by John Purcell
Chapter 7
10.17.2173.9:29PM
The trouble Bim spoke of started early in the school day.
As always, we began the morning with the Pledge of Eternal Gratitude, which requires us to close our eyes and bow our heads in prayer to our Savior, Kim Jong-pil. Any disobedience is swiftly punished. Given what I knew about Miss Green, though, I thought it safe to open my eyes.
Bim was looking out the window, elbows on his desk and chin in his hands. Bim has always refused to recite the Pledge. He’s been punished for it so many times that they finally decided it was a waste of effort.
Miss Green was looking out the window, too. Caught at an unguarded moment, she looked worried. As the Pledge came to an end, though, she regained her usual expression of cheerful determination.
Reading was our first activity. As we broke up into groups, Bim walked up to me and said, “I’m coming to your house after school.”
I said, “That isn’t possible. I always drop off Luma and go straight to work.”
Bim said, “Not today.”
Just then, the door opened and Miss Veiny strode into the room, Principal Gumm following behind her. They took their places at the head of the class and silence fell over the room. It stretched on and on until Miss Veiny elbowed Principal Gumm in the ribs. He cleared his throat and said, “I want to see Dogan Nath and Teo Jomes, in my office immediately! Right now!”
I glanced at Dogan as we made our way to the front of the room. He didn’t look the least bit surprised. I followed him out the door.
Miss Veiny led us down the hallway toward the office, Principal Gumm hurrying to keep up. Dogan was in front of me and I grabbed the waist of his pants, bringing him to a sudden halt. When he turned, I saw the fear in his eyes. I leaned in close. “Your father is alive and we’re going to help you find him.”
I spoke softly enough that Miss Veiny couldn’t make out the words, but she heard my voice.
She spun around, skirts billowing. “Who told you to speak? Get over here!”
When I came within reach, she cuffed me on the ear, saying, “Lucky for you I’m in a good mood!”
When we entered the office, I saw Eppi sitting in front of the Principal’s desk, expression anxious. To her left sat Stella Nath, looking down her nose at me. I took my place next to Eppi, and Dogan took his next to Stella. Miss Veiny withdrew to the corner of the room and stood against the wall, arms folded.
Principal Gumm sat down behind his desk and looked at Dogan and me. “We just told your mothers about yesterday’s incident at the diamonds, which took place after school yesterday. We would like the two of you to give us your two sides of the story. Then we’ll see which story is true, or untrue, and get to the truth, or untruth, of this matter.”
I said, “Have you talked to the other boys who were there?”
Principal Gumm scowled at me for speaking out of turn. “I assure you we haven’t spoken to them before, on any previous occasion.”
“Then you must have heard Dogan’s side already. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know it happened at all.”
Principal Gumm reddened. “Well, obviously we conversed with the people we’ve spoken with…”
Miss Veiny stepped forward. “We heard from a number of parents last night, very distraught parents. And then there’s physical evidence, such as the vandalized baseball bats. And, of course…” Miss Veiny looked into my eyes, “…there’s Dogan’s hand.”
Principal Gumm was glaring at me. “And I’ve heard from you all I wish to hear out of you! I’d like to hear what Dogan has to say and get his side. Dogan?”
Since taking his seat, Dogan had done nothing but stare at the floor. Now he roused himself and looked around the room. His eyes came to rest on mine.
Then he turned to Principal Gumm. “What I said before wasn’t true. Teo didn’t do anything. I tricked him into coming to the bleachers. We were waiting there with baseball bats and we tried to smash him to pieces.”
His words left the adults in the room agape, except for Eppi, who just looked bewildered.
Stella turned on her son. “Dogan Bertram Nath, have you been lying to me?”
Principal Gumm said, “I’m assuming this is an assumption…”
Miss Veiny crossed the room and grabbed Dogan’s wrist. “All lies, eh? Then how do you explain this?”
She held up his hand and twisted it, so that everyone could see the back. Just below Dogan’s knuckles lay a neat line of purples circles, four of them, the bruises my fingertips had made when I’d squeezed his hand.
Dogan said, “I… I made those myself. With my cleats. Just to get Teo in trouble.”
Miss Veiny twisted his hand again. “That’s a lie! I’ll have the truth from you yet!”
Dogan yanked his hand away. “Let go of me, you old bat!”
As Miss Veiny raised her hand to slap him, Stella Nath jumped in between them.
She put her face up to Miss Veiny’s. “If you ever touch my son again, you’ll be packing your crayons for the Arctic!” She turned to Principal Gumm. “Isn’t that right, Francis?”
He said, “Everyone, please! There’s no use in everyone being…uncalm.”
Miss Veiny turned and stormed out of the office.
Principal Gumm ran his hand down his face. He gestured vaguely to Dogan. “You can rejoin your classmates in class now.”
As Dogan headed for the door, Principal Gumm turned to me. “And you will have in-home detention for the rest of the week, in your home!” He turned to Eppi. “I trust we can trust you to enforce that, Mrs. Jomes?”
Eppi nodded vacantly.
Principal Gumm showed us out, then retreated back to his office, and Stella Nath, closing the door behind him.