Chapter 99

"Get off the swing, Khristina!" Prince says running over. "I wanna play now!"

The little girl rolls her eyes as her classmate stands a few feet away from the swing set.

"Can't you play basketball with Kale and Layla?"

"I already did! Miracle, tell your friend to get off! She's being a greedy pig!"

"You look like a greedy pig!" Khristina yells back, jumping off the swing. "Oink, oink, oink!"

Ignoring Khristina and jumping onto the swing, Prince looks over at Miracle who was currently staring into the distance.

"Are you looking at that new 3rd grader? What's his name again?"

"Dannell?" Khristina rhetorically asks.

"He's really cute."

"He looks dumb." Prince says, looking down at Miracle. "He probably can't even spell the word miracle."

Stopping himself from swinging, Prince hops off of the swing and runs over to where a couple of 3rd graders stood.

"Oh no!" Miracle yells, running behind him as Khristina follows her.

"Aye, which one of you is Dannell?!" Prince says, climbing the monkey bars.

A boy with curly light brown hair and blue eyes steps forward and waves over at Prince.

"Miracle said she likes you! She's the girl in the white shirt and pink skirt! You should get to know her! But I will warn you that she and Khristina can be annoying!"

Dannell tilts his head as he looks over at Miracle and Khristina.

"I don't like girls that look like you. They're too dark. Even your friend is a little dark but she's not as dark as you which is okay. Maybe if you found a way to lighten your-

*CRACK!*

Punching the boy into a pole, Prince begins to repeatedly kick Dannell in the back before throwing him into the sand and placing a foot onto the boy's stomach.

"Hit him, Miracle! I got him to where he can't move!"

"What is going on?!"

Hearing screams and yells from the large crowd of kids, a 3rd grade teacher runs over, followed by Laurenté.

Prince kicks the boy one last time before walking over to the 3rd grade teacher.

"He called Miracle too dark, lady! My papí said that people who make fun of others over something they can't control are pussy ass bitches!"

Laurenté turns to a crying Miracle as Khristina consoles her.

"Prince, that language will not be tolerated in this class. For now, please sit over there with Miracle and Khristina."

"I'm going to get a bag of ice from the nurse." the woman says, preparing to walk off. "Mr. La'rine, I do believe some of the students in your class need a re-evaluation of themselves."

"My students may not be the best of friends with each other, but at least they know how to respect each other. Sad that a class younger than yours has to teach your students how to behave."

"Fighting is not teaching someone how to behave!"

"It may not be in your definition. Now, how about you go and get the ice for your own student?"

Hearing the lady make a "hmmmph!" noise, Laurenté lightly chuckles as he turns back to Dannell.

"Hello, I don't think we've met yet. I'm Mr. La'rine. And you?"

"I'm Dan-

Waving Dannell's reply off, Laurenté gives the boy a smile.

"Nevermind, I don't care to know. First, not only did you embarrass yourself by insulting that little girl for something she has no control over, but you also can't fight for shit. Now, you do realize that the girl you just disrespected is one of my students, correct?"

Dannell shrugs as he looks up at the older man.

"I don't really care. I was just telling the truth."

"I see. Well, I'd like you to know that I don't like any of my students being disrespected, bullied, or harassed."

Opening his suit jacket, Laurenté shows a gun to Dannell whose eyes widen.

"Prince took care of you today, but next time it'll be me. Let's see you fuck up one more time."

"I'm telling my parents what you did!"

"I have no problem with that. I'd really like to meet the people who taught you how to hate. As a matter of fact, I'd like their contact information so that I can set up a meeting with them."

"Fine then!" Dannell says as his brows furrow. "I'm telling my daddy all about you!"

Laurenté shakes his head and watches as the boy gets up and runs over to his homeroom teacher. Turning back around, the older man smiles a little as his class now stood around Miracle.

"But why is it always me that has to be mainly made fun of?"

"'Cause you look like you can win a beauty pageant." Prince says, walking around a tree. "And my papí said that people who sees people that look better than them hate on other people. So Dannell hates himself. It's probably 'cause he doesn't have any money unlike me"

"Is that true, Mr. La'rine?" a little girl asks, holding the man's hand.

"Prince is correct. People who are unhappy with themselves or jealous of others often show hate towards those around them."

"But why do innocent people have to be made fun of?" Khristina asks.

"You see, when one hates himself and notices those around him happy with themselves, then that person will purposely go out of his way to try and bring others down so that they can experience what that miserable person is experiencing. Unfortunately, that's just how some people are."

"So does that mean Dannell is unhappy with himself?" Miracle asks, looking up at Laurenté.

"Possibly. Or maybe he's been taught by his parents that people who don't look the same as him don't have any purpose in life. It's not always insecurities but what the parents are saying around him. Either way, anyone who makes fun of you for something out of your control isn't a true friend in general."

"Yeah and plus he doesn't have custom Jordans." Prince says, sitting next to Miracle. "I'll get you some custom Jordans to make you feel better."

"But I don't want shoes, I want my teddy!"

"Then I'll get you a custom teddy. I'll tell my papí that we gotta go to the mall after school."

"Really?" Miracle says, wiping a tear.

"Yeah."

"Mr. La'rine, I need to speak with you, Prince, Miracle, and Khristina. Mrs. Banni has already agreed to watch your class."

Looking back, the man nods as the school's principal walks over, holding a crying Dannell's hand.

"Yes. I'd gladly like to speak about that little boy's behavior."

————-

"Mr. Kazimir! Prince got suspended, but it was for a good reason!"

Running over to the young man, Khristina and Miracle stop to catch their breath as Prince, Laurenté, and Pierre make their way over as well.

"Today, we had a little incident regarding Miracle and Khristina's skin colors." Laurenté says, sitting down on a picnic bench. "A boy a grade above them made a comment on how their skin was, and I quote, "too dark.""

"What's his name?" Kazimir asks.

"Dannell!" Khristina says. "Miracle thought he was cute and then Prince went over to tell him and that's when he said he doesn't like black girls and that Miracle's skin was too dark for him and that I was dark too but not too dark and that was okay but it's not okay 'cause now I feel weird."

"Sounds like he thinks the lighter someone's skin is the better that person is, which is clearly not true." Kazimir says, picking up Khristina and Miracle. "His skin is white but he's saying mean things; that doesn't add up. I may have white skin, but I'm not better than anyone else around."

"Yeah, that clown's right." Pierre says. "It's all based on the individual's actions. Fortunately, my son did the right thing and took care of the little bastard. Personally, I think the other kid should've been the only one placed on suspension."

"Miracle, would you like to share your feelings?" Kazimir asks, turning to her.

"Khristina said it felt weird and it did and it made me cry a lot, but I remembered that mommy tells me I'm the most beautiful black girl in the world and that's why other people say will hate on me. I'm glad you're not like that, Kazimir."

Miracle gives the young detective a hug and he smiles.

"But you should've saw Dannell's face when we were in the principal's office! He looked scared of Laurenté the whole time we were in there!"

The schoolteacher nods as he stands up and brushes off his suit.

"Yes, that's what happens when you have a talk about human decency one-on-one. I'll see you all later, I still need to make a phone call to Ms. Richardson about the incident."

"Bye, Laurenté!" Khristina yells.

"Wait, I wanted to give Mr. La'rine a hug." Miracle says, turning to Kazimir.

"LAURENTÉ, COME BACK! MIRACLE WANTS TO HUG YOU!"

As the older man turns around, Miracle runs over to him and gives him a hug.

"Thank you for comforting me, Mr. La'rine. None of my other teachers ever did that for me."

"It's no problem, Miracle. Glad I could help."

Running back over to the others, Miracle gives them all a smile.

"Papí, can you take us to the mall now?" Prince asks, walking over to Miracle.

"Yeah. Kazimir, we'll drop Miracle off once we're done."

"Actually, I needed to go there anyway. My shoes are getting kind of worn." the detective says, looking down at his shoes.

Cupping the man's cheeks, Khristina gives him a warm smile.

"Mine are too!"

"Then I'll get you a pair of new shoes, too."

—- a few hours later —-

"I'm not gonna wear my new shoes 'til next week!"

Running forward, Khristina points to a kids' clothing store.

"Can we go here next?! I wanna buy a new dress! And a new purse! And a new necklace!"

Kazimir shrugs as he follows the young girl into the store.

"I want this one, Mr. Kazimir! It's yellow and fluffy!"

"Khristina, you haven't even looked around yet. Why don't you do that first to see if there're any other dresses you may want to buy?"

"Okay, but I'm telling you there's gonna be none!"

"OHHHHH!"

Turning to his left, he watches as a small boy points over at him before looking up at his father.

"Dad, it's the man from the video; "White Boy Got Hands!""

Kazimir raises a brow as he gives the father and son duo a look of confusion.

"I'm sorry?"

"Bro, can I get your autograph?!"

"Uh, I think you may have the wrong person because I don't have a clue what you're talking about."

"Nah, that's definitely you." the small boy's dad says. "You didn't see it yet?"

"I haven't been on social media at all today if we're being honest." Kazimir replies.

"Dude, you're going viral! Show 'em dad!"

Taking out his phone, the father of the small child turns it to the detective and presses play on a video.

"Oh shit, that is me."

"You knocked him straight out with one punch! You should become a boxer! But can I get a picture with you so I can show my friends at school tomorrow?!"

"Uh, sure."

With a smile, the little boy wraps an arm around Kazimir's shoulder before holding up two fingers.

"Say cheese!"

"Cheese!"

Snapping the photo, the child's dad smiles and thanks Kazimir before walking out of the store.

"Okay, Mr. Kazimir, I want-

"Oh my gosh, he is cute!"

A group of girls swarm over the young man, asking him for his number.

"I need you all to back the hell up." Kazimir says, grabbing Khristina's hand. "Did you not see this little girl who was talking to me?"

"Awwww, is she your daughter?! I don't date boys with kids, but for you; I'll make an exception." one of the girls say.

"Hi, little girl. I'm Hazel. What's your name?"

"I'm Khristina!"

"Khristina, please don't tell people your personal information. If you'll excuse us, I'm actually doing some dress shopping for her."

"I wish my man would take me shopping. He only does so when he wants new shoes."

Walking over to the other side of the store, Kazimir sighs as Khristina shows him the dress.

"Mr. Kazimir, who're those girls?"

"Beats me. That's a pretty dress; is it the one you want?"

"I can't choose between this one and the yellow one."

"Then I'll get you both. For now go and pick some accessories you'd like."

Watching as Khristina nods and runs off, Kazimir looks down at his phone to check the time.

"Hi!"

"Jeez, here we go again."

Looking up, the detective blinks a couple of times as he stares up at the familiar young woman.

"Aren't you that cashier I met yesterday? Zaira, wasn't it?"

"I'm surprised you remembered my name."

"Yeah, you're kinda recent. What brings you out here?"

"I was shopping for my little cousin. She's going to a new school tomorrow and I wanted to get her a pair of new shoes." the young woman replies, lifting up a shopping bag. "Anyway, I just came over to make sure you were doing okay. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"Definitely not." Kazimir replies as he moves over to let Zaira sit. "But yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't know I was going viral overnight."

"Mr. Kazimir!

Stopping in her tracks, Khristina watches as Kazimir talked to Zaira before turning back around and putting the accessories down. Crossing her arms, she sits into a chair and looks forward.

"You're in my seat."