Amateur Hour

Ted

“I believe I have a plan,” Ted said, when Guy had finished expressing his fears. “It may not be a great plan, insofar as legalities go, but I think it’s better than nothing.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense, man.”

“I’m going to remove those students from Saguaro Springs.”

“Can you do that?”

“I can do it. I’m not sure how legal it is, but I can do it. I’m morally obligated to do it.”

“How? Where?”

“The schools take their marching orders, from me. That’s bottom line. All I have to do is call for an assembly to be held, for those students, in green or yellow, and have them loaded into a bus, and onto a plane. I’ll move them to New Canaan. They’ll be safe, there, with Liam and Janice.”

“Slick, as far as it goes.” Guy replied. “Ballsy, too.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, you’ll be transporting minors, across several state lines, without parental consent.”

“As opposed to leaving them where they are, like a poodle in a locked car, with all the windows up. I’ll take that risk.”

“Just pointing the risk out, man. If you’re willing to take it, I won’t stand in your way.”

“It’ll take a few days, to get the logistics settled. They may have to be housed in the gym, or something. I think it’s doable, though.”

“You’ll want to hit it hard, fast, and without warning.”

“Exactly. Move the kids, then inform the parents. I have a feeling they won’t object.”

“I have the same feeling. You don’t raise a stink against someone who screwed up your attempted hit, on your own child, do you?” There it was – spoken, at last.

“I see we ended up at the same train station,” Ted replied.

“So, in the meantime, I just lay low, and keep my eyes open.”

“Please. We’ll just keep on, as we have been, while I’m getting Janice and Liam set up.”

“Of course, this won’t help any of the poor souls still stuck outside the City proper.”

“No,” Ted agreed, exhaling heavily. “I still need to think about how to solve that one. I know who the are, now. I played along, asked for an update, on the status of the entire student body, and damned if they didn’t send me one.”

“If you have names, you could just do an assembly and a roll call, the same day you collect the others, from inside the school. It has to be done, at the same time.”

“More logistics,” Ted mused. “I need a scout. There must be a separate road into the Outskirts. We’ll want to approach, that way, and take them, by surprise.”

“You’ll have an informant, when and if Franklin shows up. He’ll talk to me.”

“He’ll show up. His status is unchanged — still yellow.”

“When you say, ‘we’, who do you mean?”

Ted uttered a dry chuckle. “Me, at the front gate, and good old Hermes Transportation, on the back end. Might as well make those bastards good for something.”

“Damn, Ted. You’re getting ruthless. I’m here, for it.”

“Except, you need to stay out of it, and look as oblivious as anyone else. I may need you to continue, as a mole. Speaking of which, what do you think of your colleagues, so far?”

“From what I’ve seen, you have some good teachers. The Owenses are decent people. My immediate next door neighbor seems to be on the up and up. A few smell funny — the Dean, in particular.”

“How funny? Joseph Starkey funny?”

“She’d probably choose Starkey, on a dating app. They have the same values. Then, she’d eat him alive, like a praying mantis.”

“She sounds charming.”

“She’s a piece of work.” Guy paused, considering. “If you’re looking for world class badasses, like Liam and Janice, you won’t find any. But, they aren’t all walking around, like they’re in on some big secret, like at New Canaan.”

“You think there’s something, to salvage?”

“To be honest, Ted, I don’t care whether the school can be salvaged, or not. The system needs to be burned to the ground.”

“That’s what I’m going to do, once I figure out how to go about it. I despise the whole camp setup, but, it’s not illegal, and the parents of these students have paid, for that. I can say, ‘no more’, and shut it down, after the last batch have gone through. Until then, there are contracts.”

“I hope Gordon Eldridge is screaming for mercy, in hell.”

“So do I.”

*******

Franklin

It had been a long day, from the time the collectors had come for their boxes and uniforms, at 6 a.m. They had been followed, almost immediately, by the minivan that had carried Franklin, Dale, and two other students up the road, through the gates, and into the City.

The City wasn’t much, nor had Franklin expected it to be, but it was civilized. They had passed some small stores, and a couple of pocket parks, with some patchy grass, struggling against the heat and the dry air. Closer in, there were tiny restaurants, a student bookstore, a larger bookstore, a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor, and other miscellaneous businesses.

At the early hour, there hadn’t been much going on, but it was a clean, tidy place, with a few electric carts sharing the road. He and Dale had exchanged looks, but few words, as they had taken turns, pointing at things, for each other to look at.

Dale had been vibrating, with excitement, one leg constantly bouncing. The other two boys had shared half-whispered comments, in the seat in front of them, as if they expected the driver to tell them not to talk. Franklin had been more subdued than all of them. One of the other two boys had a green striped tie, which added just one more wrinkle to the puzzle, and another layer to his doubts.

At the end of the short ride, the four of them had been dropped at a side door into the school, and met by an affable functionary, a fresh faced blonde twenty-something, who welcomed them, and led them inside.

“My name is Carrie Mitchum,” she’d smiled, “and I’ll be escorting you gentlemen to the badging area. “Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have, along the way, and I’ll answer them, if I can. We need to get moving, though.” She’d begun to walk, as she had spoken. “Breakfast is in an hour, and you won’t want to miss it. You guys have a busy day, ahead of you.”

“That’s good,” Dale had murmured to Franklin. “My stomach wants to jump up, and swallow my head.”

“You’re always hungry.”

“Genius burns a lot of calories.”

“Which explains my weight loss. Not your appetite, though.”

Carrie had glanced back at them, with an amused look. “Sounds like you two have been together, for a while.” She’d pushed through a set of glass doors, and the party had followed her.

“No locks?” one of the other boys had asked.

“Some doors are locked, after school hours. Classrooms, mostly. The outer doors are locked, at curfew, but until 9 p.m., you may pretty much go where you like. Dorm headcount is at 9:15. Lights out, at 10, on weekdays. Midnight, on Friday and Saturday.”

“Have we died, and gone to heaven?” Dale had asked Franklin.

“Sounds too good, to be true.”

“I know it does,” Carrie had said, pulling up, for a moment. “But, it’s more like you’ve been through Purgatory, before ending up in heaven.”

“Respectfully, Miss Mitchum,” one boy, heretofore silent, had spoken up, “what would you know about it?” He was a thin young man, sporting a tie with green stripes, and a peeling sunburn, on his face.

Franklin, Dale, and the boy’s companion had all cringed, at this borderline disrespect.

Rather than becoming angry, however, Carrie had fixed her challenger, with a sympathetic gaze. “I know, because I went through it, myself. The girls’ version, anyway. It’s probably not as demanding, granted, but it was the same sun, dust, scorpions, snakes, coyotes, tents, outhouses, and our own lovely female Goons. I’m not telling you this, to make you feel bad, only to let you know I understand.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Don’t be. I got my head on straight, and got a good education, here. Three years worth.” She’d begun to walk again, motioning them to follow.

Franklin had grabbed Dale’s sleeve, and held him, until the other two boys had fallen in behind her, where they had been.

“She’s lying,” he’d muttered, very low, without moving his lips.

“Maybe she’s… what do they call it? Institutionalized,” he’d answered his own question. There’s a line between skeptical and paranoid, bro. You’re skating up to the edge.”

“Come on, fellas,” Carrie had called back to them. She’d slowed a bit, to allow them to catch up, then had picked up the pace, again, leading the down wide corridors, through some common areas, then into some ever-narrowing corridors, until they’d come out, into a kind of waiting area, with chairs.

“This is where I leave you, guys,” she said, ringing a doorbell, to alert somebody in the inner area to their presence. “Have a seat, and someone will be right with you.”

Franklin had been about to comply, as the others had, until he’d spied a large color photo, one above several, arranged in a pyramid, on the wall opposite the chairs. He’d straightened, and walked over for a closer look.

“What the actual hell…?” he’d said, just loudly enough to be heard by Carrie, as she’d turned to go.

“What is it?” she’d asked, walking back to see what had caught his attention.

“It’s Mr. Billie!” he’d exclaimed, in disbelief.

“That’s right. Theodore Billie is the late Mr. Eldridge’s son. He’s the Chief Executive of the Ridgeview corporation, now.”

“He was my English Lit teacher, a couple of months ago, at New Canaan.”

“So, the rumors are true. Mr. Billie hasn’t visited us, so, I’ve never met him. Hopefully, he will, before long. What’s he like?”

“He’s a very good teacher. Quiet guy, with a sense of humor, unless he’s changed.” The thought had been troublesome. Franklin knew, from his own experience, just how much someone could change, in only a couple of months.

The expression on Mr. Billie’s face, in the photo was beyond stern. It was almost grim; a contrast to the subtle, rather fake smiles, in the other photos near his. There was something purposeful, in his gaze, and he was the only one wearing a hat, pulled a bit low, on his brow. The hat had a band made from the skin of an Eastern Diamondback.

“He looks a little intimidating,” Carrie had remarked. “It’s hard to believe he’s Mr. Eldridge’s son. There’s no resemblance, at all. Well — I have to go.” She’d given him a shrugging smile, and had walked away.

She hadn’t instructed him, again, to sit down, so Franklin had continued to look at the picture, for a moment. He hadn’t known whether to feel hope, or dread. The only emotion he’d been able settle on, had been astonishment, as he’d taken a seat next to Dale.

“That guy was really one of your teachers?”

“Yeah. A good one, but it was actually a guy, named Guy, who really got me into books. It’s like, he made it click, for me, and now I remember some of the stuff Mr. Billie was trying to put out there, for the class.”

“A ghost teacher, in your own head,” Dale had joked.

“Like that, yeah.”

Before either of them had been able to say any more, Dale whose surname began with an ‘A’ had been called into another room, to have his picture taken, for his badge. Franklin had been a bit uneasy, until Dale had reemerged, unscathed, some moments after he’d gone in.

“Just your ordinary school badge photo shoot,” he’d reassured the others. “Smile at the birdie, fill out your name, blah, blah, blah, on the form.”

After they’d received their badges and lanyards, they had been taken to breakfast, and asked to stay at a particular table, for the next escort, to collect them, after they had eaten.

The food had been good — excellent, actually, and they had each been allowed a cup of coffee. The cafeteria had been filled with students, chattering, laughing, and eating at unassigned tables, boys and girls together, in some cases.

They’d drawn a few glances. One boy, in a black striped tie, had stared at them long enough, that Franklin had found himself staring back, defensively. The other had kid smiled, and given him a thumbs up, before returning his attention, to his own breakfast.

The smile and the gesture had reminded Franklin that these other students, were just like him. They had come in, on a bus, to the middle of a desert, lived in tents, then shacks, until ending up, here.

After breakfast, they had been shown to a small classroom, where they had been seated, spaced well apart, and given a battery of psychological tests, and personality tests. After a break, they had returned for more tests, before lunch.

Academic placement tests had followed lunch, and another break had ensued, while the tests had been scored. Franklin had been relieved to find he was at grade level in everything, except reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. He’d scored high, in those. Dale had laughed, when they compared scores. Franklin had been incredulous. He’d actually outscored his friend, by a couple of points.

“I’m not surprised. Why are you? I still smoked your ass, in math.”

“Good. I’ll know who to go to, for homework help.”

“Any time, bro.”

Finally, they had been given a tour, and a map of the school and grounds.

“You can’t really get lost, off the grounds,” their guide had explained. “The City is on one big loop, and there are transportation stops, everywhere. Any transpo cart will bring you right back here, eventually.”

“We can leave?” the green-tie kid had asked.

“If you want. Just don’t be late, for classes. And, whatever you do, don’t miss a class. Your financial credits will be converted to real cash, but your social credits are still subject to scrutiny, and loss. Missing classes will hit those, hard. You can regain some ground, with various activities, but don’t rely on those, to maintain your standing. It’s school. You’re expected to be in class.”

The tour had ended, in the dorms. Like in New Canaan’s dorms, the rooms were for single occupants, but they were a bit larger, each containing a table and two chairs, to allow for one on one study. There was enough room to pull the table out, to allow for four, with extra chairs brought in.

Franklin’s room was across the common room, from Dale’s. His uniforms had been hung in his closet, already, and his box was on the table. The two other boys had been placed in another dorm.

“Looks like we’re on our own, now,” Dale observed, as their guide exited, with the others, in tow.

“Yeah. Nice knowing you, man.”

“Don’t be a dumbass. Unpack your box, and we’ll scope this place out. It’s not as if we have to line up, like ducklings, to go to dinner, in the caf’. You heard the man — as long as we get there, before the serving line closes, we get fed.”

Franklin gave himself a mental shake, for being a baby, and gave Dale a grin. What was he thinking? He was a man, and didn’t need another man to hold his hand, after all.

Dale gave him a fist bump, returning the grin, and went off to see to his own belongings.

**************

Ted

“It’s a huge ask,” Ted admitted, “but I can’t see any way around it. Those kids have to be moved.”

“Of course, they do,” Liam replied. “We’ll make it happen.”

“I’ve thought of the most obvious things you’re going to need. You’ll need more supplies brought in of food, and paper products, along with cots and bedding, and another person to act as a temporary dorm supervisor, of course. Can you think of anything else?”

“How many students are we talking about?” Janice asked. “We can absorb some, right into the existing dorms. We have…” she paused, to do a search, on her laptop. “…ten beds available, for girls, and eleven, for boys.”

“That’s great. I need only four girls’ beds, and seven boys.” It was a load off his mind, that there wouldn’t be a housing shuffle, at least. He would be able to move faster, maybe, on getting the students out.

“What are you going to tell them?” Janice asked.

Ted gawked at her, stunned by the question. He hadn’t given it a moment’s thought.

“I don’t know.”

“You can’t just go in and yank them, precipitously, out of yet another school. You’d be asking for a rebellion, and you’d deserve it.”

“Jan —” Liam began.

“No, he would, on both counts. I’m not saying you deserve it now, Ted, but you have to consider a couple of things.”

“I’m sure you’re getting ready to tell me what they are,” he smiled, indulgently.

“I am. These aren’t New Canaan kids, Ted. They’re an entirely different breed, now. They’ve clawed their way up, from a hell in the desert, created just for them. They have earned a degree of respect that their prospective schoolmates won’t have earned. They’ve earned privileges, that you’re getting ready to take away, from them.”

“In return for their safety. Some of them, for their very lives.”

“I’m just telling you how they’re going to see it. As for their lives and safety, sure — you’re guaranteeing them, as much as anyone could. But, even the least intelligent of them will realize that it was we, the grownups, the ones who control the system, who placed their safety in jeopardy, in the first place.”

“That’s hardly fair — we did no such thing!”

“No, it’s not fair. But, it’s the legacy Gordon Eldridge left all of us. All I’m saying, is that you have to be aware of it, and mindful of how you execute the project.”

Ted closed his eyes, and passed his fingers across his forehead, several times. He didn’t have a headache, yet, except in the figurative sense. Why did women have to be so difficult?

“We can’t tell them the truth; that their parents are the ones to blame,” Liam pointed out.

“No. That’s some off-the-charts toxicity, to put it mildly. The emotional fallout, for the kids would be… I don’t have the solution. I only see the problem.”

Ted opened his eyes, and raised his head, to look at her. “Would it help, to bring in therapists? Real ones — not the ilk that used to visit, from time to time.”

“It’s better, not to open the can of worms, at all,” she replied. “You can bring them here, and save them, but then, you’re left with their questions, and worse — the emotional damage the answers will do.”

“Are you underestimating their resilience, Jan? You said it, yourself; they’ve clawed their way up, from hell, already.”

“Some of them might recover. Most of them, won’t. Those will act out, and possibly become a danger to themselves and others.”

“Yet, you don’t have an answer,” Ted smiled, bitterly.

“Not one you’ll like. It’s not heroic.”

“That’s a hell of an indictment, Janice.” There was no smile on his face, now, bitter or otherwise. “Why don’t you tell me what it is? If it’s not heroic, I’ll bet it’s not practical, either.”

Liam laughed. “You really do know how to treat your few friends, don’t you, Ted? Why don’t you shut up, for once?”

“All right.” He gave an ironic motion of the hand to indicate that Janice had the floor.

“Whether or not it’s practical, depends on your metric. It’s not convenient, certainly, but it might save the sanity as well as the lives of these kids. Leave them, where they are, and get rid of the staff at Saguaro Springs, Ted. Suspend every one of them, until you can be satisfied that they are safe, to take back. You’re going to have to do it, eventually.”

“What about supervision, for the kids? It’s summer, and public schools are ready to go out, for a break, but our students are residents. You’re not proposing that we send them home?”

“Some could go, if they wanted, and their parents agreed,” Liam said. “It’s not likely that the ones with special status would be invited home, is it? It would be a blow, to some of them, but that’s typical of boarding schools, everywhere, at breaks and holidays. Minor hurt feelings, versus full mental breakdowns, caused by the other option? The choice seems obvious.”

Ted couldn’t deny, even to himself, that the idea had merit. Hiring new teachers would be a nightmare, but, in the long run, it might be better for the students. All of them.

“You wouldn’t be disenfranchising any of the kids, or raising the dangerous questions, in their minds. You won’t have to worry about custodial interference issues, or, incidentally, transporting minors across multiple state lines, without parental consent.”

“All very good points,” he admitted. “Anything else?”

“If you sell it as a furlough, with pay, to the teachers, they would have questions, but you could simply ignore them. Guy said there were some good ones. You could call those back, and cut the bad ones right out of there. It’s ironic, I know, but I think the staff who left this school might have been worse than the ones in Saguaro Springs, from what Guy has said.”

She was probably right about that. Between the two schools, most of the mysterious bonuses had gone to teachers, at New Canaan. Any such, at the other school would serve, also, as a flag, against reinstatement. He was starting to like Janice’s idea better.

“It’s a tree that will have to be pruned, sooner or later. You’re right about that. All right, Janice. You’ve talked me into it. I suppose I can go to the contractor who provides the dorm supervisors, there, and request extra staff, to babysit, and keep order, and I’ll go, myself, as a temporary Dean.”

“Why not just tap Guy? He’s already there,” Liam suggested.

Ted laughed, what Nina would have considered one of his good laughs.

“He’s a borderline delinquent, himself. The students would have to keep him in line. Seriously — you and Janice are both killing it, as Deans, but you know what an undertaking it is. I don’t think Guy has the temperament, for it.” He rose, and picked up his hat, from the empty chair, next to him. “Walk me out, Janice?”

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry I got nasty with you, back there,” he said, when they were a few steps down the hall. “It was uncalled for.”

“No, I got defensive.”

“You had the right, to be. It’s not your job, to solve my problems, then, somehow, you did. Sometimes, I think my focus is broader, than it is. It was unreasonable of me, to get angry, when you showed me what should have been a glaring flaw, in my own plan. Truth is, my ego’s been taking a beating, for the last few days.”

“Nina hasn’t been herself, either,” she observed.

“Ah… Nina’s entirely herself. It’s just that she’s finally learned who she is.” He sighed. He’d spoken to his wife, several times, since being evicted, and she hadn’t thawed a bit, not that Ted blamed her. Yet, without her, he was rudderless.

“She won’t tell me what’s wrong, but she’s heartbroken, whatever it is.”

“Let’s just say, she found out about a mistake I’ve made, to try to remedy another. Telling her about the first mistake would be a disaster.”