Chapter 25 - Elodie’s Bad Day
At nine, Elodie had a bad day.
Not heart emergency.
School.
A classmate said:
“You fake being tired because you had heart surgery.”
Apparently children absorb cruelty from nowhere and everywhere.
Elodie punched her.
Not hard enough for injury.
Still.
Principal called.
I picked her up.
She expected me to side automatically.
“Did she say that?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hit her?”
“Yes.”
“Then there are two problems.”
She glared.
“Grandma started this.”
“No.”
That surprised her.
“Grandma contributed to why that accusation hurts. She did not move your fist.”
Silence.
Inherited lesson.
We handled school consequence.
Apology.
The other child also received consequence for repeated taunting.
No:
She deserved punch.
No:
Elodie should tolerate.
Both.
Later I told Bernice.
She said:
“I’m sorry.”
Not:
See how sensitive she is.
Progress.
Then:
“Do you want me to talk to her?”
“No.”
She accepted.
May you like
Progress again.
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