Ren Vampire Spy (Book 1 of the Ren Series)

IT'S NOT YOUR TURN

The meeting began with Abby stating the purpose of the meeting.  She put the principal on notice that the citizens in this room felt let down regarding the safety of their children.  Of course the principal claimed he was only following orders.  Abby could hold her tongue no longer and looking directly at the principal said, “The guards at the concentration camps used the same excuses.  It didn't work for them and it doesn't work here either.”  The principals face turned very red and he sat down without saying a word.

A few of the teachers spoke out against Bronson and his team of 'thugs'.   The way they were treating the children, yanking them out of class with no notice, barging into class disrupting the educational process.  Some of the children are showing signs of anxiety, one of the teachers explained.  The children can't learn under these conditions, another teacher said.

The crown was getting angry at what they heard.  Several of the parents asked why they weren't told what was going on.  Another teacher explained that Bronson had threatened their jobs if they notified the parents. 

One very angry parent in the back stood and said, “Just what makes you think your job is any safer now that you have told us.”

The teacher broke into tears and left the room.  There was no empathy shown for the teacher as she ran out.

At last the teachers finished speaking.  Abby stood at the podium once more and spoke to the assembled group.  She smiled at Ren as she waved her up to the stage.  “I would like to turn the floor over to one of the students now.  Please be kind and remember this is a child who has volunteered to speak to you.  It took a lot of courage to speak out.  She risked being put in one of the cages in the back of the room.  Please be sure to take a good look at them after the meeting.  Notice the electricity running to each one.  So please let's make her feel welcome.  Ren, it's your turn.

As Ren climbed the stairs to the stage most of the parents stood and clapped for her.  Ren was surprised.  She didn't expect this reaction, in fact she thought the parents would be mad at her like they had been at the teachers.  “Thank you all for coming.  I believe and my friends do to that if you knew what was happening at our school that you would put your feet down.  I mean if we acted like Mr. Bronson we knew we would be grounded for life without the possibility of parole.”

The room erupted into laughter.  The sound helped Ren relax a bit.  She flipped her backpack off her shoulder and unzipped the top removing her notes which she placed on the podium.  “Mrs Byrd always tell us that when we speak in public we should have good notes.  I hope you all don't mind if I refer to my notes from time to time, I want to get this right.”

More laughter filled the room.  One women from the back of the room called out, “You go girl!”  Several more bolstered by the women speaking up chimed in with; Go for it Ren, We're here for you, Do us proud, Say it sister, and Ren's personal favorite, “You got it goin on girl.”

The room quieted as Ren visibly relaxed and began telling the story of how Bronson walked into the school.  “He told the principal he had to allow the school assembly.”  Ren continued for ten minutes relaying the story of the wolf they had in a cage on the stage.  How this little girl ran to the front of the room and was hit by a taser shock and placed in a cage.  As Ren talked about the special passes and how each student had to enter the cages to be tested the doors in the back of the room flung open with a crash.

“This meeting is over,”  Bronson called out as he entered the room with six of his private security guards.  Each guard had an M16 hung from their shoulders resting in their hands.  They pointed the guns at the crowd and waved them toward the door.  “Listen folks this is a federal operation and you must comply.  No one moved.  Some of the men stood and walked to the ends of the rows of chairs only to plant themselves between the guns and their family’s.