meaning of love

9. Consequences

I timidly handed the paper to Mom, and she began reading it. I sat there silently, watching her. After a minute, her expression changed from serious to smiling, which shattered my hope that Mom would understand my problem and let me change schools. I felt moisture in my eyes.

"What's going on, Ma?" asked Scarlett, who had just come home from her school.

"I want to join your school," I informed her.

She looked puzzled and tried to peek into the paper.

I shouted, "Don't show her, Ma!"

Ma started laughing loudly while Scar tried to snatch the paper from Ma's hand. Ma stood up to stop Scar.

After a minute, Ma became serious and said to Scar, "Go to the living room and watch TV. Don't disturb us."

I was relieved to hear that because, one, she is serious now and not laughing; two, she sent Scar away.

She came and sat in front of me and asked, "Is this true? Is Jacob asking like this?"

I just nodded my head in silent confirmation. Ma took out her phone and called Dad. "Come up fast, it's urgent." With that, she ended the call.

Dad arrived within five minutes and asked, "What happened, Alice?"
"Tell him," said Ma.

"Ma...what do you mean? I couldn't even say it to you," I replied, trying to control myself from crying.

Ma gave the paper to Dad and started explaining, and I couldn't control my tears from flowing.

God, I am such a weak and useless person. I'm not even the one speaking, but the waterworks started.

""Who the hell does he think he is? Doesn't he have any shame? How can he ask all this to middle school girls? And what is the management doing about it?" Dad got so angry and then asked me to call the principal.

"I don't have the principal sir's contact number," I said and brought my school diary, which has the school reception number, and dialed it.

"Hello, who is this?" asked someone.

"Hello, I am Lillian from the 7th standard. Can I get the principal sir's number?" I asked.

"What happened? Why do you need it, Lillian? I am Savannah, your social sir Kevin's wife," she replied.

Father took the mobile and started yelling, "Madam, some Jacob, it seems, is asking my daughter whether she is willing to be his girlfriend and kiss him. Is this what they are teaching at St. Fan High School?"

"Oh, my! That's really bad. The principal, sir, will definitely take action against him. Do not worry. Here, note down the number." With that, she ended the call.

"Call him," Father said.

"No, you speak," I said, still crying because Father isn't understanding the consequences of complaining about Sir Jacob. Some students' parents complained about Sir's punishments and ended up getting worse punishments. Sir targets students who complain and punishes them even more severely, but now that I am complaining about such a big thing, what will be my consequences? I don't want to be given punishments like wall-chair with a bag in my lap or kneeling down all day in the sun or simply standing outside the class. I don't want to go to St. Fan High School anymore.

"Hello, sir. This is Aaron speaking, Lillian's father."

"Yes sir tell me"

"My daughter is crying badly and is scared of going to school because that bastard Jacob asked my daughter for a kiss and gave her time to respond until tomorrow. Now she is scared shitless. Is this what's going on at the school? They are just little kids. How can that Jacob ask my daughter for a kiss? Please kick him out of the school immediately. Even that would be a small punishment for the trauma he is putting my child through. We don't know what he's saying to the other kids. There may have been many more incidents, and you're not aware of anything," said Dad.

"Of course not, we didn't expect such behavior from him. He and his wife are very good teachers. I will take immediate action and let you know how we proceed. Thanks for making us aware of this issue. We will not condone such things in school, especially not in my school," replied the principal.

"Yes, you had better. How did you even hire him without knowing his behavior? He is such a bad influence on the students."

"Yes, don't worry, the issue will be sorted."

"My daughter doesn't even want to go to school anymore because of this incident and is also afraid that he might punish her."

"Nothing of that sort will happen, you have my word. She can come to school without fear."

"If such an incident ever repeats itself, mark my words, I will not let the school survive. We are all locals here and are all friends and family. No parents want their children to study in pedophile schools, and together we can shut the school down."

"Never, ever, sir, you have my word, and let Lillian come to school without any worries. Give Lillian let me speak once."

I took the mobile with shaking hands and still crying. "Hello, sir."

"Lillian, my child, do not worry and do not cry. Nothing will happen to you. Do not be scared either because you did not do anything wrong. It's Jacob, and he will be punished."

"Okay, thank you, sir," I replied while hiccuping.

"See you tomorrow in school." With that, he ended the call.

"We tried our best. If nothing changes, then we will have no other option but to change schools. We don't want to risk this coming out and tarnishing her reputation," my dad said to us. I was not sure what to feel—glad or sad. Is my father taking a stand or not?

*******

"Hey, Lilly, your father is calling you downstairs," informed our shop employee, Noa. I nodded and started walking down the stairs.

"What is it, Dad?"

"Your principal, sir, is on the line," he said while handing me the phone. My hands started sweating because I knew why he had called. I hadn't gone to school that day. I had cried in the morning, saying I wouldn't go, and my parents couldn't refuse me because I had a valid reason. But now, what could I say to the principal, sir?

"Hello, good morning, sir," I answered.

"Good morning, child. Why are you absent today?"

"I'm scared of Jacob, sir. He'll punish me for sure."

"As I told you before, you have nothing to fear, and everything is sorted. He will not bother you anymore. You can come to me if he dares to punish you. As I have already informed your father, we are in the middle of the academic year, and thus it is hard to find two new teachers. So please bear with them for a while. Once we find replacements for them, they will be fired. Is that alright with you?"

"Okay, sir."

"Good." (The call ends.)

"It's good, right? He said he will not bother you, and also he will be removed as soon as they find replacements," my father asked.

"I guess, but I am still scared."

"Just go and see tomorrow, and if you are still scared, then we can think of something else, okay?"

I nodded my head.

"Now smile, my sweet Rain," he said while smiling and making me smile in the process by using Grandfather's nickname for me.