Chapter 8
Chapter
Monday morning, Bernadine sat in her office sipping her first cup of coffee and scrolling through the stock reports. Some of her investments had risen overnight, while others stood pat. Nothing in her vast portfolio caused her concern, which made for a great start to her day and the week.
A knock on the door diverted her attention. It was Genevieve. “Morning, Bernadine.”
“Morning.”
“Morning. Can I interrupt you for a minute?”
“Sure. Come on in.”
Gen walked to the desk and handed Bernadine an iPad. “Read that, please.”
At the top of the page was the Hollywood Reporter banner.
Bernadine found that confusing. She glanced over at where Gen had seated herself for an explanation, but Gen said nothing.
Farther down the page, Bernadine read: Disgraced Animal Actor Cletus the Hog Has Died.
According to owner Riley Curry, the hog died in his sleep from natural causes.
“A light has gone out in Hollywood, and in the world,” said his owner.
“Cletus was one of a kind.” The family asks for privacy as they grieve his passing.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. No further details are available.
Bernadine wasn’t sure how to react. “The family asks for privacy? What family?”
“Riley, I suppose. A light has gone out in the world, my foot. How in the world did I ever consider myself in love with that irrational little bonehead of a man?”
Bernadine knew the question was a rhetorical one, so no answer was necessary. “May Cletus rest in peace?”
Gen stood. “Girl, please.”
Bernadine chuckled and returned the iPad. “I wonder if he made good on the ten-thousand-dollar check he gave to the city of Franklin that bounced?”
“What?”
“Remember his Christmas going-away parade?”
“Yes.”
“He wrote a check to cover the cost of cheerleaders and the band and the rest. Mayor Proctor stopped by a few days later wanting to know if I knew how to get in touch with Riley because it bounced.”
Gen shook her head in disgust. “The lowest of the low. My goodness. Do you think Proctor might want to see this article?”
“Probably.”
“I’m on my way there to meet with one of my readers. I’ll swing by his office when I’m done.”
“Thanks.”
“Okay, enough about Riley,” Gen said. “Do you know how Zoey’s doing? I felt so bad for her.”
Bernadine sighed. “I talked to Roni. Trent and Lily made Devon go over and apologize, but Zoey wasn’t having it.”
“She had some choice words for him, I’ll bet.”
“Very choice—she is Miss Miami after all. She spent the weekend at Crys’s apartment. Crys said she’s still sad but handling it.”
“For all of Zoey’s swagger, deep down inside she’s still that skinny little girl in the green flip-flops who’s scared of the dark,” Gen pointed out.
“I know. I just wish Devon would get himself together.”
“That too. He’s still a kid. He will eventually.”
“Before or after he’s old enough for Social Security?”
Gen showed a small smile. “We’ll keep loving him even if we don’t like him very much right now.”
“I suppose.”
Lily walked in. “Hey, ladies. Morning.”
Bernadine noted how tired she looked. “How are you?”
“I don’t know. One part of me wants to shake Devon until he turns into a bobblehead, and other parts can’t believe I’m raising a child who’d do what he did. Trent and I are so disappointed and frustrated.”
Gen gave her shoulders a supportive squeeze. “It’ll be okay, Lil.”
“I hope so. He couldn’t go to school today because the messed-up eye has his balance all off. He fell down the stairs coming down for breakfast this morning. Reg said he’d stop by and check on him in a little bit. Trent’s home with him. The boy’s eye looks like he went five rounds with Mike Tyson.”
Gen said, “Zoey did light him up.”
“Yes, she did. I’m not mad at her, though. He earned that punch.”
Bernadine asked, “Do you want to take the day off?”
“No. If I’m home I’ll just spend the day wanting to yell at him some more. Being here will keep me from stuffing him into a reed basket and sending him down a river like baby Moses.”
“Is Paula going to talk to him?”
“Yes. Hopefully today.”
Bernadine hoped their resident miracle worker could help. “Is Tamar still taking him on the Spirit Quest?”
Lily shrugged. “Who knows? She told Trent she’ll talk to Devon in a few days. He wrecked a beautiful evening. Just thinking about it is making me mad all over again. Let me go to my office. I’ll see you two later.” And she exited.
Bernadine said, “For a boy who’s supposed to be anointed, there’s a whole lot of devil beneath that wig.”
“Amen,” Genevieve replied. “Going to go start my day. Wanted to show you the Cletus article.”
“Thanks, I think.”
Gen chuckled. “I’ll post the death notice on the town’s website and let folks know if I run across any info about the memorial.”
“I’m sure the whole town will want to attend. Have a good day, Gen.”
“You too.”
Alone again, Bernadine thought back on Devon’s mess and Riley and Cletus. As she turned her attention back to her desktop screen, she wondered why anyone thought living in a small town was boring.
“Are you Bernadine Brown?”
Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, Bernadine slowly turned her chair around to face the door.
Standing there was a light-skinned woman who appeared to be in her mid-thirties.
She was wearing a pair of black pants shiny with age and a green blouse.
Her short, unpermed hair was pulled back in a small ball, and her makeup-free face glared in Bernadine’s direction.
“May I help you?”
“Are you Bernadine Brown?” she asked again.
“I am, and you are?”
“Myra Keene.”
“Please come in, Ms. Keene. Nice to meet you. How can I help?”
“You can start by firing that so-called teacher over at the Academy.”
Bernadine was taken aback by the demand and the hostility accompanying it. “Does this teacher have a name?”
“Yes. Jack James.”
Bernadine studied her and the tersely set features. “I don’t control the Academy. Have you spoken with Superintendent Jefferson?”
“I have.”
“And she said?”
“She was not firing the best teacher in the state of Kansas.”
“So why are you here with me?”
“I hear you own the town, so I assume you have the last word.”
“What’s your problem with Mr. James?”
“This no-homework nonsense. What kind of school are you people running here?”
“According to our test scores, one of the best in the state, thanks to Mr. James.”
“So, you agree with this no-homework decision?”
“I do, and even if I didn’t, I don’t control the Academy.”
“I want my son to get the best education possible, and he won’t if he isn’t given homework.”
“Did Mr. James explain his reasoning behind the no-homework policy?”
“He did.”
“If the Academy doesn’t meet your goals, you can always find a school that’s a better fit.”
“I want James replaced instead.”
“Not going to happen,” Bernadine countered frankly. “Where do you live?”
“Franklin.”
“They have a decent school system.”
“But I want my son in this school.”
“Find your son another school, Ms. Keene. I can’t help you.”
“You mean you won’t.”
“You can take my answer however you like, but Mr. James stays. Anything else?”
Lily walked in. “Oh, Bernadine, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had . . . Well, if it isn’t Ms. Keene.”
From Lily’s tone and body language, Bernadine assumed the two women had a history that didn’t emanate from mutual admiration.
Lily asked Myra Keene, “Are you here to chastise Ms. Brown for not volunteering at the school, or lecturing her on Black student achievement?”
The formerly hostile Myra Keene now resembled a deer caught in headlights. “You work here?” she asked, viewing Lily in her killer blue suit and matching heels.
“Yes. I’m VP of Accounting and Procurement.”
“Oh.”
Bernadine found this so interesting. Lily looked about two seconds away from snatching Keene bald. Keene kept shooting glances at the door as if hoping to escape before Lily did.
Keene finally responded to Lily’s question. “I’m here because I want Jack James fired.”
Lily’s smile reminded Bernadine of Tamar’s. “May I ask why?”
“His no-homework decision.”
“Ah. Well, it’s his decision to make. If you don’t agree, there are other schools.
” Lily studied her silently for a moment before adding, “Your son impressed me as being a nice young man, and I believe he’d thrive at the Academy.
Jack’s an amazing educator. If you don’t want your son to reap the benefits of what our school offers, enroll him someplace else, or homeschool him. ”
Bernadine was proud of Lily. Even though Keene was a piece of work, Lily set that aside to advocate for the son. “Is there anything else we can assist you with, Ms. Keene?” Bernadine asked.
“No.”
“Then have a good day.”
Giving them both one last displeased glare, she exited with a huff.
Bernadine said to Lily, “I take it this was not your first encounter with Ms. Keene.”
“You’re correct.”
WHILE LILY RELATED her meeting with Myra Keene, Devon was up in his room, sad and miserable.
As promised, Doc Reg came over to check on his eye, and once done, he told Devon and his dad it might take four or five days for the swelling and discomfort to decrease, so he needed to be careful moving around.
He also recommended another day just resting in bed.
“When can he go back to school?” his dad asked.
“When he can see well enough and his balance is back.”
Devon sighed.
“Thanks, Reg,” his dad said. “I’ll walk you out.”
When his dad returned a few minutes later, he asked, “Do you need anything, son?”
Devon shook his head but did it very gingerly because of the throbbing in his eye. “Am I going to be on punishment?”
“Having to deal with that eye is punishment enough, I think.”