Thank the heavens and all who’s up there. “Why do they need me?”
“No,Ineed you. Big difference.” Fucking hell.
“Alright I’ll be there in twenty.” No time for pleasantries. I grab my bag and my keys.
“Layla, Twins, Cedric” I yell out, as I close my office door. All of them poke their heads out of the classrooms. “I have to get to SunHill, Brayden called.”
“Da loca. What happened?” Layla curses out.
“I have no idea, but there might be another kid wrapped up in whatever mess Marcus was in. I don’t have much, but something tells me that we might be dealing with something stronger than before.” I say, looking through my bag for my keys.
“Did you tell the big boss?” Layla asks.
I shake my head, not out of spite, but why cause more chaos when I don’t have answers.
Because that’s what you’re supposed to do.
I’m not trying to be a bitch, but when the people you thought you could trust hold back the truth that could be helpful, you tend to retaliate. But something in me says that they don’t have the answers either.
“I’ll be back. If I’m not back before after school programs, can someone find Finn and tell him things will have to wait until tomorrow?” I worry my nephew would cause more chaos if I’m not around and I would rather be here when Keola surrenders to a ten-year old.
With the confidence of my team, I head out to the parking lot. I notice that there is a new addition to the parking lot, a bike next to a truck.
Why is it always a truck?
Extra protection I guess. I roll my eyes, while I appreciate the sense of security, nowadays, it’s hard to determine who’s the threat versus protection. If you ask me, I would never say it was a biker group.
I can feel their eyes burning a hole in my skull, they are undoubtedly watchful. I do a two finger salute and leave. I have other things on my mind, including protecting my students and my nephew.
It starts with answers.
(chapter break)
“Well it’s about time you showed up.” The sassiness of my best friend and colleague welcomes me into the school. After being wanded, he greets me with a hug.
Leading me through the hallways, surrounded by the maze of lockers, the hallways are quiet and for a high school, that spells out trouble.
“What are we up against?” I ask, preparing myself for what is to come. The city’s school is not formally a part of the programing, though we have tried to get them to move forward with a partnership. It's hard.
“Enough administration to desire a school wide increase of security. They are more panicked than anything.” Brayden relays as we slowly approach a group of administration, jingling their keys and beeps of walkie talkies encompassing the hallway sounds. I would be lying if I said that I am not the most popular amongst school boards and tenure administration. Why?
Because I am not afraid to tell off someone who is overlooking my students.
Unfortunately, sometimes, I don’t give a fuck on who doesn’t like me as long as all students get a fair shot of their dreams.
The blank looks and distasteful expressions of the administration and even the security guards makes me wary. One in particular, Dr. Spence.
Assistant Superintendent, Dr. John Spence.
A thorn in my side and someone who just needs to retire at this time.
I guess my real problem is that he reminds me of my father. A pompous asshole who thinks the schools need to revert back to unethical punishments. A man that even the grim reaper didn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole. A man that has more wrinkles than brain cells. A man that would scare the devil himself.
Thankfully, I have been through hell and back and got a souvenir snow globe. I am not afraid of this man, unlike others in the school system.
Why hasn’t the city gotten involved, well that is another on-going battle with him.
His dark grimace eyes follow my footsteps as I approach the crowd. “Miss Ashers, to what do we owe this pleasure of having you?” The question isn’t directed at me, but towards Brayden.
