Free Unknown by Christopher Smith Page B

fact that you actually think that I have control over everyone’s bladder is the funniest thing I’ve heard in weeks.”
    Before he could speak, Ginny Gibson suddenly got all righteous.   “You said ‘boo’ to us,” she said.   “You leaned forward and said, ‘boo.’   And that’s when it happened.   You said, ‘boo’ and now look at us.   Look at us!”
    I was aware that Garland was looking at me, trying to process the situation but failing.   I needed to step in and give him the big picture.  
    “Actually, Ginny, it really went down like this.   I tried to walk into the classroom when Jake blocked my entrance with one of his meaty arms and started in on me, just as he always does.”   I turned to Garland.   “And don’t pretend you don’t know anything about that.   I assume Hastings isn’t here today because he came after me yesterday.   Is that right?”
    He said nothing.   Obviously, Principal Roberts had delivered her bullying speech at last night’s teachers’ meeting.
    “Since crazy Jake here wasn’t about to move his arm, I pushed it down and walked through the door.”
    “And when he did,” Alex said, nodding toward Jake, “this idiot came after him and smashed his books over his head.   Seth went down hard.   For a moment, I think he lost consciousness because he wasn’t moving.   It’s a wonder he didn’t break his neck in that fall.”
    Garland looked at Jake.   “Is that true?”
    Too stupid and too proud to deny it, Tyler went for it.   “Yeah, it’s true,” he said, glaring at me.   “And it’ll happen again.   Bet on it.   Soon.”
    “Not in this school, it won’t,” Garland said.   “And you better watch your mouth about delivering any additional threats, because that one’s going to the police.   Go to the principal.   I’ll be down in a minute.”   He looked at me as Jake left.   “You need to see the nurse.   Have her check your head.   You could have a concussion.”  
    And then he turned to the class.   “Seems to me that people got a little nervous when Seth was hit.   When you saw that he wasn’t moving, that Alex couldn’t revive him, then a lot of you got really nervous, which is why I think many of you are in the situation you’re in now.”
    “That’s not true!” Ginny shouted.
    Garland pointed a finger at her.   “Detention.   One week.”
    “What?”
    “Do you want me to make it two?”
    Her face became so ugly, her lips twisted back in rage.
    “Go to the principal.   Now.”
    “Are you joking?   Look at me.   I’m a mop.”
    “Not my problem.   Get out of here.”
    In a huff, she grabbed her books, stepped over her little yellow puddle with whatever dignity she had left and swung out of the room with her books held low in front of her.   As she passed Jennifer, who hadn’t left the doorway, I was aware that she was looking at me.   What I saw wasn’t so much concern on her face, though it was there, but also what appeared to be her trying to solve some sort of mystery.   Me.
    Garland stepped to the center of the room.   I waited for him to say what I wanted to hear him say—that the school had enacted a strict no-bullying policy—but that isn’t what he said.   In fact, he didn’t address the situation at all.   He merely told the class to call their parents to come pick them up so they could go home, take a shower and change into fresh clothes.
    As the students filed out of the room, he turned to me.   “What’s going on with you, Seth?”
    My answer was immediate.   “I’m not taking their shit anymore.   If the school board and the teachers won’t protect me, then I need to start standing up for myself.   I’ve been going through this for years.   You know it.   You’ve seen it.   You’ve done nothing about it.   The same goes for too many other teachers in this school.   It’s wrong what’s happening and yet every teacher in here knows it’s happening to me and to