Rewind

XIX: Apologies

The headmaster shakes his head with shame and I want to laugh because he looks like a kid being scolded. I believe it’s actually like that. Go father, go! You teach him.

“I know my daughter and I know she would never get in a situation like that without a logical reason and she always has the best intentions. If something like this happens again, I’ll know it’s because you are still not doing anything about it,” Father states coldly and the headmaster nods. “And now that I’m involved I’ll be asking my daughter if the problem with bullying is being handled properly. The reports are necessary because if these events happen as often as you mention, then you need help as institution.”

“We are very sorry for calling you without taking the proper measures,” the headmaster finally apologises and then looks at me. “And we are sorry for not asking for the full story before taking action.”

I nod in acknowledgement and to hide the smile on my lips. Today I’m actually happy that they called my parents.

“I hope this situation does not happen like this again,” Father says with his head high. “And if you do not have a report to handle and have accepted your wrongdoings, then I would like to take my leave. We are carrying an important study and I’m needed in the laboratory,” he adds and the headmaster nods, rising to his feet.

“Of course, of course. Please, we don’t want to keep you here longer that necessary. We can see now that you are very responsible and concerned with your daughter. We are, once again, very sorry for this incomplete work. Please, accept our apologies.”

“Of course I’m concerned, Allison is my daughter and she will always be our first priority. Her mother and I will never allow anything to taint her future.” I’m actually touched with Father’s words and my smile is different this time, not satisfied but a happy one. In their way, they are only looking after me because they care. “And apologies accepted. Now if you excuse me, I’ll take my leave. Have a good day.”

They shake hands and I just get a nod before we walk away and Father urges me to go to my classes immediately. I wish Zeke’s parents had also come to make the headmaster apologise for his unfair actions. But if this has happened before maybe that’s why they don’t even bother to come anymore. I wonder what he is doing now. Maybe he’s volunteering at the orphanage or visiting the homeless people. For some reason I doubt he will stay at home, slacking like I imagine Butch is doing.

At the first break Sam comes running to me, her breathing heavy and I chuckle because she’s clearly not used to physical activity. I think if I had to run, I would also be out of breath.

“How… how did it go?” she asks with her hands on her side, trying to catch her breath. “For how long are you grounded? Did they give you community service?”

I chuckle. I’m not surprised she thinks things went terribly considering the things I’ve said about my parents. I mean, I was scared because I didn’t know how they would react, and I feel very ashamed that I thought they would be irrational and just punish me. I should’ve known better, but Sam has no reason to expect the real outcome of the situation. She was so worried that if she called or texted me last night things would get worse so we agreed to only talk about it today, just to be safe.

“Things went great,” I tell and she holds her breath and blinks, as if waiting for me to say it’s a joke. “Really. My parents totally listened to me and agreed that the way the headmaster handled the situation was wrong. They didn’t punish me or anything because they know I was just trying to do the right thing and I apologised for not choosing the best way to approach the issue.”

“Wow, that sounds so… rational. I mean, I really thought they would forbid you talk to any other human being and just study until you’re fifty. I’m glad!”

“It’s a perk of having just rational parents,” I chuckle. “They listen to the story, collect all the needed data before making a judgement. They were just worried because when the school called them the situation wasn’t really explained. Today Father got the headmaster to apologise!” I tell her and her eyes widen in surprise. “He demanded for a report and when the headmaster told him he didn’t have one because this is just too frequent, Father used all that against them! It was epic, Sam. You should’ve seen it.”

“I’d pay to see it! Wow, I’m really impressed with your father, Allie,” she conceded and I feel so proud of my parents right now.

“Father put in evidence the lousy job they are doing to deal with bullying and the headmaster was blushing, ashamed! I wish Zeke had seen that. The headmaster even apologised to me for not acting properly yesterday,” I continue.

“That’s incredible. Your father is scarily amazing, Allie. Please, remind me to not get in his bad side,” Sam laughs. “He would make me apologise for every wrongdoing I’ve done, even if it’s not my fault.”

“Maybe he would,” I laugh along. “I just wish the headmaster could un-suspend Zeke. He didn’t deserve the same punishment as Butch. That’s not fair. I mean, yeah, Zeke was wrong for punching Butch, but the situation was different for each of them, yet Zeke is also treated like a bully,” I lament and we both lose our smiles.

“I know, but they always do that. Zeke doesn’t even complain, as you saw,” Sam comments and it’s true. He didn’t even try to explain things yesterday, he just accepted the punishment even if it was unfair. “I wonder if now that your father humiliated the headmaster he’ll do something about it instead of just acting annoyed.”

“I hope so. My father said he would be paying attention and that seemed to scare him, so let’s hope for the best. I mean, I hope they actually fill reports and listen the full story before imparting punishments, you know?” Sam nods and I sigh. “I wonder how Zeke is doing. I’m really annoyed he was suspended the same amount of days as Butch!” I complain and Sam nods again.

“If the two were to be suspended, Butch should’ve got more days because he was the one who was bullying Dana and tried to bully you, too.”

Dana is the girl Butch was bullying yesterday. Thankfully she’s okay but Sam told me the poor girl always gets picked on, which is terrible because she’s done nothing wrong to deserve that. It’s so unfair.

“Why don’t you go visit Zeke after classes?” Sam suggests and my head snap. “Yeah!” she insists, more enthusiastic this time despite my surprise. “I’m sure he’d be happy to see you and you’d get to tell him what your father did. And don’t you have classes with him today? You can hand him the notes.”

Sam smiles because she knows that with her last argument she got me and at the idea of seeing Zeke today I feel my stomach tensing in that funny feeling.

“I’ll text him first to make sure it’s not inconvenient for him,” I think out loud and Sam chuckles.

“I’m sure he’ll be happy, don’t worry. I always thought he didn’t want to have people around, but now that I’ve talked to him and see him, I realise he actually likes people, he just likes the right people, not just anyone. He’ll appreciate a friend making sure he’s all right so don’t worry.”

I smile at her before the bell rings, reminding us it is time to go to our next class so we say goodbye for the time being. I leave to class with that tingly feeling still lingering in my guts.

-:-:-

Did you like it? I honestly love her parents, even if they are stric and whatnot. They are still powerful and I love powerful people.

Le tme know your thoughts!

Bel, xx