Chapter 25
25
‘Bonjour, we’re here to meet with the principal.’
‘Go through, she’s waiting for you.’
Eloise trails behind me, holding herself tight. It’s hard to get used to her new blunt bobbed hairstyle. I’m still doing a double take when I see it. It’s only hair, it will grow back, but it’s the violence of such a thing that gets to me.
‘Welcome, Coco and Eloise.’ The principal ushers us into her office, big smile in place, as if that will placate me. ‘Take a seat.’
I don’t bother with small talk. ‘I’d like to know why Léa wasn’t expelled. Surely committing an act so heinous as taking scissors to another student warrants that?’
She gives me a patient smile, as if expecting this sort of upset from me. ‘As per our bullying policy, Léa was suspended due to the nature of the incident. Expulsion is only used in serious cases.’
Eloise frowns.
This is unjust !
‘We have cameras, so we were able to thoroughly investigate.’
‘Cameras clearly don’t bother them.’ I find it hard to catch my breath. The more I sit here the angrier I get while the principal wears that same smile as if we’re simply talking about the weather and not a child attacking another with a pair of scissors!
‘As Eloise has probably told you, they have art class together on a Friday. We’ve studied the footage closely and we can’t be sure Léa purposely meant to cut Eloise’s hair – it really does look like an unfortunate accident.’
I gasp. ‘Oh, come on ! How do you accidentally chop off someone’s hair! You must be joking. This coming from the girl who has been teasing her about her “Rapunzel” locks. It doesn’t take a genius to connect those dots.’ Eloise presses a hand to my leg as if to quieten me, but I will not be silenced.
‘I do understand your anger, Coco, but really we can’t be certain it was done maliciously. Even Eloise isn’t sure, are you?’
Eloise drops her gaze.
‘ Eloise!’ Seriously? ‘Tell her the truth. You know she did it on purpose.’
Eloise gives a tiny shake of the head, implying she’s not going to speak up. She must be so afraid of Léa to act like this.
‘In light of that,’ the principal says, ‘we did suspend Léa, because an accident like that is dangerous, and at age thirteen she should be responsible with a pair of scissors. We’ve given her some time to reflect and she’ll back at school tomorrow. I’ll be monitoring them myself.’
Time to reflect! ‘ Tomorrow? She got suspended for one day?’
‘She left a few hours earlier on Friday. While suspension is a reset, we’re also mindful of our students missing too much school. It would be counterproductive, non ?’
My head is going to explode. ‘This is unbelievable. How will you protect my daughter? How do you envisage she’ll make friends when the rest of the cohort follow Léa’s lead?’
‘As I said, I’ll be monitoring the situation myself, by cameras and in person. We’re going to hold an assembly for their cohort and remind students about the effects of bullying and the consequences they’ll face.’
‘Do students really listen in an assembly like that?’
‘I appreciate that you’re upset, Coco, but Eloise isn’t entirely innocent here either.’
My jaw drops to the floor. ‘ Excusez moi? You’re blaming Eloise now?’
‘No, I’m not blaming anyone. I’m saying there have been less than perfect behaviours by many students and we’re doing our best to navigate this situation and reach a harmonious conclusion.’
The nerve! The gross unfairness. ‘I’ll be expecting a phone call from you each day, assuring me my daughter is safe and being kept well away from Léa and her two friends. I’m sure it goes without saying but I expect they won’t be together in art class around scissors any more?’
‘We think it’s best they learn to?—’
‘ Non , I think it’s best Léa is moved to another class. What if she slipped with those scissors? What if she sliced into my daughter’s neck? No, I want her moved.’