17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Ken
I t was just after ten in the morning, and I already knew it was going to be a hot day. Wiping a bead of sweat from my brow, I reached for my water bottle, taking a deep sip from the cool liquid. Around me, coaches, fathers, and other assorted menfolk grunted as we hefted wooden booths into place for the PTA’s big fundraiser, the midway games at the annual carnival.
Every spring, the town’s small fairgrounds transformed one weekend into a loud and festive carnival with rides, games, and food. People brought their jams, preserves, and pies to be judged. It always culminated with one of the high school cheerleaders being crowned Miss Blanco Springs.
When I was a kid, it was the best weekend of the year, hanging out with friends and daring each other to ride whatever we’d decided looked scariest that year.
Now, as an adult, I helped put it together for the next generation of kids and it was still just as fun. The air bustled with the energy of the annual carnival setup, the air buzzing with excitement of the upcoming festivities. The rides had been set up the day before, and out of the corner of my eye I saw them running empty as the operators tested the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Ferris wheel.
I glanced around, noticing teachers and parents busily arranging games and setting out prizes for our elementary school’s allotted section of the carnival. Laughter bubbled up in bursts, mingling with snippets of conversation. The scene was alive with the spirit of community—this was the part of living in a small town that I cherished, that kept me here.
“Ken, pass me that hammer,” Coach Dawson from the high school called out, sweat glistening on his forehead.
I handed it over, wiping my hands on my jeans. The camaraderie among everyone made the work lighter, even enjoyable. There was something inspiring about the shared labor, the way everyone pitched in without a second thought.
Just as I straightened up, I spotted Stella wrestling with a cotton candy machine. Her curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail that made her look much younger. A broad smile spread across her face when she saw me. “Kenny! Looking good with those booths!” she yelled, waving energetically.
“Thanks. You doing okay over there?” I called back, my voice carrying over the din of activity.
“Nah, I’ve got it,” she replied, her eyes twinkling as she blew a stray strand of hair from her face. “But thanks for the offer!”
I nodded, returning my focus to the booth in front of me. The fairground carnival was coming to life around us, with the sounds of laughter and chatter echoing through the park.
As we worked, the men started talking in low voices about the recent scandal involving Marc Mendez. My stomach sank, and I wondered how bad this was going to get.
“I don’t like the idea of a man like that around our kids,” one father muttered, shaking his head. “Who knows what he might be capable of?”
My grip tightened on the booth, but I kept my expression neutral. I knew these men, had grown up with some of them, shared beers on Friday nights, and yet, here they were, questioning Marc’s character based on something they read on the internet, or heard other people gossiping about.
“Come on now, he hasn’t done anything wrong, not really,” another man, Thomas, chided. “We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. Besides, he’s a hard worker and a good dad. That’s all I care about.”
Bill, one of the PE coaches from my school, laughed. “I tell you what,” he began with a thick drawl, “I’m glad as hell there wasn’t all this social media bullshit when I was a kid, not with all the trouble I got into.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, and I let out a shaky breath. Maybe the town would move past their initial shock. I watched as threads of understanding seemed to weave through their minds.
“Yeah, and let’s be honest, most of y’all are just jealous you don’t have half the looks he does,” joked another man, a hint of mischief in his voice.
“Damn right,” Bill added. “I’d pay cash just to keep all y’all’s clothes on, you ugly turkeys.” Everyone burst out into laughter at that, and even I chuckled along with them.
Convincing the rest of the town would take time—but it wasn’t impossible. There was hope in these small moments, in the laughter and the shared understanding, that this wasn’t the end of the world—just a small bump in the road of Marc’s life here in Blanco Springs.
I wiped my sweaty palms on my worn blue jeans, surveying the elementary school’s neatly arranged carnival game booths with pride. We had all the classics, including whack-a-mole, balloon dart, and ring toss. The coaches would take turns in the dunking booth, always a crowd pleaser.
I stretched, the weight of the morning settling into my muscles as I turned to gather my things. We’d worked hard, but now I needed to get home, clean up, maybe nap, and then get ready to be back later this afternoon for my shift at one of the booths.
That’s when I noticed Alex Henderson approaching, his usual quirky grin replaced by a troubled expression that immediately caught my attention. “Ken, got a minute?” he asked, running a hand through his tousled hair.
I nodded, curiosity piqued. “Sure, Alex. What’s up? Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I, uh, came to drop off my Aunt Nancy,” Alex added quickly. “But I really wanted to talk to you.”
We moved to the side, away from the last stragglers packing up their things. Alex glanced around nervously before meeting my gaze. “I need to tell you something. It’s about Marc.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Marc’s name. ‘What about him?’ I asked, my voice barely steady.
“Um—” Alex stammered, then stopped, his hands folded in front of him.
Then Alex’s eyes dropped, staring at the ground, and an icy wave of realization crashed over me. ‘It was you,’ I whispered, the words tasting bitter. Like a punch in the gut, the kind that knocks the wind right out of you and leaves you gasping for air. “You outed his secret.”
Alex took a deep breath, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I thought I recognized Marc when I saw you two at Rooster’s Cafe. I used to date a guy who watched his videos. So, I went home and double checked on that website, and—yeah. It was him.” He paused, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Don’t ask me why, but—I made a mistake. I mentioned it to my sister, who told my mom, who told Nancy.”
My stomach dropped. “You told them about Marc?” I snapped.
He nodded again, looking remorseful. “I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand. I was just… surprised. And Aunt Nancy, well, you’ve seen how she is.”
Oh, I knew all too well. Nancy Henderson was a terrible gossip, and anything she got her hands on spread like wildfire. This was bad—really bad.
Alex’s face was etched with guilt. “I didn’t realize she would be so vindictive. She got on the phone and told someone else. I don’t know who, but they pulled up the site and grabbed those screenshots. That’s how it ended up on Facebook.”
Anger flared, but my voice remained steady. “Do you understand what you’ve done, Alex? This isn’t just gossip; it’s someone’s life we’re talking about.”
“I get it,” Alex whispered, his eyes downcast, the weight of his actions clearly pressing on him. “I didn’t mean for it to spiral like this.” He shook his head. “I’m an asshole and didn’t think about what would happen.”
A whirlwind of emotions coursed through me—anger, disappointment, and a sliver of sympathy. As rough as I thought I had it with my dad, it was nothing compared to how Alex’s family treated him when he came out. I saw the kind of loneliness and desperation that drove someone to act irrationally.
But still.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Alex, this isn’t high school. People’s lives are at stake. And Marc has a daughter,” I added. “This could ruin everything for them.”
Alex looked down, his shoulders slumping as if carrying a heavy burden. “I’m so sorry, Ken. Believe me, I never wanted to hurt that guy. I just… I guess I got a little jealous, seeing you guys together—and I acted without thinking.”
I studied Alex’s face, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. Fuck . “What’s done is done,” I replied with a sigh. “But you need to make it right and apologize to the man.”
Past Alex, a familiar figure lingered behind a nearby booth. Nancy Henderson stood with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed as she watched our conversation. Anger surged through my veins. “Excuse me,” I muttered to Alex, brushing past him without waiting for a response.
I strode towards Nancy, the chatter around me fading into white noise as I closed the distance between us. Nancy’s eyes widened as she realized I was approaching, but she held her ground, lifting her chin defiantly.
“Mrs. Henderson,” I said, my voice low and controlled. “We need to have a chat. Right now.”
Nancy’s lips pursed into a thin line. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Mr. Parker.”
My patience snapped. “Cut the act, Nancy. I know what you did. Why did you expose Marc Mendez like that? Do you have any idea what you’ve done to him and his daughter?”
Nancy’s face flushed, indignation and guilt flashing across her features.
“I was protecting the children of this town,” she insisted, her voice rising. “That man has no business being around impressionable minds.”
My hands balled into fists at my sides. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to unclench them. “Protecting them from what, exactly? A hardworking single father who’s done nothing but try to provide for his child?”
“He’s a… a…” Nancy sputtered, unable to finish her sentence.
“A what, Nancy? Say it. I want to hear you say exactly what you think he is.” Say it, I silently dared her. Say the word .
Nancy’s gaze darted around, aware of the curious glances from nearby volunteers. She lowered her voice, leaning in. “You know what he is. And what he does. It’s not right. It’s certainly not moral.”
A bitter laugh escaped, filled with frustration and sadness. “And what you did was moral, Nancy? You spread private information, potentially ruining a man’s life and his daughter’s future in this town. Do you even understand the damage you’ve caused to a good man?”
Nancy’s face contorted. “How dare you—”
I cut her off, my voice low but intense. “No, how dare you. You’re the one who shouldn’t be around children, spreading hate.”
As our heated exchange continued, the crowd’s eyes settled on us. Curious onlookers pretended to busy themselves with nearby booths, but their furtive glances betrayed their interest in the unfolding drama.
Nancy’s voice rose, shrill and defensive, her eyes flashing with righteousness and panic. ‘I was only thinking of the children’s well-being!’ she cried, as if trying to convince herself as much as me.
“By ostracizing an innocent child and her father?” I shot back, my patience wearing thin. “That’s not protecting anyone, Nancy. That’s just cruel.”
Tension crackled in the air as we faced off, neither willing to back down. Just as I opened my mouth, a commanding voice cut through the charged atmosphere.
“That’s enough, both of you.”
I turned to see Ginger Hawkins striding toward us, her presence imposing even in jeans and a T-shirt. She fixed us both with a stern look that brooked no argument. “I’d like to continue this conversation at school on Monday,” Ginger said, her tone leaving no room for debate. “We need to get to the bottom of who spread these rumors about one of our students’ parents.”
Nancy sputtered, “But—”
Ginger held up a hand, silencing her. “This isn’t the time or place for this discussion.” She surveyed the curious onlookers, who quickly dispersed under her authoritative gaze. Then Ginger turned back to us. “In light of recent events, I’m announcing a new committee to review all school policies. We need to ensure that all our students are seen and supported.”
She fixed me with a meaningful look. “Mr. Parker, I’d like you to head up this committee.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Me?”
Ginger nodded, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. “Yes, you. And Mrs. Henderson,” she turned to Nancy, whose face had paled considerably, “I hope you’ll be a part of it as well. I think you might learn a great deal from Mr. Parker.”
Nancy opened her mouth as if to protest, but Ginger’s penetrating gaze silenced her. With a nod, Ginger walked away, leaving Nancy and me in stunned silence.
Then Nancy turned on her heel, her face a mask of indignation and barely concealed shame. She stalked off, shoulders stiff. Alex hesitated, torn between following his aunt and staying to say more to me. His eyes met mine, brimming with regret and unspoken apologies.
For a moment, I saw the boy I’d once known, vulnerable and searching for acceptance. Alex opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he gave a small, defeated nod before hurrying after Nancy.
I watched them go, as the weight of Ginger’s unexpected assignment settled on my shoulders. A committee to ensure that all our students were seen and supported. Headed by me.
Wow.
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. Exhaustion suddenly washed over me, the physical strain of the morning’s work mingling with the emotional whirlwind of that fight. I needed to get home, shower, and prepare for the carnival later this afternoon.
But Ginger’s words… I couldn’t stop thinking about her offer. This was a big deal for a little school like ours, but what an opportunity. As tired as I was, my mind was already racing, thinking about ways to educate, enlighten, and encourage the staff to see some of our students in a new light.
A chance to make a real difference to my school and my students. There was much work to be done, and I was ready to face it head-on.