“She doesn’twant to tell the teachers because they’ll put her into foster care again. Hermom just got her back and she’s afraid they’ll take her away for good thistime.”
“Did she tellher mom what’s been goin’ on?”
“Her mom justgets mad at her and tells her to quit flirting with him. It’s so gross, Dad.”
“Okay. Look, I’mgonna give you some leeway here because you’re helpin’ a friend and that’s whatwe raised you to do, but you’re still grounded until you get your grades up.”Dad handed me my phone. “You can have this back for now, but if she’s notwillin’ to tell a teacher what’s goin’ on, then you need to.”
“I’m not asnitch.”
“Then I’m gonnatalk to Auntie Payton.”
Payton was theprincipal for the elementary school most of us kids attended.
“I’m okay withyou talking to Auntie Payton,” he said. “That’s actually a good idea.”
“I know it is.Now, you might want to apologize to Tate and smooth things over with her.”
“She’s justgonna grill me for information.”
“Well, then youneed to figure out how to stay strong and not tell her if that’s what you feelyou need to do.”
I stared at myphone. “Yeah.”
“Park, look atme.”
I met his eyesand Dad smiled. “I’m real proud of you, son. I’d like you to talk to me firstin the future, but I get that you were helpin’ a friend, and that meanssomethin’.”
Dad left me andI went to find my mom. She was in the kitchen, and I immediately went to her,wrapping my arms around her waist.
“I’m sorry,Mama,” I said.
“All forgiven,cherub.”
“I’m gonna goget my grades up now.”
She cupped myface. “I love you to the moon and back, Parker.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
I headedupstairs and pulled out my phone. Time to fix things with Tate.
* * *
Tate
“She’s such aslut,” I hissed, sobbing against my mom. “Why won’t Flash see that?”
“Sweetie, let’stry not to be cruel in our sadness, okay? Calling someone a slut is unkind.”
“Well, she is.”
“Honey, she’seleven—”
“She’s twelve,”I corrected.
“Even at twelve,Tate, if she’s doing things with boys that maybe she shouldn’t, it’s becauseshe’s being abused. You need to have some grace.”
I scowled at mymother. “You’re supposed to be onmyside.”
