ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 71

Dr. Gerald HighTower loved Barrington Academy. Every aspect of it. The students. The staff. The very historic background of the school from the first moment of its own creation. For too long his love for the school had overwhelmed his good senses and intelligent nature. He became too trusting about the school, the students , even the staff. Then young Sidnei Chou died of drugs. He could easily overlook that tragedy as sad as it was because it happened off campus. Off campus it had nothing to do with the school or his running of it. But then came Diamond Dennis who used a gun that her parents didn't know where she got to shoot another student and then kill herself in class. Then the rumors of guns and drugs being actually sold in his school came to light. His eyes were now open and he didn't like what he was seeing.

Which was why on Monday morning he , backed up by Oscar Oswell , demanded that Gaines Investigation's security personnel search every locker in the school. For guns. For drugs. For anything that didn't belong there. And , if anything illegal was found on the grounds Gerald was going to call the police as well as have the student or students expelled.

The students were not happy about this particular activity from the staff. Not at all.

" You can't legally search our lockers ! ," Luci declared sternly as she stood between her locker and the Gaines security officer. " It has my property in it. Not the school's ! "

" Yeah ," Sol chimed in as he stood near his own," we have constitutional rights. Right to privacy especially. Just because we're kids doesn't mean that is not true. "

The security officer sighed deeply and looked from the kids challenging them to the other ones in the main hallway watching and whispering and occasionally filming on their phones. His eyes went to Gerald finally who just shook his head at everyone.

Gerald said equally firmly," We can search and will , Miss Moore , Mr. Klein. Yes. What's in the locker belongs to you. The locker is the property of the school however. I have the permission of the board to search these lockers. Which I will. So please kindly move aside and let the officers do their jobs. "

Richie stepped up to the older man with fire in his dark eyes. " No way, old dude. You can't just look through our stuff. Not without a warrant. You ain't cops. And they ain't cops either. Just rent a dic....cops. Why we all being treated like criminals? Everyone knows who is doing all that stuff here. Search their shit. Luce and Sol right. We all got constitutional rights. That's what Richard says and he's a lawyer. We got rights. "

Gerald again shook his head. " You also have the right to be safe in school. And we don't need a warrant. The board gave permission. I announced it earlier at assembly. And with the.... recent events we have suffered here I think a search is warranted. "

Another student yelled out ," Search Samson then ! Everyone knows he is in all kinds of stuff. "

" We can't just target," Gerald continued on ," one particular student. How is that fair? We are searching every locker on campus. Today. You will allow these officers to do their jobs. If anyone interferes you shall be suspended for a week. If you have nothing of an illegal nature in your lockers then there should be no real issue , should there? "

With that, he turned on his sneakered heel and walked back to the headmaster's office. Oscar was by his side , whispering hesitantly," Sir , I do agree with you but don't you think this is a bit harsh ? "

Gerald cut his eyes at him. " No. I do not think that.  I think it's time I started running the school differently. It's time I stopped being so damn nice. " His handsome gradually slimming face with its lines of experience and years took on a stubborn cast. " There's a new Gerald right now. Everyone needs to get used to it. "