The O'Connells

Parent Teacher Confrence

Leo-15
Delilah-13
Twins-11

Billie is not a singer in this one but she is a famous director :)

Billie

I was at home writing the scripts for one of my upcoming movies when I got a call from Aleah.

"What's up love?"

"The school called. Leo's in trouble. Can you go down there and see what's up? I'm about to go into a surgery."

"Oh great, yeah I'll be down there shortly. Did they say what he did?" I asked, putting away my computer and slipping on my shoes.

"Apparently he punched a kid. But I asked them to put him on the phone and he told me that this kid called him a slur. Just go down there and get the full story and please do not get angry. We don't need another one of your outbursts."

"They are not outbursts. And it was completely that other guys fault last time for looking at you that way." I defended.

"Just don't overreact okay? I gotta go to my surgery now."

"Alright, alright. Good luck baby."

"You too. I love you."

"I love you too."

~

Once I arrived at the kids school I was sent straight to the principals office where my son sat with a bruised knuckle and his head hanging low.

"Mrs. O'Connell?"

"Yeah. What's this about?" I asked, taking a seat beside Leo.

"Your son here punched another kid."

"I heard, my wife called me. What did the other kid do?"

"That's besides the point, no matter the circumstance we don't condone violence in this school."

"Uhh.. no disrespect Ms Anderson, but I think it's entirely the point. Did you even ask what he did or said to my son before you brought him up here?"

"Whatever it was, it does not condone punching a boy in the face. We have a zero tolerance for bullying here. Your son should not be punching other boys in the face."

"I'm sure he didn't just punch this boy just for the heck of it. Leo, you wanna tell me what actually happened?"

"I was just getting books out of my locker and then Alex--the one i've been telling you about--he came behind me and he pushed me into the lockers and called me a faggot so I called him a bitch and then he kicked me in the leg so I punched him. It was self defense, he started the shit anyway."

I looked back at the principal in question.
"So you're punishing my son for hitting this boy but not the boy who kicked him first? Alex was it?"

"We didn't see Alex kick him. Nor hear him call your son a slur."

Times like these are when I really really enjoy being a parent, and taking advantage of my status in the world, cause I get to get away with shit just a tad easier than others.

"Well if my son said he did then he did. My son is a very sweet young man and he would not just punch someone for no reason so clearly you have made some mistakes. Your first mistake being punishing my son for sticking up for himself and your second mistake being not asking for the full story before deciding to bring him up here and give him whatever kind of punishment. Your third mistake was letting this boy Alex, get away with the quote on quote "bullying" you so happen to not tolerate. Now this is the third time my son has been sent to this office for "harassment" and every time it's for the same reason with the same boy. So my question is why isn't this other boy ever here and why doesn't he ever get in any trouble?"

"Mrs. O'Connell I ask that you change your tone while you're in here. Secondly even if what your son is saying is true it does not condone him putting his hands on another child just because he said something your son didn't like."

I told Aleah I wouldn't get angry, I never said I wouldn't tell this bitch off. I took a deep breath before a spoke.

"Listen here: My kids are not responsible for any one's emotions but their own. If this boy can't handle someone actually defending themselves then that's his problem not my kids. I taught all my kids to never take anyone's crap especially if it's homophobic and that's exactly what my kid did."

"Well Mrs--"

"Ah. I'm not finished, you will wait until I am done. This boy called my son a slur-- a homophobic slur and my son retaliated with another insult THEN this boy laid hands on my son and then my son proceeded to lay his hands on that boy. From my eyes this is not his fault in any way shape or form. This other little boy needs to learn that the world has much bigger problems than girls who kiss girls and boys who kiss boys and everything else that goes along with that. My son is not in the wrong, this little boy is. Now the way I see it Ms Anderson. You have two choices: Suspend my son for "bullying" and take away his valuable learning time while this little boy gets away with thinking that he can just go around calling people slurs and verbally assaulting people or you can have a little one on one chat with him and teach him some manners while I also teach my son some life lessons before sending him back to class. Take your pick."

She sat there looking a tad annoyed because deep down she knew I as right and made several valid points that she couldn't really retaliate agaisnt She adjusted her posture and wrote Leo a late note to his next class.

"Leo you're dismissed, you may go to your next class after your talk with your mother." She said, handing him the note.

"Good choice." I gave a fake smile, and then we left.

"You're not gonna ground me are you?" He asked me.

"Well won't but your mother might, however once she hears the full story it'll only be for a few days. We'll talk about it more tonight. I am proud of you for standing up for yourself. Listen I completely understand why you did what you did, and your mother will too but I am just warning you, you will hear an earful from her tonight."

"Yeah I know. I'm not gonna apologize to him though."

"Nah I don't expect you to. I don't think your mom would either. Just try not to punch people no more. Use your words instead, sometimes they have more power." I gave him a wink so he knew what I meant by 'use your words.'

I basically meant cuss him out, or say something you know would get to him. Leo has and kinda always has had a way with his words. If he says something right, it can really hurt someone. Bad.

"Got it."

"Okay, go to class kid. I'll be here to pick you guys up later okay?"

"Okay. I love you mom." We exchanged a hug and even though he hates when I do it, I had him bend down a bit so I could kiss him on his head.

The kids only 15 and he's already like 5' 8. Which isn't too weird but considering both his moms barely surpass 5'5 it's a tad unusual.

"I love you too little man."

Regardless of the fact he's far from little anymore, I still like to call him that once in a while. Brings back memories.

~~~~~