in to defend Kyle. It got heated just as the kindergarteners were leaving from recess and the second and third graders were coming in. Kyle, Diego, and the boy began fighting, and one of the teachers stated she saw Kennedy run into the fight to kick the other boy.”

I had to tamp down on the pride I felt hearing Kennedy went to defend her brother in a fight. I was a parent and shouldn’t be encouraging that type of behavior.

“Was this boy in Kyle’s class?” Aaron asked.

“No. He was one of the third graders.”

“He’s in Diego’s class?” Michelle questioned.

“Same grade but different class.”

“And they got into adisagreement?” I could hear Aaron’s anger growing as he pieced the story together.

I reached out, wrapping my arm around his elbow.

“Mrs. Jamison, you’re saying that a third grader waspickingon Kyle, a kindergartener, and none of the teachers bothered to stop it, so his older cousin had to step in? And when it escalated into a physical altercation my son’s sister also intervened? Do I have that right?” My own anger was rising.

“Well, I w-wouldn’t put it like that?” she stuttered as she looked between the three of us.

“Then how would you put it?” Michelle questioned.

“And who is this other little boy? What was he saying to Kyle? Where are his parents?” I shot the questions rapid fire.

As if in response to my questions, another man came charging through the door. I turned and squinted, realizing this man looked awfully familiar.

“Mr. McCloud,” Mrs. Jamison commented.

“McCloud?” Aaron questioned. “As in Wallace McCloud of McCloud renovations?”

I blinked remembering Wallace Jr. from my high school days.

“I was just explaining to the Townsends–”

“How their damn kids beat up my boy?” Wallace seethed. “He has a black eye and busted lip from those damn mongrels!”