My mother threw herself in front of me the second she saw what happened.
She looked at Claudia, face full of panic.
"Mrs. Mason, you must have it wrong. Our Miriam didn't—"
"Didn't what?!"
Claudia cut her off, voice like a blade.
She reached out and grabbed my mother by the hair.
"Of course you're going to say she didn't do it, right?!"
"You're her mother—you're exactly the same kind of trash she is. Of course you can't admit it!"
"A little wretch like yours pulls something like this? She learned it from you! You worthless piece of filth!"
Claudia raised her arm and slapped my mother across the face.
My mother was small and thin. She couldn't take a hit like that.
Claudia dragged her straight down to the ground.
The other parents swarmed toward my mother like they'd all gone feral, and my father threw himself over her, shielding her with everything he had.
The screaming hit like a wall—parents howling over each other, faces twisted, veins standing out in their necks.
"It wasn't our Miriam! Our Miriam doesn't need to cheat!"
"Doesn't need to?!"
Austin Henson's fist clenched and slammed straight into my father's face.