Leslie Trent Sumner, who had cost April her scholarship. Arms crossed, designer purse dangling from one elbow, she glared daggers at April.
“Your son is amenace,” she hissed.
So much for that privacy policy, April thought.I guess it applies to every kid but mine. How shocking.
“Sorry—”
“You’d better be sorry,” Leslie cut her off.
“—but I think you have your son confused with mine.”
Leslie tilted her head for a second. “What? No, I don’t. Kevin attacked Regis out of sheer jealousy.”
“Oh, I doubt that. There is absolutely nothing your son has that would ever make mine jealous.”
When she saw Leslie’s cruel smile, she knew too late she’d walked straight into a trap.
“Not even a father?”
April felt her eyes widen for the merest second. Before any hurt could show, her poker face clicked back into place. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got? Then again, you always did go for the lowest hanging fruit.Yourhusband, for example.”
That struck a nerve. Leslie’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Before April could tell her something Leslie probably already suspected—that some of April’s friends had seen him over at Cocks and Strippers with no Leslie in sight—Principal Pirogue poked his head out of his office doorway.
“You’re finally here, Ms. Taylor. I’ve been waiting for you.” He gestured for her to enter his office.
Leslie gave her a brittle laugh. “There’s a gesture I’m sure you’re familiar with, if memory serves,” she sniffed. “You’ve been nothing but trouble your entire life, and it looks like the rotten apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Expect a lawsuit from the Sumners.” She turned on her heel and trotted out of the secretary’s office.
You bitch! You snotty, stuck-up bitch.
“I’m waiting, Ms. Taylor,” Pirogue said, not bothering to hide the impatience in his voice.
April took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked into Pirogue’s office like she owned it.
“Take your usual seat,” he offered as he rounded his desk.
“Just couldn’t resist saying that, could you?”
Pirogue ignored her. He folded his hands on the desk like a judge about to deliver a death sentence. “Kevin’s behavior is inexcusable. Frankly, I’d strongly suggest you consider ADHD medication. Perhaps even an antipsychotic, given his…”
April was leaning back in her chair and actively studying the walls of Pirogue’s office.
Principal Jackass paused. “What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for your medical degree. Not seeing it. Therefore, you don’t get to diagnose my son because he doesn’t sit like a zombie for six hours a day.”
Color rose up his neck. He adjusted his tie. “I don’t need a medical degree to recognize disruptive behavior.”
April returned her gaze to the principal. She leaned forward. “Fun fact. I’ve talked and listened to the other moms. If Kevin goes on ADHD meds, then guess what? That makes him one of theeighty-eight percentof boys in his class already on them. You want compliant little robots, not kids.”
Pirogue’s jaw tightened. “Kevin’s violent, uncontrollable behavior will not be tolerated at my school.”
April gaped at Principal Jackass. “His uncontrollable violent behavior? Excuse me, my kid doesn’t just throw punches for no reason. He was defending himself.”
“Ms. Taylor, Kevin was the one who threw the first punch.”
April shook her head in disbelief. “No. He’s not the aggressor here. If he punched Regis, it’s because that little shi…brat…was picking on him.”
