Class of '97

4. Detention

"Mrs.Nichols, can you send Kyle Holland to the office please?"

Kylewas in the back of the classroom, slouched over his desk for a nap.When he heard his name he jolted up.

"Yes,he's on his way," Mrs. Nichols said motioning him to go.

Kylegroaned and stood up. A couple girls snickered at him as he walkedthrough the aisle of desks to the door. He walked slowly to theoffice, going down two flights of stairs and through the cafeteria inorder to get there. Through the big windows he saw Corey waiting onone of the chairs outside the principal's office. He opened thewooden door and dropped his black backpack in front of the otherchair.

"Whatare you doing here?" Kyle asked Corey.

"Idon't know, they called me down." Corey wiped wet tears away fromhis eyes.

"Wereyou crying?" Kyle asked shocked.

"No,I was asleep," laughed Corey.

Kylepaused and looked around the narrow room. An elderly lady typedquickly on an electric typewriter at the attendance desk. A boredsophomore office aid sat on a chair behind the main desk, chewinggum and staring at the floor. The principal's door was closed. "We'rehere for skipping, right?"

Coreyshrugged.

"Fuck,"mumbled Kyle.

Thedoor opened and Corey straightened. A skinny senior with long brownhair stepped out of the office with a detention slip in his hand. "Iwarmed him up for you," he joked as he left the office quickly.

"Comein here, boys." The principal was a dark haired man with anintimidating stature. He knew Kyle and Corey well from their time atthe school, and they knew how to work him out of detention.

Kyleand Corey stood up and walked to the two chairs across from his desk.They sat and made themselves comfortable, looking at each other forsupport before the principal came and sat across from them.

"Nicecomputer, Mr. Patterson. What kind is it?" Kyle tried.

Mr.Patterson raised an eyebrow. "We talked about this last time, Kyle.Let's talk about what you two have done to get yourselves in here."

Coreylooked down at the ground, trying to look young and innocent.

"Now,this is a bit more serious than your usual offenses, skipping,leaving class, and calling the teacher names."

Kylesmirked.

"Iwas told by an anonymous student that you threatened to... and Iquote... 'kill Sean Fisher with a shotgun' and then Corey said, and Iquote, 'I'll tear your eyes out'."

Theboys were silent.

"Nowwe treat threats of violence very seriously-"

"Threatsof violence? How about actual violence?" Kyle cried out. "We saidthat after Sean Fisher smacked Corey upside the head for the shirt hewas wearing!"

Coreynodded in agreement.

Mr.Patterson was speechless. "Now...boys...these are seriousaccusations that we have no way of proving."

"Whoeverheard us say those things had to have seen Sean do it, they probablyjust wanted to get us in trouble!" Kyle was yelling.

"Kyle,calm down, please, let's talk this out."

"Fuckyou!" Kyle yelled.

"Kyle."Mr. Patterson said calmly. "Come on, now."

Coreylooked at Kyle pleadingly.