[COMPLETED]
[WATTYS 2022 WINNER]
James Quinn can't die. Actually... that's not true. He's died many times - somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 - only to be reborn as himself to live his life over again.
For millennia, he's had to endure this c...
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Smoke trickled up from Principal Devers' cigarette as it lay in its ashtray. The sun shone through the blinds like spotlights catching the tendrils until an oscillating fan scattered their particles into oblivion. The principal, a large man with gray buzzed cut hair, wiped his forehead dry with a handkerchief. He wore a short sleeved, white dress shirt, stained yellow at the armpits. Martha sat facing the principal with Jessica on her right and Jessica's father beyond that. An empty chair waited on Martha's left.
There was a clear resemblance between Jessica and her father. He had shaggy, orange hair under a sun-faded Dodgers hat. He wore denim overalls and a faded green, short sleeved t-shirt. His skin was a deep pink up to a severe tan line at the lip of his sleeves.
The door behind them opened.
"Mr Beckett," Principal Devers greeted flatly.
"Bout damn time," Jessica's father muttered.
"Sorry to keep you," Steven said. "I got here as soon as I could." He took the seat next to Martha, but not before flashing her a piercing glance of disappointment. Adding up her years of consciousness, she was more than twice his age. Nevertheless, the look cut deeply.
Principal Devers wasted no time. "Mr Beckett, Mr Murphy, your daughters were caught fighting at recess this morning."
"You're kidding!" Stephen said.
Principal Devers stared back at Steven blankly. He was not. "We do not tolerate fighting, Mr Beckett."
"Of course not. But there must be some..." Steven turned to Martha, desperation in his eyes.
She wanted to tell him the truth – to plead her case. Even now, she craved his approval. But she'd learned her lesson. Path of least resistance, Martha. Keep your mouth shut. Path of least resistance. She lowered her head then nodded meekly.
"But as this is your daughter's first offense, Mr Beckett, I'm willing to let her off with her one and only warning."
"Thank you," Steven said.
"This is far from your daughter's first offense, Mr Murphy. She will begin her two day suspension on Monday."
"Shit for brains," Mr Murphy muttered then smacked his daughter on the back of her head. Jessica's shoulders sprung reflexively. The corner of her eye began to glisten.
Martha caught her breath then looked at Principal Devers. His eyes were lowered to his desk and then out to the window. Her father shamefully followed suit. Martha forgot her discretion.
"Nobody's going to say anything?!"
"Martha!" her father scolded.
"He hit her!" Martha exclaimed. "Don't you think that might have something to do with her behavior on the playground?"
