Chapter 12 - The Boy Returns to SchoolJayden’s first day back was worse than the suspension.
Everyone looked at him.
Some students admired him.
That bothered him almost as much as the ones who were afraid.
A seventh grader whispered, “That’s the kid who slapped a teacher.”
Jayden kept walking.
At lunch, a boy named Trevor raised his hand for a high five.
“Legend.”
Jayden didn’t return it.
“It wasn’t legendary.”
Trevor laughed.
“You slapped Harper.”
“I lost control.”
Trevor’s smile disappeared.
Jayden sat down.
Mia joined him.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He looked at her.
She shrugged.
“If you felt great about it, I’d worry.”
Later, Principal Kline called him into her office.
Officer Grant was there.
Jayden stopped.
Grant stood.
“I owe you something.”
Jayden waited.
“When Mrs. Harper accused you, I assumed you were the danger in that room.”
Jayden said nothing.
Grant continued.
“I had reasons. None were good enough.”
“You told me not to speak.”
“Yes.”
“You believed her.”
“For several minutes.”
“That was enough.”
Grant accepted it.
“Yes.”
Jayden expected excuses.
None came.
That mattered.
“I’m sorry,” Grant said.
Jayden nodded once.
Then he surprised himself.
“I’m sorry too.”
“For what?”
“For hitting her.”
Grant looked at him carefully.
“You don’t owe me that apology.”
“No.”
Jayden looked toward the office window.
“But I need to say it somewhere.”
That afternoon, Jayden wrote Mrs. Harper a letter.
He did not send it.
I was wrong to slap you.
You were wrong before I slapped you.
Both things can be true.
I will answer for mine.
You should answer for yours.
May you like
He folded the letter.
Then put it away.
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