The Principal's Office

"Oh, Officer O'Callahan. I did not know you would be here so soon."

"Thank you, Sister McCauley," said Brian. "I just got off duty for this." His still-faint Irish accent was detectable. "Where's Sean?"

"He's in the principal's office," said Sister McCauley. The old nun sighed when she heard the name of Brian's son. "I'm sorry about him, it's just... we don't know what to do with him."

"I'll see what I can do," he said. "May I?"

"Oh, of course. Come in, please." her hand gestured to the St Barnabas School's principal's office. Still dressed in his Chicago Police uniform, he followed the kindly old nun. Whatever behavioral issues they suspected, he didn't think they were as valid as the reason he was thinking of. "This is the fifth fight he's gotten in this month," she said.

"Oi," he groaned. He rubbed his hand through short light brown hair.

"I know," she said. "I would suspect Bridget's move to Naperville Central may have been a trigger for his behavior."

"We'll see," said Brian.

Once the nun had opened the door, he came across a sad sight; there was Sean, his ten-year-old son. And he was a mess. His brown hair was messed up and he could see bruises all over his face. The boy's eyes were lowered. He didn't even bother to look at Sister McCauley. "Sean? Your father's here to see you," said Sister McCauley. The boy looked up. Brian could see a mixture of feelings in his eyes; rage, hurt and sadness.

"Hello, Sean," said Brian. Sitting down next to him, he placed his arm around his son's shoulders. "What's wrong?"

Sean didn't answer. He looked away. "Five fights in a month; what's going on?" Again, he didn't talk. "Do you have any remorse?" Again, no answer. "Is there something you're trying to tell us?" Sean was silent again.

Brian sighed and rubbed his head. He kept wondering what to say. "Perhaps we should call your mother and Julie. Maybe we should take you out of the hockey program."

Suddenly, he heard a choke and a sob coming from his son. "What is it?" asked Brian. He could see the kid was trying to hold it in. The boy loved hockey. Perhaps that was why he was choking up. He wrapped his arm around Sean's shoulder again. He was barely able to hold it in.

"They... c-called me... a..." He couldn't finish. He broke down into heavy tears and hugged his dad tightly. With a heavy heart, Brian hugged his son back, letting him cry it out.

"Just let it out," he said.

"They called me a fag!" Sean shouted.

"Thanum an Dhul," Brian said to himself. "Why?"

"Cuz of m-mom and J-Julie," he replied. Brian could already tell his son was not gay. But his mother, well... she'd been partners with another woman since he was about 3 or 4. It was not Klaudia or Julie's fault he was apparently being bullied.

"What have they been saying about you and your moms?" asked Brian. He listened as Sean listed off several offenses; truly horrible things to say, that no one, especially not 10-year-old kids, should be saying. "And how long has this been going on?"

"Since I was 7," said Sean.

That long? This is too much. And since he already knew Klaudia and Julie had moved to Naperville, perhaps it was better for Sean that he attend school there. "We'll get you out of here," he said.

Sean looked up at his father, who pulled him up and back into the office. "You don't have to worry about Sean's punishment," said Brian.

"Why not?" asked Sister McCauley.

"I think it's best if he attends a public school," he said. "I'll have him enrolled at a school in Naperville."

"Oh, that's such a shame," said Sister McCauley. "What else?"

"I'll keep him in the hockey program he's in," said Brian. "He loves that game and his friends are in that program. You don't mind, do you, Sister McCauley?"

"I suppose if it's the wishes of his father," said Sister McCauley, "I will pray for you."

"Thank you very much," said Brian. With a nod, he led Sean out of the office of the parish school and out to his police cruiser.

It was then he noticed someone walking past him. He didn't look very threatening or suspicious. "Oh, hi," said the man. He handed a card to Brian. "That's a Shotokan Karate symbol," he said. "We just started the dojo. The teacher's great. He doesn't guarantee a black belt, but we think you might learn something."

"Well, I'm not sure about myself," said Brian. "Perhaps Sean would be a better fit. He's had some issues lately, though not entirely his fault."

"Great! Just call the number on the card!" said the man. He walked away as Brian put Sean in the front seat of his police cruiser. He didn't know it, but Sean's life had changed... forever.