“Of course not,” his wife answered. “Crystal is a good girl, and these two are lying riffraff. Look at her face. Not even makeup is going to cover that.”
Kenneth glared at his wife. “She’s a spoiled-rotten brat, and you’ve made her that way!”
Good for you,Grace thought.
“Before we move on, maybe you should all just watch this.” The principal turned his computer monitor around to face them and hit a button. “We have cameras all over the school. This one is from the library at noon today, and we can verify Raelene’s accusations about harassment. Audrey and Raelene are telling the truth about what happened.”
Grace set her jaw, clenched her teeth, and sent a look meant to fry Lisa and Carlita where they stood. Those two women should be punished as much as—or more than—their daughters.
Crystal pouted. “We were just taking up for ourselves. Audrey started it when she—”
“When she what?” Kenneth asked.
“When she left us to be friends withthat.” Crystal pointed at Raelene. “She’s trashy and...”
“Everyone is laughing at us because we got thrown over forher.” Kelsey’s tone was as cold as her eyes were hot when she shot a dirty look toward Raelene.
“That’s enough,” Kenneth said and turned to the principal. “What’s the punishment for this?”
“They will all be put on distance learning for ten days while the parents file a form. Since Raelene’s parent is out of town, I suppose—”
“Raelene is already eighteen and can take care of legal matters on her own, but I’ll support her in this. She lives with us and is part of our family now. Just give us the forms and let me take these girls to thehospital to see if they need stitches,” Grace said through gritted teeth. The other shoe that had dropped that morning wasn’t the size of a flip-flop; it was more like a combat boot filled with concrete.
“Following the investigation, we will decide if the four of them can come back to school this year—all but Kelsey. She will be on distance learning until next fall for bringing a weapon to school,” the principal said. “Neither of the girls who were bullying Raelene or who were intent on cutting Audrey will be allowed to attend any school functions.”
Gold bracelets sounded like wind chimes when Carlita popped her hands on her hips. “Kelsey won’t ever come back to this school. I’ll be putting her in a private school after this, so I don’t even need those forms.”
“Oh, yes we will!” Kelsey’s father disagreed loudly. “You have let our daughter run wild far too long. This time, she is going to be held accountable for what she’s done. I apologize to you girls—and to Grace—for this.”
“Noooo!” Crystal moaned. “That means we can’t go to the prom, and we’ve both got dates already.”
Kelsey turned around and pointed her finger at her father. “I will run away if you—”
Walter gave her a look that caused her to drop her hand. “Today, I’m confiscating your bullying costume, girl, and I’m resigning from the school board. I’m ashamed that you have been using my position to try to get your way. This is inexcusable.”
The principal raised up to his full height—which had to be every bit of six feet, four inches—and clapped his hands. “That’s enough out of all of you. Miz Dalton, you can take Audrey and Raelene to the hospital now. I’m sorry that Raelene has been the subject of harassment, and I hate to send her and Audrey home for fighting. Even if the decision is made to put all four of them on distance learning until next fall, she can come back and graduate, and even deliver the valedictory speech. You can pick up the forms on your way out.”
“What about my scholarship?” Raelene’s chin quivered.
“That’s between you and the school, but this could have a bearing on it,” the principal said. “We will have answers for all of you within two or three weeks. If you want to hire lawyers, that’s up to you.”
“Crystal, you can begin by apologizing to these girls,” Kenneth said.
“I will not,” his daughter said.
“Then that car you want for your birthday next month is off the table,” he said.
“I’ll walk before I tell either one of them that I’m sorry,” Crystal hissed.
“Who’s going to hide your cigarettes?” Audrey asked as she stared Crystal right in the eye and then shifted her gaze over to Kelsey. “And who’s going to hide your whiskey now that the two of you won’t have me to take the fall for you anymore?”
“Is that true also?” Kenneth asked.
Crystal hung her head and refused to answer.
“She’s lying again!” Lisa shouted.
“Then I guess you are grounded until this is all taken care of, young lady,” Kenneth told his daughter.
