by Avi
PHILIP MALLOY: It’s my choice.
MR. MALLOY: Phil, let me tell you something. If God gives you a ticket, you better use it.
PHILIP MALLOY: Ticket to what?
MR. MALLOY: Running.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’ll think about it.
MR. MALLOY: Those shoes weren’t cheap either. Real first-class stuff. I mean, I don’t understand. I thought you were ready for it.
PHILIP MALLOY: Come on, Dad. I’m not you.
9:24 P.M.
From a Letter Written by Margaret Narwin to Her Sister, Anita Wigham
… Anita, the truth is I’m hurt. Never in all the years I’ve been at Harrison have I asked for anything in the way of extra funds. If it were a case of no money available for anyone, why, I could accept that. But, no, a certain Kimberly Howard, who has been here for only two years, and who has a husband who works for some large corporation, she received money! And for some idiotic course in marching-band music! It makes me outraged to think about it.
What has happened to our society? Where are its values?
I suppose marching bands make a big show. Bread and circuses, Anita. Bread and circuses. That’s all it is. I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry!
I think there’s a question of fairness here. That old-fashioned word respect—how often Mother used it!—occurs to me often these days. Call it pride, call it vanity, but I would like some respect for all I have done here. From the community. From the administration. Yes, from the students. I work hard for them!
The truth is it’s our superintendent’s doing. There is a second budget vote coming up. I told you the first one failed. He sent out a memo to everybody warning us that it might fail again. Almost a threat. He is a very political person. But then, all he wants is to keep his job.
Oh, I am so angry….
10:40 P.M.
From the Diary of Philip Malloy
Folks got my grades. Ma asked me a few things about them before supper. I didn’t say much. Then, afterward, Dad talked to me. About the grades. Wasn’t that he blew his stack or anything. I told him the truth. He seemed to understand. But then he asked me about my being on the track team. Didn’t know what to say. If I told him what happened he would have been really mad. So I just said I decided I wouldn’t go for the tryouts.
That got him upset.
I just realized two things that make me want to puke. Track practice starts tomorrow and I’m not on the team. Also, I start homeroom with Narwin!!!!! Can’t stand even looking at her. I have to find a way to get transferred out.
11:45 P.M.
Discussion between Philip Malloy’s Parents
MRS. MALLOY: Did you talk to Philip? About that grade?
MR. MALLOY: Sure.
MRS. MALLOY: What’s going on?
MR. MALLOY: I’m not sure. Fussing with the English teacher.
MRS. MALLOY: What do you mean?
MR. MALLOY: Like he told you. He doesn’t like her. I told him he didn’t have much choice. Take the bad with the good. Then he said he wasn’t going to try out for track.
MRS. MALLOY: That he was not?
MR. MALLOY: That’s what he told me.
MRS. MALLOY: But that’s all he thinks about.
MR. MALLOY: I know. He doesn’t know how good he is. I reminded him.
MRS. MALLOY: Did he give a reason?
MR. MALLOY: Not really. Something about not having to do what I did.
MRS. MALLOY: Oh, he’ll change his mind. Kids are so moody.
MR. MALLOY: Hope so.
MRS. MALLOY: Maybe just don’t mention it.
MR. MALLOY: Maybe.
MRS. MALLOY: I’m glad you spoke to him. Not every father would.
MR. MALLOY: He doesn’t make it easy.
7:30 A.M.
Conversation between Philip Malloy and Ken Barchet on the Way to the School Bus
PHILIP MALLOY: What’s happening, man?
KEN BARCHET: Nothing. Got room changes. Who’d you get?
PHILIP MALLOY: Narwin.
KEN BARCHET: So do I. She’s okay.
PHILIP MALLOY: Can’t stand her.
KEN BARCHET: Doesn’t matter. It’s just homeroom.
PHILIP MALLOY: No way. I’ve got her for English too. I’m going to get transferred out of both.
KEN BARCHET: Why?
PHILIP MALLOY: Told you. Can’t stand her.
KEN BARCHET: How you going to do that?
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m working on it.
KEN BARCHET: Sure … Malloy Magic, right?
PHILIP MALLOY: You’ll see.
8:03 A.M.
Discussion in Margaret Narwin’s Homeroom Class
MISS NARWIN: Ladies and gentlemen, please settle down. All right. Settle down. For the moment just take any seat you wish. We’ll work out particular problems a bit later on. Yes?
STUDENT: Am I supposed to be in this room?
MISS NARWIN: What’s your name?
STUDENT: Lisa Gibbons.
MISS NARWIN: Lisa? Yes, you’re on my list. Just take any seat for the moment.
STUDENT: Miss Narwin, what about me?
MISS NARWIN: Is that you, Gloria? No, you’re not here. Did you get a notice?
GLORIA: No.
MISS NARWIN: Oh, dear. Best check in the main office.
ALLISON DORESETT: What about me?
MISS NARWIN: You’ll all have to lower your voices if I’m going to sort things out. Yes, Allison, you are here. Yes?
STUDENT: Joseph R. Rippens.
MISS NARWIN: I think that—
INTERCOM VOICE OF DR. GERTRUDE DOANE, HARRISON HIGH PRINCIPAL: Good morning to all students, faculty, and staff.
STUDENT: Am I?
MISS NARWIN: Please, let’s just get done with the morning business.
DR. DOANE: Today is Wednesday, March 28. Today will be a Schedule B day.
Today in history: in the year A.D. 193 the Roman Emperor Pertinax was assassinated. On this day in 1862 the Civil War battle of Glorieta, New Mexico, was fought. Today in Czechoslovakia it is Teachers’ Day.
Please all rise and stand at respectful, silent attention for the playing of our national anthem.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light …
MISS NARWIN: Is that someone humming?
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars …
MISS NARWIN: I don’t know who that is, but you heard Dr. Doane request silence.
… through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? …
MISS NARWIN: Is that you, Philip?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air …
PHILIP MALLOY: Just humming.
MISS NARWIN: Please stop it.
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there….
PHILIP MALLOY: Mr. Lunser doesn’t mind. I just—
MISS NARWIN: Stop it now.
PHILIP MALLOY: But—
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave …
MISS NARWIN: Now! Thank you.
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
10:30 A.M.
Discussion between Margaret Narwin and Jacob Benison, Science Teacher, in the Faculty Room
MR. BENISON: Morning, Peg. How’s it going? Lots of confusion with the new homerooms?
MISS NARWIN: I’ll get through it.
MR. BENISON: Awful lot of mix-ups. Kids going every which way. As if they weren’t informed. Happens this way every year. Sometimes I think it’s not worth the trouble.
MISS NARWIN: I agree.
MR. BENISON: I’ll be glad to get out of it. Forty-four more days!
MISS NARWIN: Sometimes I think I should join you.
MR. BENISON: Can’t wait. Get you some coffee? Kim brought in muffins.
MISS NARWIN: Kim?
MR. BENISON: Kimberly Howard. Music.
MISS NARWIN: I’ll ju
st sit here.
MR. BENISON: Something the matter, Peg?
MISS NARWIN: Oh, stupid business. I suppose it’s this changing homeroom classes. The announcements, and so on. And when the national anthem comes on, the students are supposed to stand in silence.
MR. BENISON: Right. “Respect, silence, and attention,” I think the rule reads.
MISS NARWIN: Exactly. I had a student who started to hum loudly. Very loudly.
MR. BENISON: Uh-oh. Who was that?
MISS NARWIN: Philip Malloy.
MR. BENISON: Oh, sure, Phil. Nice kid. Bright—when he gets around to doing some work. Which isn’t exactly every day. He’s got being fast on his brain. Humming loudly? What was he doing that for?
MISS NARWIN: I don’t know. I had to ask him to stop.
MR. BENISON: Did he?
MISS NARWIN: Not at first. I spoke to him twice. He claimed he always did it before.
MR. BENISON: That right?
MISS NARWIN: Bernie Lunser’s class.
MR. BENISON: Oh? Well, the term won’t last forever.
MISS NARWIN: Sometimes I wonder. Maybe I will get some coffee.
MR. BENISON: Hey, the meaning of life!
12:15 P.M.
Discussion between Philip Malloy and Todd Becker in the School Lunchroom
TODD BECKER: Hey, man, how come you aren’t going out for track?
PHILIP MALLOY: Got too much to do.
TODD BECKER: We could use you, man. Need some power. We really could.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’ll think about it.
TODD BECKER: You should.
PHILIP MALLOY: Just don’t bug me.
TODD BECKER: Sure. Sure. I’m just asking. Who’d you get for homeroom?
PHILIP MALLOY: What?
TODD BECKER: Who’s your new homeroom teacher?
PHILIP MALLOY: Narwin.
TODD BECKER: I like her.
PHILIP MALLOY: I hate her.
TODD BECKER: Yeah? How come?
PHILIP MALLOY: She is the stupidest teacher…. You know how they play “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the morning … ?
TODD BECKER: Yeah….
PHILIP MALLOY: Well, I started to sing it….
TODD BECKER: Why?
PHILIP MALLOY: Felt like it.
TODD BECKER: So?
PHILIP MALLOY: She told me to stop.
TODD BECKER: Stop what?
PHILIP MALLOY: Humming.
TODD BECKER: Thought you said singing.
PHILIP MALLOY: Whatever.
TODD BECKER: How come she made you stop?
PHILIP MALLOY: I don’t know. She’s got something against me. I don’t know what it is. She really has it in for me. Something. I mean, she’s always onto me about something. Really. I wish I knew.
TODD BECKER: What did you do?
PHILIP MALLOY: I told you. Nothing.
TODD BECKER: No. I mean when she told you to stop humming.
PHILIP MALLOY: I stopped.
TODD BECKER: Man, those are the biggest cookies I ever saw. Like pizzas.
PHILIP MALLOY: My mother makes them.
TODD BECKER: Amazing.
PHILIP MALLOY: Here. Take a piece. Humming, would you believe it? No way I’m staying in her classes.
1:40 P.M.
Discussion in Margaret Narwin’s English Class
MISS NARWIN: Now, scene two, line fifty-two. Brutus says, “No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself / But by reflection, by some other things.” What does he mean by that? Anyone? Someone want to take a chance? Roger?
ROGER SANCHEZ: That he can’t see himself.
MISS NARWIN: Close. Yes, Philip?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah, but what if he’s cross-eyed? He’d see himself then, wouldn’t he?
MISS NARWIN: Philip, I’m not even going to respond to that! Terri?
3:15 P.M.
Discussion between Philip Malloy and Allison Doresett on the School Bus
ALLISON DORESETT: Can I sit next to you?
PHILIP MALLOY: Oh, sure. Sure.
ALLISON DORESETT: What’s the matter? You look like death warmed over.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m okay.
ALLISON DORESETT: You got Miss Narwin mad with that joke in English.
PHILIP MALLOY: She’s always mad at me.
ALLISON DORESETT: Is something the matter?
PHILIP MALLOY: Nothing.
ALLISON DORESETT: School was so frantic today.
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
ALLISON DORESETT: All the sports and stuff. Hey, how come you didn’t go to track tryouts?
PHILIP MALLOY: Had to do something.
ALLISON DORESETT: Todd said you were really great. That with you on the team we were going to be county champs.
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
ALLISON DORESETT: Boy, you’re in a mood!
PHILIP MALLOY: Just don’t feel like talking.
ALLISON DORESETT: Well excuse me!
PHILIP MALLOY: Hey, Allison, wait … Damn!
3:20 P.M.
Discussion between Margaret Narwin and Bernard Lunser Outside the School’s Main Office
MISS NARWIN: Bernie!
MR. LUNSER: Oh, hi, Peg. How you doing?
MISS NARWIN: Fine. I need to ask you something.
MR. LUNSER: What’s that?
MISS NARWIN: In your morning homeroom …
MR. LUNSER: Yeah?
MISS NARWIN: When the national anthem is played …
MR. LUNSER: Right …
MISS NARWIN: Do you allow your students to sing along?
MR. LUNSER: Sing?
MISS NARWIN: During the national anthem.
MR. LUNSER: Ummmmmm … I thought the kids are supposed to be quiet.
MISS NARWIN: One of my new homeroom students, Philip Malloy, informed me that you always allowed singing.
MR. LUNSER: Oh, Philip … Right. He was in my homeroom. He’d do better if he thought himself a little less clever and got his brain into something besides running. But I like him. A decent kid. You get him?
MISS NARWIN: Do you allow singing?
MR. LUNSER: Singing?
MISS NARWIN: Yes.
MR. LUNSER: The rule says keep quiet….
MISS NARWIN: But do you allow singing?
MR. LUNSER: Hey, Peg, do I look like a guy who goes around breaking important rules?
MISS NARWIN: Thanks.
7:15 P.M.
Discussion between Philip Malloy and His Parents During Dinner
MRS. MALLOY: You seem very quiet tonight, Philip. Want some more gravy?
PHILIP MALLOY: I’ve got enough.
MR. MALLOY: I’ll have some. What did you decide to do about the track team?
MRS. MALLOY: Philip, your father asked you something.
PHILIP MALLOY: What?
MR. MALLOY: I asked you a question. You still not going out for track?
MRS. MALLOY: Philip, is something the matter?
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m not on the team.
MR. MALLOY: I know that’s what you said. But I’d like to know why. Something must be the matter.
PHILIP MALLOY: What would you say …
MRS. MALLOY: Phil, don’t talk with your mouth full.
MR. MALLOY: Have I ever missed one of your meets? Ever? This boy is the best runner in town. Makes me feel proud.
MRS. MALLOY: Ben, we know that. What were you saying, Phil?
PHILIP MALLOY: What would you say if a teacher said I wasn’t allowed to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
MR. MALLOY: What?
PHILIP MALLOY: Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
MR. MALLOY: Anywhere?
PHILIP MALLOY: In class.
MRS. MALLOY: I don’t understand. What’s this have to do with what your father asked—your running? Singing in the middle of class?
PHILIP MALLOY: Ma, listen! I’m trying to tell you. I mean … you know, when school starts, first period, homeroom, when they play, you know, the … song over the speaker system
. It’s a tape.
MR. MALLOY: Come again.
PHILIP MALLOY: I’m trying to explain!
MR. MALLOY: No need to raise your voice!
MRS. MALLOY: The both of you …
MR. MALLOY: Now, Philip, just tell us what—obviously, something has happened. Calmly and factually, tell us what happened. Why you are so upset?
PHILIP MALLOY: I told you…. In school today …
MR. MALLOY: Okay. In school today. But what?
PHILIP MALLOY: We got new homeroom teachers.
MRS. MALLOY: Just you?
PHILIP MALLOY: No. I never said that. Everybody. The whole school.
MRS. MALLOY: I don’t understand.
MR. MALLOY: Susan, just let Phil tell his story without interruptions.
MRS. MALLOY: I’m just trying to understand.
PHILIP MALLOY: Anyway, I got this Miss Narwin. She’s a real bitch….
MR. MALLOY: Phil!
PHILIP MALLOY: Do you want to know what happened or not!
MRS. MALLOY: Honey, let the boy tell it his way.
PHILIP MALLOY: Anyway, they always start off the day, you know, with playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Okay. It’s stupid, but, well, sometimes I sort of sing along….
MRS. MALLOY: You have a very sweet voice.
PHILIP MALLOY: Or hum….
MR. MALLOY: Hum?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah. Right. Hum. No big deal. But this teacher, she got real mad and started to yell at me to stop.
MRS. MALLOY: She yelled?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
MR. MALLOY: Let me understand this. Just—out of the blue—she yelled at you because you were—?
PHILIP MALLOY: Right. Humming. That’s all I was doing, I mean, not loud. Soft.
MR. MALLOY: And she yelled at you?
PHILIP MALLOY: That’s what I’m trying to say.
MRS. MALLOY: That’s not what I’d call fair.
MR. MALLOY: The national anthem—“Oh, say, can you see”—is that what you’re talking about?
PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah.
MR. MALLOY: You have some more of that … ?