One Thousand Snapshots by Steve Heron

Author:Steve Heron [Heron, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922594754
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd

CHAPTER 17

Bury the Hatchet

Forgiveness doesn’t change the past but can frame a better picture for the future. - SH

TUESDAY MORNING, I wake with the funny rumbly tummy, but it isn’t painful. Shall I go to school or not? When I peer up at my LIKE wall, the snapshot of Tiana and I stands out, and I get a boost of courage to face whatever is waiting for me at school.

Before the first bell sounds, Andrew, our school chaplain, approaches me in the holding pen.

‘Hi Maddy. Can I see you for a sec?’ Andrew is good at keeping things private, so he gestures for me to move away from the others.

‘Sure.’ I walk with him, wondering what this is about.

His voice is calm. ‘I heard about the cyber-bullying and want to know how you feel about having a meeting with Crystal and Rachel to sort it out?’

At first, I hesitate. How did he find out? ‘I’m not sure,’ I say, picking at my backpack.

He explains that because the incident happened outside school hours, the school can’t discipline the girls.

‘The school policy is for parents to be informed,’ he says. ‘And we try to get the students involved to talk it through to restore relationships.’

He also tells me he met with the girls yesterday at the recommendation of Ms A.

‘The girls agreed to talk with me and you,’ he says.

I put my fingers up to my mouth, about to bite my nails. ‘Okay, but can I bring Tiana with me?’

Andrew’s eyebrows lift. ‘Is Tiana involved?’

‘Well yeah. There’s other stuff going on as well between those girls and me involving Tiana.’ I pick at a bit of fingernail sticking out.

‘Okay then. Are you happy to do it first thing when the school bell goes?’

‘Sure.’ I half-shrug.

I’d been to Andrew’s office a couple of times before. It’s cosy.

‘I’ll come and get you from class,’ he says.

I am nervous about the whole idea, but I trust Andrew. He was helpful after my dad died, and he has helped heaps of kids sort out their fights.

I catch up with Tiana before the school bell rings.

‘Hey Ti Ti.’ I stick out my pinkie finger.

‘Yo Maddy.’ She connects her finger with mine.

I come straight out with it, ‘Andrew wants us to see him.’

A puzzled expression takes over her face. ‘What for?’

‘About the cyber-bullying and the fight with Crystal and Rachel.’ I pick at my fingers again.

Her hands land on her hips. ‘How did he find out?’

‘He says Ms A told him about the online stuff, and I told him we had another problem with Crystal and Rachel.’

‘When?’

‘When did I tell him?’

‘No, when do we have to go?’

‘Oh. When the school bell goes, he’ll come and get us.’

‘But I’ll miss maths.’ She tries to look serious, but she is smirking.

‘Oh. Sorry, I told Andrew it’d be okay then.’

‘Fine. I’ll come.’ She rolls her eyes.

Andrew collects all of us from our classrooms. We dawdle to his office without looking at each other. By now, I’ve picked all the scrappy bits off my fingernails.

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