So much to do and so little time. I was a wreck today. I had to pick up my kid, get his father to pay child care for once. And on top of that my dad was trying to re-enter my life. No way in shit that would happen again. I’ve learned my lesson from the last time. I was already late to pick up my kid. Rolling up to the school I picked up my fifth grader. He seemed unusually excited getting into the car. He was a very quiet, reserved kid. He hugged his backpack on our drive home. When we got back to the house he shot out of the car and into the house. Must’ve met a girl. I thought to myself with a smirk. Oh to be that age again. Locking up the house for the night I poured myself a glass of wine. Todays dramas have really taken a toll on me.

“Ashton!” I yelled while scrolling through instagram. No answer. I heard frantic foot steps upstairs like he was hiding something.

“Ashton Eli Jacobson!” Ashton ran down the stairs casually, I noticed a dark red spot on his shirt. Did he spill juice or something?

“Yeah?”

“You need to get dinner sweetie” I said taking a sip of my drink. He rolled his eyes.

“Okay, okay.” Definitively hiding something. This kid wasn’t sly. He gets that from me. I sighed.

“What’s going on hun? Did something happen at school?” Ashton’s face lit up, as if waiting for me to ask.

“Yeah! I fought a bully and I won!” He said excitedly.

“What? Ashton that’s not okay? Since when do you get into fights”

“He started it, he pushed my friend and I told him to quit it but he wouldn’t. So I killed him”

“Hey do not use words like that! I’m calling you teacher and your going to apologize to that boy do you understand?” I dialed the school principal while Ashton ran upstairs.

“Get your butt back down here I’m not done with you!” I yelled while the phone rang. He came back downstairs with his backpack wrapped in his arms. He unzipped the bag and showed me the contents. Blood drained from my face and my stomach dropped to my feet. Shivers running up and down my spine I felt as if I’d pass out.

“A-Ashton? What is this?” I asked quaky.

“It’s the bully, mom”