The Legends of Nethiah

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1

Now, you understand,

children... they react to

what goes on around them.

This is not like Gabriel.

I don't mean to pry,

but I have to ask.

Are there problems at home?

No. He's not acting out

or anything like that.

Not with him. With the family.

Stan and I...

we're getting a divorce.

I see.

Gabriel shouldn't be punished

for what's happening at home.

He's not. He's being

punished for fighting.

Can't you make an exception?

I wish I could. School policy.

You should see this suspension

as an opportunity.

Talk to him.

Try to make him understand.

Divorces are never easy,

but they don't have to be final.

You want to tell me

what happened?

I don't want to talk about it.

Gabriel... fighting? Why?

Things are difficult

enough around here

without getting a call

from your principal.

You broke Dougie's nose.

It'll be a miracle

if we don't get sued.

Are you listening to me?

I don't want to talk about it!

I don't know what

I'm going to do with you.

What do you mean, suspended?

I left three messages

at your office.

Well, I was working.

Yeah? I work, too.

Thank you, Susan.

I know you work.

You can't do me

the courtesy of waiting

until our divorce is finalized

before you run around

with that woman.

I was working! Do what you want!

Keep it down, okay?

Gabriel can hear.

There you go again,

trying to avoid the issue.

God, you are driving me crazy.

You ruined my life! Oh, yeah?

Well, that's a two-way street,

sweetheart!

You okay?

Sure.

Heard you had a scrap yesterday.

You want to tell me about it?

Your mother tells me

you pushed that boy down

and broke his nose.

Hey. Look at me.

Fights happen.

It's what you do after

that matters.

What you learn from

the situation. Okay?

You know, fights don't always

have to be with other people.

Sometimes they're just problems that

you're dealing with, you know?

Do you know what I'm saying?

Okay. Well, I gotta go.

You... stay out of trouble.

Okay. I gotta go to work.

I made you lunch,

it's in the fridge.

And you have mine

and your dad's numbers

in case of an emergency.

You gonna be okay by yourself?

Why aren't you shooting hoops?

Hey, Tully. Don't feel like it.

I hear you.

It a holiday or something?

What?

It's a school day.

I'm suspended.

Ah.

I know about that, too.

What are you escaping from?

You wouldn't understand.

Try me.

I've developed a list myself.

Responsibility,

problems, parents.

Yeah?

Always on my case

about every little thing.

"My house, my rules."

My old man always said that.

So what did you do?

What'd I do?

I left.

Hey, Tully!

Ah, gotta bolt.

Thanks for looking after him

while Stan and I work.

I'm close by.

Gabriel doesn't fight.

He does now.

Recess.

How is he?

Him? He's fine.

Few scrapes. Nothing bad.

And the other kid?

A broken nose. Black eye.

I'm worried.

I'll talk to him.

He doesn't respond to lectures.

Gabriel doesn't respond

to much of anything lately.

How are you doing?

I'm managing.

Is that enough?

What?

The kid...

He sees things, I'm sure.

Hears things.

What's he supposed to think?

Our marriage is over.

Of course we fight.

What couple doesn't

when it's all ending?

Sometimes we're loud.

Sometimes we're really loud.

Don't get started.

This is hard enough.

I can't fight a two-front war.

Neither can a ten-year old.

There's more.

What? You're not gonna

send him to boarding school.

He has to choose.

What?

Who he wants to live with.

It's only fair.

And I remember when math

was my only problem.

Talk to him.

I'm glad you're here.

Hey, I'm hiding from

the widow down the block.

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