Watching In Disbelief
Linda watched in disbelief as she poured the juice into a glass, only to find that something was terribly wrong with it.
Her heart sank as she turned to her son, tears streaming down his cheeks. The sight fueled her anger. Her voice trembling with concern, Linda asked, "Who gave you this juice box, honey?" Her son's innocent reply triggered a surge of rage within her.
Breakfast For Her Beloved
That morning began routinely in the Loren household, with Linda rising at 5:30 am to prepare breakfast for her beloved family. Her seven-year-old son, Benjamin, shuffled sleepily as he ate his waffles and eggs.
"Ready for school, Benji?" Linda asked with a smile, trying to brighten the early hour. After breakfast, Linda and Benjamin left home and climbed into her car, unaware of the impending tragedy that would unfold later that day.
Watching Him Hop Along
Linda drove Benjamin to school swiftly, watching him happily skip away to his classes once they arrived.
Content with her role as a stay-at-home mom, she proceeded with her day, unaware of the events unfolding in her son's life during her absence. Several hours later, when Linda returned to pick up Benjamin from school, she observed something peculiar about him.
Dashing Towards Her
Benjamin dashed towards his mother's car at the sight of it, tears cascading down his cheeks. Climbing into the back seat, he clutched a juice box tightly.
Linda parked swiftly and turned to her son, concerned. He averted his gaze, his tears still flowing, holding onto the juice box as though it were a lifeline. She had never witnessed him so distraught before.
Remaining Tight-Lipped
Benjamin remained tight-lipped about the situation, prompting his mother to escort him home for a more thorough discussion later. As they navigated the well-known streets of their town, her thoughts raced with worry. Had he encountered trouble? Was bullying involved?
Unbeknownst to her, the reality awaiting her was far more unsettling than anything she had imagined. Within a short time, they arrived at their driveway, where the gravity of the truth would soon unfold.
Hurried To Assist
Linda hurriedly assisted her son out of the car, observing the untouched juice box clutched in his left hand. Despite being in the car for some time, he hadn’t taken a single sip.
Taking his hand in hers, she guided him into the house and settled beside him at the kitchen island, determined to uncover the source of his distress. “Sweetheart, you need to tell Mommy what’s bothering you, alright? I can only help if I understand what’s happening,” she urged gently. But then, to her surprise, he did something completely unexpected.
The Juice Box
Benjamin placed the juice box carefully on the counter, his finger trembling as he pointed at it. Through tears, he managed to say, “There’s something in there.”
Linda’s heart skipped a beat as she realized she hadn’t packed that juice box for him that morning. Where had he gotten it from? Acting swiftly, she fetched a glass and carefully opened the juice box. As she poured its contents into the glass, her hands shook. However, the sight of debris floating in her son's drink sent a chill down her spine, freezing her in place.
Spent Her Life In Nashville
Linda Loren had spent her entire life in Nashville, Tennessee, firmly believing that greatness awaited her. Raised in a secure and supportive environment by her devoted parents, she never lacked the essentials for a prosperous future.
Her aspirations centered on becoming a stay-at-home wife and mother, a dream she cherished deeply. However, everything changed when she crossed paths with a man who seemed capable of fulfilling all her desires.
Their Love Story
Linda and Dylan's love story started at a friend's wedding, where they instantly clicked and began dating soon after. Their relationship blossomed quickly, culminating in marriage just two years later.
To Dylan, Linda was more than just amazing; she was the beacon of his life, and every moment spent with her was treasured. They shared a deep bond as best friends and soulmates, with Linda eagerly anticipating the future and dreaming of starting a family with Dylan. Little did she know, their journey together was about to take an unexpected turn.
Shortly After
Shortly after getting married, they made the decision to relocate to a charming suburban home. Linda had always envisioned raising a family in such a setting, and this move was a realization of her long-held dream.
Dylan, a prosperous businessman, provided sufficiently to afford Linda the lifestyle she had always desired. Despite his daily commitments at work, she found fulfillment in her role at home, dedicating herself to cooking and maintaining their household, activities she had eagerly anticipated.
Moving Forward
Linda and Dylan were moving forward in their lives, enjoying every second together. But just a few months after the wedding, they received big news.
Linda was finally expecting their first child. The anticipation of becoming parents was exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time. They were ready to take on the challenge. As the months passed, they worked hard to turn one of their guest bedrooms into a nursery.
Excited For The Future
They were expecting a boy, which was why they decided to paint the walls a light shade of blue. Linda could see on Dylan’s face that he was excited for what was to come.
Dylan had always wanted a son. He couldn’t wait to teach him how to ride a bike or how to play basketball. Exciting things were in store for the young couple, but they knew that parenthood would be challenging. But just how challenging would it be?
Their Boy
Their baby boy, Benjamin James Loren, was born on a rainy Thursday afternoon in a hospital near their home.
Holding Benjamin in her arms was one of the happiest moments of Linda’s life. Tears welled up behind her eyes as she stared at her first child. “He’s perfect. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted,” Linda told Dylan as he sat beside her. He placed a hand on her arms, showing his support.
A Challenging Time
The first few months were extremely channeling for the new parents. But they took every day as a lesson in parenthood.
Growing up, they gave their son everything he needed. While Dylan was off to work, Linda stayed home, caring for their son. The months passed fast, and eventually, the years began passing. Before they knew it, it was time for Benjamin to go to school.
The First Day
Over the years, little Benjamin transformed into a sweet and intelligent young boy. But he was growing up far too quickly for his mother’s liking.
Before Linda knew it, it was her son’s first day of Grade 1. Dylan took that morning off of work, wanting to drop his son off at school with Linda. They dressed him in his nicest outfit and ate breakfast together before making their way toward the school, which was only about a mile away from their home.
Reassurance
Benjamin sat in the backseat, anxious for his first day of school. Dylan glanced in the rearview mirror, noticing the concerned look on his son’s face.
“Hey,” He spoke up, smiling at his son as he glanced back at him, “You alright back there, buddy?” Dylan asked. Benjamin nodded, but Dylan could see the uncertainty in his eyes. “It’s going to be a good day. You’re going to make so many friends,” He tried to assure his son.
Supporting Him
Dylan and Linda were there to introduce themselves to Benjamin’s teacher, Margaret, but eventually, it was time to go home.
“Mommy will be back to pick you up in a few hours, okay?” Linda said, placing a gentle kiss on her son’s cheek. She saw the worry in his eyes as she left the room. But she knew he was in safe hands. It was one of the best schools in town, or so she thought.
A Good Day
That was the first time in seven years that Linda got some time to herself at home. She spent the morning reading and catching up on her favorite television show.
But before she knew it, the time had come for Linda to fetch her son from school. To her surprise, he was in a great mood when he hopped into the car. It was clear that Benjamin had loved his first day of school, and he couldn’t wait to go back the very next day. Linda was relieved.
He Couldn’t Wait
For the rest of that week, everything seemed to run smoothly, which Linda was grateful for. Every morning was a breeze.
As soon as Linda woke her son up for school, he would hop out of bed and get dressed, excited to see his teacher and new friends. During the drive to his school, he would stop talking about a class party his teacher had arranged for that Friday. But that day would end in disaster.
That Friday
When Friday rolled around, little Benjamin could barely contain his excitement anymore. His mother drove him to school, and his excitement only grew.
Linda watched with a smile as her son happily skipped into school. She was so grateful to see him so happy. But how could she have known what would happen just hours later? She drove home, excited for some alone time.
A Normal Day
That day was just like any other day that week. Linda was excited for the weekend when she would have Dylan and Benji by her side.
She had planned all sorts of fun activities for her family. She counted the hours until her son would finish school. She wanted to take him out for ice cream as a way to celebrate his first week of school. She left the house just before 1 pm.
A Bad Day
After spotting his mother's car, Benjamin ran toward her, tears streaming down his cheeks. Tears stained his cheeks as he jumped into the back seat.
Immediately after parking the car, Linda turned toward the little boy. Despite his avoidance of eye contact, she noticed the juice box in his hand. His mother stared in bewilderment as he held onto it. Her son had never been in such a state before. His eyes were filled with tears.
Something Was Going On
She decided to take Benjamin home and ask questions later after Benjamin refused to tell her what was going on.
While driving through their town's familiar streets, her mind raced. What kind of trouble had he gotten into? Had someone bullied him? But little did she know that the truth was far worse than she ever anticipated. It wasn’t long before she pulled up to their driveway.
Trying To Help
As Linda helped her son out of the car, she noticed that he had a juice box in his left hand. Since getting into the car, he hadn't drunk a drop.
Walking him into the house, she sat beside him around the kitchen island with his right hand in hers. It was imperative that she get to the bottom of this. “Honey, you have to tell Mommy what’s wrong, okay? I can only help you once I know what’s going on,” She said. Then he did something unexpected.
A Discovery
The boy pointed at the juice box on the counter. “There’s something in there,” He finally said between sobs.
Linda widened her eyes. That day, she hadn't packed him a juice box. Who had given him a juice box? In a flash, she grabbed a glass and reached for his juice box. After tearing it open, she poured the contents into the glass. Her blood ran cold when she saw the debris floating in her son's juice.
Who Was It?
Linda gasped aloud when she saw the debris floating around her son’s drink. She needed answers immediately.
“Honey, who gave you this juice box?” She questioned, concerned that someone would put something like that in her son’s drink. “It was my teacher,” He said through his tears. “It was for the class party. Everyone got one,” He cried. Linda saw red.
Confrontation
She couldn’t believe that her teacher would do something like this. She grabbed her car keys. “Come on, sweetie. We’re going back to school,” she said, grabbing the glass.
“But why, Mommy?” Benjamin asked, standing up from his chair. He couldn’t understand why they would go back after classes ended. “I’m going to tell the principal that your teacher put this stuff in your drink. Then, I’m calling the police,” She said. But that was when Benjamin revealed something.
He Stopped Her
“No, Mommy,” Benjamin said and stopped his mother from going any further. He pointed at the glass of juice. “That wasn’t my teacher!” He said.
Linda was confused as she turned back to her son and glanced at the juice with pencil shavings floating around inside. “There’s a mean boy in my class. He put pencil shavings in my juice box when I said I wouldn’t give it to him,” He sniffed.
The Truth
Linda’s face fell, her anger diminishing. It seemed her son had run into his first school bully. She pulled her son into a hug.
“I was crying because I really wanted my juice, and now I can’t drink it,” He said, rubbing his red eyes. Linda felt sorry for the little boy. He’d always loved his juice boxes. But she had a plan to take his mind off it.
Taking His Mind Off It
That afternoon, she walked her son out to the car and strapped him into the back seat. She then got behind the wheel and took him to his favorite spot.
She decided to take her son to his favorite ice cream parlor and a movie. Afterward, she took him to buy a few juice boxes for the weekend. She decided to call the teacher on Monday and inform her of the bully, but for the time being, she was going to enjoy her weekend with her family.