To you who doesn't care

New Beginnings

"Ms. Harmony Focaine," the office attendant handed a large stack of papers to a young girl and her mother through a small stand up window.

Harmony looked into the office attendant's eyes, numb and unkind, "these are forms and information regarding your schedule and bus times." She questioned whether she chose the right clothes to wear as the office attendant looked her up and down. Harmony's eye darted, embarrassed at her knee length shorts and graphic t-shirt.

"Follow me, Principal Woods would like to meet you and speak with your mother." Another assistant teacher waved her hand towards Harmony to follow. Harmony looked to her mother and raised an eyebrow, feeling nervous and overwhelmed. 

The last few times she had walked to the principal, she had gotten either suspended or borderline expelled.  

"Oh, quit looking at me like that girl." Her mother smiled, taking her hand as they followed the attendant to the back of the office.

"Ah, Mrs. Waverley Focaine, wonderful to see you again-tell me when will you be coming back to Apple County?" Mrs. Focaine let out a dry laugh and shook Mr. Woods's hand.

"I'm afraid that's not even a possibility at the moment, I'm currently working 40 minutes out in the next state as an Executive Finance Director." Although Waverly would never openly admit it, she was proud of her achievements- she went from making bedside tables out of moving boxes to getting her CPA license, making 6 figures and owning a 2 story home. She knew she provided well for her family.

Harmony, also proud of her mother, smiled and glanced at her mother. Although she knew of  the achievements, she also remembered the cold stares her mother would give when she didn't do something up to par.  

"This is my daughter Harmony, she will be starting the 7th grade here this fall." Harmony stuck her hand out for the principal to shake.

"Nice to meet you young lady, your mother is a brilliant woman, so I know you will definitely be a brilliant student." Mr. Woods took her hand and shook it firmly.

"Nice to meet you as well sir, I hope to meet those expectations." While she said it halfheartedly, she truly hoped to become a good student here and make a complete, fresh start.

"I must say Ms. Focaine, you seem very mature for your age-has anyone ever told you that?" Harmony half smiles and nods.

"Yes, many times sir." As she sat down in the plush leather chair sitting in front of his desk, her smile fades into a frown. 

"tell me, what do you think brought you into my office?" Harmony  kept her eyes down and held her hands between her legs. 

"I told someone that my dad was going to shoot them." She left out the part where she was going to say- if they keep touching me but she felt too scared to even look up. She was only 7 at the time and couldn't understand how to defend herself properly so she thought of the only protective thing she could remember- her father in a previous conversation-that if anyone tried to touch her- he was going to shoot them with a gun. 

"Harmony, this is a very serious threat." Harmony continued to look to the floor, trying to count tiles to distract her from the smirking bullies that sat across her. The elementary school principal looked to Harmony with disappointment and frustration, and dialed a number on the office phone.

"Hey Mrs. Waverly, I am so sorry to bother you, I am calling in regards to your daught- no it's not Ilsa- yes, she's currently in my office and we are having to go through with out of school suspension at this time." Harmony looked down and felt a pain in her stomach. Many tears fell to the seat that she clung to.