Page 2 of Panther's Magpie
“She instigated a fight as usual,” the principal says.
“No, I didn’t,” Aspen defends.
Calloway turns those green eyes onto me. “Margaret?”
I shake my head. “She was telling them about her pretty clip. Mertle attacked her. You could ask anyone.”
Calloway turns back to the principal. “It seems to me that you are blaming the poor foster kid because, of course, foster children are the problem. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Kinney? I’ll accept the suspension because I am sure Aspen did fight back. I taught her to never back down from a bully, and I’m proud of her for that. She has the right to defend herself. I won’t accept you putting the blame on her, though. Sounds like this other girl is jealous of my sister. That’s something the administration should be working on, isn’t it? Dealing with bullies?”
Without another word, he motions for Aspen to follow him. She gives me a sad smile as she walks by.
“Margaret, you too. We will wait out front for your ride,” he barks at me.
I startle, standing as he speaks.
“Mr. Alstone, that is highly inappropriate,” Mrs. Kinney tells him.
“I’m not leaving her alone with you, so either we all wait in here, and let me tell you, Penny, I’m spitting mad, so I’m likely to say some things to hurt your feelings, or we wait outside. I’ll let you decide.”
She is shocked by his words but gives me a nod.
I follow them outside.
“What were you thinking, Princess?” he asks Aspen as soon as we are outside.
She shrugs. “She was saying mean things. She said you weren’t really my brother. I just wanted to show them my clip.”
Her hand goes to her hair to touch the thing. When she realizes it’s missing, her eyes well up with tears as she starts to look around.
“Where is it? My clip. It’s gone,” she wails.
I wince. “Mertle threw it over there.” I motion to the general area of the playground.
Aspen is sobbing as she is crying. “My clip. No.”
Calloway wraps his arm around her. “It’s okay. I’ll buy you another one.”
“I don’t want another one. I want that one.”
Calloway sighs, pulling out his phone. “Hey. Yeah, meet me at the elementary school and bring a few guys.”
“It’s okay, Princess. We will find it. Margaret, will you wait with her until I come back?”
I nod. Henrietta won’t mind.
A few minutes later, several teens on bicycles show up. I watch as Calloway talks to them. Then they take off toward the playground, searching.
Aspen is still sniffling into my side as I hug her to me.
Henrietta pulls up, walking over to me.
“What’s going on?” she asks in her heavy accent.
“Mertle hit Aspen, and I tried to help her. We are both suspended. Can we wait, though? Her brother is looking for her hair clip for her.”
Henrietta looks over at Aspen with soft eyes. “That little girl is such a bully. Are you okay, Miss Aspen?”
She nods.
