face.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Apparently, I swung into school at just the right moment for maximum exposure and attention.
Everyone was either arriving by bus or, if they walked to school or had a car of their own, they already were talking to their friends outside before the bell rang.
It was a beautiful day—warm and sunny, perfect for the Audi’s top to be down. As I looked for a parking space, every head turned to look at me. Some stared openly at me. Conversations ignited. I was wearing dark Prada sunglasses and last night, I added a bit more bulk to my body. The T-shirt I wore clung to me. So did my new jeans. I now had the chest, the abs and the arms I always wanted.
I stepped out of my car and put the top back up just as the bell rang. I hit a button to engage the alarm, tossed my backpack over my shoulder and walked with a purpose and with a confidence I’d never known.
There wasn’t one person who wasn’t looking at me. I took off my glasses and looked back, which caused some glances to fall away. I looked over the crowd for Hasting, Tyler, Gibson and the others, but either they weren’t here or they already were inside.
As I neared the door, I wasn’t surprised to find Principal Roberts waiting for me, but I was surprised to see Mrs. Branson standing there.
Roberts came out first. “Seth, we’re so sorry.”
“Really? I didn’t see you at the funeral.”
That caught her off guard.
I looked over at Branson, who was looking uncomfortable, either because she was shoe-horned into some God-awful pink suit that was three sizes too small or because she’d been hauled out against her will to greet me. “And I didn’t see you, Mrs. Branson. At the very least, I expected to see you given the kindness and support you’ve shown to me over the years.”
Ever the politician, Roberts spoke through my sarcasm. “We thought it was a private affair.”
“By default, I suppose it was,” I said. “I have no family and only two friends, so it was just me, a few people my parents used to get loaded with on a regular basis, and Alex and Jennifer. So, it certainly seemed private, but the posting in the paper clearly stated otherwise. I’m sure you noted that.”
I looked at Branson. “Is there a reason you’re here, because I don’t understand your concern.”
Her hands were clasped in front of her. She titled her head and managed what appeared to be a smile. Or maybe she was just passing gas. Who knew with this woman? She was like a pin cushion stuffed with rats.
I considered her every bit as evil as any kid who had ever targeted me. Actually, check that—I considered her worse. Here was an adult professional hired to teach us and, if things got out of hand in class, to protect us. And yet after all the classes I had with her over the years, she never once protected me. She only ever looked away when they started in on me. In her silence, she freely allowed it to happen. Why? First, because she was one mean mother of a bitch. Second, because all she saw in me was the poor kid with the pimply face who came from the alcoholic parents and thus was a lost cause not worthy her time. It was the same way with many of my teachers, which proved what I’d always known—teachers could be the worst bullies.
“I’m just here to lend my support, Seth.”
I thought of the last time I saw her, when Hastings called me a freak and she did nothing about it. I remembered catching a glimpse of her face as I was being bullied, and how it was clear that she was enjoying the show. Thank you for catching it on video, Jennifer.
“Your kind of support I never want for reasons we all know. I think you’re here because Principal Roberts demanded you be here to smooth things over between us. I think you’re here because I have a tape of you willingly looking away while I was being treated
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Apparently, I swung into school at just the right moment for maximum exposure and attention.
Everyone was either arriving by bus or, if they walked to school or had a car of their own, they already were talking to their friends outside before the bell rang.
It was a beautiful day—warm and sunny, perfect for the Audi’s top to be down. As I looked for a parking space, every head turned to look at me. Some stared openly at me. Conversations ignited. I was wearing dark Prada sunglasses and last night, I added a bit more bulk to my body. The T-shirt I wore clung to me. So did my new jeans. I now had the chest, the abs and the arms I always wanted.
I stepped out of my car and put the top back up just as the bell rang. I hit a button to engage the alarm, tossed my backpack over my shoulder and walked with a purpose and with a confidence I’d never known.
There wasn’t one person who wasn’t looking at me. I took off my glasses and looked back, which caused some glances to fall away. I looked over the crowd for Hasting, Tyler, Gibson and the others, but either they weren’t here or they already were inside.
As I neared the door, I wasn’t surprised to find Principal Roberts waiting for me, but I was surprised to see Mrs. Branson standing there.
Roberts came out first. “Seth, we’re so sorry.”
“Really? I didn’t see you at the funeral.”
That caught her off guard.
I looked over at Branson, who was looking uncomfortable, either because she was shoe-horned into some God-awful pink suit that was three sizes too small or because she’d been hauled out against her will to greet me. “And I didn’t see you, Mrs. Branson. At the very least, I expected to see you given the kindness and support you’ve shown to me over the years.”
Ever the politician, Roberts spoke through my sarcasm. “We thought it was a private affair.”
“By default, I suppose it was,” I said. “I have no family and only two friends, so it was just me, a few people my parents used to get loaded with on a regular basis, and Alex and Jennifer. So, it certainly seemed private, but the posting in the paper clearly stated otherwise. I’m sure you noted that.”
I looked at Branson. “Is there a reason you’re here, because I don’t understand your concern.”
Her hands were clasped in front of her. She titled her head and managed what appeared to be a smile. Or maybe she was just passing gas. Who knew with this woman? She was like a pin cushion stuffed with rats.
I considered her every bit as evil as any kid who had ever targeted me. Actually, check that—I considered her worse. Here was an adult professional hired to teach us and, if things got out of hand in class, to protect us. And yet after all the classes I had with her over the years, she never once protected me. She only ever looked away when they started in on me. In her silence, she freely allowed it to happen. Why? First, because she was one mean mother of a bitch. Second, because all she saw in me was the poor kid with the pimply face who came from the alcoholic parents and thus was a lost cause not worthy her time. It was the same way with many of my teachers, which proved what I’d always known—teachers could be the worst bullies.
“I’m just here to lend my support, Seth.”
I thought of the last time I saw her, when Hastings called me a freak and she did nothing about it. I remembered catching a glimpse of her face as I was being bullied, and how it was clear that she was enjoying the show. Thank you for catching it on video, Jennifer.
“Your kind of support I never want for reasons we all know. I think you’re here because Principal Roberts demanded you be here to smooth things over between us. I think you’re here because I have a tape of you willingly looking away while I was being treated
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