Chapter 4 – Revised Edit
No one uttered a word. Each one of them sat in silence. Other than the occasional shuffling of the front desk receptionist outside, the only sounds in the room came from the oscillating fan and Micheal’s chair.
Creak. Creak.
He couldn’t help but fidget around on the flattened chair cushion. School chairs were never allowed to be comfortable. The constant stream of visitors must have worn it down. It was so bad, he thought he was sitting on the wood itself. He kept trying to find a comfortable position, each of his movements causing the rickety old thing to creek.
Creak. Creak. Creak.
The constant moving did help distract him from his pain. It had subsided a bit, but his side still ached. But the feeling of sitting on hardwood was frustrating. While his fellow “trouble-makers” stared at the floor, he scanned the room for another possible seat. Principal Mays wouldn’t be back too soon. He should have enough time.
Creak. Creak. Crrrr…
“Would you quit fidgeting around so much! You’re stressing me out.” David said.
“It’s not my fault. It’s the chair. I can feel the wood beneath the cushion.”
What was his problem? It was just a bit of creaking, nothing to snap at. Micheal decided to try the chairs in front of the principal’s desk, the ones for one-on-one meetings. He stood up from the line of chairs against the wall, where Ms. Mendoza had left them, and walked over to test their cushion. The first felt no different, although there was no creaking while he moved around. Either the school didn’t have enough funds left over to upgrade all of their seating arrangements, or Principal Mays had a lot of summer meetings. He moved to the second chair.
“How can you be so calm?” Zuriya asked.
“I’m in here a lot. I’m not as scared of Mays as you three are.” He said.
As he plopped down on the second chair, Micheal took a better look at the state of his three classmates. LaNiya was sitting on her hands, slightly rocking back and forth in her chair. David had his arms folded across his chest, and his eyes glued to the ground. But Zuriya looked terrified. She was playing with her hands, occasionally glancing towards the door when any sort of sound came from the other side.
He wasn’t too surprised by their reactions. He often got into trouble, mostly due to his behavior and big mouth. The girls had likely never even been scolded by a teacher before. Like him, David also had a history of being sent to the principal’s office. But even he looked worried.
Micheal wished they hadn’t tried to help him. If they had just minded their own business, they would be stuck in this situation with him. He thought about asking the principal to let them go. He would accept all the blame. It was his own fault anyway.
“Why did any of you get involved anyway?” he asked, “We’re not even friends.”
“You don’t have to be friends just to help someone out.” Zuriya answered.
“Sure, but willing to stick your neck out for someone you didn’t even know wasn’t very smart, now was it?”
“I just didn’t want to see you get into trouble again.” David said, “Any more write ups and you’re bound to be suspended.”
Micheal felt his fist tense. So what if he got suspended? It wouldn’t be the first time. David had been suspended plenty of times before his parents finally got involved. Did he think he was better than him, just because he had adopted some phony, good-boy act?
“Well, your plan didn’t work out how you wanted to, did it? Now you’re stuck with me, and scared about your reputation.”
No one said anything. Zuriya shrank in her chair a bit. LaNiya remained motionless. But David looked at Micheal with an irritated stare.
“Next time, maybe think twice before you try to be a hero. Why bother if you’re just going to regret it later.” Micheal added.
“We were just trying to help.” LaNiya spoke out.
Her voice surprised him. It sounded different from the voice she used in the cafeteria. Usually, her voice reminded him of a croaking frog. She gave the impression of boredom, or that she didn’t care much for anything, but still with an air of confidence. But now, she sounded soft and shaky. Was she really that scared?
“Are you okay?” Zuriya asked, also taking notice of the change.
David also turned his head. His face seemed to soften his gaze. He unfolded his arms, and placed a hand on LaNiya’s back. But the moment he touched her, LaNiya swiped his hand away.
“DON’T…p-please don’t touch me.” She said.
“Sorry, I just thought—”
“I know. But, please, don’t.”
Again, silence filled the room. Micheal was still fidgeting in his chair when the door to the office cracked open. As Principal Mays walked in through the threshold, Ms. Mendoza could be heard. She seemed to still be trying to calm the superintendent.
“Sir, I assure you Principal Mays will handle the situation from here on out.”
“I don’t care. I want to see with my own eyes that those hooligans receive the utmost—”
SLAM. The door to the office closed behind Principal Mays. She sighed and turned her attention to the three students still sitting by the door. Seemingly confused, she frantically turned around, looking for the final trouble-maker. Micheal leaned back in his chair and signaled his presence.
“Please, join your fellow classmates against the wall, Micheal.” She asked, her voice now raspy and tired.
He didn’t want to argue. But, seeing the defeated look on her face, he nodded in compliance. He picked up his new chair and placed it against the wall. He now sat with one chair separating himself from the trio.
Principal Mays took the remaining chair and placed it in front of the four students. Taking her seat, and fidgeting a bit, she faced her students. She just stared. They all remained quiet for a moment before she finally spoke.
“I have an injured student. One reported aggressor. And three possible accomplices. So, could someone please explain to me what happened in the cafeteria?” she asked, scanning the row of students.
“It was Lance, Principal Mays!” Zuriya shouted, “He pushed Micheal first. Micheal only retaliated.”
“Being as that may, we already looked at the security cameras for the cafeteria. And while Lance clearly initiated the altercation, Micheal used much more force in his retaliation. Lance is seen having been pushed to the ground.” She said.
No one could say anything about that. Even to them, it must have looked like he initiated the real fight, while Lance was just being bothersome. His principal leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She looked straight at Micheal. Of course, she thinks he’s the problem. He can’t even bring up the fact that he got injured too. Now it’ll just sound like he’s trying to gain sympathy. He mimics her motion, keeping her gaze.
“But Micheal also got—” David tried to speak out, but was quickly interrupted.
“And, once it was clear that there was an altercation stirring about, why didn’t anyone call for a teacher or an attendant?” Principal Mays continued.
Silence.
“Okay. Look, I understand that you want to help your friends. But you cannot pick and choose the rules you obey.”
“But we didn’t—” Zuriya tried to clarify, but was still cut off.
“And neither can you choose who does and who doesn’t deserve punishment.” The principal continued, “Everyone in there is guilty of not reporting the situation earlier. But Lance specifically identified you four as the main antagonists.”
Both Zuriya and David looked shocked at having been interrupted. She wasn’t taking the time to listen to them. She had a story already mapped out in her mind, and she wasn’t going to listen to anyone’s excuses. Micheal wasn’t shocked at all. This was often how the adults around him acted.
“But you saw the camera, right? We didn’t do anything.” LaNiya said.
“We just tried to help.” David added.
“According to Lance, you three engaged in a verbal assault directed towards him.”
“What?!” all four students asked in shock.
“That’s not true.” LaNiya said.
“Unfortunately, the cameras don’t record sound. And based on the actions taken by you all in the video, his father is convinced you three were responsible for egging Micheal on. Lance also mentioned that you have a history between you?”
“Well, y-yes, “David answered, “but that shouldn’t excuse his actions today. He started everything.”
“Nothing would have happened if he hadn’t pushed Micheal.” Zuriya added.
“I’m sorry, Zuriya. But it’s out of my control now.” She said.
The door to the office opened, and Ms. Mendoza walked in. They shared a look. But Ms. Mendoza shook her head. Principal Mays turned back to them.
“Thanks to Ms. Mendoza, Lance and his family will not be pressing charges so long as you are each punished accordingly.”
“He gave us his recommendations.” Ms. Mendoza said, walking to stand next to Principal Mays.
“What kind of punishment?” David asked.
“At the very least, suspension.” She said.
All three of them stared blankly. Micheal and David had been suspended before. His foster parents would likely be angry for another suspension from school, but they wouldn’t notice him in the house anyway.
“But, as for you Micheal,” Principal Mays continued, “I’m afraid a more drastic punishment was requested for you.”
Micheal met her eyes. He’d been in multiple fights before. What could be more drastic than a suspension? Both his principal and vice principal looked at one another, then back at him.
“Due to your history and school file, the superintendent has requested that you be expelled from Camden Promise Middle School.”
He felt his eyes nearly pop out of his sockets.
“Expulsion?! When I didn’t even start the stupid fight?” he yelled.
This was insane. Sure, he had a lengthy record of fights and disobedience, but so did other kids. And you didn’t see any of them getting expelled. Even David got a second chance after his parents intervened.
“Now Micheal—” but the vice principal was quickly cut off.
“You can’t expel me! What did I even do?” Micheal continued.
“You assaulted a student.”
“So did Lance.” Zuriya added.
The principal interrupted, trying to regain control of the conversation.
“Ms. Mendoza did manage to talk him down to one final suspension. After this, you will face expulsion.”
“I stood up to a bully. Aren’t you supposed to be happy about that? Isn’t that what you preach to the parents?”
“You handled the situation incorrectly—”
“And what about Lance? Just what kind of punishment did that idiot get?” Micheal was now standing out of his seat.
“Watch your language.” Ms. Mendoza warned.
But Principal Mays sat calmly.
“Lance is being taken to a doctor to assess his injuries.” She answered, “He will not receive punishment.”
“That’s it?” Micheal shouted.
“But Principal Mays—” Zuriya asked
“I won’t hear another word about it. Be lucky you got off with just this much.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door to the office opened. The front desk receptionist poked her head inside.
“Excuse me, Principal Mays, but Dr. Reed needs to speak with you immediately.”
Principal Mays let out a long sigh, then motioned for the students to remain seated.
“I’ll be right back.”
She stood up from her chair and stepped out of the office. Ms. Mendoza followed her, closing the door behind them. Once again, all four kids were left in silence. Now, they could ponder their new situation.
“Th-that’s not possible. I can’t be suspended. I’ve never even gotten detention before.” Zuriya said, “My dad is going to scold me. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Tell me about it. My mother is going to freak out when she finds out.” David said, holding his head in his hands.
Even Micheal was shocked at the severity of the punishments. Maybe for David, a suspension may have seemed acceptable due to his history. But as far as Micheal knew, neither one of the girls had ever received a detention before.
LaNiye seemed to be hyperventilating. David and Zuriya tried to calm her down.
“Slow down, LaNiye. You’re going to faint if you keep this up.” David said.
Zuriya tried to place her hand on her back to help calm her down, but LaNiya swatted the hand away again. She stood up from her chair, her face now full of anger.
“DIDN’T I SAY NOT TO TOUCH ME?” she shouted.
“I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”
LaNiye continued her heavy breathing. It looked as though thoughts were swirling in her mind. Her face would contort between feelings of anger and fear. Micheal couldn’t quite read her. But then she looked at Micheal, and her face settled on anger. But she still didn’t say anything.
“Go ahead. Say what you need to say.” Micheal said.
She glared at Micheal but remained silent.
“Go on.” He said, trying to push her.
He figured he knew what she was thinking. All of this was Micheal’s fault, and if they hadn’t stepped in, then none of them would be in trouble.
“It is my fault, right? That’s what you want to say?”
“I-I’m just…how can you act so nonchalant about everything? Do you even care about how we’re being affected because we helped you?” LaNiye asked.
“Once again, I didn’t ask for your help. Maybe you should’ve worried about that instead of trying to be heroes. Anyway, one suspension isn’t going to hurt you.”
“You don’t know anything about us,” LaNiye said, gripping her hands.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Principal Mays returned. Dr. Reed followed closely behind her.
“Sorry for the delay, students, but Dr. Reed has proposed something to me regarding your punishments.”
She looked over towards Dr. Reed as though to ask him to explain.
“Instead of suspending you from the school, I offered Principal Mays the option to assign each of you to the school’s new STEM Club as a substitute.” He said, “Now—”
“YES! Yes, I would like to take the opportunity, please.” LaNiye said.
“What’s the STEM Club?” Zuriya asked.
“It’s a new program where we aid and encourage our students to participate in various activities, contests, and competitions involving one of the five STEM subjects being Science, Technology, and Mathematics.”
“That doesn’t really sound like something for me. I’m not that great in hard sciences.” Zuriya said doubtfully.
“You’d be surprised by what you can offer to another field. Your unique personalities and thoughts could offer a new perspective. Or perhaps you’ll find something you didn’t know that you were interested in or even good at. We want to encourage students to branch out and try things they wouldn’t normally think to try.”
“I’m in.” said David, “Anything to get out of suspension.”
“I guess I’ll try it out,” Zuriya said.
Everyone looked over towards Micheal, waiting for his response.
“I guess.”
“Good. Then each of you will be assigned to the STEM Club for the remainder of the semester.”
“Wait, what?” Micheal cried.