Okay - you can mess with me all you want - but you mess with one of my kids - all bets are off....

My child, Spare +1 came home from the playground with a huge knot on the back of his head. Spare, who was with him, said he tripped, hit his head on a rock and wanted to come home, then promptly returned to the playground. I was concerned w/ Spare +1 so I didn't really press the issue - every time I asked he moaned and complained that his head hurt (should have been a clue). Then two hours later, when Spare came home, I asked him to explain again what happened.

Spare - "He tripped."

Mom - "On?"

Spare - "A big rock, then he like, fell."

Mom - "How'd he hit the back of his head?"

Silence - I look between the pair. Spare +1 won't look me in the eye and Spare has the look.

Mom - "Tell me what really happened. NOW!"

Tears flow - children babble. "I didn't want to get him in trouble..." "Said he wouldn't be my friend..."

Mom - "Now!" I think fire just about shot out my eyes.

Well, suffice it to say - a boy from down the street - let's call him Turd - Turd was throwing rocks, which his father forbade so obviously this is an issue with him, and my sweet, sweet boy who pays not too much attention, walked too close and Turd smacked MY CHILD in the back of the head with the force of the throw and both Turd and Spare convinced Spare +1 not to tell me.

Mom - {head spinning} "He hit your brother? And you LIED TO ME?" I grab Spare +1 by the hand. "Let's go. We're going to talk to Turd's mom."

(I have to say I am more piseed about the lying - I can deal with the fact that he walked in the way - but Turd, who though like I said is in second grade is the size of fourth grade Spare, convinced them with threats and not for the first time I might add, to lie to me.)

Spare - {In full blown ugly cry} "They went somewhere. They're not home."

Well ... hell

By the time I get the TRUTH out of them, it's already two hours after the fact and I am not about to sit on my front porch watching for their return - though I am mad enough to.

This is a child the boys walk to school with, not that they like to. I make them. (I felt bad for him - silly me). He is in the second grade. He usually leaves AFTER his parents have gone to work. And he leaves the front door unlocked until he returns from school - apparently he cannot learn how to use the key and this is not a priority for the parents - damn them - and I am surprised that he beans my kid?!?!? Then lies and threatens...

Can you say, "Been nice knowing you."