- 9.
My dad strode into the room.
The principal realized that the girl on the floor
was my dad’s daughter.
“You lowlife! You are finished, once
Mr.Cunningham is done with you. Your dad
loves Chrissy, so you better say goodbye.”
I lost balance and fell on the hard floor.
く
Chrissy, all snotty and tearful, reached out to
my dad.
But no one expected my dad to ignore her
and help me up instead.
“Ashley,” he said, like he hadn’t seen me in
years, reaching out to wipe the blood from
my face.
“Dad should have been here sooner. I didn’t
protect you…does it hurt?”
In those last words, I heard something crack
in the voice of a man who was usually so
cold.
“I’m okay, Dad. It’s just a scratch.”
<
I tried to smile, but it tugged at my wounds.
I winced.
“Did you call a doctor? Why isn’t the school
nurse here yet?”
My dad’s voice was thunderous. He was the
school’s biggest donor, and the principal and
superintendent were terrified. They promised
to call the nurse right away.
Chrissy, still sitting on the floor, was
scowling. One of her followers quickly spoke
- up.
“Mr. Cunningham, you don’t know the truth.
Ashley stole the summer camp money and
she beat up Chrissy. You should slap her for
it ”
“Shut up!” My dad glared at her. “What gives
you the right to insult my daughter? You
pushed her just now.”
He turned to the principal. “If this is the kind
of student you keep here, it’s an eye–opener!
I guess the Cunningham Foundation doesn’t
need to donate anymore!”
The whole school depended on my dad’s
donations. The principal was scared he’d pull
out, so he said he’d make sure that student
was punished severely.
“Mr. Cunningham, don’t worry. We’ll
investigate the situation and make sure you’re
satisfied. We won’t tolerate this kind of
student. You, get out of here.”
く
The girl was terrified.
She never thought she’d be expelled for trying
to help Chrissy.
“No, Mr. Cunningham, I was just trying to
say…Chrissy, please say something. You said
your dad loved you…”
But no one listened to her, and Chrissy was
trying to save herself.
Mrs. Davison dragged the girl out of the
room.
Soon, the school nurse came running in, out
of breath.
While he was checking my wounds, my dad
<
asked me gently, “Ashley, tell me the truth.
Were you involved in the summer camp
thing?”
I shook my head quickly, not wanting him to
think I was guilty. “I wasn’t! Dad, listen to me
“It’s okay.”
He smiled and patted my head. “I believe
you.”
He glanced at Chrissy, who looked terrified,
and said to the principal, “Call the police.
Clear my daughter’s name.”
