The crowd pointed and whispered, astonished at Dustin’s outrageous behavior.Asimpleapologywould haveresolvedthismatter.Butnow,it hadesctedintoamajorissue.


    With Mrs. Lansky beaten up so badly, Dustin would probably end up with broken limbs. Worsestill, he could be buried alive!


    Dustin delivered another p that knocked Mrs. Lansky to the ground. He demanded, “Tell me, who exactly are you?”


    Mrs.Lansky’sfacewasbeatenupsobadlythatshefelt dizzyanddisoriented.Shecouldn’teventell left from right.


    “Stopit!”Rightthen,thekindergarten’sheadmistresspushedthroughthecrowdinafranticrush.


    SeeingMrs.Lansky’s swollenface,shewasshockedandquicklyhelpedherontoachair.


    “Ohmy,Mrs.Lansky!Whathappenedtoyou?Whodidthistoyou?”


    Mrs.Lansky’sarmshookas shepointedatDustin.


    “Howdareyou!”


    Theheadmistressturnedaroundandroared,“Whoareyou?HowdareyoyyourhandsonMrs.


    Lansky?Doyouhave anyideaofthetroubleyou’vecaused?”


    “Andwhoareyou?Howdareyoumeddleinmyaffairs?”Dustinrespondedcoldly.


    “Me?”


    Theheadmistresspuffedupherchest.Shesaidproudly,“I’mMrs.Prewitt,theheadmistresshere.Ioverseeallmattersinthiskindergarten!”


    “Mrs.Prewitt,wasit?Youcamerightontime.”


    DustinnoddedandpointedatMrs.Lansky.“Thisbitchisbeingunreasonableandisabusingherpower.Kickheroutofhereimmediately!”


    “Nonsense!”


    Mrs.Prewittredathimandyelled,“Youweretheonewhoassaultedher.HowdareyouuseMrs.Lansky?Thisisabsurd!”


    “Ihitherbecauseshedeservedtobehit.Openupyoureyes.SheinflictedthoseinjuriesyouseeonCecilia’sfaceandonmygoddaughter’sbody.


    “Ionly gaveheratasteofherownmedicine,”Dustinsaidimpassively.


    “That’sright,Mrs. Prewitt.Mrs.Lanskyandhersonweretheoneswhowerebullyingus.Theyweredeliberatelycausingtrouble,”Ceciliatriedtoexin.


    “Shutup!”Mrs.PrewittroaredatherbeforeturningherattentionbacktoDustin.


    Inanoverbearingtone,shesaid,“Ididn’twitnessanythingearlierexceptyouhittingthem.


    “I’mnoworderingyoutoapologizetoMrs.Lanskyanpensatethem fortheinjuries.


    Otherwise,I’mgoingtocallthecops!”


    “Areyoublindorsomething?”


    Dustin’sexpressionwasstern.“Whenthisbitch–was–assaultingthem,you stoodidlyby asifnothingwashappening.


    “Nowthatshe’satadisadvantage,youimmediatelyintervenedandcreatedascene.Areyouaservant,theyraised?”


    “Y–You…Youimpudentbastard!”Mrs.Prewittwasfuriousafterbeingcalledout.


    “I’mwarningyou!Ifyoudon’tapologize,I’mgoingtoexpelHaleyfromourkindergarten!She’ll


    neverbeabletosetfootinhereagain!”


    “Expelher?Hah!Mrs.Prewitt,you’reamazing!”


    Dustinsneered.“DidyouthinkGoldenAppleKindergartenistheonlykindergarteninMillsburg?/


    Didyouthinkshewon’tbe abletoattendanyotherkindergartenafter she’sexpelled?”


    “That’sright!I’ve beeninthisindustryfor20years.Ihaveconnectionseverywhere!


    “Justonewordfromme,andnotonekindergarten woulddaretakein thislittlebastard!”Mrs.


    Prewittroared.


    “Whatdidyousay?”Dustin’sexpressionturneddark.


    Hewasseethingafterhearingthewords“littlebastard“.


    “What?Areyouscarednow?”Mrs.Prewittsmirked.


    “Listenup!AslongasIdon’tallowit,nobodywilltakeinthislittlebas-”


    Beforeshecouldfinish hersentence,Dustinhandedapainfulpacrossherface.Thatp


    causedhertoalmostflyacrosstheroom.


    Thecrowdwasdumbfoundedonceagain.


    Thisyoungmanhadnervesofsteel.Wasn’theafraidofbeingcklistedbytheheadmistress?


    “You…Youdareyahandonme?”


    Mrs.Prewittgotupfromtheground,lookingembarrassed.Shecradledherstingingcheek,lookingshockedandangry.


    Parentsusuallybuttereduptoherwhenever theysawher.Eveniftheyconsideredpresentingherwithagift,italldependedonhermoodthatday.


    Thisyoungmannotonlydisrespectedher,heevenstruckher!Itwasoutrageous!


    “AndwhatifIdid?”


    Dustinscoldedhercoldly,“Youabuseyourpower!Youyuptheinfluentindhavelostall


    senseofmorality!Allowinganipetenttrashlikeyoutoeducatetheyoungwouldonlyleadthemastray!”