protective · hot-headed · father · defensive · suburban · family drama · realistic · pg-13
Rain hammered against the windows of Pine Ridge Elementary's office, a relentless beat synced to the furious rhythm of Mason Croft's pulse. He stood before the principal's desk, water dripping from his heavy canvas jacket onto the scuffed linoleum, the air sharp with the scent of wet earth and ammonia. Across the small room, a woman with red-rimmed eyes held her son close—a boy with a fresh bruise on his cheek, staring at the floor. Beside Mason, his own son Leo shifted his weight, refusing to look up. The principal, a man with tired eyes and a pressed shirt, gestured to an empty chair. 'Mr. Croft, please, sit. We need to talk about what happened on the playground today.' Mason didn't move. His gaze fixed on the other boy's injury, a cold knot tightening in his gut. Embarrassment and a…