Free Verse by Moses Roth Page A

eye for various reasons and…” she looks at Pierson.
    He nods, “Yeah, I suppose it’s my fault as much as anyone’s for taking such a hands-off approach. But Charlene is right, this behavior needs to stop now. Because things have gotten completely out of hand.” He looks at Mom. “As I told Manuel this morning, a student has come to us and made some accusations about what Manuel and his friends have been doing.”
    I’m smiling. “Has anyone else said that what he said was true?”
    Pierson says, “No, but we want you to understand that this is just the latest incident among many.”
    Mom says, “What accusations? Who said this?”
    “It doesn’t matter who said it.”
    “It certainly does matter. You can’t just say someone accused Manuel of something and suddenly he’s in trouble.”
    I look at Mom, surprised.
    Pierson says, “He’s not in trouble. No one’s in trouble. We just need you to stop, Manuel.”
    I say, “Stop what?”
    “You know what I’m talking about.”
    “If you can’t even define it, how can you censor it?”
    “This isn’t censorship.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “We’re stopping a bad situation from escalating.”
“What bad situation?”
    Mom says loudly, angrily, “Just cut the crap, okay? What did they say he did?”
    Yang sighs and says, “The student alleges that Manuel’s been abusing him or her and several other students.”
    Mom says, “Abusing? What kind of abuse?”
    “Verbal, physical, and sexual.”
    My face goes cold.
    Mom gasps, “Sexual?”
    Pierson nods. “The student has alleged that Manuel has brainwashed and manipulated students into performing sexual favors for you.”
    Faye.
    Not Sydney.
    Faye.
    It wasn’t like that. Was it? Did she say that?
    Just confess.
    I say, “Who—” My mouth is dry and my throat. I swallow. “Who’s saying this?”
    “I cannot disclose the identity of the student.”
    Is that what that— what it was?
    They’re looking at me.
    I look guilty.
    I am guilty.
    But—
    I say, “What kind of physical abuse?”
    “It’s been alleged that you’ve been beating the students. For disobeying your orders.”
    What? Faye said that? Why would she say that? And—
    Sydney.
    Not Faye.
    Sydney.
    I was right. Faye didn’t say anything. It was Sydney.
    I try to hide my relief.
    They’re looking at me.
    I say, “That’s completely ridiculous.” Don’t be relieved, be angry. “How dare you take this even remotely seriously!”
    Mom says, “That’s right.”
    Yang says, “We’re obligated, correctly I believe, to take any accusation of this nature seriously. Of course Manuel is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but we’re still going to investigate.”
    Pierson says, “Manuel, as I told you this morning, the school board has made a decision to forbid you from practicing your religion or whatever it is during school hours or on school premises. Also, I’m personally putting in a call to each of your,” he makes the quotes sign with his fingers, “‘followers’’ parents and letting them know what the situation is. I suspect you won’t have many students who will continue to be allowed to spend time with you after school or on the weekends.”
    Mom says, “I’ve already forbidden that.”
    “Okay. Good. Nobody wanted it to come to this, but there it is.”
    All of them are looking at me.
    Waiting for me to say something.
    But what can I say?

Chapter 31
     
    Erwin comes up to me in the hall and says, “Can I talk to you?”
    I nod and I follow him into an empty classroom and I shut the door.
    He says, “This is a test right?”
    “What?” I say.
    “You tell us you’re not the messiah. Then Mr. Pierson tells us none of us are allowed to believe in you. Then all our parents tell us not to talk to you. This is a test.”
    “It’s not a test, Erwin.”
    I set my bag on the ground and lean on a desk.
    He says, “I understand. It’s part of the test. It’s okay.”
    “Listen, Erwin. I wish you were