Short Rides (Rough Riders #14.5)(22)

“Mrs. Glanzer? This is Patricia Donkle. I’m the school counselor.”


“What happened to Westin?”


“He was involved in an altercation on the playground. He hit another student.”


She closed her eyes. “Where is Westin now?”


“He’s in my office. I’ve called the parents of the other student who was involved. School policy is a face-to-face meeting. How soon can you be here?”


“Fifteen or twenty minutes.”


“Good. Just check in at the front office.”


Chassie hung up. Max had stopped pounding on his high chair tray and looked ready to crash since it was close to his naptime.


Trevor and Sophia bounded in, Sophia chattering a million miles an hour, Edgard bringing up the rear. So it wasn’t a surprise that Edgard noticed her distress first.


“Chassie, what’s wrong?”


“The school called. Westin has been involved in a playground incident. So the counselor has asked me to come to the school.”


“Just now?” Trevor asked.


“Yeah.” Her mind raced. “So if you’ll get Max down for his nap, I’ll go—”


“No. We’ll all go.” Edgard spoke to Sophia. “Can you get Max’s coat?”


“Sure.” She skipped off.


“Now you wanna tell us what’s really goin’ on?”


“I told you everything I know. The other kid’s parents will be there.” She lifted Max out of the high chair. “Wouldn’t it be easier if one of us stayed here with the younger kids?”


“Which one of us stays?” Trevor demanded.


They looked at each other.


“We all go,” Trevor reiterated.


The ride into town was quiet—even Sophia and Max were subdued.


They traipsed into the school and signed in at the office before being directed down a long hallway. A heavyset woman, probably mid-fifties, exited the office marked Counselor. “Hi, Mrs. Glanzer?”



“Yes.”


“I’m Patricia Donkle.” The counselor’s gaze moved between Edgard and Trevor before returning to Chassie. “And they are?”


“Westin’s fathers. Trevor and Edgard Glanzer.”


“Oh. That’s...good you’re all here. We’re in these two rooms.”


Max had started to fuss so Trevor plucked him out of Chassie’s arms and carried him. Sophia remained close to Edgard.


As soon as the door to the conference room opened, Westin ran to Chassie, burying his face against her stomach.


“Hey, sweetie.” She tried to push him back but he wouldn’t budge; he’d curled himself around her completely. “You all right?”


Westin shook his head.


“Why don’t you all have a seat? I’ll bring in the other parents.”


“We’d prefer if you’d fill us in about what’s goin’ on first,” Edgard said.


Chassie chose a seat at the end of the table and Trevor and Edgard flanked her, keeping the kids on their laps.


“Evidently one of our students has been saying inappropriate things to Westin. A situation none of us were aware of. But I learned today that it’s been going on for a couple of days. Isn’t that right, Westin?”


He nodded.


“The boy is two grades older and Westin had been ignoring him, but things escalated today. Westin, would you please tell your parents what happened?”


Westin kept his gaze focused on the carpet. “Robbie followed me around the playground yelling that my family was all faggots. So I punched him. And I’m not sorry. I’m not! He’s mean.” He dissolved into tears again.


Cassie looked to Edgard and Trevor for support. They were as shocked as she. None of them knew what to say.


“So, you understand why we need to deal with this matter as soon as possible.”


“Of course.” Chassie pulled Westin away from where he was clinging to her neck.


The counselor opened the adjoining door.


A man, woman and young boy entered, taking seats as far from them as possible.


The woman’s lip curled as she looked at the three of them. She turned her head and whispered behind her hand in her husband’s ear.


The pudgy boy knuckled away a tear and glared at Westin.


“Mr. and Mrs. Feckling have demanded Westin apologize to Robbie.”


Chassie’s arms tightened around Westin. “Westin will apologize as long as Robbie also apologizes.”


“For what?” Mrs. Feckling demanded. “That boy hit my son.”


“And your son bullied mine. On more than one occasion.”


“This is outrageous.” Mrs. Feckling addressed the counselor. “An apology is off the table. We want that little freak suspended from school. Who knows what else might set him off and he’ll start swinging again.”


“Your son has been calling Westin’s family horrid names for several days, Mrs. Feckling.”