Page 63 of Cause and Effect

For the first time in years, staying in control was difficult. Every part of me screamed to stay away from her, but every part of me ran straight toward her anyway.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Laurel

“Thank you for coming in,” Principal Wiley spoke. “The others should be here momentarily.”

“Others?” I asked.

“Justin Keeley’s parents.”

“Ah, of course.” I smiled.

The office door opened, and a man and woman stepped in.

“Please, have a seat,” Principal Wiley gestured.

“Are you the woman who threatened my boy?” Mr. Keeley asked, and I could smell the whiskey on his breath from a mile away.

“Yes. But I wouldn’t call it a threat. It was more of a promise,” I said. “Are you aware that your son is bullying multiple children in this school?”

“My son is a good boy,” Mrs. Keeley said. “He would never.”

I glanced over at Julian. “What did Justin say this morning after I asked him why he was bullying Sara?”

“He said she was bullying material,” he said.

“Ms. Evans, do you understand that?—”

“Excuse me, Principal Wiley.” I raised my hand. “Do you have a copy of your school handbook?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Can I see it?”

He reached over, grabbed a booklet, and handed it to me. I quickly flipped through the pages and set it on his desk.

“It states that bullying is a non-tolerable offense, and the school will take the appropriate measures to ensure every student is safe. Are the students safe from Justin Keeley, Principal Wiley?” My brow arched.

“How dare you!” Mr. Keeley shouted.

I stood from my chair and paced around the office as if I were questioning a witness on the stand.

“How many students have come to you about Justin’s bullying?” I asked Principal Wiley.

He stared at me, unwilling to answer.

“Do you understand that bullying doesn’t just leave bruises? It leaves scars that can’t always be seen. These are formative years for the students, in which they should feel safe here. Being bullied has an emotional effect that pushes children into loneliness and fear. My daughter didn’t want to attend school today because of your son.” I pointed at the Keeley’s. “She didn’t feel safe because Principal Wiley refused to do anything about the ten complaints he received from various students about Justin’s bullying behavior.”

“Excuse me? How do you know about those complaints?” Principal Wiley asked.

“Let’s just say I know everything,” I said. “Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, if Justin continues to go down this path, he will have lasting consequences, possibly leading to disciplinary and legal actions later in life. Now, Principal Wiley. Ifyou don’t do something about Justin and hold him accountable for his actions, I will. Not only will I file a lawsuit against the school, but I will go after Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, too. After all, aren’t parents responsible for their children’s actions?”

“Who the fuck are you?” Mr. Keeley shouted.

“I’m an attorney and will do everything in my power to protect my children.”

“Ms. Evans, the issue at hand here is you threatened a child,” Principal Wiley said. “You told him you’d string him up by his underwear to a tree in front of the other students. He also said you called his father a drunk.”

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