A Mother's Anger !

It had taken some time and a lot of persistent questioning but Carol had finally got the truth out of Charlotte. To say she had been taken aback when her daughter had announced that she was going to drop out of art school was an understatement. She knew how much Charlotte loved the course she was on. It suited her talents, her boyfriend was also at the school and there seemed to be a vibrant social life. So she was not prepared to take her daughter's decision as a fait accompli.

After also questioning Ravi the boyfriend, Carol had eventually discovered the root of the problem. Charlotte was being bullied ! It had all begun after Debbi and Carol's spectacular appearance for Red Nose Day when Charlotte had persuaded them to take part in the Full Monty with the boys. This had been a minor sensation for which Charlotte, as the organizer, had been lauded to the skies. At which point that dreary old green eyed monster had reared its' head; jealousy !

One particular girl had determined that Charlotte was not going to enjoy her popularity and, together with her camp followers, had striven to make Charlotte's life a misery. The thing had grown such that the original reason for the antagonism had long been forgotten and the bullies were now just acting for the fun of it.

"I'm going to see the principal, or whatever the head of the art school's called" Carol announced. "Oh no mum, please. They're useless and it'll only make things worse" Charlotte pleaded. "Ok then, I'll go and sort out this ring leader. Show her she can't push my little girl around" countered Carol. "No mum. You don't know what she's like. And it's Chav City down there where she lives, a real rough area" said Charlotte. "So what ? You haven't seen your mother in action when she's really riled up" Carol boasted.

Charlotte now regretted having admitted what the problem was to her mother but she played her last card by refusing to reveal the culprit's name and address. But her resourceful mother managed to extract the information from Ravi. "I'm leaving early this afternoon Deb" Carol informed her business partner. "Oh, er fine, ok" agreed Debbi. Their joint consultancy venture was relaxed about such things, although normally they took such liberties on Friday before the weekend and it was Wednesday today. So Carol felt some further explanation was needed, although they both knew that any work that required to be done would be dealt with. "I've got a bit of family business" she added and then filled Debbi in about Charlotte's problems. "That's awful" Debbi sympathized. "Well, good luck" she said, though she suspected that the bullies would be the ones needing luck, since she knew well enough what an angry Carol could be like !