The Bad Beginning

[nightstar_13]

Dear Mr. Wayne,

I regret to inform you that today, during the lunch break, Mary caused severe injury to a ninth grade student.

Therefore I require a meeting with you to fully discuss this unpleasant occurrence.

Sincerely yours

-- Mrs. Elinor Bailey,
School Principal

The girl glares at the note, her hands curled into fists in her lap.

Comments

[failing_civics]

Tim dropped onto the seat beside her, and nodded a little to the note in her hands. "What's up?" She looked furious.

[nightstar_13]

"He tried to rob me." The girl replies sulkily. "So I broke his arm."

[failing_civics]

Tim gave her a wry grin. "I'd like to say I'd be more subtle about things, but... I really wouldn't have. Who was the kid?"

[nightstar_13]

"I don't know his name," Mar'i made a face. "He's the boy with the bleached, spiky hair and the stinky breath in your grade." The girl looked up at Timmy: "And I didn't mean to break his arm..."

[failing_civics]

He wrinkled his nose, making a face. "Yeah, I know the kid. He's a jerk. He probably deserved the broken arm." Tim gave her a little grin. "Trying to rip you off was a really dumb mistake."

[nightstar_13]

Mar'i gave him a faint, thankful smile; then leaned in to nuzzle Timmy fondly.

"There were three of them. One tried to rob me while the other two acted as lookouts." She pulled back slowly and mumbled. "And after I broke Stinky Breath's arms, his two friends testified against me! They told the Headmistress that *I* started the quarrel first!"

The girl's green eyes FLASHED with annoyance.

[failing_civics]

Tim made a thoughtful noise. "Yeah, that's not too surprising. I mean--his friends aren't going to back you up. Especially considering they're a little bunch of thugs." He let out a disgusted breath as he leaned back on his seat. "Jerks."

[nightstar_13]

"... Tim? What's a Puerto Rican Barbie?" She asked after a moment of silence.

[failing_civics]

He pressed his lips together in a frown. "They called you that?"

[nightstar_13]

Mar'i nodded. She wasn't sure what 'Puerto Rican Barbie' was supposed to mean exactly but, judging by Timmy's face, it was just as bad as she had thought.

"He also called Grandpa an old pervert."

[failing_civics]

At that, Tim just laughed. "I guess some things really don't change. Kids used to say stuff like that back home sometimes, too." He gave her a wry little smile. "And I did exactly what you did, except without the broken arm.

"And as for the name they called you... Well. It's not nice. Barbies are little plastic dolls--and they're really, uh... busty and stuff." He blushed slightly. "And pretty disproportionate for what women really look like." Barbara had been on about that for weeks after that case she and Bruce had worked with the model. "And the Puerto Rican thing was supposed to be about your race--like they know anything about that."

[nightstar_13]

That little confession earned another smile. "We... do know how he is, right?"

Mar'i blinked. She looked down and gave her own chest a puzzled look. She was starting to get all her curves in the right places, but she was far from being 'busty'... yet. She blinked again.

After a few seconds of thoughtful consideration, she finally looked up. "Grandpa Bruce said that he won't take me out of school but... do you think I could get expelled for this?"

[failing_civics]

Tim nodded firmly. "We know a lot better than some jerks who just like to think the worst about people."

He made a thoughtful noise, considering her question. "Well, no. Probably not this first time anyway. But if you do it a lot, they might."

[nightstar_13]

"I haven't the intention of going around breaking everybody's bones!" Mar'i protested.

[failing_civics]

He shrugged. "Then you probably won't get expelled. But I'd try to avoid getting into too many fights. At nice schools like ours? Kids' parents complain."

[nightstar_13]

Mar'i mumbled in response. School life was not going to be as nice as she expected...