Gemotions

It was a shock, to say the least. Seeing Mr. Bell’s name on the list for his son, Jacob’s, fifth grade class. Mr. Bell. The man who had made him the target of his cruel jokes. The man who had made him cry more times than he cared to remember.

He started attending every school meeting, every parent-teacher conference. He sat in the back, observing, studying Mr. Bell’s every move. He watched him interact with the students, scrutinizing his tone, his gestures.

He encouraged Jacob to speak up, to stand up for himself. He instilled in him the confidence he’d lacked as a child. He was determined to ensure Jacob had a different experience. He would be his protector.