ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON TEN

Episode 63

Arnold Saunders stepped through the massive  crowd of students chanting loudly," Revolution" and " We want Dr. HighTower " followed by Richard Norland who shook his head in disbelief as he saw his young daughter on the steps as well as his foster son. Then they widened as he saw his son Lewis joining them. His phone rang and he answered it to hear Nigel saying," Did you get them ? Are they bloody well ok ? " Richard sighed and said," I'm not sure I can. It's chaotic out here. I think it's the whole school. " 

Arnold stood in front of Luci with her megaphone and pointed a finger at her , saying , " Young ..... whatever you are , stop this nonsense right now or you will be expelled ! " 

DuBuis moved to stand swiftly in front of his niece. " Please get your finger out of my niece's face. Idle threats against children are not necessary. The children are just upset. And rightfully so. Firing that man was wrong ! " He looked at Luci and the other children on the steps. Then at the crowd of children of varying ages milling about the grounds , still chanting. He looked upwards and closed his eyes as he prayed. " The kids are right , " he said as the news media vans began to pull up. He reopened his eyes and said firmly , " They're right. He shouldn't have been fired. If he's not reinstated I'm not going back to work. " Then he joined the crowd of students to stand beside Richard. Richard looked at him and asked , " Do you know what you are doing ? "DuBuis shook his head and said , " Not really but God knows. "

Arnold barked out at DuBuis , " Get back in that school or you will be fired ! " 

Angel stepped off the steps as well and went to stand by DuBuis' side , saying loudly , " If you fire him fire me too. I'm not going back to work until you rehire Gerald HighTower. " 

Lyle and Alfred looked at each other. As Alfred allowed Lyle to help him down the stairs they also  joined their coworkers and the students. As did the school secretary Edna and several other staff members. Arnold sucked in a breath as a reporter from a local news station shoved a microphone in his outraged reddened face. " Mr. Saunders , " the reporter said briskly , " is it true that this student ..... and now staff walk out is a result of the firing of esteemed educator Dr. Gerald HighTower ? " 

Arnold stammered and stuttered as a wave of sweat rolled down his face even though the day was fairly chilly. Suddenly the students let out a roar of excitement as a car pulled up to a stop and out stepped Gerald.  

The former headmaster shook his head at them all. " This is not necessary. Please go back inside the school. Please. I'm fine. " 

Luci yelled into the megaphone , " What do we want ! "

The students and staff members and Richard  yelled back , " We want Dr. HighTower back ! " 

Then Richard's phone rang again and amid the new round of fiery chanting and yelling he answered it , saying , " What ? "

Gerald shook his head at them and repeated , " Please go back inside. You all need to return to classes. Especially the staff. " He saw Richard and called out , " Richard , old man , help me here."

Richard smiled as he hung up the phone. He confidently strode to the side of Arnold who still stood by the reporter whose cameraman was still filming. He put an arm around the man's stocky shoulders and said , " Oh , I will help alright. I just talked to Celeste from the board , Arnold. Apparently they had an emergency meeting. Without you. They took another vote. They just voted unanimous to reinstate Gerald to his former position at this school. " The students and staff began to cheer loudly. He continued on as the camera rolled on, "  And furthermore they also voted unanimous to remove you from the board and as chairman. They consider you an embarrassment and a disruption to the education of these students. They also asked me to return to the board ..... as the new chairman. I accepted. " Arnold jerked away from Richard. Richard smiled widely. " You students have done well using your constitutional rights. You won. There will be no punishments for this protest of yours. Staff included. Just please , all of you , go back inside the school. " He looked at an astonished Gerald with a wink. " You , as well , Dr. HighTower. "