The Boarding School

Miss Ally and Hugh

Hugh Hoheisel

She knew he was in the doorway, but made no response. "Katelyn," Hugh finally spoke up, sauntering into her office.

"Yes?" she didn't look up as she wrote C+ in red ink on the essay.

"How's Luke doing in his classes?"

"I don't know," she looked up now, "I know he is doing well in my class, but I don't know about his others."

"But you can find out," Hugh insisted.

Sighing, Katelyn pulled over her laptop and typed in the password. After a few clicks she found his transcript. "He has an A+ in all his classes."

"What's that? Calc, chem, bio, creative writing, physics, and history?"

"That is correct," she nodded, clearly waiting for him to leave.

"I know you are busy," he shut the door, "but I need to talk to you about something."

"What's that?" she asked as patiently as she could.

"Do you think these classes are too easy for him?"

"I couldn't say. He is excelling. Did he have any formal education?"

"Yeah, I guess. Mom homeschooled him. I never knew where he was, but he was as smart as me. I guess he got up to 10th or 11th grade, I dropped out in 10th."

"Did he?"

"No, he went to school for a year after that. I don't know what they put him in."

"Well then, he gets a chance to finish his basic education," Katelyn smiled, genuinely pleased, "Too bad you can't pass for a highschooler."

Hugh scoffed, but did not take it to heart. Her voice was light and not intended to offend. "I want him to finish up here, both semesters, and graduate or good as if he can."

"Tuition and board cost."

"How much?"

"Well," Katelyn thought, "this school doesn't cost as much as some, but, well, you know. It is for troubled kids with rich parents or kids of jailed parents with rich relatives."

"I get it, but how much?"

Katelyn frowned, "Unless you want to ask for a government grant - " Hugh shook his head, " - it will cost about 35 thousand a year."

"D@^%!"

"Not here!" she reprimanded severely.

"Sorry," Hugh bit the inside of his lip, shoving his hands into his pockets, resting most his weight on his left side. "How can I pay?"

"Are you serious? From what Luke told me - "

"Luke doesn't know everything!" snapped Hugh, "If I get you the money, can your friend make it look legit?"

"As in the payment look legitimate? I can ask," Katelyn seemed doubtful, "It's illegal and Scott doesn't feel comfortable about what he did already."

"Would you ask and let me know? And don't tell Luke?"

"Alright," Katelyn stood, "I will do that if you tell me why."

"I gotta get back to work, but Luke's smart. I want him to finish highschool and maybe to get him into a college."

Katelyn smiled reassuringly, "I think that's a good idea, Hugh."

With a curt nod, he left the room, running into Thomas on his way out, smelling of alcohol. Thomas laughed and tried to say something, but Hugh couldn't understand him. "Watch yourself," he warned pushing him in the direction of the dormitories, "It's all fun until you realize you're addicted." That said, he made his way outside and caught the shuttle to town.