Page 32 of Church Girl
“Last week, Gia came home upset. I finally got it out of her that she was being bullied by a girl in her class, and she showed me that...drawing. The other girl had given it to her during recess and started calling her names. Apparently, this isn’t the first time. It’s been going on since the beginning of the year.” She shoots a dirty look at the principal and under different circumstances, it would be comical. “Anyway—” she returns her attention to me “—I told her to tell her teacher. And if things didn’t change, tell her teacher again. She did that the next two days, and her teacher did nothing.” Aaliyah’s voice thickens, and her eyes glisten though they remain hot with hurt and anger for my little girl.
Shit, I don’t think I’ve ever found her more beautiful.
“When she let me know, I told her to tell a different teacher, and she did that as well. She let another second-grade teacher know what was going on, and still, nothing. Then I got a call fromhimtoday.” She hikes her chin in the principal’s direction. “Gia got in a fight. And apparently because that little heffa got a lot of mouth she can’t back up with her hands, Gia is the one in trouble and about to be suspended.”
“Gia could’ve come to me at any time if she was experiencing difficulties in class.”
Before I can turn and tell him in detail how to go fuck himself, Aaliyah beats me to it. Her head whips in his direction, her long waves falling over her shoulder. “Oh really? She should’ve gone to you? Because the teachers she trusted did nothing to intervene? As the head of this school, their neglect falls on you. Do I condone violence? No, not ordinarily. But she followed the rules, reached out to the authority figure, three times, and she was failed. At. Every. Turn. So when the bully came at her again, she defended herself. Or maybe you think she should’ve sucked it up and persevered for the rest of the year? Maybe you believe being tormented would’ve built character? God gave John a thorn in the flesh to endure, but I’m proud of Gia for plucking hers out.”
I frown, confused. Thorn in the flesh? Must be all that Sunday school she taught.
“I sympathize with Gia. I really do. I’m not so heartless that I don’t understand the why behind what occurred. But be that as it may, we have a zero tolerance policy, and I can’t let her be the exception.”
I cock my head, running a hand down my beard. “And what about the zero tolerance policy about bullying? I haven’t heard you say shit about that yet.”
Back to clearing his throat. “We know Gia hit another student, while we can’t prove the bullying by—”
I hold up my hand again. “Let me stop you right there. Are you trying to tell me that my daughter will be punished, but the other student won’t face any consequences?”
Principal Hutchinson sighs like he’s tired of this conversation. And he needs to head to Bible study tonight and give thanks we’re in his office. Because if we were out on the street...
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I nod. “Bet.”
His shoulders sink, and relief flashes across his face. Cupping his fingers together, he leans forward on his desk. “I’m glad you can understand why—”
“I don’t understand shit,” I correct him, and Hutchinson’s jaw clenches. He’s probably been interrupted more in these fifteen minutes than he has in his career. “I just wanted to make sure this is where you stand. So when I go down to the board of education and file a complaint, I have my facts straight. Also, when I hit up my social media with the over one million followers, that I have it right. Now, usually, I’m no keyboard warrior. But for you? I’ll make an exception. By the time I’m done, everyone will know that bullies are tolerated at this school. I’ll make sure to include that lil’ drawing. You don’t consider it proof, but I’m ’bout a hundred percent certain other people will view it differently.”
“And that doesn’t even begin to cover what I’ll do.” Aaliyah scoots forward to the edge of her seat. “My father is a pastor. A renowned pastor with a large following and many connections. By the time he rallies his fellow clergymen and their congregations, we will have a prayer rally in downtown Chicago about the trauma of bullying and the systemic failures in the administration that refuses to address the problems.” She tsks, her mouth turning down at the corners. “I can just see the rally cry now. They took God out the schools and now look at what happens. Jesus, please protect our children.” She tilts her head back, palms up, crying out to the ceiling before smiling at the dumbfounded principal. “It should really bring the city together in solidarity.”
I bring a fist to my mouth, covering the smile threatening to spread across my damn face.
This girl.
Just an hour ago, I’d been wondering what an angered Aaliyah would look like. Now I didn’t have to speculate anymore. A fucking goddess. That’s what she looks like. And she did more with a Bible reference than I could with a bag offuck-yous,bitchesandmuthafuckas.
I was right about one thing, though. She was hot as fuck.
“Are you threatening me?” the principal snaps.
“Nah, bruh.” I lean back in the chair. “I don’t need to threaten when a promise works better.”
He stares at both of us, that jaw still working. He’s doing right. Principal or not, if he comes out his mouth foul at Aaliyah, I’ll drag him across that desk.
“What are you suggesting, Mr. Howard? Gia must face consequences.”
“And I’m not suggesting she doesn’t. Do I feel she was justified? Yeah. But I do teach my daughter that violence is the last option. Since she told two of your teachers and received no help, maybe shedidfeel she had no other choice.” I pause and let that sink in. And he best believe, I would be scheduling a meeting with him and her teacherreal soon. “So she’ll take those suspension days, but so will the other student. She needs to learn a lesson about bullying. Now either you do it, or I find her parents, and I have a one-on-one talk with her father.”
Hutchinson’s eyebrows arrow down, and he flicks a glance at Aaliyah. “Like I told Ms. Montgomery, that kind of talk on school premises can’t be allowed.”
For the moment, I’m choosing to ignore him trying to check me. Because another thing he said catches my attention. “What do you mean, like you told Ms. Montgomery?”
“Well, that’s not important,” Aaliyah rushes in, waving her hands as if she can brush away my question. “But I got it, Principal Hutchinson.”
I stare at her for several long seconds, but she doesn’t glance over at me, keeping her gaze trained on the principal. All right, I’ma let her make it—both of them. For now. But she’s gonna give me some answers.
“If that’s it—” I shove to my feet “—I’m taking my daughter out of here. How many days are you giving her?”
“She can return in three days. I already had her teachers gather her schoolwork, and it should be waiting for you at the front desk.”
