Aiden’s expression morphs from excitement to dejection.
Ever the fixer, I glare at the child’s mom, but she’s too busy with her phone to take notice. Changing tactics, I turn my attention to the bully. “Maybe ifyourmom actually paid attention to you, you wouldn’t have to spend your time being a mean girl.”
There’s an audible gasp and the entire room quiets.
“What did you just say to my daughter?”
“Oh, so youwerepaying attention. Then you must’ve heard what she said to Aiden.”
“So what? Kids will be kids.”
“What the f—” I shake my head. “Is that how you justify bullying?”
She rolls her eyes and clicks her tongue. “It’s not that serious.”
I scan the room in search of Mrs. Thompson, but she’s nowhere to be seen, and we’ve got an audience. I stand. “You know what, while I have all of you here, listen up.”
“That’s Ruby Lynn Hayes.”
“Oh my god.”
“I didn’t know she had a kid.”
Clearing my throat, I continue. “ If I so much as hear a whisper of anyone bullying Aiden again, I will personally make your lives a waking nightmare.”
Aiden's eyes are wide, and he’s looking at me like I’m his savior.
I grasp his hand. “Aiden is the best kid, and if you got to know him, you’d think so, too. You’re all too busy judging him for things he can’t control. Anybody would be lucky to haveAiden as a friend.I’mlucky to call Aiden my bestie. So, if you have a problem with him, you have a problem with me.”
There’s an awkward round of applause from some of the adults. I do a self-deprecating curtsy and return to my seat at the too-small table.
“Sorry, Aiden,” Mean Girl says. She slides a pack of crayons across the table, looking suitably chastised, and her bitch of a mother returns her attention to her phone.
Mrs. Thompson walks back into the room, having missed the entire display. She claps once. “Ok. Where were we?”
Liam
“You should’ve seen it, Dad! Ruby was all ‘Aiden is my bestie,’ and everybody clapped.”
I glance at Ruby across the sofa. “Is that so?”
She pinches her lips together, stifling a laugh.
“Yep! And Mikey Johnson invited me to his birthday party! Can I go, Dad? It’s laser tag!” He hands me a detailed paper invitation.
Mikey Johnson is a little shit, but I don’t have it in me to say no when he’s this excited.
“Sure, buddy.”
“Yes! I can’t wait. I’m going to tell Jerry.”
I chuckle as he rushes down the hallway. “Did you really bully an entire classroom full of kids and their moms?”
She snorts and shrugs one shoulder. “They deserved it.”
“You’re something else, Ruby Lynn Hayes.”
“Ew. Don’t full name me, Liam… holy shit, I don’t know your middle name.”
