The girl shrugged her narrow shoulders. “Basically Jenny, Megan, and Bridgette were doing what they always do. They were making fun of me and Kelly and we tried to ignore them, but they wouldn’t shut up. So McKenna and Devon joined us and we all told them off together.”

“Four against three,” Principal Schmidt said with pursed lips.

“The odds aren’t as much an issue as the pattern of behavior exhibited by Jenny, Megan, and Bridgette,” Victoria said. “If they have a habit of bullying, shouldn’t that be looked into?”

Everyone in the room shifted in their seats to look at her. Hope shined in Becca’s eyes, John raised a brow, and the principal frowned. “Dr. Reese is right,” John said. “Becca has come to me with these concerns regarding a girl who’s been calling her names. Is this the same girl?” he asked his niece.

Becca nodded.

“Well there you go,” John said with a righteous tone. “What does this girl’s parents have to say?”

“Jenny and her parents were concerned that Becca behaved with aggression in response to playful children’s banter,” the principal said blandly. “I’m wondering if they’re correct.”

Victoria sighed loudly. “Really? Becca behaved with aggression? What are you really trying to say? To hear you tell it, Becca just pummeled this girl without provocation?”

“Ms....”

“Dr. Reese,” Victoria finished. “I think you need to take a closer look at these accounts. I’m sure that when you do, you’ll find a young lady who is just defending herself against your garden variety bully. How do you expect a child to behave when they’ve been badgered?”

Principal Schmidt gaped at her, mouth wide open and eyes blinking. “Excuse me?”

“What Dr. Reese is saying,” John interjected, “is that you’re telling one side of the story. You can’t expect me to sit here and believe that my niece wasn’t goaded into a fight. Was it actually a fight?” He directed the question to Becca.

“I shoved her,” Becca admitted.

“And Jenny fell in the cafeteria,” Principal Schmidt finished.

“And did she touch you first?” John pressed.

Becca shook her head, her gaze falling back to the floor again.

“Well then it wasn’t your job to put your hands on her,” John said. “But I assure you, Principal Schmidt, my niece wouldn’t act unless provoked. You can look through her records and see for yourself. Becca has never been in a fight.”

Karen Schmidt gave a curt nod. “Of course, Mr. Donovan, we take a student’s history into account. But you should know that we have zero-tolerance for violence on our campus. All of the girls will have to be reprimanded.”