When Will Mom Be Home?

Chapter Five

I enter Joan's office slowly the next morning. She sits behind her desk, reading off the laptop in front of her. She looks up and folds her arms against her suit.

"I'll do it," I say simply.

She smiles then proceeds to give me all the kids files. I spent my lunch-time in the history room, examining each file closely. Almost immediately, I am filled with regret, with my initial instinct being to run into Joan's office and tell her I've changed my mind. Instead, I sit my ass back down, take a deep breath and read each file over again.

When the last bell of the day echoes through every classroom and hallway, I pack my laptop bag and make my way to the club room. I set up the chairs into a circle, just as the instructions Joan gave me state. I take my seat and one by one, the students arrive.

Emilia Pham is the first to approach me.

"I don't belong here, Mister Thompson" She cries, "I'm not a drug addict or have violent tendencies"

Emilia Pham's parents are Vietnamese immigrants who don't speak any English. As a result, they trusted her with all their finances. Little did they know that their daughter was transferring half of their income into her account. When checks started bouncing, she was caught.

"No, but you are a thief?" I fold my arms.

"That's not the word I would use" she averts her gaze away from me.

"You're a rich bitch that stole her parent's money and spent it all on fucking Gucci bags and Chanel perfume," Haley rolls her eyes from her seat, "shut your damn mouth and sit your mother fucking ass down"

Haley Dlamini, born in South Africa and came here when she was three. She joined her boyfriend's gang and was arrested by police after a drug deal went wrong.

"Watch your mouth" I order.

"Chill, brother" Tommy leans back in his seat.

Tommy Johnson, Haley's boyfriend. Joined his brother's gang at age thirteen, hasn't been able to steer away from trouble ever since.

Suddenly two more students come storming through the door. Talking obnoxiously and scoffing down crisps.

"You're both late" I fold my arms.

"What's Mister Thompson doing here?" Kenny cries before dropping to his seat.

Kenny Wong, born to a Korean father and white mother. He's a part of Tommy Johnson's rival gang, thus they like to pull out their pocket knives on school grounds.

"What happened to Phillips?" Max takes a seat beside Kenny.

Max Rivera, Latino student and friends with Kenny. Kenny influenced him into joining the gang. We had to call an ambulance for him when he was stabbed last quarter.

"What's happening everybody" Andre cries while entering the room.

Andre Williams, the kids call him big A, because he's 6'4 and weighs 330 pounds. Tommy Johnson's best friend.

"Everyone take your seats" I order from my seat around the circle. "Mister Phillips is in the hospital and is henceforth on leave"

"What happened to him? Is he going to be okay?" Emilia asks.

"Why, you wanna rob him too?" Haley cocks a brow.

"I haven't been told much" I admit, "all I know is that I'm here until he gets back...whenever that will be"

"Please Mister Thompson, exempt me from this" Emilia begs. "I made one tiny mistake"

A mistake that cost her parents an estimated hundred thousand dollars.