Preface

The car ride was silent. Steven sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, his face set in a defiant frown. His jeans were torn at the knees, his hoodie had dirt stains, and his short, unkempt hair hung over his eyes.

Kathy finally broke the silence. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Steven let out a huff and looked out the window. “Not really.”

“Steven.” Kathy’s tone was sharper now.

The boy rolled his eyes but finally muttered, “It wasn’t a big deal. Some guys in class were saying stupid stuff, making fun of Maddie, so I told them to shut up.”

Kathy arched an eyebrow. “And?”

“And one of them pushed me. So I… I might have punched him.”

Kathy nearly slammed the brakes. “You punched someone?”

Steven’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He deserved it.”

Kathy took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her. She knew Steven had a protective streak, but getting into fights? That wasn’t okay. “Steven, you can’t just hit people.”

“So I should’ve let him call Maddie names? Let him push me around?”

Kathy sighed, rubbing her temple. “No, but there are other ways to handle it.”

Steven scoffed. “Like what? Run away and cry? That’s not me, Mom.”

Kathy felt a pang in her chest. That’s not me, Mom. Steven spent his days shooting hoops, skateboarding, fixing up his old BMX bike, or getting into fights. Kathy had never minded before, but now… now she worried.

Steven was getting older, and he wasn't just a boy, but he was becoming a bully.

That evening, Kathy sat on the couch, watching Steven as he ate dinner in front of the TV. He had a stubborn streak, but underneath, he was still a child-Kathy’s little boy.

“Steven,” Kathy said softly.

Her son glanced up, mouth still full. “Yeah?”

Kathy hesitated, then said, “I just… I worry about you.”

Steven rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Mom.”

“But what happens next time? What if the next kid you hit doesn’t just push you first? What if it’s worse?”

Steven didn’t answer right away. He stabbed his fork into his food and muttered, “I don’t want to be weak.”

Kathy’s heart ached. She reached over and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Steven’s ear. “Standing up for yourself doesn’t make you weak, sweetheart. But picking your battles? That makes you smart.”

Steven didn’t respond, but he didn’t pull away either.

Kathy knew this wasn’t a conversation that would be solved in one night. But maybe, just maybe, it was a start.

Steven slumped on the couch, flipping through TV channels with a bored expression. He barely acknowledged Mrs. Tilly, the older woman Kathy had hired to watch him.

"You know, dear," Mrs. Tilly said from the kitchen, "at your age, I was already cooking dinner for my whole family. You could learn a thing or two about responsibility."

Steven rolled his eyes. "I can take care of myself."

"Then why did your mother ask me to be here?" Mrs. Tilly countered with a knowing smile.

Steven didn't answer, just turned up the volume on the TV.

Meanwhile, Kathy sat in the office of Eastwood Middle School's dean, Mr. Langston, across from the school counselor, Ms. Patel.

"Mrs. Lawson, we have some concerns about Steven," Mr. Langston began, clasping his hands together. "This isn't just about one fight. We've noticed a pattern."

Kathy’s stomach twisted. "A pattern?"

Ms. Patel nodded. "Steven has been… forceful with his classmates. We initially thought he was just a rough player, but after multiple reports, it’s clear that he singles out certain students-the smaller ones, the quieter ones. If they stand up to him, he backs off. But if they don’t… well, he keeps at them."

Kathy swallowed hard. "Are you saying my son is a bully?"

"In some ways, yes," Ms. Patel said gently. "We think it’s more complicated than that, though. He’s not cruel, but he’s testing limits. And his way of relating to others seems to revolve around dominance rather than friendship."

Kathy felt like she had been punched in the gut. Steven had always been a handful-wild, adventurous, even reckless. But a bully? That wasn’t how she saw her son.

"There’s someone we’d like you to consider taking Steven to," Mr. Langston said. "Dr. Zaaijer."

Kathy frowned. The name sounded familiar. "A therapist?"

"Of sorts," Ms. Patel said carefully. "He specializes in behavior modification for children and teenagers. He has a reputation for helping kids who struggle with aggression, defiance, or who just don’t quite fit in."

Kathy’s skepticism deepened. "Behavior modification? That sounds… intense."

"His methods can be unconventional," Mr. Langston admitted. "But they work."

Kathy hesitated. She didn’t want to send Steven to some stranger who would try to fix him. But what if this was the only way to help him before things got worse?

Finally, she exhaled. "Alright. I’ll make an appointment."

Chapter 1

A few days later, Kathy drove Steven to a plain brick building on the outskirts of town. A small sign by the door read:

Dr. Zaaijer - Behavioral Specialist