Lavender

Chapter 4; •Iris•

"Did you know about Patty wanting a girl?"

"No I heard he just wanted a quick shag."

"Fucker, that one."

"Heard he got on Finley's bad side."

"Chav's gonna get his face bashed in isn't he? Aye Dom? You listenin' to this mate?"

I grimaced as my friends all looked at me expectedly. "What we talking about?" I said, scratching my head forehead and raising a brow.

"Tucker 'Chris Brown-ing' Finley." Said Arthur chuckling.

"Hmm" I murmured. Tuning out their conversation, I thought back to the day that lead me to Lavender.

;

"Mrs. Pounds, with all due respect, I don't think you have much control over your child. This can not go on any longer." She had fixed her plump self into her red leather chair with both elbows on her desk.

I had rolled my eyes in irritation. It was just one fight for Gods sake. Besides the little shit deserved a punch in the throat.

"I apologise for his behaviour. I assure you that this won't happen again. Isn't that right Dom?" My mother's eyes had diverted towards me and they were ablaze with anger.
I had gulped and nodded silently.

"Your son has issues when dealing with anger. If you think he needs to see someone-" Miss Kind was interrupted by my mother.

"Lydia, my son has no issues. He is a teenage boy who fought another teenage boy who was very much capable of defending himself. Instead he ran off to his mummy to whine while he could have grown a pair and fought back. I don't want to offend you or the school's rules but really, boys get into scuffles all the time. Why does it make my son different from them?" My mum had said, her expression impassive.

Go mum. Go mum. Go mum. I snickered but covered it up my pretending to cough and clearing my throat.

My Principal looked stunned and took a few seconds to recover from my mother's haughty outburst. "I didn't mean it like that Mrs. Pounds. We just don't appreciate violence as an answer to solve a mistake."

"Yes well, I'm sure you also don't appreciate cowards in your school." My mother glared at Lydia, who readjusted herself in her chair. She ran a hand through her hair and by the look on her face was doing her best to not stab my mother with her quill pen.

"All I'm suggesting is that Dominic takes one course of Art. Three months to relax and draw. He won't be graded on it, but as a former therapist, I happen to know that it can calm him down."

My mother had tapped a freshly manicured finger on her chin. Oh God please don't be considering this. I hate Art. It's boring and stupid and has no point. I'm sure she'll say no. I mean my mother knows me enough to-

"Okay." She had said her tone scarily calm.

What?

"Great then! Dom, you can start from Tuesday."

Wait.

"But I don't want to-"I argued.

"Dom, you shall do as Miss Kind says, do you understand?" My mother said, a note of finality in her voice.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Pounds." She said getting up and stretching her hand out. My mother shook it and smiled.

"You too Miss Kind." She dusted her skirt and walked out, her heels making a clicking sound as she went. I was in for an earful.

When we reached outside and neared the pavement that led to the parking area, my mother stopped and folded her arms. I felt like a little boy again, in trouble for pulling my sisters hair and making her cry.