The only thing worse than not loving another person is to love and not being loved in return.

Mr. and Mrs. MacGillivray,” A fierce looking woman stood across from a middle aged couple. Off to the side sat a little boy, arms crossed over his chest and with a bloody nose. “This is the third time since the last harvest that yer son has skelped another laddie from the clan.”

She kicked a pebble away and looked at them sadly. “If he disnae start shaping up, we will need to take mair action as he is causing a disruption amongst the clan. And sending him away from the fields every time as punishment slows down oor work.” “The other laddie started it!”

The little boy piped up angrily. “I was only defending myself, why am I the only one tae get punished every time!?” “He will be dealt with, Nicholas.” The woman looked at the boy with his rumpled tunic and ruffled red hair. “Never as badly as I am, though.” He grumbled whilst pouting and slouching unhappily with an audible sigh. “Nicholas,” Mrs. MacGillivray looked at him. “Stand up straight, and we will discuss this when ye get hame.”

“How long will he be sent away from the fields this time?” Mr. MacGillivray asked, taking his wife’s hand in his.

“Until the next full moon. And he is expected to do an apology to the laddie he skelped.” The woman folded her arms and sighed. “It seems a lang time, but yer son did quite a bit of damage to the other laddie. He will have a black eye, do ye ken?”

“And him almost breaking my nose is normal?” Nicholas piped up again frustrated, “Och, ye arenae playing favorites.”

“Nicholas!” His father gave his son a stern look. “Dinnae make things worse for yerself. If ye cannae say anything nice, then dinnae say anything at all.”

“Yer supposed to be on my side,” Nicholas pouted while looking down at his bare feet once more.

“And ye are supposed to honor yer faither and mother.” “Time to go hame, Nicholas,” his mother said a few moments later. Nicholas followed his parents home, sulking all the way across.