“I’m on my way. Give me fifteen minutes,” I said as I hung up the phone.
“What’s going on? What’s happened?” Emma asked as I opened my front door.
“Zoey’s bit a kid a lunch. We have to go pick her up.”
“She did what?”
“Come on,” I said.
The two of us raced over to the school and found Zoey sitting in the principal’s office. She didn’t look hurt and she didn’t seem as if she’d been crying. But she was angry. Her hands were balled up into fists and her face was all scrunched up. If she hadn’t actively bitten someone, I might’ve grinned at how cute she looked.
Emma got her into the car and we had no time to spare. We had to get to Emma’s doctor’s appointment. She pulled out the address and we drove across town, getting there with only fifteen minutes to spare.
We sat in the lobby waiting to be called on and Emma decided to take the reins.
“Zoey?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened at school today?” she asked.
“I’m sorry,” Zoey said.
“Don’t apologize,” Emma said. “Just talk to me.”
“Yeah, talk to us,” I said. “Why did you bite that boy at lunch?”
“Because he was being mean.”
“How so?” Emma asked.
“He was stealing my friend’s snack. And reaching over my food. I didn’t want his stinky elbow in my food.”
I curled my lips between my teeth as Emma held back a giggle.
“So he was stealing,” I said. “Did you tell anyone?”
“Yeah. Miss Woofleball.”
I put my face in my hands as the laughter began to build.
“And she said for me to keep my hands to myself,” Zoey said.
“Were you touching him?” Emma asked.
“Not until I bit him for being dumb.”
I couldn't hold it back anymore. I started laughing into my hands. I covered my face as my shoulders shook and soon, Emma was joining me. Our laughter filled the waiting room as a smile bloomed on Zoey’s cheeks.
“I’m not in trouble?” Zoey asked.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Emma said as she gathered the girl onto her lap.
“We don’t solve our problems with violence,” I said.
“But, we do stand up to bullies and people who push us around,” Emma said. “Biting him might’ve been convenient, but it wasn’t right.”
“I’m sorry,” Zoey said.