Page 2 of She's My Kind Of Rain

I divert my gaze, keeping my eyes locked on the ground, not wanting to meet Mom’s stare, knowing if I do she will immediately see that I don’t feel sorry for hitting Jimmy. I know I probably should, but I’m not going to lie and say that I wound’t do it again if I were in the same position.

“Now, Sawyer, would you like to explain what happened?” Mr. Ludley, urges me to answer.

I look up from the floor, forcing myself to make eye contact with Mr. Ludley. I don’t need to further the consequences my parents will likely deem fit, by coming across as disrespectful. I consider that Jimmy is only a few feet away but decide that it’s probably best if I’m honest. My mom’s punishment will most likely be far worse than anything Mr. Ludley chooses. Wishing that I had time to think through my answer, rather than blurtout something I can’t take back, I release a deep breath before I respond.

“He doesn’t like me. He always makes remarks about how skinny I am and how I have no friends. Today was no different. He pestered me throughout the day, tripped me in the hall, and then continued it after the bell rang.” I keep eye contact with Mr. Ludley since he is the person who directed the question and is honestly the only person I think truly understands after what he had said earlier in his office. “I tried to ignore him, but then he pushed me, and without thinking I just swung.” I stop there, knowing I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of doing it many times prior to today. I don’t want to make any of this worse.

“Skimp—I mean Sawyer hit me! He should—” Jimmy tries to contest but his mother shushes him when she hears him nearly call me a name.

Mr. Ludley clears his throat. “As long as both parents see fit, I believe both boys have handled this situation poorly. They have earned pink slips and after-school detention for the next three weeks and Sawyer is no longer allowed to go on the class trip planned for next week.” He gives an awkward glance to both of our parents and then us. “These slips will go on your permanent record and any additional issues will result in another much lengthier conversation with your parents, as well as both of you. Are we all in agreement here?”

Jimmy’s mom looks unsure if she should fight for her son or be thankful that he isn’t in more trouble, while my parents seem to be having a silent conversation amongst themselves, leading to my mom nodding her head on both of their behalf.

“Mr. and Mrs. Mason, I would like to further discuss your son’s actions for a moment in my office, and Mrs. Goodall, as long as you do not need anything further you and Jimmy are free to go.”

His mom takes a moment to glance at me, a soft smile permeating her face and I wonder again how someone so mean could come from someone who seems so tender and as kind as her. Gathering Jimmy’s things, she shakes Mr. Ludley’s hand, and exits the office motioning Jimmy to follow.

He scoffs at me as he walks past, and it takes everything in me not to swing again. To deck that dipshit once more in the hopes that maybe next time he will think twice about messing with me. My mom notices and gives him a look that would set even the worst of them straight. I let out a small laugh, then receive the same look he did. I straighten up because I know that once we leave this school this discussion isn’t over.

My parents and Mr. Ludley enter his office while I take a seat in the chair that Jimmy previously occupied. Their private chat lasts about ten minutes before the door opens again and I am met with what appears to be happy faces. Happy should be good, right? Maybe I won’t be in as much trouble as I was expecting. My principal shakes both of their hands and then we exit the school, making our way towards my mom’s red Audi convertible, the single most flashy thing about her.

We settle into our seats and before Dad even starts the engine Mom begins to speak. “Honey, what happened today is not acceptable behavior.”

“Mom I—” I begin, but she cuts me off.

“Mr. Ludley informed us that Jimmy has been in his office multiple times this year for bullying,” she huffs and continues. “I wish you would have told us about this.” Her tone shifts to a slightly more gentle demeanor. “We cannot help you if we don’t know something is wrong. I am sorry that it had to get to the point of violence, which we both know is very unlike you.”

My father nods, keeping his eyes on the road seemingly having nothing to add.

“I don’t want you back at that school,” her tone is laced with worry. “This could have ended much differently had he decided to hit you after you hit him, and Mr. Ludley agreed. But since you were the one to hit him, the most he could offer was keeping you separated during school hours. He pointed out that this will only draw attention to the situation and wanted us to be aware if we decided to take that route.”

Guilt sits in the pit of my stomach even though they are making it clear that they know this isn’t my fault. “I am really sorry,” I say softly, “I honestly didn’t think about it, it just happened. I didn’t mention it because I thought if I ignored it long enough he would just leave me alone. I don’t want to go back there either. I have no friends thanks to Jimmy, and you saw him, he is piss—” I hesitate because I know open communication probably doesn’t grant me a pass for cussing. “ —Mad I got away with hitting him.”

The car is silent besides the soft wind blowing as my dad drives down the road.

“What about staying with Pops?” My mom offers. “I know you love being at the ranch and it will only be for a short while. Plus, I think working with the cattle who are just as bull-headed as Jimmy might prove to be beneficial for you to help navigate feelings that arise in a stressful situation. And trust me they will provide a chance or two for you to work on that.” She lets out a little laugh seemingly reminiscing on a moment from her past. “Pops has been rather lonely since we moved to North Carolina. It might be good for both of you.”

“You’d really let me do that?” I let out, shocked by what I can only describe as a reward.

“As long as we all agree that’s what makes the most sense for you and Pops agrees, I don’t see why not. And you can come back once the school year is over. You only have a month to go anyway.” Her tone is warm.

Releasing a breath, my dad adds, “I agree with your mom, I think that separating the both of you makes the most sense if that’s what you want.”

“Yeah, if you guys think that’s what’s best.” I try not to sound too excited, but then realize that they are clearly on my side so they probably won’t be mad at me for enjoying this new plan, so I add, “Yeah, then Pops can teach me guitar like he always says he’s going to.”

Little did I know, punching Jimmy had been the best decision I ever made, and it wasn’t because of revenge, but rather for the time I got to spend with my favorite person on this earth, Pops.

DAISY

The worst day of my sixteen-year-old life

Mornings are alwaysthe same around here. My mom has gone early to work at Delilah’s Flower Shop—a store she opened a few years back—while my dad and I enjoy the nice weather outside as he loads his truck with a new shipment of flower pots my mom ordered for the store.

“That pot a little heavy for ya, Dais?” My dad jokes out as I square up my legs with a pot that I thought would be light, only to find that it weighs incredibly more than I thought.

How can something so small be so ridiculously heavy?

We laugh as I utter an exaggerated grunt, lifting the little ceramic pot just high enough to get it into the back of his truck.

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