Trying to flirt with those women was bad enough.I had no idea what I was doing, and Detective Dulac—Gray—called me out on it.But that’s not the part I wish I could do over again.If I could go back, I’d redo the part where he was talking to me.Where we were talking to each other.I don’t know why I acted the way I did.Why I acted like it was such a big deal when we were only talking.
I don’t know why I said yes in the first place, either.One minute, I was going to tell him no.Because of all the stuff I said: it’s not honest, it’s not a good idea, and if you want to talk about tripping over a dick, it’s sure as hell going to be easier when there’s a pair of them instead of just one.But then I said I’d do it, and it’s like somebody else said those words, somebody else taking up space inside my head, somebody I don’t know.And anyway, he’s right.If people have a problem with it, that’s on them.
After I finish checking over my homework, I get out my laptop, only instead ofStardew Valley, today I pull up a blank document.I’ve got a project.And it’s an important one, one that I can put my name on, one that I can use to show Chief Peterson and everybody else that I’m connected to this town, that I have good community relationships, all that stuff.I’ve got a couple of weeks to plan this Greek Life outreach event, and that should be enough.
The only problem is I have no idea what an outreach eventis.
I start by doing a quick search.I find results about Greek Life in general, and a few more local articles about Greek Life on Wroxall’s campus.I scan a couple of those, but I don’t see anything super helpful, although I do note down the names of the fraternities and sororities that get mentioned—Gray told me this is specifically for Sigma Sigma, but it’s not bad to have extra information.
I don’t find any helpful details about events, though.What I want is, like, a report, I guess.Or a documentary.Like somebody went to one of these events and took a bunch of videos and then wrote up a description of how it all went and what everyone did and the music they played and all that.
Music, I write down.
And then I realize I’m thinking of a party.
What I’ve got in my head, in fact, is mostly clips ofAnimal House; it’s one of Dad’s favorite movies.But now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure that’s not what Gray wants.I mean, how are you supposed to raise awareness about intimate partner violence when everybody’s doing keg stands?
Before I can let myself think about it too much, I take out my phone and text Gray:What is an outreach event?
He’s probably busy, I think as I lower the phone to the sofa cushion.But then it buzzes, and it’s from him.
Whatever you want.
“Well, hell,” I say under my breath.Mr.Somerset would say I need to use my brain and think for myself, but Mr.Somerset isn’t here, and Mr.Somerset isn’t the one who has to plan an amazing Greek Life outreach event—even though he probably could, and it would probably be real easy for him.
So, I do some more searching.Instead of Greek Life, though, this time I start looking at organizations that raise awareness about—and provide support for—victims of intimate partner violence.Some of the stuff, I already know.The statistics, like one in four women will experience intimate partner violence, and one in seven men.That an average of twenty-four people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking.And some of it Idon’tknow—like purple is the color for raising awareness about intimate partner violence.
I writePurpleon my document.
So, now I’ve gotMusicandPurple.
“Great,” I say.“We’ll get out Gran’s Ouija board and call Prince.”
Gran picks that moment to come out of her room.She’s in her kimono—it’s the same red as her hair—and she’s taken off her face.That’s how she says it, meaning she scrubbed off all the makeup.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?”I ask.“You were up all night.”
“I can’t sleep.”She opens the fridge to take out a seltzer.As she pops the can, she looks at me, and I groan.
“Gran, no.”
“I’m in love!”
I drop my head back against the sofa.“You’re not in love.You’re in lust because you’re eighty years old and you can’t keep it in your pants.”
“Samuel!”But nothing I say can get through right now, so she giggles.“Do you know Dr.Jacobson was in the military?”
“Who’s Dr.Jacobson?”
“He’s aveteran.Isn’t that marvelous?I love a man in uniform.”
“Take off the part about a uniform,” I grumble toward the computer, “and you more or less got it.”
“We’re going to Vietnam.He’s going to show me where he served.”
“He wants to go back?”I ask.
“Oh Sammy, it could be an overseas wedding.A destination wedding!You have to come!We won’t invite anyone except close family and friends.It’ll be an intimate affair.”
