“Posters. A short pamphlet. Rob’s dad is a graphic artist. We’re going to get some pictures…”
Eric cleared his throat and said hoarsely, “Uh, I work on the yearbook. Doing photography. I can help with that.”
His face was brilliant red. And that sort of answered the question about what he was doing in the group, if not why. She couldn’t remember any case of Eric being involved in any incident. Other than smoking in the bathroom, but she was pretty sure that was about getting the attention from his father, not any real desire to light up or impress anyone.
When Eric flashed a small smile at Maddie and she returned it with an even smaller one, Lindy understood the why of his participation today.
Lindy scribbled notes. “So, Sarah’s the researcher and writer. Rob’s got the layout. Maddie will do artwork. And Eric will provide photos.” She nodded. “All right. Who’s going to print these?”
Maddie waved a hand. “I’m sure I can get my dad to help with that. He wants to be involved.”
One corner of Lindy’s mouth curled as she calculated the chances that Ryan had any idea that this was going on. “Well, I like the initiative. But you know the government’s got resources, so does the state. We’ve seen other programs come through—”
“Yeah, we remember the school assembly. But it didn’t work.” Maddie shrugged. “A personal connection will make a difference. What could it hurt?”
She had a point. “How are you going to distribute these pamphlets?”
Maddie wrinkled her nose. “We haven’t made it that far. Hand them out?” Nobody was thrilled at that but they all agreed.
“Or the teachers can hand them out in homeroom and go over them.” Lindy had been trying to think up ways to get the teachers more involved. This was exactly what she needed. “Okay, here’s how this will work.” She tapped her finger on the desk to get their attention. “You’re going to run everything by me first. All copy, all artwork, all photography, and the final layout for the pamphlet and the posters. Nothing prints without my approval. Got it?” When four heads nodded in return, Lindy smiled. “I want to thank each of you for volunteering to put this together. Maybe Maddie’s shared with you why I take this seriously, but if not, I know what it’s like to be targeted and I don’t want that for anyone. I appreciate you all for trying to make Lincoln a safer place.
“Now, get to work. I want to talk to Rob and Maddie for just one minute.” When Eric and Sarah filed out and shut the door, Lindy clicked her pen. “I don’t know how you are planning to handle examples, but I don’t want any names included.”
Rob glanced up to meet her eyes quickly before he looked away. “I don’t mind, Principal Mason. I should never have been involved anyway. I did something dumb. The least I can do is try to help here.”
Maddie scooted forward to perch on the edge of her seat. “Principal Mason, Rob and I’ve talked. He explained a little and I wouldn’t…” She motioned with her head like she was urging him to say something.
Rob tugged the neck of his T-shirt. “I just… Sometimes it’s easier to do things to fit in than do the right thing, you know?”
“Is everything okay with Coach Ford, Rob?” Maybe something the new football coach had said or done made Rob think he could or should pick on others.
“Yeah, he’s pretty pissed…” Rob coughed and then said, “I mean, he’s not happy. There’s no place for bullies on his team. Nobody else gets another shot.” He shrugged. “At least, that’s what he’s been hammering into our heads at the end of every practice when the whole team has to run extra sprints.”
Lindy winced. “Guess the whole team hates that.”
Rob nodded. “Yeah, but most of them are too scared of being off the team to complain. Might look like bullying, you know?”
Wow. That is a good plan. Her admiration for Coach Ford jumped up several
Eric cleared his throat and said hoarsely, “Uh, I work on the yearbook. Doing photography. I can help with that.”
His face was brilliant red. And that sort of answered the question about what he was doing in the group, if not why. She couldn’t remember any case of Eric being involved in any incident. Other than smoking in the bathroom, but she was pretty sure that was about getting the attention from his father, not any real desire to light up or impress anyone.
When Eric flashed a small smile at Maddie and she returned it with an even smaller one, Lindy understood the why of his participation today.
Lindy scribbled notes. “So, Sarah’s the researcher and writer. Rob’s got the layout. Maddie will do artwork. And Eric will provide photos.” She nodded. “All right. Who’s going to print these?”
Maddie waved a hand. “I’m sure I can get my dad to help with that. He wants to be involved.”
One corner of Lindy’s mouth curled as she calculated the chances that Ryan had any idea that this was going on. “Well, I like the initiative. But you know the government’s got resources, so does the state. We’ve seen other programs come through—”
“Yeah, we remember the school assembly. But it didn’t work.” Maddie shrugged. “A personal connection will make a difference. What could it hurt?”
She had a point. “How are you going to distribute these pamphlets?”
Maddie wrinkled her nose. “We haven’t made it that far. Hand them out?” Nobody was thrilled at that but they all agreed.
“Or the teachers can hand them out in homeroom and go over them.” Lindy had been trying to think up ways to get the teachers more involved. This was exactly what she needed. “Okay, here’s how this will work.” She tapped her finger on the desk to get their attention. “You’re going to run everything by me first. All copy, all artwork, all photography, and the final layout for the pamphlet and the posters. Nothing prints without my approval. Got it?” When four heads nodded in return, Lindy smiled. “I want to thank each of you for volunteering to put this together. Maybe Maddie’s shared with you why I take this seriously, but if not, I know what it’s like to be targeted and I don’t want that for anyone. I appreciate you all for trying to make Lincoln a safer place.
“Now, get to work. I want to talk to Rob and Maddie for just one minute.” When Eric and Sarah filed out and shut the door, Lindy clicked her pen. “I don’t know how you are planning to handle examples, but I don’t want any names included.”
Rob glanced up to meet her eyes quickly before he looked away. “I don’t mind, Principal Mason. I should never have been involved anyway. I did something dumb. The least I can do is try to help here.”
Maddie scooted forward to perch on the edge of her seat. “Principal Mason, Rob and I’ve talked. He explained a little and I wouldn’t…” She motioned with her head like she was urging him to say something.
Rob tugged the neck of his T-shirt. “I just… Sometimes it’s easier to do things to fit in than do the right thing, you know?”
“Is everything okay with Coach Ford, Rob?” Maybe something the new football coach had said or done made Rob think he could or should pick on others.
“Yeah, he’s pretty pissed…” Rob coughed and then said, “I mean, he’s not happy. There’s no place for bullies on his team. Nobody else gets another shot.” He shrugged. “At least, that’s what he’s been hammering into our heads at the end of every practice when the whole team has to run extra sprints.”
Lindy winced. “Guess the whole team hates that.”
Rob nodded. “Yeah, but most of them are too scared of being off the team to complain. Might look like bullying, you know?”
Wow. That is a good plan. Her admiration for Coach Ford jumped up several
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