CHAPTER 29 #2
“I have six different issues of the Lion’s Pride Post,” he said, arranging them on the table.
“All from the last ten years. Each one has an article about someone getting asked to prom in a big way. There’s no mention of detention.
The articles treat it as a positive thing.
The principal hasn’t changed since then.
Neither have any of the rules, as far as I can tell. With the exception of the dress code.”
LaVern gave the newspapers a cursory glance, a smile playing about her lips. “I teamed up with your son on the anti-discrimination policy,” she said to his mother. “This is exactly why. He was very thorough.”
“Thanks,” he murmured. This was going so much better than expected. Cameron had imagined needing to vehemently defend himself. Instead, he was being praised!
“However,” LaVern said, addressing him directly, “I also recall your sense of fairness. You are here today because you feel your punishment isn’t justified. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” he said with a nod.
“I haven’t had a chance to review the evidence you’ve provided,” LaVern continued, gesturing at the newspapers, “but were any rules broken in the examples here?”
“Not that I know of,” he replied.
“And did you knowingly break any rules?”
Cameron began to shake his head. Then he hesitated. “I left class early.”
“Under false pretenses,” LaVern added. “Correct?”
“Yes,” he admitted with a swallow.
“Is this true?” his mother asked.
He might have glossed over that little detail. Cameron nodded sheepishly.
“I’m sure you understand,” LaVern said, “that we can’t make exceptions for such behavior, no matter how heartfelt the reason might be.”
“I get that,” he said, “but an entire month of detention?”
“That does seem extreme,” Brenda interjected.
“I agree,” LaVern said. “But from what I gather, the duration of punishment was the result of how you conducted yourself with Principal Preckwinkle.” She leaned over the folder. “According to this, you called her ‘a sad little woman whose shriveled heart is filled with bitterness and hate.’”
“Cameron!” his mother admonished.
He withered under her gaze. “I was upset!” he said in his own defense. “For getting in trouble for something that nobody else would have!”
“That doesn’t make it okay!” Brenda shot back.
“No, it does not,” LaVern agreed grimly. “Imagine, Cameron, if the police had arrested you for a crime you didn’t commit. How would insulting them help your case?”
“It wouldn’t,” he admitted.
“In fact, such behavior is likely to do more harm than good. Staying calm, even in the face of injustice, is an important skill to learn. Punishment, unpleasant by nature, is an effective way of reinforcing such lessons. Had you kept a level head, you would have already finished a week’s worth of detention and we wouldn’t be sitting here now.
Having reviewed the situation, do either of you still feel that the punishment was unwarranted? ”
“No,” Cameron said glumly. He had shown up here today certain that he would emerge victorious after a heated debate. Instead he was already admitting defeat.
“A month is an awful long time,” his mother said. “And from what I understand, he felt personally attacked for being gay, which is a lot for anyone to deal with, especially someone his age. What were you accused of, hon? Inciting a riot?”
Cameron raised his head. “Inciting chaos.”
“That’s a bit much,” Brenda said, “especially coming from an adult in a position of authority.”
“You have a good role model here,” LaVern said in approving tones. “Do you see how your mother remains calm and rational when arguing your case?”
“Yeah,” Cameron said, flashing her a smile. “She’s amazing.”
“I have a proposal.” LaVern leaned back and considered him.
“Cameron will finish out the week, reflecting on the lessons learned here today. Taking into consideration how he conducts himself under normal circumstances, that should more than suffice. We’ll forget the remaining two weeks of detention. ”
“That would be great!” he said eagerly, before turning to his mom. “Um. If you think so.”
She nodded with a smile.
“Wonderful,” LaVern said, making a note in the file. “Is there anything else I can do for you today?”
“I am curious about one thing,” Cameron said after a moment’s hesitation. “You said earlier that you’re in charge of discipline now.”
“That was my understanding when taking this position,” LaVern said, a slight edge to her tone.
“Then how come you weren’t there when I got into trouble? Or when my friend Diego was suspended recently? I’m not trying to be rude, but you’re a lot easier to talk to.”
“I’m pleased you think so,” LaVern said.
“To answer your question, Mrs. Preckwinkle has been the principal here for quite some time and is used to doing things a certain way. If you or any other student wishes for me to be present during disciplinary matters, please ask—politely—and I will be happy to mediate.”
Cameron would spread the word to his friends. For now, he thanked her before his mother did the same. Having already served detention for the day, he was free to go home.
“I’m pleased with how that went,” Brenda said once they were both seated in her station wagon.
“Me too,” he replied with a grin. The remainder of his punishment would be easy to serve, knowing that it was almost over. “Thanks for defending me in there.”
“Of course!” His mother placed her hands on the steering wheel but didn’t start the car. “Let’s go out to eat.”
“Sure!”
Her keys dangled ignored from the ignition. “Honey, I have some news.”
“What?”
“The house sold.”
Cameron’s stomach sank. “Already?” He had hoped there wouldn’t be a buyer until deep into the summer. That way he could stay in Kansas as long as possible.
“It’s good news really,” she said. “We got the asking price. They didn’t talk us down at all. The only catch is that the buyers want to move in sooner than I was expecting.”
He swallowed. “When?”
“The middle of May.”
“Mom! You said I could finish the school year here! What about prom? That’s on the fourteenth!”
“We’ll still be here,” she said, placing a hand over his. “I know this is upsetting, but a couple of weeks won’t make much difference. I’m nervous too. There’s so much to figure out. I’ll be flying up to Maine tomorrow to find somewhere for us to live. On such short notice! God, I need a drink.”
“Don’t,” he pleaded.
“I was kidding,” she said, patting his hand. “I’ll be gone for a week. Can you handle that?”
“Of course,” he croaked. “Are you sure the buyer can’t wait until the end of the month?”
“They wanted to move in at the beginning of May! We met in the middle.” Brenda finally started the car. “We’ll talk about it over dinner. You pick where we’ll eat. How’s that sound?”
Like someone on death row choosing their final meal.
A little over three weeks. That’s all he had left.
Prom would be the grand finale. Thank goodness the meeting with LaVern had gone well.
Cameron needed all the time he could get, because there were so many people he wanted to spend it with.
Ricky. Mindy. Diego. And of course Anthony.
His first boyfriend. A dream come true. Cameron wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Not to any of them. But if he had to…
“Do you mind if I throw a party?”
Brenda scoffed. “When I was your age, I wouldn’t have asked permission!”
He chuckled. “Forget I said anything.”
“Just don’t burn the house down,” Brenda murmured.
“If I do, does that mean we’ll stay here?”
“No. It means we’ll have to move sooner, and I do not want to live with my parents. Ever again.” She looked over at him sharply, her expression concerned. “Is that how you feel about me?”
“No, Mom,” he said, the feeling inside him overwhelming. “Not at all. I love you.”