Loud Visions 2

Chapter 28

Flashback

"Kids, we know that it's the end of school and summer break is about to begin, but that doesn't mean you can go wild. Even on the last day, you're expected to behave. I want no more fooling around," Principal Ramirez stated.

"Yes, ma'am," everyone said.

As everyone left her office, Mrs. Johnson called, "Lincoln!"

Lincoln turned to her.

"May I have a word with you, please?" Mrs. Johnson requested.

Lincoln glanced at his friends before following their teacher. Mrs. Johnson pulled a chair next to her desk for Lincoln to sit in. For a while, the two sat there in silence. Mrs. Johnson kept her gaze on him while he awkwardly looked around nervously.

"Lincoln . . . how are things back home with your family? And be honest with me," Mrs. Johnson asked.

Lincoln started, "Oh, things are good. My family is—"

"Don't lie to me, Lincoln," Mrs. Johnson said firmly.

Lincoln's eyes widened when she said that, and they saw the serious look on her face.

"Lincoln, if there's anything, anything at all going on, I want to know," Mrs. Johnson said.

"Mrs. Johnson, I swear, my family is doing much better. Believe me, they're not doing anything harmful or neglectful to me in any way," Lincoln assured.

The red-haired teacher studied his face before leaning back in her chair, "Well, that's good to hear."

"Mrs. Johnson, do you not believe that my family is getting better?" Lincoln asked.

His teacher opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a small framed photograph. It was a picture of a redheaded girl with a blonde boy – both were around Lincoln's age. They were smiling, and both had an arm over each other's shoulder.

"Do you know who that is?" Mrs. Johnson asked.

Lincoln shook his head.

"That's Sean. He was . . . a very good friend of mine growing up. He and I were close. We did everything together. We played together, went to school together, trick r' treated together, explored the woods together . . . everything," Mrs. Johnson said.

Lincoln looked back at the photograph closely to see how happy they were. Mrs. Johnson and Sean really did look like best friends. Although Lincoln had a feeling that something had happened to him, hence the reason she said "was" a very good friend.

"That's nice. I noticed you said he was a good friend of yours. Did something happen to him?" Lincoln asked.

Mrs. Johnson grabbed her water bottle and took a long sip.

"Yes . . . something did happen – something bad. He came from a big family, just you. He had five older brothers . . . and a terrible man for a father. For the longest time, I never knew that he came from a bad home environment. Sean did a good job hiding the bruises on his back. I found out the truth of what was going on in his life too late," Mrs. Johnson explained.

Lincoln got goosebumps, and a chill ran through his spine as he waited for her to say what happened. Mrs. Johnson's eyes watered as she inhaled sharply.

"A fight at his home happened. Sean stood up for himself and made his brothers angry. They beat him with an inch of his life, breaking his arm, his ribs, broke his pelvis, and gave him a head and mouth concussion," Mrs. Johnson said.