The Things That I Know || George Michael

twenty-five - out of hand

Note: this chapter contains homophobic views.

• • •

"Mr and Mr Panayiotou-Jones?" The headteacher, Mrs Lowry, peers around her office door, to see the men sitting in the waiting area on chairs. Her gaze then flits to Esme's parents. "Mr and Mrs Cartwright?" The four parents rise from their seats, following Mrs Lowry into the office. She offers all of them their own chairs in front of her desk, before getting settled into hers behind it. "So, do you all know why you're here today?"

"I think we do," Esme's mother, Tanya, remarks sarcastically. "But I'm not saying it."

"Tanya," Esme's father, Marcus, warns her. "Stop it."

"Don't tell me what to do," Tanya demands under her breath. She looks back at Mrs Lowry, smiling in an exaggerated manner. "Where's our darling daughter?"

"The students will be present shortly," Mrs Lowry informs her. "Mrs Hall has just gone to get them from their class. They've got a substitute this afternoon, so she can be present for the meeting."

"Lovely," George comments, relieved that someone who actually bore witness to Esme's nasty words will at least be able to fend for him and his family. "I hope Kieran has had a nice day today."

"Hopefully he hasn't been too nervous about this meeting," Levi adds.

"So," Mrs Lowry continues, opening up the file which is already sat in front of her. "Just before the students get here, I'd like to just quickly run over a thing or two. Mrs Cartwright, would you consider yourself a homophobic individual?"

"Absolutely not," Tanya responds. "Just truthful."

George folds his arms across his chest, glancing up at the ceiling nonchalantly. "And there lies the problem," he murmurs.

"What did you say?" Tanya challenges.

George snaps his gaze to the snarky woman. "I said—"

"Ah! Kieran! Esme!" Mrs Lowry interrupts, on cue, inviting the young students to sit down with their parents. "It's lovely to see the pair of you."

"Hello, mate," Levi greets his son. "You alright?"

Kieran nods, not wanting to respond verbally as not to disturb the silence among the group while they get settled. He looks to Esme, who is seemingly just as nervous for this discussion as himself — though he acknowledges, in essence, it is potentially worse for Esme because she is the one in trouble.

"Take a seat, Mrs Hall," Mrs Lowry says, before averting her eyes back down to the documents before her. "Okay, now we're all here, let's get started properly. So, the first report of Esme making comments about Kieran's fathers was right at the start of the new school year — a few days into September. Is this correct?"

"It is," George answers. "I got pulled aside by Mrs Hall after school to tell me what had happened."

"And what did happen?" Mrs Lowry looks to Kieran, gently encouraging him to speak. "Kieran, would you like to tell us what happened."

"Um." Kieran flits his gaze to the side, to try and recall the day. "Esme saw my daddies walking out of the school together, a-and she said it was weird for someone to have two daddies. And that it's bad for them to love each other."

"This is true," Mrs Hall agrees. "I was actually present when these comments were made. Actually, during the class, I explained to the students that love is acceptable no matter who you love. I told them that a man can love a man; a woman can love a woman; or a man can love a woman."