Suddenly bet snapped out of her dream when she heard Tina mention Angelica’s choice of outfit! Immediately Bette knew what Angelica had done. I mean Angelica was playing against the best of them. Bette couldn’t have been more rebellious and difficult when she was younger if she tried. The only difference was her ‘teenage rebellion’ didn’t start until she was sixteen, not eleven!

Again Tina thought that the phone connection had dropped out between them when she was getting no response from Bette.

“Hello, Bette are you still there?”

“Oh my God, I don’t even want to know what it is she is wearing because I believe I have already seen it on her earlier today, though she was not wearing it by the time I dropped her at school! And tell me, is she wearing makeup?” Bette asked, trying very hard to keep the sound of her anger from Tina.

“Well, yes, but just a little.” Tina started to feel guilty that she was getting Angelica in trouble with her mother.

“Ok, ok. So apart from me dealing with Angelica when I see her, will she be facing any disciplinary action from you?” Bette asked.

“I’m sorry to say, but yes she will be, I have to follow school procedures. She and her few friends will be having two weeks of lunchtime detentions.” Tina replied, again feeling bad for the little girl.

“Thats perfectly understandable Tina, she is well aware of school rules and I had already made her change that outfit earlier this morning, explaining to her it was unacceptable. And by the way, you mentioned Angie and her few friends. Who are these friends, are they dressed the same way?” Bette asked a little confused.

Bette had met many of Angie’s friends and none of them looked like her daughter did this morning. It was now only occurring to Bette that Angie had seemed rather distant from her usual friends over the Summer break. But Bette didn’t see her with any of these so called new friends either.

“Yes they are dressed like her and they appear to be a tight knot little group. My impression was that Angelica is very good friends with these other girls.” Tina explained.

By this point Bette was just looking forward to seeing her daughter. Life as she knew it had changed and her relationship with Angie was about to enter the most contentious years. It was just a matter of who would come out alive at the other end!

“And Bette, unfortunately because Angelica is dressed against regulations, she can’t stay here at school I’m sorry.” Tina said as she waited for this woman to explode.

“Tina, Angelica has another set of clothes on her that she arrived at school in. Would it be possible for her to change back into those clothes and stay at school. It’s just that I’m at work and it would be very difficult…..”

Having read Angelica’s file, Tina was aware that Bette was a single lesbian mother and obviously that was a difficult job in itself. So she interrupted Bette and said

“It’s ok Bette, I will get her changed and all will be good. Don’t worry.” Tina spoke kindly.

“Thank you Tina. And can you let my daughter know that you have called me and I will be expecting her at the front gate no later than 3pm.” Bette tried to sound stern, but Tina sensed something else coming through from the unknown woman on the other end of the phone.

A small smile appeared across Tina’s face as she ended the call. She had hoped relocating from the East Coast to the West would allow her to start fresh and pursue the lifestyle that had driven her away from her family and the only friends she had ever known.