Fiction.

Chapter 21: Stay with Me.

Chapter 21: Stay with Me.

This morning’s routine consisted of waking up at six thirty, getting Peasnie up, making breakfast, helping her finish off her homework and watch the news. That’s my routine. Peasnie’s routine is a bit more complicated than that. She wakes up at six-forty-five, makes her bed, does her chores quickly, has a shower, gets ready by getting dressed, doing her hair and makeup. She comes down stairs eats breakfast, washes her dishes, then she does her homework and mentally prepares her for eight hours of brutal hell. I drop her off just after eight then I come home, clean a bit, do yard work and chill out for the rest of the day.

Peasnie’s been going to school for three days and already I’ve gotten a phone call from the Principal. It was a normal day so far; I was cutting the grass in the back yard and doing some gardening. It’s been really quiet without Peasnie around to talk to me. When I got that call I knew I had a trouble maker on my hands. I was told I needed to go to the school to pick up Peasnie because she had gotten into a fight. I had to shower and get changed from the dirty shorts and shirt into some nice jeans and a purple tee shirt. I styled my hair even, why? I don’t know.

I walked up the school walk way, it’s been so long since I’ve been here. All the memories came back to me suddenly. It was like a title wave of emotion. I didn’t like being here, the expelled me in my senior year. I don’t remember why though. I walked into the cool school and up to the front desk.

“Hello, I’m James Sullivan, Peasnie’s dad.” I said to the secretary. Her brown eyes dashed up to mine with a soft smile.

“Of course Mr Sullivan.” She said happily, showing me to the office. We walked down a long narrow hall way to the big oak doors. She smiled at me before walking back to the desk. I knocked and let myself in. I felt my face drop when I walked into the office to see Peasnie sitting in a chair, her lip was bloody and swollen, and she had bruises on her face with a small cut above her eye brow. I could tell she had a nose bleed. She seemed to sink into herself as I came into the office.

“Mr Sullivan, nice to see you again even under the circumstances.” Mr Pomeranski said with an all of a sudden sugary tone. Peasnie rolled her eyes as I shook Mr Pomeranski’s hand with a firm grip.

“What happened, principal Pomeranski?” I asked sullenly with my gaze on the principal.

“It appears your daughter has been a bit of a misfit by getting into a fight with another student.” Pomeranski replied with a stern voice. He wasn’t amused with this. He told me about the girl Peasnie beat up. I knew right away whose daughter it was. I didn’t want to seem relieved by the fact my child kicked my old bully’s daughter’s ass. He kicked my ass everyday from Grade ten to Grade twelve.

“She started it.” Peasnie uttered ungratefully.

“Regardless you do not beat someone up.” I said in a snap. I wanted to sound like I wasn’t pleased, if I had to milk it then let it be. She frowned and shook her head.

“She really started it; she pushed me to the ground and started whaling on me. What was I supposed to do? Say ‘hey miss, I very much dislike you bashing my face in so can you get off me?’ No you don’t, you fight back.” Peasnie tried explained, crossing her arms over her chest. I had to give it all I had not to laugh or smile. I sighed heavily and watched her with a narrowed gaze.

 “Mr Sullivan I’m afraid I’m going to have to suspend Peasnie for a week after only three days of school.” Mr Pomeranski said and wrote something down. I took the paper and read it. It was a suspension note.  I can’t say I was proud of Peasnie but I can’t say I wasn’t. We were seen out of the office. Peasnie needed to go to her locker to gather some of her things. I walked quietly with her. The halls were grey with the clouded sunlight. Peasnie stopped at her locker and sighed heavily.

“I didn’t start it though.” She reminded me. Her head hung down low, she was ashamed of herself either way. I put my hand on her shoulder.

“I know, don’t worry. That girl’s dad used to pick on me all the time when I went here.”I told her with a more up beat tone. Her head propped up with a sly smirk.

“Really? I’m not in trouble?” Peasnie asked curiously. I shook my head and laughed.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe.” I replied with a lively tone. Peasnie grabbed her books, shoving them into her bag. I hooked my arm around her as we walked to the car quietly. I wanted to give her some pointers on fighting but that might be a bad idea. I know I don’t want to be called again to pick her up because she got into trouble.

Peasnie sat in the front seat of the car with her bag in between her feet. Her new clothes were a little dirty but not damaged at all. She even wore glasses just like me. I bit my lip before looking over at her with a cocked eye brow.

“Next time you get into a fight, go to the skate park down the street, that way the school can’t do shit about it.” I gave her the main pointer that I’ve learned over the years. I’ve gotten into a fair amount of fist fights. Most of which I got my ass kicked but I tried. Ahh the skate park, a place I loved to be a lot of the time. I’d wait for the guys there during senior year. I got expelled so at lunch I’d wait for them there and we’d hang out for lunch then I’d meet them there after school. Good times, good times. Peasnie looked at me with glimmering blue eyes and a cheeky smirk.

“Is that where you did your ass kicking’s?” She asked hopefully. I felt the heat run to my face and a smile play my lips. I didn’t want to lie to her but I also didn’t want to seem like a wimp.

“More or less.” I replied. Peasnie cocked an eye brow at me cheekily.

“You got your ass kicked didn’t you?” She asked a brutal question. I laughed hardily and shook my head.

“Not every time. Some of the time, yes but I did some good ass kicking.” I admitted carefully. She laughed, my daughter was laughing at me. She seemed to be very amused with my bullied high school years. I shook my head and sighed.

“Right so when I get into fights I’ll take it to the skate park.” She repeated with a flat voice. I frowned and realized the words that come out of my mouth. I basically told my daughter that the best place to fight someone is off school grounds. That will come back to bit me in the ass.