by JR Thompson
“You’re welcome,” Mr. Bones said before leading Billy and Alden outside. He and his protegees hadn’t been in the car a whole minute before Billy looked at Alden and said, “You familiar with The Black Disciples, kid?”
Mr. Bones turned around, “Billy, we’re not going to start this again!”
“Why? You don’t want your little pet to know I’m in a gang? Don’t want him to be afraid to sleep in the same house as me? Don’t worry, Alden... I’m not gonna hurt you — not too bad anyway.”
“Don’t listen to him, Alden. Believe me, you’re far more violent than he ever thought of being. If anybody ought to be afraid of going to sleep tonight, it ought to be Billy. He’s not in a gang. It’s just something he says to—”
“Shut up, Mr. Bones! Unless you want to see what I’m made of.”
The probation officer hadn’t started the car yet. He got out and jerked Billy’s door open. The fourteen-year-old lunged out and got nose to nose with him.
Mr. Bones wasn’t having it, “Alright, gang banga. You want some of this? Touch me, and we’ll see how street you really are.”
Billy balled his right hand into a fist and didn’t blink an eye.
Mr. Bones challenged him, “What are you waiting for? Show us what you’re made of, man.”
Billy whirled around and pounded his fist against the roof of the car. “If you weren’t my probation officer, I’d—”
“You wouldn’t do a thing, and you know it! Get back in that car and get your seatbelt on!”
Billy complied but grumbled all the way back to the house. Once inside, he said, “Where’s the kid gonna sleep? I ain’t about to give up the futon!”
“You just did, Billy,” Mr. Bones retorted.
“I just did what?”
“You just forfeited the futon. You don’t come in my house and tell me what you are or aren’t going to do!”
“So, what? You sayin’ you gonna give this boy the couch and make me sleep on the floor ‘cause he’s white, and I’m black? You a racist, man. That’s all there is to it!”
“You know what, Billy? I’ve had about enough of the whole race-card thing. I’ve taken you into my house, bought your food, and cooked your meals. I’ve tried to help you rebuild your relationship with your mother… and all I get from you is a bunch of grief. It’s going to stop, and I mean right now.”
“Sounds to me like somebody can’t handle the truth!”
Alden had tried to keep his nose out of it, but he couldn’t do it anymore. Billy was too much, and it sounded like Mr. Bones wasn’t getting anywhere with him. He had to say something. Maybe, just maybe Billy would listen to one of his peers better than he would an adult. It was worth a shot anyway. “Billy, I used to be just like you. I hated Mr. Bones too. But he was trying to help me. I just—”
“Nobody asked you.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t speak my mind. I don’t like the way you’re treating Mr. Bones. He hasn’t done anything to you.”
“You ain’t even been here. You don’t know nothin’!”
Alden’s eyes widened. “I’m trying to be polite here, man, but you’re not making that very easy. So, stealing the words of our probation officer, I’m going to stop making bones about this. Back off and leave the man alone!”
“And if I don’t?... Ain’t like you and those noodle arms can do anything about it!”
Alden balled his fists, stretched out his fingers, and balled them again. “I will teach my anger it’s not in control,” he told himself. “I will not allow my anger to control me.”
“Ah, ain’t that cute?” Billy laughed. “You and Mr. B. tryin’ to work together to make me think you’re some kind of punk. Who in their right mind would be scared of you, ya little wimp?”
There went Alden’s plan of controlling his anger! He gave Billy an uppercut, making the thug-wannabe fall backward and smack his head on the end table before hitting the floor. Overcome by uncontrollable rage, Alden took a glass off of the coffee table and had every intention of smashing it over Billy’s head. Before he could, however, his probation officer grabbed him from behind and carefully, yet aggressively took him to the ground.
Billy lay on the floor stunned.
Alden tried to jerk his way free from his probation officer’s grasp for a moment. Tears formed in his eyes. “Man!” he said. “I let my anger win another victory. I’m sorry, Mr. Bones. I didn’t mean to.”
Mr. Bones let him go, “Go plant yourself in the dining room; I’ll deal with you in a minute.”
“Yes, sir,” Alden replied.
Mr. Bones walked over to Billy and knelt next to him, “You alright, bud?”
“Yeah. But I’ll tell you one thing... That kid packs a powerful punch.”
“He took it easy on you, Billy. That boy’s known to use ball bats or whatever he can get his hands on. He’s not the kind of kid for you to be messing with. And if I were you, I’d drop the whole gang nonsense. That’s just going to make him see you as a bigger challenge.”
“It better strike some fear into him.”
“Yeah, that theory’s not working out in your favor very well,” Mr. Bones replied sarcastically. “You don’t have to listen to me. Keep trying that approach… but don’t blame me when you don’t get the results you’re looking for.”
Billy didn’t utter a word.
Mr. Bones, however, made sure his feelings on the matter were well known. “All week, I looked forward to tonight. I had hoped you and Alden would be able to get along. I thought perhaps the three of us could play a board game or watch a movie and pop some popcorn. But you guys have ruined it already. You go and act up at school, and now Alden loses his temper here at the house. I don’t even know what to say.”
What came out of Billy’s mouth next took Mr. Bones completely off guard. “My uncle used to quote a Bible verse to me in times like this. Something about Jesus saying ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’ You could always try to be like Jesus.”
Mr. Bones couldn’t help but smirk. “Pretty clever, my friend. But right now, I believe some discipline is in order.”
11
By the time Sunday evening spun around, Philip was more worked up than a fly caught in the web of a black widow. After studying for hours after the boys went to bed, his most substantial fear was preaching too long. He couldn’t believe Pastor Jahmal told him not to worry if his sermon was too short. He was certain that wouldn’t be a problem.
Scanning the congregation, Philip recalled the first time he went off the diving board. That same feeling swept over him. He wanted to back away from the pulpit. To descend the steps and return to his seat. But if he was able to dive into that pool, he could plunge into the whole preaching thing as well.
“Help him, Lord!” a lady shouted.
“Yes, Jesus!” another voice chimed in.
Philip shakily opened his Bible and asked everyone to turn to the fifth chapter of Isaiah. With his heart rising into this throat, the preacher boy’s voice cracked. Still, the sermon had to go on.
Philip preached with all of his might and was strengthened by a slew of “Amen’s!” and “Praise the Lords!” Those sentiments of encouragement helped him make it through the entire sermon without making himself look like a fool. When he turned the service over to the pastor, he apologized for being so long-winded.
Pastor Jahmal chuckled, “Have you checked the clock, son?”
Directing his eyes to the rear of the sanctuary, Philip shook his head, “That can’t be right.”
Pastor Jahmal laughed again. “Happens to the best of us, brother. It’s okay. A touch of stage fright brought you into a state of speed-talking. You’ll get better. Just give it time and don’t give up.”
Philp blinked his eyes a few times and stared at the clock again, “There’s no way I preached that entire sermon in five minutes!”
“You did, brother. But don’t sweat it. For a first sermon, that was fantastic.”
Ph
ilip felt his face turning red. He was more humiliated than he had ever been in his life.
As he took his seat, Alden patted him on the back, “Way to go, Mr. Bones! You were great!”
Somehow, that didn’t make Philip feel any better. He appreciated Alden’s attempt to comfort him, but it only added to his level of embarrassment.
Billy called Alden a suck-up before taunting his probation officer, “Five minutes, man? That’s all you got? And you call yourself a preacher?”
Mr. Bones shook his head and put a finger to his lips. The pastor was speaking, and their commotion was disturbing everyone around them. As the boys closed their traps, the pastor was in the middle of saying, “I don’t want to add or take away from the brother’s message this evening. I believe what we just heard was a message straight from the Lord! Can I get a witness?”
After a few loud “Amen’s,” the pastor asked for testimonies. Mrs. Wamboldt stood up in the back. “I want to thank the good Lord for that young man who just spoke. He has been mentoring my grandson, and he’s had a huge impact on him. I appreciate God bringing him into our lives. Thank you, Philip!”
Billy mumbled, “Whatever.”
Mr. Bones ignored the petty jab but Alden wasn’t about to let it go. Elbowing him in the ribs, he ordered Billy to shut up.
“Oh, no you didn’t!” Billy snapped.
Alden grinned mischievously, “Oh, yes I did and that was the only warning you’re going to get. Shut up and I mean it!”
“Boys, cut it out!... Both of you,” Mr. Bones said quietly.
“Yes, sir,” Alden replied.
Billy simply turned his head the other way.
As soon as the service was over, Mr. Bones released Alden into his grandmother’s care. As they finished their goodbyes, an elderly couple stopped and invited Philip to their place for dinner. “I appreciate the offer,” he told them as he turned to look at Billy, “but I have a few matters I need to deal with this evening.”
“Hmph,” Billy said.
“You folks enjoy the rest of your week,” Philip told them. “Come on, Billy, we need to get to the house.”
The trip home was fairly quiet but once they got inside, all of that changed. Mr. Bones was not impressed with some of the behaviors he had seen over the weekend — especially not with Billy’s attitude at church. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Why are you so on edge all of the time?”
“You think I’m moody? You ever listen to yourself?”
“This is about you, not me!” Mr. Bones retorted.
“Why? Because you say that’s what it’s about? Opinions are like toilet paper, you know? Everybody has some. If you can share yours, you better expect to hear mine!”
“This isn’t about opinions, Billy; it’s about facts. There’s no need for rudeness, especially not in the Lord’s house.”
“Tell me about it.”
Mr. Bones was going to tell him about it alright. Somebody sure needed to! “I’m talking about you, Billy. The way you insulted me about my sermon. The dirty looks you were giving Alden. The way you responded to his grandmother’s testimony. Your attitude when I told those folks I couldn’t come over for dinner. That kind of behavior is completely unacceptable.”
“Man, why you be talkin’ to me like I’m your son or somethin’? Did you forget you’re just my probation officer? You ain’t my daddy!”
“Be thankful for that,” Mr. Bones replied. “I may not be your father, but I am the man who is putting a roof over your head and food in your stomach. I am the adult who is keeping you off of the streets and the one who is going to make you follow my rules whether you want to or not.”
“I ain’t broke no rules, Mr. Bones. Ain’t smoked no weed, ain’t drank no beer, ain’t used no foul language, been in bed on time every night, been coming by your office every day after school.”
Mr. Bones shook his head in exasperation. After giving himself a moment to collect his thoughts, he said, “Billy, I appreciate you following the rules I laid out for you when you first came here. But it’s not too difficult to pick up on some of my other expectations. You’re not living up to your potential. Kindness goes a long way.”
“So now there’s a rule I have to follow about being kind? Come on, Mr. Bones! This is getting out of hand.”
The fourteen-year-old was right about that. Things were getting out of hand, but it wasn’t on account of his probation officer. It was time for Mr. Bones to step up his game. “Billy, I’m starting to pick up on something with you.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re not the type of young man who is going to learn from being lectured. Everything seeps into one ear and gushes out the other.”
Billy raised his voice, “Oh, so now you gonna do what you little pet suggested last night?”
“Alden is not my pet, and the answer to your question is a resounding no. The island method isn’t for everybody… With you, we’re going to try something different.”
“Like what?”
“Like… for starters, you’re going to begin receiving consequences that better match the offense.”
“And how is that any different than normal?”
“Let me show you. So, tonight in church you criticized the length of my sermon. Now you have three days to prepare one of your own. After church Wednesday evening you’re going to preach to me for thirty minutes.”
Billy sported a fake smile, “No problem… Hope you don’t mind hearing a message on hypocrisy!”
Mr. Bones should have seen that one coming. It was a good thing he was a fast thinker. “Actually, you don’t get to choose the topic. Since it’s discipline, that’s my call. Your lesson will be on submission to authority.”
“And how you expect me to go about finding verses on that?”
“You can use the concordance in the back of your Bible, or I can help you.”
“I ain’t need no help from you, Mr. Bones.”
“Good, Billy. I’ll be looking forward to hearing your sermon.”
12
It was 4:00 in the afternoon; with Billy not showing up after school, Philip was becoming uneasy. He headed down the hall to check the restrooms and parking lot. After giving the building a thorough search, Philip realized the teenager’s honeymoon period had probably worn off. Upset that his probation officer had been cracking down on him, more than likely Billy didn’t report to the office out of defiance — or because he had gotten himself into legal trouble somewhere along the way.
Philip went back to his office. Thankfully, no clients had shown up. Closing his door, he called Tamara and got her voicemail, “Tamara, hi… it’s Philip Bones, Billy’s probation officer. He didn’t report to me after school today, and I’m concerned about his welfare. If you’ve seen him by any chance, please give me a call and let me know. Okay?... If I don’t hear from him soon, I’m going to clock out and see if I can hunt him down. Thanks.”
Rose tapped on the door.
“Is Billy out there?” Philip asked.
“Afraid not… but Dennis is here for his check-in.”
“Is he the last one on the docket today?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Send him back… And, Rose, if Billy doesn’t show up by the time I’m through with this meeting, I’m going to have to go look for him.”
Rose sighed, “Don’t you think you’re missing a lot of work lately, Philip?”
Philip didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t have to answer to his secretary. “Send Dennis in,” he said without acknowledging her question.
Rose took the hint. “Yes, sir. On the double.”
Dennis was one of those clients Philip always tried to rush out of his office. It wasn’t because the extremely overweight sixteen-year-old wasn’t friendly. It was because — there came the putrid odor of body funk. Dennis strolled in and started to close the door. “It’s okay. Leave it as it is, please,” Philip said while spinning his chair around and sliding the window open.
“Wassup, Mr. Philly?”
The probation officer’s eyes almost rolled involuntarily, but he managed to get them under control. “Why do you always call me that?... You know my name is Mr. Bones.”
Dennis smiled, “But Mr. Philly fits you a lot better.”
Mr. Bones tried to look him in the eye, but the giant white-headed zit on the top of his nose was downright repulsive. Not to mention the kid’s hair looked like a tangled, greasy mess as usual. Looking down at his desk, Mr. Bones said, “Alright, Dennis… you know I have a busy schedule. Let’s get down to business, shall we?”
“Might as well,” Dennis replied.
“Did you go to school today?”
“Yep.”
Short answers like that one always aroused suspicion. “Did you stay all day?”
Dennis yawned a loud, somewhat audible, “Yeah.”
“Did you skip any classes?”
“Today?... No… Well, not that I remember anyway.”
What a lovely answer! Mr. Bones detested that kind of response. He knew what the kid was doing — making it so if he was caught in a lie, he could later have a loophole. It wasn’t worth fighting about it. He just needed to get the appointment done and over with, so he could spray some air freshener and begin his hunt for a missing client. “How about yesterday? Did you skip any classes yesterday?”
Dennis looked at the ceiling for a moment before mumbling, “Just Algebra.”
“Dennis, you could have your probation revoked for that. You can’t pick and choose which classes to attend.”
“I know. You’ve told me.”
“So, you don’t think I’ll do it? Is that it?”
“Mr, Philly, you know the judge won’t take me off of probation.” He chuckled, “The state couldn’t afford to feed me.”
The disrespect Dennis had for himself was nearly infuriating. Mr. Bones shook his head, “You shouldn’t put yourself down like that.”
“It’s true!... Do you have any idea how much I eat every day?”
“Not a clue.”
“I could out-eat a pregnant elephant — even if she was carrying triplets.”