Sticks and Stones

Chapter 3

I trudged down the hallway to the main office. I wondered what they had me for this time. I hadn’t "started" anymore fights, or whatever they wanted to call the torment I endured from the brainless red-necks who inhabit this prison. Somehow having my clothing thrown into the showers with me after gym class or having used condoms shoved in my locker were my fault. I walked into the office and walked up to the secretary. She gestured to a blue plastic chair in the corner and mouthed "sit" as she began to speak into the phone with a sickly sweet voice.

"Hi this is Judy, what can I help you with today?" She examined her perfectly manicured nails as she spoke, cherry red lips plastered into a smile as she spoke to some snot nosed brats parent. After an eternity of false cheerfulness and nail checking she disconnected and turned to me.

"Jesus Christ I thought he’d never shut up! When will the principal be in, can you check to make sure he’s not in, why not, blaa blaa blaa." She said in a perfect imitation of a stuck up soccer mom. 

"Well Ben, what can I do for you today?" Judy Campbell was one of the only genuinely nice people in this place. She knew that I never started any of the trouble I got into and I knew she had a huge drawer full of jolly ranchers to give to her few favorite kids, despite the schools strict policy against it. I also knew she saved the blue ones just for me. I grinned at her.

"Just tell me it's good news for once."

"It's your lucky day kiddo. Goodman seemed to be in a good mood today."

"So less like a homicidal lunatic and more I-kill-baby-seals-my-spare-time?"

"He's not that bad." I raised my eyebrows and pulled my face into Goodman's I mean business face.

"You there, delinquents. Halt so that I may reprimand you for breathing too loudly and being within the approved three foot radius from another student." I bellowed in Goodman's deep tenor. Judy's straight face broke and she laughed along with me. Goodman himself choose that moment to poke his head out of his office.

"Mr. Hale, Ms. Campbell, is there a joke you would like to share?" Judy's face fell back into its professional look of disinterest and she suddenly got very interested in the files on her desk.

"Not at all, Sir. I was just telling Mr. Hale about my new kitten."

"I thought as much. Send him in." She looked up and gave me an encourgaging smile as I made my way to the dragon's den.

"Have a seat, Benjamin." Goodman gestured to the solitary chair in front of his desk, its worn fabric telling the tales of many miserable souls that had sat there before my own. Goodman's own chair was covered in fine black leather that no doubt cost more money than my father currently had in his bank account. He perched on it like an eagle sizing up its prey, his dark brown eyes staring sternly down his hooked nose. He looked away from me and began to shuffle around the files on his cluttered desk. Finally he seized the desired folder and slapped it open on top of the whole ungodly mess.

"Solid A average, hopes of getting into a school of veterinary science, no unexcused absences, no serious disciplinary problems", at that Goodman glanced up at me, "save for involvement in multiple fights. Do you know what that sounds like, Mr. Hale?" I blinked and tried to understand what he was asking.

"My file?" I tried tentatively. He chuckled.

"Wrong, it is the file of the person who shall be escorting our newest student around the premises starting Monday."

"Me? Why me?" I stammered. True I knew the new kid would come to hate me as they all did, but I'd hoped to avoid it as long as possible. 

"Because Mr. Hale, your schedules are almost the same and given this one's history, you may very well be a good influence." Goodman looked rather pleased with himself. I wanted to knock the smug grin off of his face. He knew that the new kid wouldn't want to be led around the school by the "filthy fag". I buried my anger and gave him a tight-lipped smile.

"Sure thing, Mr. Goodman. I'd be happy to help out the new kid." I said, voice filled with false enthusiasm. He nodded curtly at me.

"You may go to class then. I expect you here early on Monday to collect the student." Goodman dismissed me. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and slipped out of the office, stopping long enough to get a handful of Jolly Ranchers from Judy, before booking it to the other side of the school. I handed Ms. Thomas a pass as I took my seat next to Rory at the back of the room. She nodded at me after examining Goodman's signature and turned back to the white board where she was writing down the important concepts from Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy. Rory slugged me in the shoulder.

"What did Goodman want you for?" I shrugged.

"He wants me to play tour guide for the new kid on Monday." I sighed. Rory looked incredulous.

"He wants you to play welcoming committee?"

"Yeah, seems to think I'll be a good influence or something. I guess I will be, until the kid gets in on the whole hate the homo thing."

"You, a good influence?" Rory laughed. "This kid must really be fucked up." I made a face at him and he made an even uglier one back. I was about to tell Rory it was a good look for him but Ms. Thomas's nasally voice cut through the air.

"Mr. Hale, Mr. Collins, is there a problem?"

"Not at all Ms. Thomas, Ben was just asking me for the homework." Rory called back, turning his smile up to ten thousand watts. She blinked and then turned back to her lesson. He nudged me and waggled his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes and opened my copy of Hamlet. Another person vanquished by Rory's perfect smile.