Chapter 9-Bayley to Belly
Walking out of the airport without Pam was the most difficult moment of our relationship. I knew I had to remain tough. The girls, especially Nikki, were taking it hard. Much to my dismay, they wanted to watch Pam take off. Only when the plane was out of sight did they move from the window.
After leaving the airport, I dropped the girls off at school. Once I finished speaking to their principal, I headed to work, hoping for a slow and uneventful day so I wouldn’t have to return home to an empty bed that night. That afternoon, I left work a few minutes later than usual, then stopped to pick up the girls’ favorite Mexican food. I arrived home just as their bus was dropping them off. “Hey Cici, I got Mexican for dinner,” I said, handing her one of the bags. We set about getting dinner dished out. “Has Mama called yet?” Nikki said, just picking at her dinner, moving the rice around her plate. It shocked me what she called Pam, but it was not a horrible shock. “Nikki, it’s a 21-hour flight, so it’s going to be a while before Pam calls to check in,” I said. Just then, I saw Cici take a picture of her plate. “Cici Marie, no phone at the table. Did you just take a photo of your plate?” I was fully prepared to keep things running as I always had. “I have to show Pam what she’s missing, it’s only fair,” she said with a grin.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, I lay awake staring at the walls when my phone suddenly lit up. “I made it, I just got to my hotel, do you want me to FaceTime you?” Pam said in a short but to-the-point text. “Uh, duh, I miss that beautiful face,” I responded. A few minutes later, we had a 10-minute video chat before I heard feet running down the hallway. Our bedroom door swung open, and Nikki jumped on me, yelling, “Mom, you called!” The shock on Pam’s face said it all. “I need to go get Cici, she wants to talk too,” Nikki yelled. “No, don’t wake your sister, she needs to sleep, you have school tomorrow,” Pam said, but it was too late—Nikki was already gone from the room.
The next few days were rough, but soon we settled into a routine: Pam called each morning and again at night. About a week after Pam left, I got a call from Cici’s school—they needed me to come in and pick her up because she was getting suspended for fighting. When I arrived at the school and walked into the office, I saw Cici holding an ice pack to the side of her face but didn’t see another child. I sat down next to Cici because I wanted her side of the story; I’d always taught my girls to only fight when they feel threatened. After speaking to her, I walked to the desk and asked to speak with the principal. I was informed I could speak with her only by scheduling a formal meeting before Cici’s suspension ended. That didn’t sit right with me. “No, I want to speak with her now,” I said. “I was called and told she was being suspended for fighting, but she was defending not only herself but her stepmom. Now get me the principal before I contact my lawyer.” The receptionist immediately got up and went into the principal’s office. She returned a few minutes later. “Have a seat, she will be with you in a few minutes,” she said, returning to her desk.
Shortly after, the principal appeared and called me into her office. “Cecila is being suspended for a week for fighting with another student. We have yet to look at the camera footage from the soccer field. We were told by the PE teacher and the teacher’s aide that she used something called ‘Bayley to Belly’ on him. She picked him up, slammed him onto the field, and kicked him in the ribs,” she said, looking at me with concern. I had to hold back a laugh. Pammy was going to laugh her ass off at this. “Did you see my daughter’s face? What happened before she slammed him onto the ground? I know that happened first, because you don’t just get up from a move like that and clock someone in the face,” I said, asking my own questions. “That’s what we are trying to find out, but neither of them is willing to explain what happened,” she replied, writing notes as I spoke. “I know where she learned it, and I’ll take care of it and punish her accordingly. What’s happening with the kid who put his hands on her?” I asked. “He was sent back to class, but once we watch the footage, he’ll face disciplinary action as well. For now, we have to go on what the staff said, unless Cici wants to tell us her side,” she replied, handing me some forms to sign. “Let me talk to Cici and see if she’ll talk. I’ve always taught my daughters: only swing if they feel threatened.” I stood up before signing the forms.
I spoke with Cici for a few minutes. She was then willing to go into the office and tell the principal everything, including what happened months back about him making homophobic remarks. She was in the office about 35 minutes before the door opened. “Thank you, Cici, for being honest. Because you did strike another student, I’m still forced to suspend you. But we’ll reduce it from a week to three days. You can return on Monday,” Mrs. Davis said, handing me forms to sign. “No more Bayley to Belly suplexes to classmates. That could have really hurt him,” she added. “Yes, Ma’am. See you on Monday,” Cici said as she walked toward her locker. The bell rang. I quickly followed her to ensure this kid didn’t start any more trouble. Like clockwork, he came down the hall and glared at Cici as she talked to a friend. “I think she broke my ribs. Crazy bitch, she needs to be locked in a cage,” he said, not hiding his words. “Excuse me, young man. I suggest you watch what you say and avoid name-calling. I can return to the principal’s office and discuss your language and bullying,” I said before walking back. I again asked for the principal, and she quickly appeared when she heard my voice. I shared everything that happened in the hallway. She groaned and shook her head. “I am so sorry. I will handle Jeremy. Thank you for letting me know,” she said. She handed me an incident form, had me fill it out, then had Cici sign before we left. As soon as we got to the car, I burst into uncontrollable laughter. Cici stared at me like I had gone crazy. “You used Mama’s move on him, then kicked him in the ribs. You’re my new hero, kid. Let’s go get a burger and ice cream. That was great,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “Do you think Mama’s gonna be mad for using it without her permission?” Cici asked, looking scared. “She may be upset you used it without training, but she’ll be glad you protected yourself.”
I spoke with Cici for a few minutes. She was then willing to go into the office and tell the principal everything, including what happened months back about him making homophobic remarks. She was in the office about 35 minutes before the door opened. “Thank you, Cici, for being honest. Because you did strike another student, I’m still forced to suspend you. But we’ll reduce it from a week to three days. You can return on Monday,” Mrs. Davis said, handing me forms to sign. “No more Bayley to Belly suplexes to classmates. That could have really hurt him,” she added. “Yes, Ma’am. See you on Monday,” Cici said as she walked toward her locker. The bell rang. I quickly followed her to ensure this kid didn’t start any more trouble. Like clockwork, he came down the hall and glared at Cici as she talked to a friend. “I think she broke my ribs. Crazy bitch, she needs to be locked in a cage,” he said, not hiding his words. “Excuse me, young man. I suggest you watch what you say and avoid name-calling. I can return to the principal’s office and discuss your language and bullying,” I said before walking back. I again asked for the principal, and she quickly appeared when she heard my voice. I shared everything that happened in the hallway. She groaned and shook her head. “I am so sorry. I will handle Jeremy. Thank you for letting me know,” she said. She handed me an incident form, had me fill it out, then had Cici sign before we left. As soon as we got to the car, I burst into uncontrollable laughter. Cici stared at me like I had gone crazy. “You used Mama’s move on him, then kicked him in the ribs. You’re my new hero, kid. Let’s go get a burger and ice cream. That was great,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “Do you think Mama’s gonna be mad for using it without her permission?” Cici asked, looking scared. “She may be upset you used it without training, but she’ll be glad you protected yourself.”