Cherub's eyes were red, clearly hurt.

"Apologize right away, or I'll find your parents!" the boy's parent demanded.

"I won't apologize. He insulted me, saying I don't have a Mommy," Cherub angrily replied.

"What's wrong with you, kid? Even if he said that, you can't resort to violence. My son is usually well-liked; why would he pick on you? It must be you who started the provocation," the boy's parent argued.

Isolated and with fingers tightly clenched, Cherub felt ...