Love Me
Page 5
Chapter Five
Kicked Out
Max walks into the office, curious, but otherwise calm. His behavior at school has been exemplary for the last several weeks, and his grades have seen a drastic improvement this semester.
“You wanted to see me, Principal Burke?”
Mr. Burke doesn’t look up at Max. “Yes, sit down, Maxwell.”
Max sits comfortably in the chair across from Mr. Burke’s desk, then considers his posture and sits up straight. Max waits as patiently as he can through several moments of awkward silence. Mr. Burke seems unfazed as he shuffles and sorts through several papers. Max begins to wonder if he’s forgotten that he’s there.
Finally, Mr. Burke breaks the silence. “I wonder, Maxwell, if you’re aware of your blatant violations of the dress code?”
Max looks down at his clothing, which consists of faded jeans and a well worn orange sweater. “Sir?” Max questions.
Mr. Burke looks directly at Max. “You’ve been written up numerous times for your appearance, Mr. Shaw. Notices have been sent to your address, and not one of these notices has been signed, acknowledged, or received in this office. How do you explain that?”
Max is baffled. “Mr. Burke, I haven’t been written up for the way I dress. None of my teachers-”
“These are citations written by hall monitors and other school staff, despite your instructors’ negligence to report you,” Mr. Burke cuts him off.
“No one has come to me and complained about the way I dress,” Max frowns.
“You know the proper way to dress, Max. The school dress code hasn’t changed for at least six years now,” Mr. Burke replies gruffly.
“Can you give me some examples?” Max is becoming agitated.
“You wear baggy pants, un-tucked shirts, pants without a belt and jeans with holes on a very regular basis.”
“What?” Max shakes his head. “I had trouble with my pants, like, one day because my belt broke during lunch. It was wearing thin, anyway, and I got a new one from Martin by the end of the day.”
“How touching,” Mr. Burke replies with sarcasm.
Max continues his defense. “Listen, my dad’s been out of work since my mom died, and he can’t afford to buy me new clothes, so I wear what I have. If anyone had a problem with it, they should have told me so I could fix it. I didn’t know I was in violation, otherwise I would have fixed it.”
Mr. Burke glances down at his papers. “So twelve times in the last two months you didn’t know you were violating our school’s dress code policy?”
Max sighs in exasperation. “No one told me I wasn’t following the dress code.”
Mr. Burke scoffs. “Nevertheless, you received a handbook the same as every other student attending Logoria, and you know the standards. What, should we give you special treatment because your mother died?”
Max catches himself before an ugly remark leaves his mouth. He counts to three slowly before speaking. “I don’t expect special treatment, Mr. Burke, but a little compassion?”
Mr. Burke ignores him. “That’s not why I brought you in here, Max. I sent notices to your house regarding your violations,” Max opens his mouth, but Mr. Burke puts his hand up, “twice I might add, with instructions to sign and return the enclosed documentation immediately. I haven’t received either notice back, and when I called your house number it was disconnected. Do you care to explain what happened to those notices you claim to have no knowledge of?” Mr. Burke’s expression is smug.
Max opens his mouth, but is suddenly ashamed. For the first time, he notices Mr. Burke’s black tailored suit, green and black silk tie and expensive shirt. Most of the adults working at Logoria High dress this way. The students dress accordingly with expensive clothes and shoes. Max suddenly feels out of place.
“Speak up, Maxwell,” Mr. Burke barks.
“We…we moved, sir,” Max says.
“Well, write down your new address, as well as a new phone number so I can contact your father regarding your behavior.” Mr. Burke speaks impatiently as he hands Max a Post-It note. Max begins writing Officer Kent’s address. He pauses after writing the zip code, then hands the paper back to Mr. Burke.
Mr. Burke stares at him. Condescension oozes from each word as he speaks. “Maxwell, I believe I asked you to write down your home phone number as well.” Max swallows, but doesn’t speak.
“Maxwell,” Mr. Burke continues to speak to him as though he is a child. “Don’t you have a phone number?”
Max shakes his head. “I’m staying with a friend while my father is in rehab. You can’t reach him at the facility by phone.”
Mr. Burke sits back in his chair smugly, rolling his eyes as he speaks. “How convenient! Your father can’t be reached, so I can’t communicate his son’s behavior. What do you suppose we do, then, Maxwell?”
Max shrugs. “He can receive letters. I can give you the address there.” Max grabs another Post-It from the desk and begins writing the address.
Mr. Burke watches, amused, as Max writes down the address. He stares at the first piece of paper and studies it.
“Maxwell,” Mr. Burke ponders. “This address where you’re staying, isn’t it on the other side of town?”
Max looks up. “Yeah, it’s just a few blocks from Wellis High School.” He hands Mr. Burke the paper.
“Well, we do have a problem here, then, don’t we?” Mr. Burke speaks more to himself than to Max.
“What do you mean?” Max asks.
“Well, according to zoning regulations, residents west of Rail Street must attend Wellis High,” Mr. Burke shakes his head and tsks.
“What does that have to do with me?” Max asks with increasing apprehension.
“Well, this means we have to transfer you to Wellis,” Mr. Burke replies.
“Wellis?” Max frowns.
Mr. Burke nods. “Immediately.”
His words are hard for Max to digest. “Excuse me?” Max asks, bemused.
“So sorry Max,” Mr. Burke speaks with little sympathy.
Max blinks. “You can’t do that! This is my school! I mean, you can’t just transfer me, and besides, this address is just temporary!”
“Oh, is that so?” Mr. Burke looks at the address again.
“Yes, I’m staying with a friend until my dad gets on his feet. He’s expecting a housing application to go through and then we’ll have a permanent address.” Max is pleading with his eyes as he speaks. “Mr. Burke, this is just a temporary situation for us.”
Mr. Burke shakes his head, “Maxwell, I really wish I could help you, but my hands are tied. Based on the address you just gave me, you are out of Logoria High’s district.”
“Mr. Burke,” Max pleads.
“Even if I used the address for your father’s rehab center—which I would never do—it too is out of Logoria’s district. In fact, the only housing projects in the city of Logoria are outside the district of this high school! So whichever way you look at it, I’m afraid I have no choice but to transfer you.”
“Mr. Burke this is wrong,” Max struggles to control his emotion as he speaks.
Mr. Burke looks up at Max and smiles. “Max, I’m sure you think so now, but once you’ve settled down you’ll realize that I’m doing you a favor.” Max raises his eyebrows, and Mr. Burke sighs in exasperation.
“Max, you have very few friends here, if any, and the only things you have to hold on to are what I’m sure are very painful memories.”
Max lowers his head, and Mr. Burke continues. “Max, everything you’ve done here has been negative. Do you really want to continue your education in a place where everyone knows what you’ve done?”
Mr. Burke leans in closer. “And don’t think anyone here has forgotten just how and why your mother was killed. Pain like that can crush a young teen like you, Max. I’m just looking at the bigger picture here.”
“What did I do to you?” Max asks, dejected. “I admit it, ok? A few months ago, I was disrespectful a
nd disruptive, and I acted like a clown, but not once was I treated like this. And now I’m doing well in school, my grades are up, and I’ve been doing everything I can to live a clean life, and you’re kicking me out? Why?”
Mr. Burke shakes his head impatiently. “Max, I suggest you think of this as a fresh start; a chance to start over, make new friends, and move on. Otherwise you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment, because frankly, there is no place for you here in my school. You’ve worn out your welcome with your mischief, and the student body is much better off without you here.”
Mr. Burke clears his throat. “We’re done here, Max. I’m sorry, but as of tomorrow, you’ll be attending Wellis.”
Max shakes his head in disbelief. “Just like that?”
Mr. Burke nods. “You can finish out the day, Max, but tomorrow don’t come here.” Mr. Burke returns to the paperwork in front of him, indicating that he is done with Max.
Max takes slow, heavy steps out of the office and into the hall.
•••
“So that’s it?” He just kicked you out of the school, just like that?” Martin is livid. The way Mr. Burke treated Max makes his blood boil.
“Yeah, he just said ‘adios sucker,’ and now I’m being transferred to Wellis,” Max is despondent.
“He can’t do this, Max. I mean there have to be laws or something against this, right?” Martin rubs the back of his head, thinking out loud. “If I tell my dad, I’m sure he can pull some strings, maybe talk some sense into Mr. Burke.”
“Thanks, Martin,” Max hesitates. “It’s just… the way he spoke to me; it was like I was nobody.”
“You’re not, Max,” Martin speaks quickly. “Mr. Burke was wrong, so don’t start thinking what I know you’re thinking.”
“But Martin, I feel that way,” Max shakes his head. “I’ve been trying so hard to change, and for what? For this? I thought…” Max sighs. “I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I kept my nose clean and my alcohol level, you know, below the legal limit, things would work out for me, but they’re not.”
Martin studies his friend carefully. “Max, listen to me. You are not a nobody, and the changes in your life haven’t been for nothing. You’re my best friend, Max, and you keep my head on straight. That may not seem like much to you, but it means everything to me.”
“Yeah, until you see Jennifer. Then she’s all you see,” Max smiles blandly. “Martin, I know you mean well, but face it. This is my lot.”
“Have you been drinking, Max?” Martin asks abruptly.
Max stares at him in shock, then lowers his head, avoiding eye contact. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I know you, Max.” Martin’s face is stern. “If you’re going through this pity party because you feel guilty, Max…”
“I know better, Martin,” Max puts his hand up to stop Martin from continuing. “I just… sometimes this gets really hard. And I know I swore I’d never go back to the way I was, and I won’t, but sometimes I get so overwhelmed.”
Martin sighed. “How much?”
Max shakes his head. “Not much.”
“How often?”
“Just every now and again,” Max hems. “And it’s never more than one.”
Martin stares at Max.
“I know what you must be thinking,” Max speaks quietly. “But this isn’t easy for me, you know.”
“Max,” Martin shakes his head. “You’re trying to do this thing on your own. Failure is inevitable. You and I both know you need help, and we both know where you can get it.”
Max shakes his head. “Martin, we’ve talked about this before.”
“I know, and it still hasn’t sunk in,” Martin interjects. “Max, let go and let God help you.”
Max clenchs his jaw and shakes his head. “I’m not ready for that, Martin.”
“Yes you are!” Martin exclaims. “You just don’t think God’s ready for you. But he is, Max. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to make things right before you come to Him. He’s the one who makes you right, not you.”
“Could we just talk about something else?” Max pleads. “I just found out I’m being kicked out of school, and I wanna think about something less depressing. Just give me a break, alright Martin?”
Martin nods in consent. “I don’t mean to be pushy, Max.” Martin sighs. “I’ll give you some space and catch up with you this evening. I need to talk with my dad anyway.”
Max nods and waves as Martin makes his way to the basketball courts.