goes...”
“Well we've gathered some volunteers and our fine policemen
are undergoing a thorough search of the surrounding forests,” he says.
“Well what about Mario's house? Isn't he the number one
suspect? Have you searched his house? Why are you searching the woods if you
haven't searched through his house?” she banters.
“Now Mario Douglas is wanted for questioning since his
disappearance from the hospital, but we have credible reason to believe that if
these are kidnappings we are dealing with that he would be unable to commit
them in his current physical state, and that he indeed may have been kidnapped
as well,” explains the sheriff.
“So? That doesn't make him innocent. I could kidnap a kid
with a stubbed toe too,” she argues.
“We will look into this, but we believe it is more likely a
third party to-”
“Third party?” she interrupts. “Well who's the second party?
Kids just don't go off missing on their own,” she continues.
“Well we are also looking into the possibility that some of
the first missing students- the ones that disappeared shortly before Mario did, may be partly responsible.”
I wince. That is not the thing to say to Rita if you want
her to shut up. She catches on to what he's saying, and I savor that brief
pause she takes before she releases her outburst.
“How dare you accuse my son of- anything? I will find some real
policemen and lawyers to put you down,” she begins. As she continues shouting,
I see Deputy Yew leave his position in the background and walk forward. He
steps down from the podium and approaches Rita, who's sitting in the front row.
“Ma'am, I need to escort you from the audience,” he says. I
didn't see the sheriff issue a formal order or even wave, so the deputies must
have received instruction to remove anyone who caused a scene. Whatever it is,
the sheriff isn't objecting.
Rita sizes up Deputy Yew, who is only about her size. “Oh
no, you have absolutely no right. In this country we have freedom of speech,
and I will say what-” she protests, but he interrupts.
“Ma'am, in the country we also have laws against disturbing
the peace. Now I'm going to ask you one more time to exit the building with me,
or I will remove you from the premises by force.”
I smile when I hear those words. If there is one good thing
during all of this strife, it's hearing Rita Larch being put in her place. I
can hear her objections as Yew escorts her through the hall, and then the
sheriff resumes speaking.
“Like I said we have reason to believe that if these are
kidnappings, that there is an unknown third party involved. Now we are doing
all we can with our limited police force to put a stop to this. We’ve even
notified the adjacent counties as well as the state police department,” he
finally says.
“Now one thing I have to say and another one of the main
reasons I have brought you all here is that due to the multitude of students
missing from this area, and the fact that an unknown third party is suspected
to be responsible for their disappearances, the Cherokee County Board of
Education has permitted a temporary district-wide suspension of educational
activities,” he announces, and you can tell he had to practice that one in the
mirror.
Due to the grim situation, no one openly cheers, but I can
see smiles cross the faces of many, even mine. It's not that I'm for skipping
school, but with the losses I and those around me have suffered, I'm not fully
able to focus on school.
“Are there any questions?” asks the sheriff.
“Yeah,” says one parent, standing up.
“I understand the need for our children's safety, but how
will we ensure the education of our children remains unaffected?” he asks. My
smile fades.
“We've already worked this one out with the board, and we
all agree that the teachers will issue a week's worth of their curriculum to be
done at home. I understand that this still puts a dent in their education,
particularly
“Well we've gathered some volunteers and our fine policemen
are undergoing a thorough search of the surrounding forests,” he says.
“Well what about Mario's house? Isn't he the number one
suspect? Have you searched his house? Why are you searching the woods if you
haven't searched through his house?” she banters.
“Now Mario Douglas is wanted for questioning since his
disappearance from the hospital, but we have credible reason to believe that if
these are kidnappings we are dealing with that he would be unable to commit
them in his current physical state, and that he indeed may have been kidnapped
as well,” explains the sheriff.
“So? That doesn't make him innocent. I could kidnap a kid
with a stubbed toe too,” she argues.
“We will look into this, but we believe it is more likely a
third party to-”
“Third party?” she interrupts. “Well who's the second party?
Kids just don't go off missing on their own,” she continues.
“Well we are also looking into the possibility that some of
the first missing students- the ones that disappeared shortly before Mario did, may be partly responsible.”
I wince. That is not the thing to say to Rita if you want
her to shut up. She catches on to what he's saying, and I savor that brief
pause she takes before she releases her outburst.
“How dare you accuse my son of- anything? I will find some real
policemen and lawyers to put you down,” she begins. As she continues shouting,
I see Deputy Yew leave his position in the background and walk forward. He
steps down from the podium and approaches Rita, who's sitting in the front row.
“Ma'am, I need to escort you from the audience,” he says. I
didn't see the sheriff issue a formal order or even wave, so the deputies must
have received instruction to remove anyone who caused a scene. Whatever it is,
the sheriff isn't objecting.
Rita sizes up Deputy Yew, who is only about her size. “Oh
no, you have absolutely no right. In this country we have freedom of speech,
and I will say what-” she protests, but he interrupts.
“Ma'am, in the country we also have laws against disturbing
the peace. Now I'm going to ask you one more time to exit the building with me,
or I will remove you from the premises by force.”
I smile when I hear those words. If there is one good thing
during all of this strife, it's hearing Rita Larch being put in her place. I
can hear her objections as Yew escorts her through the hall, and then the
sheriff resumes speaking.
“Like I said we have reason to believe that if these are
kidnappings, that there is an unknown third party involved. Now we are doing
all we can with our limited police force to put a stop to this. We’ve even
notified the adjacent counties as well as the state police department,” he
finally says.
“Now one thing I have to say and another one of the main
reasons I have brought you all here is that due to the multitude of students
missing from this area, and the fact that an unknown third party is suspected
to be responsible for their disappearances, the Cherokee County Board of
Education has permitted a temporary district-wide suspension of educational
activities,” he announces, and you can tell he had to practice that one in the
mirror.
Due to the grim situation, no one openly cheers, but I can
see smiles cross the faces of many, even mine. It's not that I'm for skipping
school, but with the losses I and those around me have suffered, I'm not fully
able to focus on school.
“Are there any questions?” asks the sheriff.
“Yeah,” says one parent, standing up.
“I understand the need for our children's safety, but how
will we ensure the education of our children remains unaffected?” he asks. My
smile fades.
“We've already worked this one out with the board, and we
all agree that the teachers will issue a week's worth of their curriculum to be
done at home. I understand that this still puts a dent in their education,
particularly
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