Theodore’s existence did not make the act wrong.
It merely made ignoring it harder.
Chapter 5: Renee Arrives
Renee Coleman entered the nurse’s office still wearing navy scrubs.
Avery stood.
Her mother crossed the room and hugged her so tightly Avery started crying again.
Theodore stepped back.
This belonged to Renee first.
“What happened?”
Avery told her.
Not dramatically.
That made it worse.
She described the backpack.
The push.
The door.
The mop handle.
Coach Mercer seeing her.
Brooke laughing.
Students recording.
The silence outside after everyone walked away.
Renee listened without interrupting.
Then she asked the question Theodore had not.
“Has this happened before?”
Avery looked down.
Renee understood immediately.
“How long?”
“Mom.”
“How long?”
Avery swallowed.
“Since last year.”
Renee sat back.
Theodore went still.
Avery explained.
Comments about her shoes.
Her lunch.
Her bus pass.
Her mother’s job.
Questions about whether scholarships covered deodorant.
Jokes about the community center.
A fake fundraiser posted online supposedly collecting money to “upgrade Avery’s wardrobe.”
Brooke had not created every incident.
She had created enough.
Renee’s eyes filled.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did.”
Renee frowned.
“You said some girls were difficult.”
“I didn’t tell you everything.”
“Why?”
Avery looked toward Theodore.
Then back at her mother.
“Because I knew what Granddad would do.”
Theodore opened his mouth.
Avery stopped him.
“You would come here.”
“Yes.”
“You would call people.”
“Yes.”
“They would suddenly care.”
Theodore said nothing.
Avery’s voice shook.
“I wanted to know whether they would care when I was just Avery.”
That silenced all three adults.
Renee reached for her hand.
Avery continued.
“I kept reporting things.”
“To whom?”
“Ms. Fenn.”
The school counselor.
“Coach Mercer knew some.”
“What did they do?”
Avery laughed once.
It was not humorous.
“They told me Brooke was adjusting to sharing space with students from different backgrounds.”
Renee’s face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
Avery looked at Theodore.
“And they told me not to interpret every awkward comment as hostility.”