Ms. Patty looked at Kyle carefully, before nodding. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of him.”
“I apologize for the trouble, Ms. Patty.”
Kyle stared at Sofie’s retreating back, with anger on his face. What shortcomings did he have for this woman to make up such awful accusations on his first day? How annoying!
“Kyle, take your seat.”
In class, Kyle listened attentively. The teacher’s lessons seemed pretty simple, and he caught up relatively quickly.
Soon, he found classes to be relaxing.
After class, his classmates eyed him carefully, and with curiosity. Evan had the latest pencil case and even a brand new picture book.
“What is this?” someone asked.
“Be careful with that!” exclaimed Kyle. Carefully, he opened his pencil case and displayed it for his curious classmates.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a pencil case like this before.”
“Yeah, there are many special things that it can do. Look, it can change colors, and it can also sort out stationeries!”
Just as his classmates were mesmerized, a pair of hands reached over quickly and grabbed his pencil case. “What silly thing is this, that you’re showing off?”
“Give it to me!” yelled Kyle. He immediately stood up and glared at his classmate.
The classmate holding the pencil case glanced at him and allowed it to fall to the ground, unconvinced. “What good is this thing anyway? It’ll break as soon as it’s dropped!”
Kyle stared at him angrily as he reached his hand out, to strike the other boy.
“How dare you hit me? Everyone, help me beat him. If you all win, I’ll treat you to pizza!”
As he said this, a few classmates decided to join in, on the brawl.
Kyle was still ill. He had only just recovered from the acupuncture and moxibustion. Thus, he was no match for these students.
Nonetheless, in spite of his bruised and swollen nose, he tried his best to fight back. When that failed, he began to bite them, like a crazed wolf-cub.
Ms. Patty caught wind of this and called all the students who had joined in, on the fight to the office.
“What happened?” she asked.
Kyle was not very good at explaining himself.
Even though it was not his fault that the students had turned on him, and that they were motivated by pizza, Kyle was the one who had bear the brunt of the scolding.
“My word, it’s no wonder your relative had asked me to keep an eye on you! You truly are arrogant, impolite, extreme, and strong-willed!” chided Ms. Patty.
“I am not!” retorted Kyle.
“Oh, look at this attitude that you have, towards your teacher. Do you still insist that you’re none of those things? Go back to class and stand for your lessons! Do this for three days!”
Kyle wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth and marched back to the classroom.
After school, Sofie was surprised to see him look so awkward.
“My goodness, how did this happen?”
Kyle simply ignored her, refusing to respond.
How was she going to explain this to Evan? She decided to clarify matters directly with the teacher.
Following the exchange with Ms. Patty, Sofie explained the situation to Evan.
“Evan, Kyle had apparently made a show of his pencil case, in front of all his classmates. They were curious, but he had beat up the ones who had wanted a closer look, getting injured in the process. The others seemed to look worse, for wear.”
Hearing this, Evan narrowed his eyes. “Kyle, who said that you could show off?”
“I didn’t!” retorted Kyle vehemently.
“Who made the first move?” asked Evan.
Kyle was stunned. He was not lying! This only happened because his classmate snatched his pencil case and threw it on the floor, that’s why he threw the first punch!
Evan looked at Kyle who was silent, assuming that it meant that he had admitted to all his faults.
What a show-off, hitting people! How did he develop such a bad habit?
“Evan, don’t blame him. It’s normal for kids to fight,” persuaded Sofie.
“Tomorrow, all of your belongings will be replaced by ordinary ones!”
If he no longer had the capacity to show off, there would no longer be any more conflicts. Showing off at such a young age was not a good sign.
With tears of grievance, Kyle glanced angrily at Evan and stomped off to his bedroom.
Sofie looked at Kyle’s retreat, and her lips curled into a smirk. That should teach him a lesson!
At night, Juan sent Kyle a text, asking him if he went to kindergarten.
Kyle replied, Yes, at Grant.
Juan was envious upon seeing it. Wow, Mommy has enquired there before. It’s a very posh place! How lucky you are, Kyle!
Was this happiness? Kyle wondered. He frowned and responded with, It’s not a good place!
He suddenly heard the door being pushed open. Before he could send the text, Kyle hurriedly hid his smartwatch beneath the pillow.
