“It’s not funny,” Jeb Hightower said. “It’s wrong. I hope Misty can’t sleep because of what she’s done to them.”
Laura regarded him with shock. “Hold on. Misty was the victim, not Annabelle or Greg. She was targeted online and right here at school with vicious rumors and lies designed to humiliate and embarrass her.”
“What makes you think they were lies?” Jeb said, looking around with a smirk. “A picture’s better than a thousand words, right?”
“And a fake picture says more about the person who created it than it does about the person supposedly in it,” Laura corrected, though she could see that she wasn’t getting through to them. They were intent on defending their friends and demonizing Misty. How on earth was she supposed to turn this around? Could it even be done?
“Does anyone here have a different perspective?” she asked hopefully.
Sally Washington, a shy girl who rarely spoke unless called on, raised her hand tentatively. “I think maybe they don’t get it,” she said, nodding toward Jeb and Hailey who’d spoken out first, “because nobody’s ever picked on them.”
“Or because they were born bullies, too,” Tim Rogers dared to say, shooting a defiant look at Jeb. “You started stealing lunch money from the littler kids back in first grade. You did it just because you were bigger and you could.”
“And, Hailey, you never speak to anyone who isn’t pretty or popular,” Sally added, apparently gaining strength from Tim’s accusations. “It’s like the rest of us don’t even exist. At most we’re an annoyance in your perfect little world. I’m tired of it. If you don’t like me, fine. I don’t need to be your friend, but I’m a person and you should at least be polite to me and the other kids who aren’t as popular as you.”
Sally’s declaration stirred a few others to echo the same thoughts, and suddenly the tide turned ever-so-slightly. Hailey, Jeb and a few others were on the defensive and had perhaps their first taste of feeling what it was like to be disparaged and ridiculed publicly.
Jeb continued to look defiant, but Hailey actually looked shaken. Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “I honestly didn’t know how it felt to have people say hateful things.”
Laura held up a hand to stop the discussion. “I think what happened in here just now is really, really important. I hope all of you will think about it before you speak disrespectfully to or about another classmate. Sally got it exactly right. You don’t all have to be best friends, but you do owe it to each other to be courteous and respectful. Sally and Tim, thank you for speaking up. And, Hailey, I’m proud of you for taking another look at what you’ve been doing.”
When the bell rang, she dismissed the class, feeling the tiniest bit more optimistic.
But as soon as she stepped into the hall, she saw Jeb immediately align himself with his buddies, overheard the same old rallying cry in Greg and Annabelle’s defense. And knew that the risk to Misty was far from over.
* * *
J.C. was glancing at his next patient’s file, when Debra stepped into his office. “Laura Reed is on the phone for you. She sounds upset.”
Though he’d spent most of the weekend avoiding her, he knew that couldn’t go on forever. He nodded. “I’ll take it. Let Mrs. Hodges know I’ll be in to check Liza in a minute.”
Debra nodded, then retreated and closed the door behind her. J.C. picked up his phone.
“Is everything okay?” he asked at once. “Is Misty in school?”
“No sign of her,” Laura said tersely. “I’m really worried, J.C., and not just because she didn’t show up. I guess that’s understandable under the circumstances, but the talk around school isn’t good. The kids are taking sides. Some of them, especially those who’ve dealt with their own instances of bullying over the years, are firmly on her side, but the others, I don’t know, J.C., their attitude scares me. I think they want revenge of some kind. They see Annabelle and Greg and the others who’ve been suspended as the real victims.”
“Unfortunately, I suppose that’s not really surprising. Have you heard about any specific plans for retaliation?”
“No, but I have to wonder just how much more Misty can take. I called Diana before I called you, and she says Misty’s been locked in her room most of the day. She won’t talk and she won’t come out. I can tell that Diana’s starting to freak out just a little. I have a terrible feeling some of what I’m hearing here at school is spilling over onto the internet and Misty’s aware of it.”
“I can’t say I blame Misty for wanting to hide out or Diana for being scared,” J.C. said. “I’m sure my story about Stevie probably didn’t help matters. I meant it to be a warning to the perpetrators of how tragic things can get, but I imagine Diana can’t shake that image. I should have thought of that.”
“It was a story people needed to hear,” Laura said with conviction. “Don’t beat yourself up for sharing it. And I didn’t call to make you freak out over Misty, either. I’m just wondering if we shouldn’t go over there.”
“No question about it,” J.C. said. “I was there for a while on Saturday, and Misty seemed to be holding up okay, but I have no idea what’s been happening online since then. It makes sense to check on her. I’ll pick you up the minute school’s out.”
“Thank you,” Laura said.
“No thanks necessary.”
“Yes, there are. You didn’t make me feel like an idiot for worrying.”
“Are you kidding me?” he said incredulously. “It’s because you care so deeply that I fell for you.” He heard her faint gasp of surprise and almost smiled. That was definitely a conversation they needed to have soon. Things between them deserved some clarity, which he imagined had been in short supply the past few days with him steering clear of her, rather than turning to her for comfort.
“I’ll see you soon,” he told her. “We’re going to find everything is just fine when we get there.”
Despite the staunch words, though, he was a wreck for the next couple of hours until he could leave to pick up Laura. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to jump in his car and head straight over to the Dawsons. He did allow
