“No way. ‘Probation’ means you did something wrong, and instead of going straight to jail, you have to do some sort of community service, or just swear not to break any laws; otherwise, they’ll arrest you and…yeah… It’s not a word that has a double meaning here, Mr. Thor.”
She spoke with the honesty that only someone who had first-hand experience did. The way she looked down, sighed; both were signs that her past may have been slightly checkered as well.
However, when Thor took his hand away, Clarice looked upward towards him and grabbed it.
“But…what about my dad? He hasn’t done anything to anybody… You’ll defend him too, right?”
Scared that her gesture was far too intimate, Clarice let go, only to clasp her own hands in front of her.
“I’m sorry I keep bringing it up… He told me what happened when he came here looking for help to save me. And I can’t help but think all of the adults and teachers here are just sitting around, looking for some excuse to lock him away… I mean, there are a few people who are nice to him, like that one old guy I saw with him forever ago, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Asgard here, and even you. I still remember the first time I met you; Papa looked so happy that he had someone to play-fight with.”
Little did Clarice realize: had she not shown up that day, the hallway would have been painted red with Asgardian and feral blood splatter. The girl got over her trepidation, and this time tightly held Thor’s hand, refusing to let go until he answered her.
“He saved me! Once when I was just a stranger to him, and again after he told me he loved me! I don’t want people being mean to Papa just because he’s big and scary sometimes! Can’t you understand?”