Primary Colors by Kathryn Shay Read Free Book Online Page A

Mrs. Anderson.” After she disconnected, she relayed the situation to Paulina.
    “I can’t believe it. They rarely fight.”
    “Sal was involved.”
    “Which makes this even more unusual.”
    “I know. They’ve always been close because of our circumstances.”
    Paulina took a deep breath. “At least they’re okay.”
    A meaningful look was exchanged.Tragedy, they knew, could ambush you at any time.
    All business now, Paulina removed her hard hat. “Let me tell Frank we’re going.”
    They arrived at school twenty minutes later. The parking lot was full of cars, but the grounds were quiet. Both women hurried into the school and strode to the office. Just before they went inside, Paulina said, “It’s going to be all right, sis.”
    “I know.This is minor compared to everything else we’ve been through.”
    A secretary greeted them and opened the principal’s office door. Mrs. Anderson stood and crossed to them. “Thank you for coming right in.”
    “Of course.” Nia went to Sal, Paulina to her boys.
    Nia asked, “Are you all right, Sal?” He nodded, but his eyes were red. Not from punches. He’d been crying.
    Paulina knelt in frontof the twins. “Are either of you hurt?”
    Shakes of their heads. Paulina and Nia took seats beside their sons and turned their attention to Mrs. Anderson.
    The principal leaned forward on her desk. “The teachers on outside duty said the boys got off the bus together, saying mean things to each.”
    “Like what?”
    “You tell them, boys.”
    Ben raised his chin. “I said my opinion. You toldus that was okay.”
    “Within reason.” Nia could hear the clip in Paulina’s voice. “Your opinion on what?”
    “Art stuff. I said it was stupid.”
    “That was unkind.”
    “It’s true.”
    “I don’t care if you think that young man, but you know how important his art is to Sal.”
    “Sal was bragging about Rafe. How the guy liked him.”
    The twins had been happy when Sal won the prize. Perhapstheir negative reaction today was because he was getting so much attention from Rafe now. Or worse, had this been about not having a father in their lives? She said, “Ben, you get a lot of attention from Adam.”
    Now Ben’s lip came out in a pout. “So does he.”
    “What about you, Tommy?” Paulina asked
.
    “He agrees with me.” God, Ben could be stubborn.
    “Do you?” Paulina asked her otherson.
    “I said I did.” He glanced guiltily at Sal. “I didn’t mean it, Sal.”
    Mrs. Anderson stood and came around the front of the desk, leaned on it. “There’s more. Ben pushed Sal against the bus.” She shook her head. “Sal pushed him back. They ended up wrangling on the ground.”
    “Are you kidding?” Nia couldn’t believe Sal had gotten physical with his cousins.
    “The only one that didn’tpush is Tommy,” Mrs. Anderson added
.
    Paulina and Nia exchanged looks, then Paulina transferred her gaze to the teacher. “This is unacceptable behavior. It isn’t tolerated in our household.”
    “I expected as much. It isn’t allowed here, either. We have a zero tolerance for violence.”
    “Violence?”
    “Perhaps that’s too strong a word. Fighting will do.”
    “Yes, we agree.” This from Nia.

    “Then I hope you understand why Ben and Sal aren’t allowed back in school for forty-eight hours.”
    “No fair,” Ben said. “We got a special gym class today.”
    Tommy shouldered him. “Shut up, Ben.”
    Nia added, “That’s not all you guys are going to miss for this behavior.”
    Paulina finished the thought. “You two are grounded the entire week.” To Tommy, she added, “You get two days.You didn’t fight, which was the right thing to do, but you were in on the teasing.”
    Sal asked, “What about my lesson with Rafe Friday?”
    “It’s not going to happen. That’ll have to be canceled.”
    Big fat tears welled in his eyes
.
    Again, Tommy glanced at his cousin. “Sorry, Sal.”
    “Me, too,” Sal got out.
    No words of apology from