worker, husband away all the time. What are
you pretending to be a noble mother?”
She took out a wad of bills from her Hermès
bag. “You just want money, don’t you?”
“This is for your daughter’s emotional
damage.”
く
Thwack. A stack of bills hit me in the face.
“Oh, and this is for the medical expenses of
my son cutting off a lock of her hair last
week. It should be enough, even if you count
it by the strand.”
Another check fluttered at my feet.
Several teachers had gathered outside the
office, some gasping, others turning away.
Brianna Gallagher became more excited as
she spoke.
“Last month my son tore up her coloring
book. Here’s compensation. Oh, and the week
before that, they dumped her lunch on the
ground, making your precious daughter go
hungry all afternoon.”
With each thing she said, she threw out a bill,
as if showing off her fairness.
My heart was bleeding.
My daughter had been bullied at school the
whole time, and no teacher had ever told me.
Finally, Brianna Gallagher threw her empty
wallet on the table.
“Enough? If not, I have cards.”
She leaned closer, lowering her voice, “If you
know what’s good for you, take your daughter
and get the hell out of here. If you mess with
my sons again, money won’t solve it.”
I bent down, picking up the bills one by one,
my movements slow and elegant.
Brianna Gallagher thought I was giving in and
smiled smugly.
- 2.
“Now that that’s over, I’m out of here. I’m a
busy woman, I don’t have time to waste on a
hick like you!”
“Stop.”
I reached out to block her, my voice soft but
loud enough for everyone to hear, “It’s not
over.”
She turned back to look at me, as if I’d said
something ridiculous.
“What? Not enough money?”
<
“Maddie’s mom, I advise you to take what you
can get! I’ve investigated you, just someone
working a job to support her kid. Why act
tough? If you keep causing trouble, do you
think I won’t get your daughter expelled
tomorrow?”
I looked at her smug expression and suddenly
felt ridiculous.
“Expelled?”
I repeated, as if confirming she had actually
said that.
“Yes, expelled.”
She raised her chin, her eyes smug. “This
kindergarten isn’t for just anyone. I’d be
ashamed to have my children at the same
<
school as someone like you.”
I slowly smiled.
“Then do you know who owns this
kindergarten?”
Brianna Gallagher scoffed, spreading her
arms wide in a circle. “What? Is it yours?”
She was right.
There wasn’t anything in Golden Gate that the Campbell family didn’t have a hand in.
Even if a dime fell from the sky, it had to
have Campbell name on it!
Just then, my daughter suddenly appeared and tugged on my sleeve, her voice timid.
“Mommy, can we go home? Maddie hurts.”
My chest felt like it had been squeezed, and I
couldn’t breathe for a moment.
Suddenly, I began to question my choice.
I just wanted to live a free, peaceful life away
from the world, but I didn’t expect that hiding
away would hurt the people around me!
“Did you hear that? She says she hurts!”
The older twin spat at my daughter. “Serves
you right! That’s what you get for not
showing us your panties!”
“We’ll strip your skirt off tomorrow! We’ll take
pictures and send them to the group chat!”
く
I suddenly looked up.
The two boys were still laughing recklessly.
One of them even reached out to pull on
Maddie’s skirt. “Next time, we’ll strip you
naked!”
“Yeah! Strip her naked!”
The other chimed in. “Anyway, Mommy said
girls are born to be looked at by men! When
we grow up, we’re gonna play with all the
girls at school! First, we’ll play with you,
Maddie!”
The surrounding teachers gasped.
Not only did Brianna Gallagher not stop them,
but she also covered her mouth and giggled.
“Kids say the darnedest things. Besides, kids
are curious, and a little peek won’t kill
anyone.”
I stared at her, saying each word carefully.
“What did you say?”
Brianna Gallagher shrugged. “Hey, what are
you getting so worked up about? What’s so
great about a little kid’s body? It should be a
blessing to be eyed by my son, for you poor
people.”
