"You can't call him." I said.
"Oh? And why can't I?"
"He's dead. He was killed in a helicopter accident, otherwise we would still be in Norfolk," I said, directing my anger against cruel fate,
"I see." she said, barely skipping a beat, "That is unfortunate,. However, it is also more reason for you to behave yourself and not put another burden on your mother."
"You don't understand," I said, shaking my head.
"Oh. I don't understand? It's I who is at fault, is that it?"
"No. ma'am. I don't mean that."
She slapped the folder closed and sat back, "Well, what do you mean? Go on, explain your beastly behavior," she challenged.
I thought about how I would start. Everything seemed so silly and foolish. I was sure I would sound that way, but what choice did I have?
"We moved here because my mother's friend was giving her a job at her husband's and her restaurant. the Tremont Inn. Her friend's stepdaughter. Phoebe Tremont, doesn't like me and tried to make it look as if my mother stale money last night. Ashley screamed that my mother was a thief and was in jail. I told her to stop, but she wouldn't, and I lost my temper." I finished, gasping for a breath,
Mrs. Greenstein stared at me a long moment and then shook her head. "Did you invent this all yourself, or did you see it on some soap opera?"
"I wish it was all fiction," I muttered.
"What's that?"
"I said I wish it was invented, but unfortunately it's not." I told her firmly, too firmly because she snapped her back like a whip and brought those heavy shoulders up.
"I won't have violence in my school. We have a no tolerance policy for that. for knives or guns and especially any sort of drugs. The first violation is the last. You are suspended pending a frill inquiry and possible expulsion from this institution. Get your things and leave the building immediately," she ordered. "I will call your mother and inform her you are on your way, so don't go somewhere else and try to lie to her about what's going on, as some of my students have tried."
"It's not fair!" I wailed,
You knew the rules. You heard them along with the rest of the student body." She leaned forward. "I am someone who means what she says. You, who have lived in a military world, should appreciate that."
"But..."
"I think you should write a letter of apology to both Mr. Warner and Mrs. Cohen as well," she added. "That is all." She stood up to emphasize it.
I rose slowly. What have I done? What will happen to us?
The bell had already rung for the next class. The halls were empty.
The principal's secretary handed me my books. "Randy Walker brought them here," she explained. "They were scattered all over the corridor."
I took them, thanked her, and left the office, moving like someone under hypnosis. I just turned and walked out of the building through the nearest exit. I didn't remember the trip home. I was on a bus and then off, and I walked, and suddenly my eves snapped with brightness and I was at my front door. My heart was pounding when I entered,
Mommy, who usually slept later because of her work schedule, was up and in her robe. She was standing at the counter in the kitchen, her hands cupping a mug of steaming black coffee. I knew she heard me came in, but she remained with her back to me until I said. "Mommy."
Then she turned slowly. Her face was pale, her eyes red, her hair as disheveled as it would be had she been scrubbing her scalp to stop the pain.
"How could you do such a thing. Grace? I don't understand." she said.
Through my sobs. I told her everything, "I couldn't help it. I just got so angry at her. Afterward I was frightened by my own actions. It was like I was two different people!"
"How horrible for you," Mommy said, slowly shaking her head. "What have I done? I should have stayed in Virginia and left you where you were going to the same school. You were making new friends, nice friends. I was just thinking of myself, how painful it was for me."
"No, Mommy. This is in no way your fault. It's that Phoebe Tremont. She's just so mean and hates me so much she would do anything to hurt me."
"How could anyone hate you and so quickly?" she asked. She took a deep breath, "All right, well deal with it," she said. "If there was one thing your father taught me it was to stay calm in the midst of a crisis, take a breath, and not lose control of your thoughts and reason. Most of the time people defeat themselves. You shouldn't have resorted to violence, of course, but you were deliberately baited. We have a meeting with the principal tomorrow at eight." "But you have to work and get up so early" "It's nothing,"