into when her shoulders ceased up.
"Alec is a very good boy, he never gets into fights."
"Well, Mrs. Wolfe," Rachel said with a very all-knowing tone that struck something of agitation in Dawn's chest. "I guess this isn't the first time Alec has had trouble with Samuel?"
Dawn licked her lips. "No," she admitted tightly. "It isn't. But I can assure you, every other time that Samuel boy was the one who initiated the trouble."
*Oh my god, am I really trashing an seven-year-old?*
"Mrs. Wolfe," Rachel was saying, "both boys are being punished accordingly. We would appreciate it if you made your way down to the school as soon as you could. Samuel's parents are on their way and the principle would like to have a discussion with both boy's families. Is your husband home?"
Dawn felt herself pause. "No," she said. "He's on a business trip."
"Oh, well then..." The hesitation made Dawn scowl. "We'll be sure to let Samuel's parents know. Can we expect you shortly? It would be best to get this sorted quickly. We don't want the boys to miss too much school!" The woman began laughing as though the whole thing was a wonderfully tickling joke.
Dawn shook her head, feeling herself pick up an strange irritation towards this high-pitched, all-knowing receptionist.
"Of course," she muttered. "Thank you, Rachel."
"You're very welcome!" Rachel chirped. "Have a nice day."
Dawn hung up the phone. "Yeah, same to you." Her sarcasm lingered like an Irish rain between her fastened teeth. Dawn shook her head and tipped her head back.
She reached up and dug her fingers into her locked shoulders with a wince. Her hand worked into the twisted knots for several minutes before she decided she would never be as good as her mother and gave up with a sigh. Dawn unfolded her knees and stood, holding one arm in defeat.
*Alec, honey, why can't you just ignore this boy?* she thought miserably. *How many times are you going to let him get to you before you realize that he's nothing but a blowhard bully? He's not worth you energy, sweetheart. Just let it go.* She paused for a moment to think about her wish, and almost laughed out loud at the irony. *Right, between me and your father, you don't stand a chance at letting grudges go.*
Dawn laughed quietly to herself and small wash of pride comforted her agitated maternal instincts. She pushed a hand through her hair and headed down the hall. A not
"Alec is a very good boy, he never gets into fights."
"Well, Mrs. Wolfe," Rachel said with a very all-knowing tone that struck something of agitation in Dawn's chest. "I guess this isn't the first time Alec has had trouble with Samuel?"
Dawn licked her lips. "No," she admitted tightly. "It isn't. But I can assure you, every other time that Samuel boy was the one who initiated the trouble."
*Oh my god, am I really trashing an seven-year-old?*
"Mrs. Wolfe," Rachel was saying, "both boys are being punished accordingly. We would appreciate it if you made your way down to the school as soon as you could. Samuel's parents are on their way and the principle would like to have a discussion with both boy's families. Is your husband home?"
Dawn felt herself pause. "No," she said. "He's on a business trip."
"Oh, well then..." The hesitation made Dawn scowl. "We'll be sure to let Samuel's parents know. Can we expect you shortly? It would be best to get this sorted quickly. We don't want the boys to miss too much school!" The woman began laughing as though the whole thing was a wonderfully tickling joke.
Dawn shook her head, feeling herself pick up an strange irritation towards this high-pitched, all-knowing receptionist.
"Of course," she muttered. "Thank you, Rachel."
"You're very welcome!" Rachel chirped. "Have a nice day."
Dawn hung up the phone. "Yeah, same to you." Her sarcasm lingered like an Irish rain between her fastened teeth. Dawn shook her head and tipped her head back.
She reached up and dug her fingers into her locked shoulders with a wince. Her hand worked into the twisted knots for several minutes before she decided she would never be as good as her mother and gave up with a sigh. Dawn unfolded her knees and stood, holding one arm in defeat.
*Alec, honey, why can't you just ignore this boy?* she thought miserably. *How many times are you going to let him get to you before you realize that he's nothing but a blowhard bully? He's not worth you energy, sweetheart. Just let it go.* She paused for a moment to think about her wish, and almost laughed out loud at the irony. *Right, between me and your father, you don't stand a chance at letting grudges go.*
Dawn laughed quietly to herself and small wash of pride comforted her agitated maternal instincts. She pushed a hand through her hair and headed down the hall. A not
