The rag was shrinking at a very fast rate with the attitude that was coming off of Hadley. Her outburst left Julien sitting their with his brows furrowed and a certain vein showing. He hadn't ever let his own children speak to him the way she was speaking to him. "I'm glad you have but your detention instructions are clear. You can do them easily or keep pushing and end up with no rag at all." He wasn't going to argue with a child.

Julien had always prided himself on his beliefs and respect or others. He was harsh at times and strict, but he was not disrespectful, until his actions recently. He didn't let his face show the disappointment in himself that crossed his eyes, but she had hit a nerve. "I push students to challenge them. You have come to my office the past two years for extra help and I have given it to you. You have so much potential and you work very hard, but this attitude and behavior get in the way of people seeing this. Sometimes children think adults are in the wrong, not respecting them, or being unfair when our actions are for you to be challenged, to show yourself how much potential you really have."

and there was the nerve he was sure he'd hit...


Standing up he walked over and picked up the bucket and ducked as the rag came at him. Bending down he picked it up and walked over to where Hadley was sitting. "My daughters are not perfect, neither is my son, and I am surely not. If your parents are trying to make you perfect I'm sorry, but taking it out on everyone here with the behaviors you have done is not going to help at all. It's going to end with more detentions and even suspension. Then how would your parents feel?" His voice was calming, but still strong. He had compassion and he could see she struggled with something outside of school.