Where Love Grows

You Belong

In the blink of an eye, the month of April had come and gone. Evenings were spent rehearsing with Sutton, taking Easton to karate or Beckett to soccer. "Sutton you need to rest your voice, please." I could hear Hunter begging her to take a break from rehearsal.

"I watched my play from last year, I want to do better."

"That's great honey, really truly. But you will lose your voice if you keep singing like you do at that pitch. You can get like, blisters on your vocal cords if you don't take breaks." She stood like a deer in headlights.

"You're joking."

"He's not." I walked in to try and help diffuse the situation. "How about this, we all stop 'cause dinner is ready. And, one hour of practice during week nights. You take breaks on the weekends. Read the songs and lines all you want - but only one hour of singing." Hunter agreed and we put the argument to rest, gathering around the table for dinner.

"When's the play Sutton?"

"In two weeks." She said, raking her fork through her potatoes. "We have costume fittings tomorrow."

"That's great. Beckett, how are you liking soccer?"

"It's good. I like my coaches." He had a few bites of his dinner before adding, "Two of my friends from school are there too."

"Which friends?" I asked, curious since I feel like I know nothing about my boy's friend circles.

"Seth and Abby." He smiled, telling me how Abby is a good goalie.

"That's great sweetie." I turned my attention to Easton, "How's karate going buddy? Learn any cool moves?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. I like it but sometimes the teacher scares me. He yells." I looked at Hunter since we have been terribly guilty of dropping Easton off between escorting Sutton and Beckett to their activities on the same night.

"I promise tomorrow I am going to stay and watch your whole class, okay?" He gave me a half smile and I looked at Hunter who nodded. We didn't want Easton to be uncomfortable, but we also wanted to see how the class was run.

"He's a bit more, delicate. Both our boys are quite gentle-natured. And really we don't yell at them so he might very well be terrified."

"Go check it out and see."

"I'll take Easton, you take Beck. Your parents are going to pick Sutton up from school at five and bring her back here." Hunter and I parted ways with the kids and headed of to their activities. "So buddy, how are things? We don't hang out just the two of us."

"I know right?" He chuckled from the back seat. "Did you know I'm good at math? Like really good. I answered a question on the board today."

"Good for you bud," I looked in the mirror and caught a shimmer of his big, brown eyes, "so, who do you play with at recess?"

"I usually play soccer with Ryan and Theo. There's a boy in our class, Martin, he's kind of like Alex...but he walks and talks, he is kinda short and wears glasses. He has a helper." Easton describing his classmate peaked my interest. "He's really fun. He likes music so I sing with him."

"Oh that's nice. You're a good singer Easton."

We pulled into the parking lot of the YMCA and went inside with time to spare. Easton headed in and I turned to a parent standing beside me. "I feel like a terrible person but this is like, my first time watching this. Usually my husband brings him. What have they been learning?" I must have scared her because she turned to face me and jumped.

"Oh my gosh, you're..."

"A mom with a child who is terrified of the teacher," I interjected.

"Right, umm, my son is new to this class too." She pointed to a little red head boy who was a few rows ahead of Easton. "He seems to like it. Which one is yours?"

I pointed Easton out, "Yesterday he said he's not sure if he likes it. The yelling. I came to watch to see how this all goes."

"I bet it's a challenge," the woman said quietly, "you and your husband are so public. Do people recognize your kids?" I shook my head.

I was about to answer but I stopped myself. I didn't know this lady and had nothing to justify, "No. Usually not." I turned my gaze onto Easton, he looked focused and strong. The kids were practicing punching and the only yelling I heard thus far were the kids each time they threw a punch. The class broke for a water break and Easton walked to the fountain.

"Is that Jenna Hayes?" I heard one parent whisper to another. "Is her daughter here? I saw her on instagram." I tried to ignore it and I watched as Easton kept getting butted by the other kids in line for water. It took every muscle for me not to intervene. Eventually, he got his drink, finished the class and headed home.

"That didn't seem too loud. How do you feel it went?"

"Fine." This wasn't the same kid I brought. I could sense we was upset. I looked in the mirror to see a tear run down his red cheek. I concluded that the teacher wasn't the problem, it was the other kids.

"Easton, is it the teacher that's scaring you or the way the kids in your class are treating you?"

"You wouldn't get it." He shut me out, refusing to speak as we drove the rest of the way home. We arrived home and he stormed upstairs as Hunter made his way to the front door.

"What happened?" I shook my head, I had tears in my eyes. Hunter wrapped me in his arms. "Jen?" I took a deep breath and pulled back from his embrace.

"I am almost certain it's a bullying problem." Hunter sighed.