The Season of Light, The Season of Darkness
"…Earl Warren and his friends are set to be tried in a couple of months, Ezra. The prosecutor is fairly certain they will avoid a jury and cop a plea, but, if not, he would like you to do a videotaped deposition with him that he can use at the trial. Of course, the defense attorney will fight it on evidence grounds, so you should probably be prepared in case you have to take the stand. Do you think you can?"
Mary Travis leaned forward on her knees where she sat, tilting her head at Ezra and waiting for his response. He regarded her curiously, more impressed with her by the moment. She did not even try to explain any of the legal terms she had just used—though that was probably because she knew his past had made him well used to being a child in a courtroom. Still, rather than talk down to him, as so many adults had done in his life, she had asked him a straight question, which he appreciated.
Of course, that did not mean he a good answer.
The boy licked his lips, looking around the hospital room at his friends. They were all there. The hospital was being incredibly good about that. Well, that and it turned out the nurses were all as scared of Chris Larabee as the teachers at the school. Speaking of Chris, he saw the older boy give him a single nod in encouragement, letting him know that they'd all be there with him.
"I understand your hesitation, Ezra. They'll undoubtedly bring up a lot you and your mother's past if you do take the stand, to discredit you," Mary looked at her hands, "but I think both the judge, whom I happen to know pretty well—she's my mother-in-law—and the prosecutor will do everything in their power to stop that from happening. What it boils down to is that, whatever is in your past, it really doesn't matter here." She looked up at Ezra again, "You are only fourteen years old, Ezra. They attacked a child, four grown men against a defenseless boy, and that is unconscionable. There is no good excuse for it, and they know it. Whatever happens, I can promise you that those men will be going to jail for a long time." Her eyes were fierce, and the boy was secretly pleased to think that those eyes, at least for now, were focused on protecting him, not punishing him.
Which, honestly, confused him a little.
"Thank you, Mrs. Travis," he finally said, more to try and be polite than anything. Truth was, he had been surprised at how little he'd been questioned about that night, which was probably a good thing as he was pretty fuzzy on the part after he'd been dragged into the woods. Still, he was clear on everything leading up to it, and yet, other than the police, no one from the school had asked about the poker game, or about why he was outside, or even what it was that Earl had wanted. All they seemed to care about was that he'd been hurt.
It was strange. It was almost as if they cared about him.
Of course, Mr. Conklin hadn't been to see him.
Still…the new principal was being too nice. He frowned. There had to be angle, he just couldn’t see it yet.
"Um," Mary looked at the other boys, "would you guys mind if I talked to Ezra alone for a moment?"
Ezra tried to fight the panic that rose in him, and he sought the others for help. For some strange reason, they didn't see his concern.
"The others will go, Mrs. Travis," Chris said quietly. "But I'm going to stay."
"Somehow I expected you to say that, Mr. Larabee," she replied. She watched as the others got up at Chris's cue, and, with a smile and a wave to Ezra, and words telling him that they would be right outside, they left the room.
"And, can I talk to Ezra first without you, Mrs. Travis?" Chris asked then, walking over to stand next to the hospital bed. The principal looked at him across Ezra's legs, then gave a nod.
"I'm coming back in, though."
"Yeah. I know. You're kinda hard to get rid of."
The principal grinned at that, obviously pleased at his lighthearted tone, then stood and walked out of the room.
"Did you just send the principal from the room?" Ezra asked, not hiding his wonder. "That's pretty impressive."
Chris grinned back, and sat down on the plastic chair next to the bed.
"We have an understanding. You were asleep for a while, Ezra. In that time, the rest of us and her had some conversations about what happened to you, about what's happening to all of us, about the school….Long story short, she might actually be…okay."
"You mean," Ezra's eyes narrowed, and a sly grin graced his lips, "you might actually trust an adult?"
"Let's just say I'm keeping my mind open. At least, I don't think she's in Stuart James' pocket. I think she's got her hands tied, but she wants to break loose. And she's done some really good things for us. All of us. You might have noticed that the police have only been around once, and that none of us have been expelled or even suspended. So," he nodded, "I want you to let her talk to you. And to listen."
Ezra pursed his lips, then shrugged, his eyes twinkling, "Sounds like you got a thing for her."
"Oh be serious," Chris rolled his eyes slightly, but smiled as he turned his back on Ezra and walked to the door to open it for the principal.
Mary smiled at the junior as she walked in, heading back to the seat she'd vacated before. Sitting, she smiled at Ezra, then lowered her eyes. The freshman tried not to read anything into her nervousness.
"Okay, here it is," she began. "Mr. Greene, Yosemite and Catfish all let me know what you were doing the night you were out."
Ezra hissed, opening his mouth to defend them, but Mary held up her hand, anticipating that.
"No, don't worry. They're not fired." She smiled, "I have nothing against poker. I don't even think I care that you were gambling, though I know I should. However," she sighed, "you're not going to play with them anymore, or with any adults, and certainly not for any real money stakes. I won't allow a dangerous situation like the one that put you in this hospital to happen again. I know it sounds like I'm punishing you, Ezra, but…."
"No, I get it. Believe me," Ezra patted the hospital bed, "I get it. I won't play outside of school again."
Mary gave a half smile. She wanted to stop him from playing poker for money at all, but she was astute enough that it would have been impossible. Having him agree to stay on campus was at least something. Standing up, she stood and smiled down at him. Then she held out her hand. Slightly puzzled, Ezra lifted his hand so she could take it, and, to his amazement, she shook it.
"See you back at 4CA, Mr. Standish. When you come back on Friday, we might talk further, but for now, continue to rest."
And with a nod to Chris, she turned and left.
Chris whistled through his teeth, and Ezra snorted.
"That was way too easy," the freshman grumbled. "You really believe she's honest?" He glared at Chris, "What does she really want?"
"Ez, listen," Chris smiled, "I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, and neither should you. She has already peppered the rest of us with lots of questions about why you went out that night, and we told her you just like to escape sometimes. Vin made up something about you getting something from your mother and being worried about never seeing her again, crap like that. She bought it, far as we know." The smile faded somewhat, "but fact is," his eyes darkened, "I would like to know the real answer to that question, Ezra."
Ezra frowned, "The real answer…to why I went out to play poker?"
Chris nodded. Ezra looked down at the bed, picking at the blanket with his fingers. After a moment, he shrugged.
"I was feeling trapped, what with all the noise about Lucas and my problems with JD. So, I wanted to escape for a little while," he admitted quietly, "and to make some money while I was at it."
"Bull."
Ezra looked up, annoyed at not being believed…even if he had lied.
Chris's expression was dark, "You conned Vin, Ezra. If you went out just to 'make money' or to 'escape for a little while,' you wouldn't have done that. You conned Vin because you were laying the foundation for something bigger than just a night out. Now, we won't tell her, but I think I…we…your friends, deserve to know what you were thinking." He leaned forward, "What was it really all about, Ezra?"
Ezra closed his eyes and leaned back on the pillows. Chris didn't let that stop him.
"Come on, Ezra. It really hurt Vin when he found out what you did. Why did you run off like that?"
The pale green eyes opened and looked at Chris, then at the door. The freshman heaved a heavy sigh, then shrugged.
"If you really want to know," Ezra said distantly, "get the others back in here."
Chris tried not to look startled. He was actually going to get an answer? Still surprised, he jogged to the door again and motioned to those outside to come in.
The Epoch of Belief, The Epoch of Incredulity
Ezra closed his eyes, listening as they all came back in, trying to match their steps to the person. When he opened them again, he found all six boys standing around his bed and almost in the order he'd guessed. At the foot of the bed, farthest away, was JD. With a small smile, he reached for the stuffed tiger that JD had repaired.
"This…was…amazing, JD. Thank you. I can't even tell it was damaged, but I did manage to find one flaw." He pointed to a skewed seam, and smiled at JD. The kid flushed, and opened his mouth to defend himself, but Ezra was faster. "I looked for this, because I wanted to be able to remind myself what you did for me. This was beyond what I could have hoped JD. This tiger is as much mine as yours now. All of the figurines are." He pointed to the collection JD had repaired and now sat on the dresser, looking as good as new. "Thank you."
JD looked at his feet, flushing now in pleased embarrassment. "Ez, you know I don't deserve…."
"Yes you do. And you also deserve to know why…why I was so angry with you when you came to me about them."
"I know why, Ez," JD said quickly, not looking up. "Vin told us what they mean to you. You don't have to explain."
Ezra glanced at Vin, grimaced slightly, then looked back at JD.
"No. I…I'm not talking about when you came to tell me what happened after you took them, JD," he said slowly, psyching himself up, "I mean when you asked me for them in the first place." He shook his head, "I was very rude to you, because I was angry with you then, and you knew it, and I'm also aware that you stole the tigers in retaliation for it." He paused, shook himself slightly, thankful no one had interrupted yet, and started speaking again. "The reason I turned you down when you asked to use the figurines in the first place, and why I was so mean…was because," Ezra paused, licking his lips and finding it very hard to keep anyone's gaze, "I was jealous of you. Jealous of you…and of Nathan."
JD's eyes snapped up, "What?"
"Me and JD?" Nathan looked confused. "Why?"
"Because," Ezra paused, "I overheard Josiah and Buck…talking about all of us on the day Chris got out of detention over the holidays…about what we had to look forward to."
That created instant silence, with everyone looking to the two boys in question. Buck lowered his head, but Josiah looked like he was in pain.
"No," he whispered.
"You think I'm secretly a genius," Ezra repeated Josiah's words, not looking at him, "but I have," he took a deep breath, "I have so many black marks against me, that I probably won't make it to college, not even a two year. And Vin's grades…the same result." He shut his eyes tightly, forcing back his self-doubt, then opened them again to look at Josiah. The older boy just stared back. Ezra swallowed, then looked at Vin. "That's what was wrong. I overheard Josiah say that only Nathan and JD had a chance, and that the rest of us didn't. It…hurt to hear."
Vin grimaced, staring at Ezra, then turning to look at Josiah. The eldest remained speechless.
"Is he telling the truth, Josiah?" Vin asked softly. "You thought Nathan and JD were the only ones who had a future? You lied to us?"
"Not just him," Buck answered softly for the eldest. "We all thought it. Chris, me and Josiah. And it went for us too, not just you and Ez."
Vin just snorted and turned to look out the hospital room's window.
"Anyway," Ezra continued, "I tried to forget it, but I couldn't," he looked at Josiah, "because I knew you were right." He ignored Josiah's shake of his head, knowing the older boy was going to argue, and plunged on before he could interrupt. "But I just…," he waved a hand, "I couldn't see another way out, not without leaving all of you, and I didn't want to do that. Then Buck, and this is not your fault Buck," he said quickly to the junior, who was still staring at the floor, "on the night JD stole the tigers, Buck inadvertently reminded me of something my mother often says to me. He told me to grow up and stop acting like a kid. Now, Maude usually says that because she doesn't want me to ruin her cons," he smiled, "but the last time I saw her, she said it to me because she wanted me to…to use my talents and get the hell out of here. She said that I had to make my own destiny because no one, definitely not this school and from the sound of it, none of you, would help make it for me. So, since I had no future here, as Josiah so clearly said, I took her and Buck's advice. I decided to make own life, by myself, like I'd been taught, but since I didn't see the point in going until I had the money to do so, I went out to make some, so that…so that I could run away for good and begin anew." He looked at all of them. "And I did. I won $2500. And Earl…tried to take it away from me. That's what he was after. Money. That's all his attacking me was really about."
"Money," Vin said softly, still staring out the window.
"Yeah," Ezra said, looking down again at the covers.
"But I was wrong," Josiah said suddenly, before anyone else could speak. "I was so wrong, Ezra. My God. Of the two things in my life that I regret most at this moment, one of those things is ever thinking that we didn't all have a future, and letting that belief infect all the rest of you. We do. I know that now. All three of us," he gestured to Buck and Chris, "know that now."
Incredulity marked Ezra face as he looked up again.
"He's right," Chris agreed.
Vin glanced at him, "you sure you mean that, Chris?" The long haired boy was thinking about Lucas James, and Chris' long ago decision to take him down, even if it meant expulsion or worse. It had been put on hold while Ezra had been here, but had never really gone away. Chris responded by turning his confident gaze on him, then looked again at Ezra. Bemused green eyes looked back at him.
"Seeing you in that bed, waiting for you to wake up," Chris said, not letting Ezra look away, "put a lot of things into perspective for me. Forced me see to see beyond the present, hell, beyond the past, which is something I haven't done…in a long time, even though Josiah has been trying to make me do so, in his own strange way." He nodded at the older boy, but Josiah was in his own world, so Chris looked back at Ezra, "Seeing you there, looking like you were ready to just…fade away, I realized that I didn't want that. I wanted you to fight. To have a future. I want us all to have a future."
"That doesn't necessarily translate into our having one," Ezra said darkly. "Not if we stay at the academy."
"Yes it does," Josiah said firmly, regaining his nerve. "Because, as you just proved, the academy is not who we are. Our lives are determined by what we do, not what others think it should be."
"But I didn't prove anything. I failed," Ezra said. "Christ, I nearly…," he waved a hand around at the hospital room.
"You still didn't fail," Buck said. "You just said you won $2500."
Ezra looked at him, confused, "Well, yes, but…."
"And nothing. That's what you set out to do, isn't it? And you did it. The academy had no hand in that."
Ezra blinked, "huh?"
"And you're not the only one," Josiah grinned. "You're still here because Nathan didn't let Mr. Conklin keep him out of the infirmary, or his nose out of medicine books."
"And because Vin was able to track you through pitch black woods with nothing but his instincts to guide him and his skills as a hunter," Chris added.
"And because JD can't stay out of trouble," Buck grinned at the kid. "And he's good with a slingshot."
"And because Buck was the only one of us who managed to take down a bull moose by himself with his bare hands," Josiah laughed.
"And Josiah carries a penlight," Buck laughed back. "And is handy with a staff."
"And because Chris knew what to do to when everything seemed to be falling apart," Vin finished, solemnly, calming the others laughter. As if on cue, everyone look at Chris. The natural leader didn't blink as he met their eyes.
"And because the seven of us together," Chris gave a wry smile, "is something you don't want to mess with," he told them. His eyes flashed as he met each of their gazes, confidence and determination flowing from him in waves. Ezra imagined he was seeing the personification of 'indomintable' as Chris connected them all together. "Listen to me, I meant that, about wanting us all to have a future. Stuart James and Guy Royal think they rule the academy. They're wrong. We do. As Josiah said, our lives are not determined by the school, we determine it. If we want to, we will find a way to bring it back to life. The seven of us," he smiled, "and all the students and teachers and faculty who want it to get better. The new principal is one of those people, as are Mrs. Potter, Ms. Wells, the Greenes…hell, even Conklin. He's an ass, but he's part of the academy too. And I want us to fight for it."
Ezra stared at him in disbelief, then around at the others. They all looked as dumbfounded as he did.
"So, what I want from you," Chris looked at Ezra, then around at the others, "are ideas about how we free the school from the stranglehold James and Royal have on it. Real ones. By the time Ezra gets out of here on Friday, I want us to have a plan in mind. Understood?"
For some reason, the room couldn't resist as all six boys chorused in unison, "yes sir."
"You have a gift, Mr. Larabee," a voice said from the door—it was low and throaty, but oddly pitched. It was a tall man, at least 6 feet tall, with a low brimmed hat covering most of his face and a bushy blond beard covering the rest. The speaker wore a long black trenchcoat over black pin-striped pants and patent black leather shoes. The seven boys in the room jumped out of their skins at his ghostly appearance, turning in unison to face the stranger. He smiled back, "Many would sell their souls to have that kind of power—I even know a few of them."
The entire group went rigid, moving into protective stances in front of their most vulnerable, who, at the moment, was Ezra.
The man lifted his head, so that they could see his eyes under the hat. Then those eyes switched to the boy on the bed.
"But if you don't mind," he said, and then the voice changed completely in pitch, "I'd like a few moments with my son."
Ezra sat up, eyes wide, then grinned, "Mother?"
The man…woman…smiled, her blue eyes twinkling. "Pretty good, huh? Other than the voice—I really can't make it deep enough."
"Mrs. Standish?" Vin said in disbelief. "But…."
"Damn," Buck whistled, "That's amazing!"
"You came," JD interrupted, not hiding his excitement. "You got my message."
"So it was you," she walked further into the room, eyes fixing on the youngest, "Thank you. You're the new one?"
"New one?" JD looked at Ezra.
"This is JD, Maude," Ezra said, introducing them. "JD, my mother, Maude Standish."
She smiled again, just for JD, then looked at the others, "Now would you mind?"
"I don't…," Vin began, but Josiah placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll be right outside, Maude," the eldest said. Steering Vin out, Josiah graced Maude with a full-toothed grin, and she couldn't help chuckling. The others followed more slowly, each giving her different looks from distrust to disdain to outright dislike. But she was oblivious, nodding at each of them as if nothing about this was odd. Only JD smiled at her as he left.
Once the door closed, Maude blew the air out of her cheeks and moved to sit on the bed, pulling the hat off. Her blond hair was cut short, cropped, and she ran a shaky hand through it.
"Nice beard," Ezra said, reaching up to touch the now obviously fake facial hair. She sighed.
"Itches like hell. I'd take it off but it's such a pain to put back on."
"And the height?"
"Stilts. I'm very good at them now," she lifted a foot up and lifted the pantleg, showing the contraptions that gave her six extra inches. "Can't run in them, but I never was much for physical exertion in any event."
"It is good," her son smiled. "I'm impressed. You went to a lot of trouble for me." His eyes narrowed, "But you shouldn't have come. What if the FBI…."
"Shhhh," she pressed a finger to his lips. "I just wanted to see you with your eyes open one more time, sweetheart." She touched his face gently, her eyes going over every line of it as if memorizing it. "And," she licked her lips, "to see if I can...convince you to come with me."
Ezra didn't move, instead he became almost unnaturally still.
Maude read volumes into that tiny reaction, and she nodded. "Yes, well, you can't fault me for trying. I won't press you this time, baby. When you're stronger maybe. But, for now, just promise me this," she lowered her head, to bring her eyes more level to his, "never scare me like that again. I can't handle that kind of anguish. It's not in my…I don't have that kind of strength. When I got that message from JD…." She shook her head.
Ezra lips were pressed together firmly, but he gave a single nod. "I'll…try. But it goes both ways, Mother. I hate not knowing where you are."
"Well, then it’s a good thing you know how to live with that kind of disappointment."
She'd smiled as she said that, as if it had been an attempt at humor, but it's rare to find humor in the truth. Ezra just sighed, lowering his eyes again. Maude's smile fell, and neither said anything for a few moments. Then Maude shifted, and Ezra looked up at her.
"I've got to go now," she said, standing up again. "Thank you for letting me see you."
"Wait," Ezra grabbed her hand, holding it for a second. She looked at his fingers, entwined with hers. "Before you go," he let go of the hand, "can I ask you something?"
She frowned, "if I can answer it."
"I'd like your advice," he said, "on something to do with the academy."
Her eyes grew puzzled, but she sat down again on the bed.
+ + + + + + +
The six boys saw her leave the room, and she nodded once more at them, before walking stiffly away. If it weren't for the slight sway of the hips, the disguise would have been dead on perfect.
"Extraordinary woman," Josiah whispered, more than just awe in his voice. He was watching those hips sway.
"Oh come on," Chris shuddered, grabbing the 18 year old's arm. "That's just wrong. Don't turn this into a bad Rob Lowe movie."
Josiah blushed and let himself be pulled back into the room with Ezra. The freshman was staring out the window, a contemplative look on his face. Vin was by his side first, trying to catch his eye. Without saying a word, he asked if his best friend was okay. Ezra smiled back weakly, and nodded. Then his smile grew as he looked at the others.
"Gentlemen," Ezra sat up in the bed, his eyes sparkling, "As I always say, if you want to know what's going on inside one snake's head, ask another snake. My mother has given me an idea."
"You always say that?" Nathan grinned. Ezra just gave him a look.
"What's the idea?" Vin asked.
"The vicious circle discussion, about why Stuart James and Guy Royal don't sell the academy for resort condominiums. What if they can't? What if something is preventing them, something that is probably a technicality they are trying to wait out. Now, my mother has worked a few…shall we say, land schemes?…that I helped with, and one of them involved a property that had something called a right of reverter attached to it. A condition in the deed that prevented the land from being used for something other than what it was being used for, or the property went back to the person who sold it or to a third party, like the State. My mother suggested that the academy's deed might have something like that in it. Or something of that nature."
"I don't get it," JD said. "What does that mean?"
"What if the land has to be used as a school for some specified period of time," Ezra said, "or James and Royal lose it."
Chris frowned, "how do we find out?"
"North Berkshire County Registry of Deeds. Ask for the deed to the academy's property. And if you really think you can trust her, have the new principal take you."
Chris arched both eyebrows, looking at the others.
"But even if it did," Nathan said, frowning, "how does that help us?"
"Well, it doesn't, except that, if the land has to be used as a school, and we can find a way to shut the school down, then James and Royal would be forced to do what was necessary to make it better."
"Shut the school down?" Nathan repeated. "But I thought we were trying to…."
"Sword of Damocles, Mr. Jackson," Ezra said, meeting the boy's eyes. "Ever heard of it?"
"A threat of imminent danger," Josiah nodded, tilting his head. He looked at Nathan, "Don't actually use the sword, you just hang it over his head, so that he knows its there."
"Yes."
"But how?" Nathan insisted, still not quite sure that any such sword had been found.
"I'm not sure yet, but I have an idea. Mother reminded me of the old adage that bullies are really cowards, and the thing they are most afraid of is a bigger bully."
"Who's bigger than the schools trustees? I mean, it’s a private school. Its not like the state has any control over it."
Ezra just smiled, arching an eyebrow. "Don't be so sure."
+ + + + + + +
Ezra woke to the soft sound of the hospital phone ringing by his bed. It took him a moment to realize what it was, since the phone hadn't rung before. It was even odder by the fact that it was close to three in the morning. Was that allowed?
Fumbling a little, he reached for the phone and picked it off the receiver. Pulling it to his ear, he blinked a few times and croaked: "Hello?"
"Sweetheart?"
"Mother?"
"Mass. General Law, Chapter 76, Section 1. 'For the purposes of this section, school committees shall approve a private school when satisfied that the instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness and efficiency, and in the progress made therein, that in the public schools in the same town.'"
Ezra tried to clear the fog from his head, "What? That sounded like gibberish."
"Read it slow, darling, it's legalese. For now, just remember MGL Chapter 76, Section 1. Now, the academy is part of a union of towns, giving several school committees governance, and the superintendent who represents them is Orrin Travis. He is, as you said, your principal's father-in-law. Do you understand?"
Ezra blinked, but he nodded. Then, realizing he was on the phone, he said out loud: "yes."
"Okay. Goodnight, my darlin'."
"Goodnight, mo…."
But she had already hung up. Ezra stared at the phone for a moment, then, with a sigh, moved to hang it up.
The Winter of Despair, The Spring of Hope
The grounds of 4CA were a mess. The sun beat down richly on this mid-March day, heating the atmosphere to near 60 degree temperatures, and the students were walking around in sweaters and hiking boots, laughing as they slogged through the mud and melting ice. Rivers had formed on the sidewalks, and the ground was a mess of dirty, black snow, ground up dirt and dead brown grass. But on the trees…tiny green buds were forming. And, next to Main, crocuses, snow drops and daffodil shoots were forcing their way out of the ground.
Ezra knelt down, looking at a nearly perfect purple crocus proudly showing its colors despite being surrounded by still white snow.
"Whatcha looking at?" Vin asked, walking up next to him.
Ezra just grinned, pointing to the flower. "I think it’s a sign."
Vin grinned back, and cuffed him on the side of the head. "Stop talking like a girl and come on. We have to be ready for the show."
Ezra sighed and stood, settling his shoulders and relaxing the muscles in his neck. Time to get to work.
The deed for the academy had indeed been limited. In 1960, it had been sold with a restrictive covenant in the language that, for the next fifty years, the land could only be used for school purposes, or else the land would revert to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts "to be used for public purposes." James and Royal had purchased it in the early nineties, initially to expand their own lands which bordered that of the academy, but later devised the idea of selling it for resort condos. As a result, they had tried to fight the restrictive covenant on grounds that it restricted alienation, but they'd been defeated—the restriction was clear, neat, and perfectly legal. So James and Royal were waiting, until 2010, when they could sell it free and clear.
Meanwhile, of course, they were ignoring the school except when it suited them, like Stuart's use of it for Lucas. The buildings were old and rundown, not worth saving, and, because of the location, they knew it was the land that was the real value. So, they let the school function, barely, but they wanted no excuses or reasons to keep it open once the time came.
They also had no trouble with the school committees of the neighboring towns, who, technically, were supposed to be monitoring it, because the towns didn't like the children there any more than James and Royal did. To their minds, the academy was no better than a fancied up juvenile detention hall, and so long as James and Royal kept the kids inside the gates, they were happy enough to leave well enough alone.
At least, the school committees thought they felt that way.
+ + + + + + +
"That's IT!" Lucas James shouted, throwing his mid-term in a crumpled ball across the muddy lawn of the Quad. "That's the last "F" Potter is giving me! She's going down!"
His friends didn't question, standing around the junior with the same looks of resignation as they had the first time Lucas had gotten an "F" in Mrs. Potter's class.
"What do you want to do," Flint asked, his voice partly a sigh.
"Where's the girl?"
"Not here," Demos said quickly. "She's away this week. Something to do with a sick relative."
"And Mrs. Potter didn't go with her?" Lucas asked, surprised.
"I don't know," Demos shrugged. "Just what I heard."
Lucas grimaced, then his eyes narrowed. "Well, fine. Then it's Potter herself we go after."
"Um," Demos rubbed his neck, "I heard Mrs. Potter's going to be meeting with the principal and Ms. Wells this afternoon. I think they're talking about making the curfew earlier."
Lucas's eyes widened, "Earlier? Ain't ten early enough?"
"They're saying nine."
"You hear a lot," Flint remarked, looking suspiciously at the younger boy. Demos didn't meet his eyes—he just looked at the ground, scuffing a bit of melting snow with the toe of his boot. Lucas, though, wasn't listening. He was staring angrily in the direction of Main.
"What time is this meeting?"
"Um…I don't know."
"Can you find out?"
"Um," Demos looked up, "I don't know. Maybe."
"Who'd you hear it from in the first place?" Lucas finally trained his sharp eyes on the younger boy. Demos instantly looked down again.
"A girl."
"What girl?"
"Casey. Casey Wells. She's been pissed off with Dunne lately, so she's been talking to me." He blushed, then smiled, "And she's pretty cute."
The boy to Demos' left shoved him in the arm, and Demos cracked him a smile.
"Well, find out the time from her, then. I think we're going to interrupt that meetin'," Lucas said, smirking. In the background, Flint heaved another sigh.
+ + + + + + +
"How many have we got?" Lucas asked, looking at the bags the others had brought.
"Five," Flint answered. "Four stinkbombs and one stickybomb."
"Stickybomb?" one of the seventh-graders asked, a somewhat round, blond boy whom Lucas had only recruited recently mainly because he had a healthy allowance from his grandparents.
"When it explodes, it coats everything in molasses," another boy said, grinning so wide his eyes were reduced to just slits. "It's gorgeous." There was no question who came up with the idea.
"Yeah, it's not bad," Lucas admitted. "Okay, so when is it?"
"Should be starting now," Demos said, checking his watch.
"Okay, five minutes, then we run, throw the bombs through the principal's window along with the brick," he lifted up the brick on which he'd written a note to Mrs. Potter to fix his grade or suffer worse, "and then book it. They'll know who it's from."
All of Lucas' gang crowded closer together in anticipation, hefting their bags and pulling out lighters, preparing themselves. All except one. Demos stepped back slightly, and looked over his shoulder. Looking towards the corner of one of the buildings, he gave a short nod.
A light flashed back at him, as if from a penlight, and Demos returned his attention to the others.
Direct to Heaven, Direct the Other Way
It was a masterpiece. The scene was so perfectly laid out, it was almost as if it had been rehearsed and choreographed. None of the players, barring a few, knew what was about to happen, but even so, it could not have been more well acted or the result more satisfying.
The new principal was giving a tour to her father-in-law, Superintendent Orrin Travis, and her mother-in-law, one of the most senior judges in Berkshire County, Evie Travis. She also had members of the school committees of Bitter Creek, Eagle Bend and Muskoegan, three local towns, joining in.
And, after showing them most of the buildings, she was now showing them the same crocuses and flowers that Ezra had been earlier admiring, lining the sides and back of Main, all the while keeping a nervous eye on her watch.
Meanwhile, inside the Mary's office, requested to come and join the tour by Mary, were Guy Royal and Stuart James, who were now, at the suggestion of the new principal, going over the tuition figures rather than waste time by walking grounds they knew perfectly well.
Arranged at points around the outside and inside of Main, prepared and waiting, were seven boys, looking forward to the show.
Thus, when Lucas James and his gang came roaring up to the side of the building from the direction of the Quad, stinkbombs (and stickybomb) all lit and ready, Chris signaled to Mary to walk her group around the side of the building from where she'd been spending a little too long pointing out some dull facts about a couple of copper beeches in front, just in time to see the boys throw their pranks through the curtained windows.
Shouts came from all sides, as Lucas and his boys saw the principal and her following too late to stop themselves, and way to late to stop the angry bellow of the two men inside.
Lucas' eyes were huge as he backed up, and he turned to run, only to find Chris Larabee and six other boys standing in his way. Lucas' gang ran as well, but were snagged…all except Demos, who "somehow" managed to slip through the net.
"Fire!" Irene's voice shouted from inside. "Fire!"
Several of the tour members went inside to help, while others stood back, waiting to watch what was about to happen.
If Ezra had been sporting a small black moustache, he would have twirled it.
+ + + + + + +
"I will deal with Lucas myself!" Stuart James yelled, pulling molasses and bits of ash off his jacket. "Not you!" He glared at Mary, who stared calmly back. By Stuart James's side, Guy Royal groaned as he desperately tried to peel a clump of something nasty out of his silver hair.
"Now Mr. James," the principal said soothingly, sitting on the arm of one of the couches in the teacher's lounge, which had been unscathed by the fire that had consumed the entire hall where her office was before being put out, "surely you don't mean I should just sit back and not discipline your nephew, just because you're here?"
"It is not your concern," Stuart spat. "We have discussed this previously, Ms. Travis, and nothing has changed. He will…."
"On the contrary," said a cool-voiced man standing near to Mary, "I think today has shown us that a number of changes need to be made, Mr. James."
"Superintendent Travis," James snarled, changing his gaze to take in a stout, but well built reddish-haired man with circular spectacles and steel colored eyes, "If you don't mind. This is a private school, not a public one. Your power here…."
"Your school is still a school, Mr. James," Orrin replied, his voice tinged with anger. "I have the authority to shut it down if I do not feel it adequately meets the standards all schools in this area should meet. And from what I've seen, this academy is barely making that standard, or has any standards at all, for that matter."
"What?" Guy Royal said, speaking for the first time, "Now hold on there. You can't shut us down. What are you talking about?"
"Massachusetts law requires certain things of all schools, Mr. Royal," Orrin replied, staring daggers at the silver haired businessman, "and, right now, 4CA doesn't meet them."
"Pshaw," Stuart James had returned to picking things off of his suit. "The school is fine. Our academics are…."
"Poor, even if they are to be believed. According to this," Orrin held up the note which Lucas had strapped to the brick, "they may not even be real." He held the note out for the Guy Royal, who took it, frowned, then handed it to Stuart James. James' expression relaxed some upon reading it, then he shrugged.
"This is nothing. A prank," he said.
"A prank?" Orrin took the note back. "I have spoken to the teacher in question, and to several others, Mr. James, and, from what I understand, your nephew does not even attend his classes. Mrs. Potter gave him a failing grade on his mid-term because he didn't bother to show up for the test, and yet, from the tenor of this note, it appears she is nevertheless expected to reward him with good grades. Tell me, Mr. James, just how many students get this kind of 'special treatment.'"
"None," James spat back, clearly showing his disdain for the superintendent by not even lifting his eyes to meet his. "My nephew is an idiot. And I will see that he is…."
"Arrested, I hope," Orrin said darkly. Stuart James looked up finally, his blue eyes showing something other than a dead calm for the first time.
"I would think expulsion would be enough, Orrin," Mary said, her voice still very smooth. "Lucas's behavior has merited that for some time, but, while his behavior was that of a bully, it was not yet that of a criminal." She looked at Mr. James, "Wouldn't you agree that expulsion is the best course at this stage, Mr. James?"
"Ha!" the superintendent snorted, before James could respond, "From what I've seen, I would suggest the boy be taken to he nearest police station. He clearly needs a stronger hand than…."
"Now hold on!" Stuart James got to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. "Do not forget who gave you your position, Orrin. The school committee members of many of these towns are friends of mine, and, on my word, your position can be taken away. So back off before you go too far, sir!"
"No, you go too far!" Orrin shouted back. "How dare you presume to lecture me about anything to do with students or education or the law! Right now, I represent the Commonwealth and the children under its purview, Mr. James, and it is to them I answer to first, not the school committees, and I have no problem whatsoever with going to the State Board of Education about what I have seen here. This is a school, Mr. James, and never have a seen one more poorly maintained! The fire that started as a result of your nephew's reckless actions nearly got out of control because of lack of proper equipment! It took some quick thinking students with a garden hose to put it out, for goodness sake. And apparently this is because you have been discouraging the fire marshal from visiting, or any of the town officials who are supposed to be monitoring this place. And the classrooms are run down, the dormitories are a disgrace, and my wife only just told me that one of your students nearly died after being attacked by a groundsman that you, Mr. Royal," he pointed at the silver-haired man standing next to James, "hired! Did you even bother to check Earl Warren's background, sir? He has a rap sheet as long as my arm, including two counts of child endangerment and cruelty, and you hired him to work HERE?! What were you thinking?!"
Guy Royal's jaw muscles flexed, but he didn't answer.
"And you think you can threaten me?" Orrin's eyes were flashing as he turned them back on Stuart James. "You listen to me, you son of a bitch, I don't scare, and you are not getting rid of me easily. I could make an order and have this school shut down well before you could even get close to touching me."
"You can't do that," Stuart James hissed.
"Oh yes he can," Evie Travis said simply. "And I would be very careful with what you say from now on, Mr. James. Already I have heard you utter several actionable offenses upon which my husband could act, if he so desired, not the least of which is attempted blackmail."
"Now, now, Mrs. Travis," Guy Royal simpered, raising his hands, "please don't take anything my fellow trustee here says seriously. He's merely excitable, considering what he has experienced here, and you have to admit he has a good excuse."
"That's Judge Travis, Mr. Royal," Evie shot back, "And while he may be excitable, it doesn't excuse the state of this school. Now I, for one, would like to hear what you plan to do about it?"
Guy Royal's face paled a little at her title, and he looked over at his partner. Stuart James had sat back down and was now glowering at the floor. Taking that to mean he was now on his own, Guy Royal stepped forward and clasped his hands together.
"Well, obviously, changes will need to be made. I would be more than happy to sit down with you, Mr. Travis," he looked at the superintendent, "And you, principal," he looked at Mary, "and Stuart here to discuss a game plan for the future. Perhaps tomorrow? Over tea at my house?"
"I would rather it were here," Mary said, standing up. "As I think some student and faculty input might also be worthwhile." She smiled at Mr. Royal, "if that is all right with you?"
Guy Royal's own smile was frozen on his face, "Of course. I should have thought of that. We certainly made a good choice with our new principal, didn't we Stuart." He looked down at his partner.
Stuart James snorted.
Mary had to work hard to stop herself from smirking. She'd lost her office again, but, damn, it was worth it!
A Far, Far Better Place
"So, how does it end?" Ezra said, leaning back on his bed, his hands tucked behind his head.
"Sidney Carton sacrifices himself," Josiah replied, flipping to the last page, "to save everything and everyone he cares about."
"Really?" Ezra's eyebrows lifted. Then he chuckled, "And here I thought you said he and I had things in common, Mr. Sanchez! You'll never see me taking a bullet to protect someone."
"Actually, Carton went to the guillotine."
Ezra grimaced, "Horrible. Either way, that's not me."
Josiah just smiled an odd knowing smile, and closed the book.
"Well, regardless," the older boy said, looking around the dorm room at all of his friends, "I'm glad we're all still here."
"And Lucas is not!" JD cheered, throwing up Ezra's stuffed tiger in the air and catching it.
"Amen," Buck said. "Perhaps Inez will start smiling again now."
"Not at you, brother," Josiah said, smacking him in the arm. "She's got your number."
"Ha," Buck stuck his tongue out, "I'm wearing her down. You'll see."
"What was that thing she said to him yesterday, Ez?" Nathan asked suddenly, looking across at the freshman.
"Nunca!" Ezra replied joyfully.
"But Nunca sounds an awful lot like tonight, Inez," Nathan mimicked, lifting his voice up.
"Then let me translate, Buck," Ezra said, turning his head to grin at the junior, who was not smiling back.
"Never!" Nathan and Ezra chorused together, before falling back in fits of laughter.
"I liked him better in a coma," Buck grumbled, leaning back against the wall next to Vin's bed.
"You know, Josiah," Chris said, leaning forward on the chair at Vin's desk, "I like that book. But I think I know another one I like better."
"Oh yeah?" Josiah looked across at the junior, "What?"
Chris reached behind him, pulled something out of his bookbag, and tossed it to Josiah. The older boy caught it, looked at it, then frowned.
"Chris, this isn't a book. It's a DVD."
"Yeah."
Josiah arched his eyebrows, "the Blues Brothers?"
"Got it for Christmas from Bucklin."
"They're on a mission from God, Josiah," Buck grinned.
"Yup, they're getting the band back together," Chris added. "Good stuff."
"Oh lord," Ezra pressed his hands to his face, "Now they're going to start quoting it."
"Now that's Mr. Fabulous," Buck said, pointing to the freshman. Chris laughed.
Josiah cracked open the case to look inside, "But we don't have a DVD player," he added matter-of-factly.
"Nope," Chris's smile broadened, "but Conklin does. Just got to figure out a way to keep him occupied tonight…somewhere else."
"Oh lord," Ezra groaned even louder. Buck just laughed, while Nathan sighed.
"Sounds like we need a plan," Vin said, his eyes bright. "I think I got an idea."
"OH LORD!" Ezra nearly shouted it this time, which of course made everyone laugh harder.
"Come on, Ez! You forget," Buck smacked the side of Ezra's leg, "we're the magnificent seven, we can't be stopped."
"Come rain or sleet or snow or hail…." JD said.
"That's the mail, kid," Vin informed him.
"I know," JD pouted back at him. "But I don’t know any Blues Brothers quotes."
Chris and Buck grinned in anticipation at that. "A new convert!"
"Anyway, you know that tricky door on that storage room in the basement, well a few lost pins and…." Vin started, but was quickly interrupted by another groan from Ezra.
"Give up, Ezra. I'm afraid it's destiny," Josiah said, standing up and putting the DVD in his own bookbag. "Some things are just meant to be."
"I thought you didn't believe in Destiny, Josiah," Buck teased.
Josiah just grinned back, "That was before I got to know her, Buck, and realized she's blond, blue-eyed and even looks good in a beard."
Ezra's scream rocked the room, cushioned by hales of laughter pouring out of the dorm, ringing through Four Corners Academy and stretching all the way to the golden sun as it set dreamily over the Berkshire hills.
For tomorrow was a whole new story.
The End
