Nothing but the Truth

by Avi

  DR. DOANE: I don’t know the particulars of this situation. You’ve only just informed me about it. I see no reason to be talking to a reporter about a student’s problem. In any case, it doesn’t seem to have happened. The superintendent told you we have no such rule.

  MS. STEWART: Would a student in your school run into difficulty by singing the national anthem?

  DR. DOANE: Of course not. But I repeat: discipline problems of a minor nature are handled by my assistant principal.

  MS. STEWART: Palleni?

  DR. DOANE: That’s right. Dr. Joseph Palleni.

  MS. STEWART: Thank you.

  10:30 A.M.

  Discussion between Philip Malloy and His Mother

  PHILIP MALLOY: Hey, Ma, look! Look at this letter.

  MRS. MALLOY: What letter?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Just came in the mail. Look. They shifted me out of Narwin’s homeroom class. Back to Mr. Lunser.

  MRS. MALLOY: Let me see. Well, that’s something. They must have seen something was wrong there. Maybe you can go back to school Monday.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Says it won’t happen till Tuesday. When I go back.

  MRS. MALLOY: May be just as well. I don’t want you to have to deal with that woman again.

  PHILIP MALLOY: But I still have her for English.

  MRS. MALLOY: Didn’t they change that?

  PHILIP MALLOY: No.

  MRS. MALLOY: But if they admit they’re wrong about the one thing …

  PHILIP MALLOY: Bet they just forgot to say that. Where’s Dad?

  MRS. MALLOY: Went to the store. Feel better?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Yeah. But the English …

  MRS. MALLOY: You just said they forgot.

  PHILIP MALLOY: I guess….

  10:40 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Jennifer Stewart of the Manchester Record and Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Palleni

  MS. STEWART: May I speak to Dr. Joseph Palleni, please?

  MRS. PALLENI: Who’s calling, please?

  MS. STEWART: Jennifer Stewart, reporter for the Manchester Record.

  MRS. PALLENI: He’s in the backyard. I’ll get him.

  MS. STEWART: Appreciate that.

  DR. PALLENI: Hello? This is Dr. Palleni.

  MS. STEWART: Dr. Palleni, this is Jennifer Stewart. I’m a reporter for the Manchester Record. I’m doing a story—I’ve already spoken with your superintendent, Dr. Seymour, and your principal, Dr. Doane—

  DR. PALLENI: What is this about?

  MS. STEWART: Dr. Palleni, according to Dr. Seymour, the Harrison School District has no rule that would keep a student from singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  DR. PALLENI: Did you say singing?

  MS. STEWART: Yes. Is that your understanding?

  DR. PALLENI: Well …

  MS. STEWART: Now your principal, Dr. Doane, says that you are in charge of discipline in the school.

  DR. PALLENI: With her.

  MS. STEWART: With her?

  DR. PALLENI: I always keep her informed.

  MS. STEWART: Did you inform her that on Friday you suspended a student, Philip Malloy, for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

  DR. PALLENI: I did no such thing!

  MS. STEWART: You didn’t inform your superior, or you didn’t suspend the boy for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Which? I am simply trying to get my facts straight. Dr. Palleni? Are you still there?

  DR. PALLENI: I don’t wish to talk to you.

  MS. STEWART: No comment?

  DR. PALLENI: No comment. But you’ve got your facts all wrong.

  MS. STEWART: Is that your comment?

  DR. PALLENI: No comment.

  MS. STEWART: I’m sorry. Should I call you back?

  DR. PALLENI: Not to talk about this.

  MS. STEWART: May I quote you?

  DR. PALLENI: Thank you. Good-bye.

  11:00 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Jennifer Stewart of the Manchester Record and Margaret Narwin

  MS. STEWART: Margaret Narwin, please.

  MISS NARWIN: Speaking.

  MS. STEWART: Miss Narwin, my name is Jennifer Stewart, of the Manchester Record. The education reporter. I’m trying to write a story regarding an incident—something that appears to have happened in your school, in your class. I understand you are a teacher.

  MISS NARWIN: An English teacher. In the high school.

  MS. STEWART: How long have you taught there?

  MISS NARWIN: For twenty-one years. What incident are you referring to? I’m not aware …

  MS. STEWART: I’m simply trying to get the facts correct. Wanting to be fair to all concerned. I’m sure you can appreciate that.

  MISS NARWIN: Are you sure this has something to do with me?

  MS. STEWART: That appears to be the case. And, as I say, I want to be fair to all concerned, and report the facts correctly.

  MISS NARWIN: I’m afraid I don’t understand….

  MS. STEWART: I spoke to your superintendent, your principal, and your assistant principal, as well as Philip Malloy and his father.

  MISS NARWIN: Who?

  MS. STEWART: Philip Malloy. I believe he is one of your students.

  MISS NARWIN: Well …

  MS. STEWART: Now, as I understand it, the boy was dismissed from your class, then suspended from school because—he says it’s a question of patriotism with him—he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” during opening exercises in school in your class. Could you shed some light on this? Miss Narwin? Are you there?

  MISS NARWIN: Yes….

  MS. STEWART: Could you give me your side of the story?

  MISS NARWIN: The boy was creating a disturbance.

  MS. STEWART: I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear you. Could you speak up?

  MISS NARWIN: The boy was creating a serious disturbance.

  MS. STEWART: By singing the national anthem?

  MISS NARWIN: We have a rule….

  MS. STEWART: Your superintendent, Dr. Seymour, says there is no rule.

  MISS NARWIN: I don’t think I should be talking about this.

  MS. STEWART: But you do acknowledge that you sent him from your room?

  MISS NARWIN: Yes, but …

  MS. STEWART: For singing our national anthem?

  MISS NARWIN: I think you need to speak to our principal.

  MS. STEWART: I did speak to her.

  MISS NARWIN: Then I have nothing more to say.

  MS. STEWART: You are sure?

  MISS NARWIN: Quite sure.

  MS. STEWART: Thank you, Miss … or is it Mrs. Narwin?

  MISS NARWIN: Miss.

  MS. STEWART: Thank you.

  MISS NARWIN: Thank you.

  11:15 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Dr. Gertrude Doane and Dr. Joseph Palleni

  DR. DOANE: Joe, sorry to bother you at home.

  DR. PALLENI: That’s all right….

  DR. DOANE: I just got a call from a newspaper reporter—Manchester Record—

  DR. PALLENI: Oh, right. She called me.

  DR. DOANE: She did?

  DR. PALLENI: About a suspension—Philip Malloy. On Friday.

  DR. DOANE: What is this? I was at district meetings. What’s this all about? Why should a reporter be calling?

  DR. PALLENI: I put a memo in your box. Yesterday.

  DR. DOANE: Joe, I was at meetings.

  DR. PALLENI: Right. I know. Okay. The Malloy boy was suspended for two days—actually, less—because he was causing a disturbance in Peg Narwin’s class.

  DR. DOANE: Joe, what this reporter said—told me—it was for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” What’s this all about?

  DR. PALLENI: Oh, no, no. Nothing like that. It was just that he—Philip—was acting out in class. Look, Gert, he did it twice this week. So I had to suspend him. Look. I, you know, I talked it over with the kid. He agrees about what happened. He does. That’s not an issue. Besides, I gave him a chance to work it out, you know, apologize, promise not to do it again. He’s
okay. I mean, his record is perfect. Didn’t seem like much of a thing. But he wouldn’t swallow his pride. Something else, I suspect. At home. Hormones. You name it. Anyway, that’s all it is.

  DR. DOANE: But why should a reporter call me?

  DR. PALLENI: I don’t know. As I said, she called me too.

  DR. DOANE: What did you tell her?

  DR. PALLENI: Told her to mind her own business.

  DR. DOANE: Joe …

  DR. PALLENI: Good Lord, Gert, if I had to discuss every little problem we have with the kids with every fool reporter …

  DR. DOANE: I know. I know.

  DR. PALLENI: Do you want me to talk to her? Suppose I could track her down.

  DR. DOANE: Not if it was only what you said it was.

  DR. PALLENI: It was. Believe me. It was.

  DR. DOANE: Okay. If she does call back, you can just refer her to me.

  DR. PALLENI: Will do.

  DR. DOANE: Have a nice weekend, Joe. Sorry to bother you.

  DR. PALLENI: No problem. Have a good one, Gert.

  11:45 P.M.

  From the Diary of Philip Malloy

  Aside from getting out of Narwin’s homeroom—still not out of her English—not much of anything today. Boring! Newspapers to deliver. Collection day. Can’t understand how people who want the paper think they can get away with not paying for it. And it comes out of my pocket. Then folks made me do yard work. Clean up room. Ken came over.

  Been trying to figure a way to get on the school track team. Maybe—like the coach said—I should ask Narwin for extra work. Be worth it. I hate working out without a team….

  Article from the Community Section of the Manchester Record

  SUSPENDED FOR PATRIOTISM

  by J. Stewart, Education Reporter

  Harrison. While it may appear to be an April Fools’ Day joke, tenth grader Philip Malloy of Harrison High School was suspended for singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  His parents, Susan and Benjamin Malloy of Harrison Township, do not consider themselves super-patriots, but they did raise their son to have pride in our country. It was only natural then for Philip to sing along when the national anthem was played on tape during morning exercises. According to Harrison School superintendent Dr. A. Seymour, there is no rule against singing the anthem. Indeed, in every other class Philip did just that. His new homeroom teacher, Ms. Margaret Narwin, however, changed the rules. Every time Philip lifted his voice to sing she threw him out of class, insisting a disturbance was being created.

  School principal Dr. Gertrude Doane, who admits that Philip has no previous bad marks on his record, saw the issue only as one of discipline, and referred all questions regarding school policy to Dr. Joseph Palleni, assistant principal. Dr. Palleni, however, refused to be interviewed regarding the incident.

  What will young Malloy—who has his own delivery route for the Manchester Record—do during his suspension from school? Philip, who still hopes to make the school track team this spring, said, “Try to keep up with my work, and work out with classmates after school.”

  Harrison Township will be voting on a new school district budget this spring, along with a new school board.

  8:30 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Dr. Albert Seymour and Dr. Gertrude Doane

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gertrude?

  DR. DOANE: This is Gertrude Doane.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Gertrude, Al Seymour here. Did you see this morning’s paper?

  DR. DOANE: Just reading the first section now.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Well, look at section D. Community news. Page two. School news.

  DR. DOANE: Why?

  DR. SEYMOUR: Just do it.

  DR. DOANE: Hold on a moment.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Did you find it?

  DR. DOANE: Yes, and I … Oh my!

  DR. SEYMOUR: Read it.

  DR. DOANE: This is ridiculous!

  DR. SEYMOUR: What is this business? I had a call from a reporter yesterday, but … Is any of this true?

  DR. DOANE: Al, the boy was not suspended because of singing the national anthem. Of course not. He was suspended because he was creating a disturbance. That’s according to Joe.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Joe?

  DR. DOANE: Joe Palleni.

  DR. SEYMOUR: A disturbance by singing? Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

  DR. DOANE: Yes. Joe handled it.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Who is this Narwin woman?

  DR. DOANE: An English teacher. She’s been on the staff for years. Actually, longest of all, I think. A good teacher.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Oh, yes. Think I know her. And that’s all there is to it?

  DR. DOANE: As far as I know.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Let’s hope so. I mean …

  DR. DOANE: Al, no one could take this seriously.

  DR. SEYMOUR: I hope not. I hope not. With the budget vote soon … and the school board—

  DR. DOANE: Do you want me to call the newspaper?

  DR. SEYMOUR: Ah … no. But if you get any calls you can refer them all to me. To my office. Tomorrow.

  DR. DOANE: I will.

  DR. SEYMOUR: This is not going to do us any good.

  DR. DOANE: No one reads about schools.

  DR. SEYMOUR: Let’s hope so.

  9:20 A.M.

  Phone Conversation between Philip Malloy and Ken Barchet

  PHILIP MALLOY: What’s happening?

  KEN BARCHET: Did you see the paper?

  PHILIP MALLOY: I deliver it. I don’t have to read it.

  KEN BARCHET: Guess what my ma found in it.

  PHILIP MALLOY: What?

  KEN BARCHET: It’s all about you.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Sure. April fool.

  KEN BARCHET: No. Really. Look at section D. Page two. A riot.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Sure.

  KEN BARCHET: It ain’t true. But it’s funny. We working out?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Have to visit my grandma at the nursing home.

  KEN BARCHET: Make sure they don’t lock you up. See you.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Catch you later.

  KEN BARCHET: Don’t forget to look.

  PHILIP MALLOY: April fool.

  9:50 A.M.

  Conversation between Philip Malloy’s Parents

  MRS. MALLOY: Look here, Ben. That reporter did put in a story about Philip.

  MR. MALLOY: You’re kidding! Let me see.

  MRS. MALLOY: Here.

  MR. MALLOY: I’ll be….

  MRS. MALLOY: It’s got the whole thing.

  MR. MALLOY: See, the superintendent says there’s no such rule. It was just that teacher.

  MRS. MALLOY: Doesn’t seem right.

  MR. MALLOY: She should be fired. Philip upstairs?

  MRS. MALLOY: Think so.

  MR. MALLOY: Philip! Come on down here and look at this.

  PHILIP MALLOY: What?

  MRS. MALLOY: This.

  MR. MALLOY: See. If you stick up for yourself, you get action. How’s that make you feel? Philip? What do you think?

  MRS. MALLOY: What’s the matter?

  PHILIP MALLOY: I don’t know.

  MRS. MALLOY: It was the teacher. Just as you said.

  PHILIP MALLOY: Weird …

  MR. MALLOY: Just shows you—

  MRS. MALLOY: Where are you going?

  PHILIP MALLOY: Upstairs.

  MRS. MALLOY: We’re leaving in half an hour.

  MR. MALLOY: Sometimes you just have to deal with things.

  MRS. MALLOY: He looked like he was reading his own funeral notice.

  MR. MALLOY: Kids …

  MRS. MALLOY: Well, anyway, you were right. Now maybe the boy can go back to school on Monday. Isn’t it odd to see your name in the paper?

  MR. MALLOY: I sort of like it. Good if Dexter sees it.

  MRS. MALLOY: That Ted Griffen. He knows how to get things done.

  MR. MALLOY: Got my vote.

  2:30 P.M.

  Phone Conversation between Margaret Narwin and Her Sister, Anita Wigham


  MARGARET NARWIN: I just don’t understand why they would ever print such a thing.

  ANITA WIGHAM: That’s the papers….

  MARGARET NARWIN: It’s so slanted.

  ANITA WIGHAM: Peg, I don’t think anybody will pay much attention to it. Just tell people the truth. Put your faith in that.

  MARGARET NARWIN: I suppose you’re right. It’s just …

  ANITA WIGHAM: It will pass.

  7:30 P.M.

  From a Speech Delivered by Ted Griffen to a Meeting of the Harrison Sunday Fellowship

  MR. GRIFFEN: … so what I will try to do—if elected as a member of the Harrison School Board—is not just keep the cost of education down to a reasonable level—keeping our taxes down—I will work with the rest of the board to support basic American values. For I—and I can only speak for myself—I am shocked that a Harrison student should be suspended from one of our schools because he desires to sing the national anthem. Yes, my friends, it is true. It has happened here. Here—in today’s Record—is the sad story. And I say, what is the point of installing computers—which my generation never seemed to need—and at great cost—if our young people are not allowed to practice the elemental values of American patriotism?

  11:20 P.M.

  From the Diary of Philip Malloy

  Folks excited—mostly Dad—by a newspaper story about what happened in school. Wonder what will happen now. Dad keeps telling me how great I am.

  Maybe they’ll kick Miss Narwin out. Wonder if she even saw it. It’s her fault. Not mine.

  No one called. I guess I don’t go to school tomorrow.

  Watched some track on TV. Steve Hallick lost a race. Said he wasn’t ready. Can’t believe it.

  Finished The Outsiders. Not bad. Wonder what it would be like to live without parents. You could do what you’d like.

  From American Affiliated Press Wire Service

  KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL FOR PATRIOTISM

  Harrison, NH. A tenth grader was suspended from his local school because he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the school’s morning exercises. The boy, Philip Malloy, who wished to sing in the spirit of patriotism, was then forced to remain home alone, since both his parents work. English teacher Margaret Narwin, who brought about the suspension, maintains the boy was making a nuisance of himself.