Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse by Glenn Bullion Page A

daughter returns the hug, then both students are suspended," she said, without an ounce of humor.   "Hugging is simply not permitted—"
    "Just because your husband would rather hug the babysitter than you, that's no reason to take it out on the little nose-pickers in school."
    There was hushed laughter throughout the room, uncomfortable giggling.   Some parents were in awe, their eyes wide.
    "Mr. Kursed—"
    "Let me tell you something.   If my daughter comes home crying about how she got suspended…not for bad grades or cussing out a teacher, but for hugging , then I'm coming back here and personally putting my foot in every ass in this room."  
    The room was a whispering frenzy as the adults talked amongst themselves.   More laughter.   He spotted Erica, looking mortified, holding her head in her hands.   He turned his anger, his disbelief, onto the other parents in the room.
    "I can't believe you idiots agreed to this.   You all thought this was a good idea?   Or are you all just too pussified?"
    Silence.   Jack searched their faces.   Some of them looked ashamed, but no one dared speak.   He shook his head.
    "Wow.   Not a single testicle among you.   You know, this reminds me of Germany, World War II."   He cringed at the memory.   Hitler was powerful, even before he had the aid of a half witch.   "Adolf Hitler would stand there, talking to his people.   He would lean slightly to the left, and the crowd leaned with him.   Then he'd pause, and lean right.   The people moved right along with him.   It was the scariest shit I'd seen in my whole life…until tonight, right here in this room.   Like little sheep, just wandering around—"
    "Mr. Kursed!" Mrs. Galloway shouted.   "That is quite enough!   Regardless of your feelings, we've already discussed this—"
    A voice came from the back.   "Uh, actually, Mrs. Galloway…."   A father stood up and adjusted his shirt.   "That's not really true.   You brought up the policy, but we didn't really talk…"   He trailed off.   "Anyway, I have to agree.   It's a bad idea.   There are so many more things we have to worry about with our kids than hugging ."
    It was hard to argue that.   Jack killed one of those worries earlier in the day.
    He pointed at the man.   "Thank you, random parent."
    A mother stood next.   "Yeah.   We really need to talk about this."
    Jack sat back down as more parents voiced their opinions.   Mrs. Galloway's gaze didn't leave Jack, her features seething.
    He merely smiled.
    *****
    Jack leaned against his truck as he waited outside school.   Other parents were milling about as they slowly made their way to their cars.   Some talked in small groups, with the occasional glance finding its way to Jack.   He scanned their lips, picking up conversation, and nearly laughed when the question ' Is he single?' popped up once or twice.
    He was still surprised when the second set of parents stopped at his truck to talk.   No one ever stopped to talk to him.
    "Hey, Jack, is it?" a father asked.   "That was nice in there.   Galloway, well, I'm sure you know now, but she's a real bitch."
    Jack was thankful the father didn't extend his hand.   He didn't like shaking hands.
    "Yeah," he said.   "I can see that."
    "I'm Tom, and this here is my wife, Violet.   Everyone just calls her Vie."
    Jack nodded in greeting at the husband and wife he wouldn't remember past the night.   "Uh, pleased to meet you."
    Vie stepped forward.   "Listen, about Tiffany, it's such a shame what she had to go through.   But she's doing very well in school, and my son tells me everyone likes her."
    One of the minuses of living in a small beach town was everyone knowing everyone's business.   Tiffany was still something of a local celebrity, even though she barely remembered the events that surrounded her when she was four years old.   Her mother had died, and her father abandoned her, literally, in their apartment.   She lived off scraps until she