Chapter Twenty Six: Disturbing Drawings

 The School Counselor was facing the parents of Hunter Williams with a deep look of concern, almost certain that a definite form of domestic abuse was happening in their home. Of course, although she has informed the school about the current situation, she cannot just call child services without knowing the situation first and conduct this meeting, so that the case study can be assessed from there. 

She did the best she could to find out the truth, leaving no stone unturned, and she felt that it was her personal duty to protect Hunter at all cost.

She proceeded to speak first; the parents were seated in the two visitor chairs just opposite to her desk.

"Mr. Williams, you are aware that Hunter is very intelligent, right?" her tone was direct. "He is also well-behaved, very sociable, and friendly. He's not the type to be written up and be found doing detentions."

"Yes, Mrs. Wilson. He was raised very well." The couple glanced at each other, very pleased.

"And he is very creative as well. He draws very well. You are also aware of his talents, I assume?"

"Of course," Mrs. Williams obliged to answer. "Is there a problem, Mrs. Wilson? Is Hunter in trouble?"

Mrs. Wilson acknowledged the alarm that her questions brought to the parents. So she asked them the question straight away, mostly about the suspicions involved in this case.

"Okay, I will be straightforward with you," she said this as clearly as possible. "Is Hunter being abused?"

Hunter's parents looked at each other, confused. They have absolutely no idea why the School will have any suspicions that Hunter was being abused at home. The question came as a shock, and it felt very embarassing.

"Abused?" Mr. Williams asked. "I am absolutely bewildered. Where is this accusation coming from?"

The School Counselor sighed.

"For now I have no solid proof," Mrs. Wilson responded. "It was just a mere suspicion at this point. But I'd like you to see these drawings."

Mrs. Wilson produced five sketches of what look like vampires and werewolves, depicted as very disturbing images. They were all gazing at a mirror, with ferocious details, and an abstract art was drawn all over the drawings with the use of very erratic lines and dark colors, obviously blurring everything and the details in the piece of art.

"Do you have any idea why he would draw such a thing?" she asked again after Hunter's parents were looking at the pictures. "I have talked to a psychologist about this, and the response wasn't very encouraging at all."

Mr. Williams spoke from all the confusion. He cannot believe it. "You know, Mrs. Wilson, this is funny because at home, Hunter loves to draw about Santa Claus. He is loving and sweet. I really have no idea."

"He has an obssession with the North Pole," Mrs. Williams also added.

"Well, I also have no concrete conclusion at this point," Mrs. Wilson sighed again. "But this case warrants further investigation. Can you bring all of Hunter's drawings for our next meeting to discuss with a psychologist and find out what is happening, if there was, indeed, something that is troubling Hunter that we should know about?"

"We would be very happy to oblige," Mr. Williams said.

"Thank you very much," Mrs. Wilson said. "After what you have told me, it may be that Hunter is suffering from a disorder known as Split Personality. Have you heard of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?"

"Yes, we know that story."

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This Chapter is sponsored by Ray Ban.