Margaret Daley - Once upon a Family  

L aura Williams had never once, when she was a girl in school, been sent to see the principal. Today, she was standing in front of her sons Cimarron High principals door. Theyd only been in town for two weeks, and her oldest was already in trouble. Probably some kind of record. Her hand shook as she knocked.

When the door opened, she took a small step back. The tall, broad principal filled the entrance to his office. Her mouth went dry. With her small, just-over-five-feet stature his large presence overwhelmed her.

Laura Williams?

She swallowed hard, drew in a deep breath and stuck out her hand. Yes. You must be Peter Stone.

His fingers closed around hers, a warm, firm grip. Come in. Im sorry were meeting for the first time under these circumstances. He moved to the side to let her enter. I wanted to talk with you alone before I bring Sean back in. He closed the door and rounded his massive desk, gesturing toward a chair in front of it. Please have a seat.

I cant believe Sean was fighting. Hes never done anything like that before.

The principal flipped open a file and scanned a paper hed picked up. I see you all moved here a couple of weeks ago. How did Sean feel about the move?

She looked into the mans dark brown eyes and saw kindness and concern. For a moment she wanted to tell him the whole story of how she and her four children had ended up in Cimarron City, Oklahoma. But the pain was still too fresh, and she didnt confide in many people, even one who gave off empathetic vibes. Were adjusting.

Doubt entered his eyes. When I asked Sean about the fight, he was silent. He hasnt said more than a sentence or two. I didnt know if the anger I was sensing from him went beyond the argument he had with the other boy.

What was the argument about? Laura clutched the handle of her zebra-striped purse tightly, her fingernails and leather straps digging into her palms.

The other boy told me Sean cheated off him in English.

What did Sean say?

Nothing. I talked with his teacher and their test answers were remarkably similar.

Until recently her oldest had always been a good student. Could the other boy have cheated off Sean?

The principal frowned. I dont think so. Hes at the top of his class.

Dread blanketed her in a cold sweat. Shed hoped coming to Cimarron City would be a fresh start. Who started the fight?

Your son.

Laura sat forward on the edge of the padded chair. Are you suspending him?

Thats our policy. Three days, until next Monday.

Is the other student being suspended, too?

He nodded.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds, thoughts of the hostility that was so much a part of her family since No, she couldnt go there. That wouldnt change what was happening. She pushed to her feet. Very well.

Let me bring Sean in. He stood and walked to the door.

Laura faced her son as he trudged into the office, his eyes downcast. She didnt need to see them to know the defiance in their green depths. His clenched hands shouted his anger, always present since his father had passed away nine months ago.

The intense, churning emotions coming off the boy struck Peter with their force. The teen held his tall, thin frame in a rigid stance as though daring anyone to come near him. He was screaming for help. Hed seen the signs before. The anger. The silence. The defiance.

Sean, as I said before, youll be suspended for three days for fighting. When you come back, youll retake the test. The tightening of the boys mouth prompted Peter to add, As will the other student, since we cant determine exactly who cheated. The test will be different, harder.

Laura stepped forward. Thank you, Mr. Stone. Hell be prepared to take it. She waved her hand for her son to leave first. At the door she glanced back at him. I appreciate the way youve handled the situation.

Peter watched the mother and son until they disappeared from his view. He turned back into his office, his gaze settling on the chair where Laura Williams sat only a few minutes ago. The haunted look in her green eyes tugged at his heart. A troubled soul.

And Sean was a troubled teen. Hed seen all the signs because he had been one himself years ago. If truth be told, he still feltunsettled. He couldnt change what had happened, yet he couldnt quite put his past behind him. Peter strode to his desk and sat. The best way to help himself was to help someone else.

Seeing the pain in Laura and Sean Williams confirmed in Peters mind what he should do. For the past six months he couldnt shake the feeling that the Lord wanted him to do more with his life. Being the principal of the high school and being involved in his church as a deacon werent enough. God wanted something else from him. He picked up the phone and placed a call.

Laura unlocked the door to her side of the large duplex and tossed her purse on the entry hall table while Sean stomped up the stairs. On the drive home from school, her son had only mumbled a yeah to the question, Do you understand youre grounded until you go back to school?

The sound of Seans bedroom door slamming vibrated in the air. Half the town probably heard that, especially Aunt Sarah. Thinking about the occupant of the other side of the duplex turned Laura around. She hadnt had a chance to check on her aunt this morning. She went out onto the long front porch they shared and walked the few feet to her aunts. She let herself in and made her way through the small living room, crammed with years of items from Aunt Sarahs world travels, to the back where she usually was at this time of the day, drinking her third or fourth cup of tea and nibbling on what little she ate for a late breakfast.