Where Love Grows

Hard to Love

"Hey Easton?" Hunter knocked on his door. No response, "Buddy, I'm gonna come in whether you answer or not." Still nothing. Hunter opened the door.

"GET OUT!" Easton yelled, making me jump back. Sutton poked her head out of her room but I gestured for her to leave us alone. "Just leave me alone." Easton was sobbing and my heart was breaking. Hunter went in, despite the yelling.

His voice was calm, "I'm not leaving until I find out why you and your mom are crying." Easton stopped immediately.

"Why is mom crying?" His voice was empathetic and soft. I could hear Hunter pull a tissue from the box.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. Maybe you can help me, you're really smart." Hunter's voice remained calm and Easton spoke to him. I leaned on the wall just outside his door.

"I was afraid to tell mom I was being bullied." He sighed, I could tell he was trying to hold back tears. "I thought if I said I didn't like the teacher, you would let me quit."

"Easton, bullying is serious. We can help you." He paused, "I know it hurts. I've been bullied. Your mom has been bullied. Did someone say something or hurt you?"

I held my breath knowing this would be the gut wrenching part. "Well, the other kids push me around. It's not everybody...just a few of the bigger boys. I know why they're being mean to me."

"Why's that?"

"Because they think I'm a spoiled rich kid. That's what they said." I couldn't bear to hear anymore of this. I knocked on the door.

"Easton?" tears rolled down my cheeks and he opened his arms for a hug. I wrapped him up and held him tight, "I'm sorry."

"No, not telling you." He sighed.

"Easton sweetie, you have a good heart. You're an amazing kid. We want you to do something you love. If you want to quit, okay, but from what I saw tonight - you're really good at it." He sat up a little straighter and cocked his head.

"I don't want to quit. I think I need to talk to the teacher." He looked at us, "Will you help me?"

"Absolutely. We will both be there for you." Once he calmed down, I coaxed him to take a shower while Hunter and I decompressed in our room. "I am literally heartbroken."

"I know. We will take care of it." I agreed and after we heard the water shut off, we tucked the kids in and headed to bed.

The week passed by and Sutton's rehearsal schedule was strictly over lunch hour which meant she was able to come support Easton at karate. "Easton is the nicest person. It makes me mad that someone was being mean to him." She said, helping me set the table.

"Boys, dinner!" They came rumbling down the stairs and Hunter emerged from the front hall. We enjoyed dinner and headed off as a family to Easton's karate class. I flagged the instructor down beforehand and we talked to him.

"It's come to our attention that there are a few kids in your class that are picking on our son. We wanted your help handling this situation." Hunter said in a calm tone.

"Easton right?" The instructor asked and we nodded. "He's a good kid. Good listener, a little shy." We explained that we were hoping karate would give Easton some confidence but discussed how upset he was last week and what I witnessed. "I am very sorry this happened." The instructor agreed to watch more carefully today. We thanked him and I pulled Easton aside before class started.

"We spoke to the teacher. We will all be watching, okay?" He nodded and I gave him a hug before sending him into the room. "Why do I feel like I just pushed my kid off a cliff?" I whispered as I leaned into Hunter.

"I know." His gaze was fixed on Easton and the kids around him. We watched the warm ups and I glanced over to see Sutton and Beckett playing hangman. The teacher broke the class up into groups to practice kicking and we saw it. Two boys, a bit bigger than Easton cut him off in line. Hunter grabbed the door handle, his body tense. The instructor made eye contact with Hunter and nodded, indicating he had it under control. "Dammit." He muttered.

The instructor pulled the two boys out and talked to them firmly before making them sit out.

"Why's my kid sitting on the side?"

Before I could say anything, Hunter piped up without turning toward the parent, "Because he's a bully."

"Excuse me?" The woman walked up to Hunter, "What did you call my kid?"

"A bully. For pushing my son around. Not just today, but for the past three weeks. Your child does not have the right to ruin this class for anybody." The mom was speechless, pushing past us into the room to have a word with the instructor. The class was dismissed for a water break and Easton came to see me for his water bottle.

"Thanks mom, thanks dad."

"No problem buddy." I sent him back into the room where the instructor had the two boys give Easton a proper apology before sending them out.

"Well I hope you're happy my son got suspended. Spoiled rich kids - that's what y'all are raisin'." She stormed off with her son and I swallowed hard. Hunter held his tongue and just shook his head. We spoke to the instructor after and decided to give the class a few more chances before deciding if we want to switch gyms.

We made it home, had a snack and sent the kids off to shower and bed. "I feel better about it but not completely." I said, resting my head on the pillow.

"I know, I think it's the area. The neighbourhood." I nodded. "We did what we could today. I love you Jen."

"Love you to Hunt."