Chapter 31

"So you're saying Samuel", his mother defended, "was going to kill Henry or whoever it is ... that was just a tool to threaten him"

"A "tool" you say", Mrs John fired, speaking for the first time since the meeting began, "to threaten someone with ? They attacked Henry, was that anything far from murder ?"

Henry stood next to the window, staring at the lawn outside, from above. Apparently, he wasn't concerned with what they were saying. John and Judith shuffled close to each other, glued to a corner, watching the Vice principal and their parents argue about the fight yesterday. Judith took note that Mrs Edna wasn't saying anything, she wasn't even making a move to defend her son Henry.

"Can Henry claim that he was ignorant of the fact that they were going to attack him !" Mr Mark challenged.

"I didn't know they had "tools" with them", Henry blurted, "I thought it would be a simple case of kicks and punches. Besides, they shouldn't lay claim to school property."

"Shut up you brat !" Mrs Mark yelled. "Don't speak unless you are told to, is this how you raise your son ?!" Mrs Mark hollered at Edna who stayed silent.

"Don't speak to her that way", Henry warned, "your son is the one who needs mentoring. Better know that nothing comes out of bullying, especially health wise."

"You spoke to my wife that way", Mr Mark snapped.

"I did", Henry replied, "and I'll do it again if she pushes me. To be frank, why do you try evading the truth ? Your son's the one who's in trouble, not me."

"Henry", Edna cautioned, "that's enough."

Henry sighed, resting his head on the wall, he tried to block everything out of his mind. Typical, just because he had taught their son the lesson of his life, they wanted to send him to jail, and they had the effrontery to call him a brat, didn't they know he was seven times their age ? He was only calm because of Edna, Henry knew she wasn't happy with what he had done, but he had to be honest with himself and them too. Walking away from the enemy wasn't what he had grown up to believe in, running away was cowardice and if he ran today, was there any guarantee that he would be able to do the same another day.

"The question here is, why didn't he report to the school authorities, instead of taking the law into his hands ?" Mr Mark continued levelling his accusations, "since he knew they were going to beat him up, he should have avoided them by staying clear off their path."

"I was never taught to run away from bullies ", Henry countered, "I was always taught to stand up against them. And I only used the instrument that they had planned to use on me."

"Henry stop !". Edna yelled this time, "can't you obey and be silent ?"

"I can't ", he replied, "I can't just stand and watch as they make me feel like a monster when in reality, their son and his gang are the real monsters. And no one gave them the right to lay claim to any part of the building. If you can handle being bullied", he shrugged, "Well, that's not me."

"Listen Mrs Rose !" Mr Mark flared, "Since this cannot be resolved here, it seems that this case will have to be taken to court, because I can't sit and watch my son get assaulted by an ordinary ruffian and let him go scot-free without being brought to book."

"Your son is the real ruffian here !", Judith came in, "He was the one who had assaulted someone, so his plan only backfired."

"I've had enough of all these imps", Mr Mark said, rising from his chair, "it's best we get our lawyer dear and take these murderers to court. That's the only way we can get justice for what has been done to our son."

"I'll be expecting you anytime Mr and Mrs Mark", said Mrs Rose, as both father and mother stormed out of the office.

"As for Henry", Mrs Rose continued, "I admire your courage for being bold enough to confront your aggressors. But you took things too far, you should have informed the school authorities in the first place. And yes ; they had no right to lay claim on any part of the school. Nevertheless, getting the school informed and staying from them would have best thing to do. Therefore ", she paused, "You'll be mowing the entire lawn as punishment for taking the law into your hands."

Henry gave a sardonic smile, he was being punished for not getting the school authorities informed about the whole fiasco. They had also found a reason to put the blame on him, hadn't they ? But one thing was sure, he had made it clear by what he had done yesterday, that anyone who tried to hurt him was going to pay dearly for it.

"Aha ! Mrs Edna" Mrs Rose called, "Where did Henry learn to fight that way ?"

"He used to take martial arts classes", she lied, "at a training centre close to our former home."

"Interesting", Mrs Rose hummed, "Henry", she called, "I'm not against your fighting skills, the only thing I'm against is using them in an offensive manner. What you had at the final part of the video was clear. you had already taken him down, but you kept striking him and that wasn't necessary."

"I understand ma'am", Henry replied, "Can I go for my punishment now ?"

"During recess", She said, "you can begin. "And both of you played a part in all this too. But since you claimed to have warned Henry, you're absolved of any blame. But remember", Mrs Rose warned, "always report to the school authorities about anything you notice going wrong. Am I clear ?"

"Yes Vice principal !" James and Judith chorused,

"You can all leave now and I appreciate your presence Mrs Edna and John." The Vice principal said extending a handshake at both women.

*** *** ***

"If anybody hates you for what you did", James said as the schoolbus sped along the highway as it took them home, "I don't."

"Thanks", Henry said, "it's been a long time since someone said that to me."

"So tell me", James continued, "is this how you always get the big guys beaten up."

"Eighty percent of the time", Henry replied, "and it's always a bloodbath. Not that I caused it, they just won't let me be, facing them headon has always been the only choice I had. Because If I run away, they will always come after me."

*** *** ***

"Where did you learn to fight that way ?" Kayode asked in between sips of coffee.

"From the movies." Henry replied calmly, chewing his food.

"We are not joking Henry", Edna cautioned, "you could have killed those boys."

"But", Henry countered, trying not to yell, "they would have done the same thing to me."