Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace by MaryJanice Davidson

hasn’t hurt her academic performance one bit,” the principal interrupted congenially. “At least not yet. But these years are usually the point when the rules change, Mr. and Mrs. Scales.”
    Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Jonathan got the signal. “My wife makes every parent-teacher conference, soccer game, and art fair. And I make such events when I can. We’ve always supported Jennifer—”
    “Yes, of course, of course.” It was a concession and a dismissal at the same time. Mr. Mouton ruffled some papers and produced a file. It was rather thin, but he fanned through the skimpy pages as though he were thumbing through a dictionary. “It’s not unusual in these cases, Mr. and Mrs. Scales, for a child to act out in the absence of her parents. You say you spend lots of time on the road. Jennifer
may
have been calling for your attention.”
    “Or she
may
have been calling the school bully on his atrocious behavior.”
    Jennifer nearly fell out of her chair. Her
mother
had said that! Not only did Elizabeth seem to know about Bob Jarkmand already, she was taking sides—
her
side!
    The principal’s cheeks grew rosy. “Be that as it may, Mrs. Scales—”
    “That’s Dr. Georges-Scales, if you please. Why isn’t the thug in here answering questions?” Elizabeth looked up and down the principal’s office, obviously expecting to see the largest boy at Winoka High strung up next to the diplomas and awards on the paneled wall.
    “The ‘thug,’ as you put it, is in the nurse’s office, chewing ice chips in an attempt to get the swelling down,” Mouton said coolly. “No matter what Robert said to Jennifer, violence is not the answer.”
    “Save your platitudes. I see the consequences of violence every day, and I know the type that breeds it. I understand this Robert was not only talking at my daughter as if she were a whore, but also threatening one of her friends. Did you talk to this witness?”
    “Not yet,” admitted Mr. Mouton. Jennifer could see from her mother’s expression that she already knew the answer. Skip had caught her parents on the way into the principal’s office, then, and told them everything.
He skipped class to lurk outside the office and talk to them
. Jennifer smiled to herself.
Knight in shining armor, indeed
!
    Mr. Mouton caught the smile and turned on her. “This is not a laughing matter, Ms. Scales.”
    Jennifer didn’t drop the corners of her mouth. “I can’t help what I find funny.”
    “Best you keep quiet, dear,” Elizabeth snapped. The warm mother-daughter relationship dissipated instantly.
    “Why should I stay quiet?” she snapped back. “You’re all talking about me. About
my
life. About how
I’m
stuck here at this pointless school for
no reason at all
.”
    Elizabeth ignored the rant. “Mr. Mouton. Last week, our daughter was diagnosed with a rather serious medical condition. While the tests are not yet conclusive, it appears…”
    “I’M A FREAK!” Jennifer stood up and screamed at Mr. Mouton, startling the man against the back of his worn vinyl chair. “I’M A FREAK AND THERE IS NO CURE! I GET IT FROM MY FATHER, AND MY GRANDFATHER! WE’RE ALL FREAKS, BUT I’M A BIT MORE OF A FREAK! CONCENTRATED FREAK! FREAK WITH SPECIAL NEW AND IMPROVED FREAKY-FEATURES!”
    Jonathan got up quickly and braced an arm around her. Gently but firmly, he pushed her back down into the chair. His voice was too soft for anyone beyond Jennifer to hear.
    “If you continue,” he breathed, “we will
ground
you.”
    Ground
had a new twist on it. No flying? No fishing? Chained up in the cabin basement, souped up on morphine and bad samples of her mother’s cooking?
    She fumed silently.
    Jonathan turned to Mr. Mouton. “I think if you put together what my wife and my daughter are saying, you’ll see that discipline in this case is neither completely warranted nor necessary. I’d appreciate it if you would let us handle this within the family. Due to