Without Flaws | Fyodor Academy 1

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

       "Two days in a row," Mr. McCabe said, sitting at his desk while Jules and I sat in the chairs across from him. "I'd like to say it's a surprise that you've gotten into trouble twice so close together, but sadly, it's no surprise."

       "Okay, but I didn't do anything," I said. "And neither did Jules. And if I did something, Jules didn't so can he leave?"

       "Right, you two both didn't do anything," Mr. McCabe said. "That's why a student reported seeing the both of you outside of Malcolm and Davy's dorm room holding a trash bag. Are you telling me that it wasn't you who dumped trash all over Malcolm's bed? The day you just so happened to start garbage duty?"

       "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," I said. "That student must have been a friend of Malcolm and Davy's because I don't even have a key to the dorm?"

       "Mr. Hathaway, I think it will be easier for the both of us if you just admit what you did," he said. "Or I can check the security camera in the hallways."

       "Okay, Jules was just a lookout," I said. "He had nothing to do with it so can he please leave and not get in trouble?"

       "He could have stopped you," Mr. McCabe said. "He let you go through with it."

       Jules sighed. "That's fair."

       "No, that's not fair," I said. "Jules, you know I'm stubborn. That's why you didn't stop me." I looked back at the headmaster. "Please, don't get him in trouble. Punish me only. I'll gladly take double the punishment."

       "Parry, seriously, he's right," Jules said. "I could have tried harder to stop you, but I didn't. That's on me."

       I huffed and slouched in my seat. Great. If Jules' parents found out I got him in trouble, they would only use it as yet another reason why Jules should break up with me.

       "I don't even know what to do with you anymore, Hathaway," Mr. McCabe said. "Clearly garbage duty was a huge mistake since it gave you access to all that garbage to use for whatever reason against Malcolm."

       "Actually, sir, it was a very good reason," I said.

       "You said the same thing with the pudding incident," Mr. McCabe said. "And the cow incident. And the chickens. The peacock. The firecrackers. The oatmeal. The spray paint. Oh, and let's not forget wallaby."

       "Admit it, you thought that wallaby was cute," I said.

       "That wallaby kicked a student," Mr. McCabe said.

       "Because he tried grabbing it," I said. "It was a defensive kick. He should have just stayed away from it."

       "You shouldn't have brought it into the school in the first place!" Mr. McCabe said before taking a deep breath. "I just about had it with you. None of these punishments are working at all."

       "You're not... You're not going to expel him, are you?" Jules asked worryingly. 

       "Unfortunately, no," Mr. McCabe said.

       "Unfortunately?" I asked, but the headmaster ignored me.

       "He would have been expelled a long time ago if he was at any other school," Mr. McCabe said. "But this school is one of the very few schools that would be beneficial towards someone of his IQ. I just don't know which punishment to hand out."

       "I really was going to try my best not to get into any trouble for at least a month," I said. "But this was well-deserved."

       "You say that all the time," Mr. McCabe said.