Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Carson shouldn’t have been surprised to see a crowd gathering outside the school administration building when he arrived.
News spread like a California wildfire in a small town, as he’d learned during his months living in Driftwood Bay.
The fact that the school board was meeting—on a Sunday—would have got the gossip mill churning fast. He recognized some of the faces in the crowd as he was admitted by Sandy, including a few of his players.
Caleb smiled encouragingly and gave Carson a thumbs up.
Now, they sat in the conference room, waiting to see what the board had discussed behind closed doors.
He wasn’t apprehensive. In fact, he was confident in the decision he had made to bench Drake.
The teenager sat sullenly at the far end of the table next to his mother, his eyes downcast. Carson didn’t think the board had called them together because of his decision regarding a single player.
Most likely, it was to discuss Marge Duncan’s public outburst at Bayfest last night. He was on the periphery of that.
He had seen the most popular video circulating on social media which entailed most of the confrontation.
Keaton had texted him early this morning as he drank a cup of coffee, asking to come over.
He had made another cup for his friend, who asked if Carson knew about Marge getting in Mila’s face last night.
When he said Mila had told him about the incident, Keaton asked if Carson had seen any video of it.
He took out his phone and pulled up one of several circulating online.
It had sickened him, seeing Mila being verbally attacked in that manner.
It was even worse than she had described.
He now understood why she had been as upset as she was and why she wanted to protect him professionally by pausing their relationship.
Carson and Keaton had been discussing what to do when he received the call to come to the Perrys’ house and discuss the matter.
That had led to being called before the board now.
Sandy reappeared. “If everyone will please follow me, we’re all—”
“Everyone is going?” Marge interrupted. “I thought there would be an expectation of privacy.”
Looking flustered, Sandy replied, “You’ll have to take that up with Mr. Hopewell. As the school board’s president, he’s calling the shots.”
Marge harrumphed as everyone came to their feet and moved to the next room. Carson sat with Mila in the first row on one side of the aisle, while Marge and Drake took chairs on the other side. Jon Earl sat behind them, with Mae and George to the football coach’s left.
The board members sat in a semicircle at the front of the room.
Hank Hopewell, Carson’s barber, was in the center.
His nameplate identified him as the president.
To his right sat Hillary, Carson’s realtor, and a man whose nameplate said Jack Larson.
He wondered if Jack might be related to Layne, Mila’s childhood friend.
On Hank’s left were Neville Wagner from the Driftwood Diner and a woman named Pat Mayfield.
While he didn’t know her, he knew the name.
Mayfield Charters ran boats for tourists and locals for deep sea fishing and dives.
Dr. Perry sat off to the side, while Sandy moved to a table to act as stenographer for the proceedings.
Hank called the meeting to order. Immediately, Marge rose to her feet to protest.
“Sit down, Marge,” the barber said. “I know what you’re going to say. I’ll tell you now that you’re a public figure—and a social media star by now—so we’re going to proceed as planned.”
Carson watched the principal reluctantly take her seat again.
Hank cleared his throat. “We are here today to deal with one issue, and it’s all over the internet, as most of you know. In case anyone hasn’t seen it, we’re going to replay a version now.”
He sensed Mila tensing next to him and slipped his hand around hers. Thankfully, she didn’t pull away.
The room was incredibly quiet as Sandy picked up a remote and clicked it toward the screen. Then last night’s scene between Mila and Marge unfolded. Carson couldn’t help it and glanced to Marge, who sat stone-faced. Drake looked as if he wanted to crawl into a hole.
“Play the second version, Sandy,” Hank instructed, and they saw one which had a little more of the conversation, only from a different angle.
“I think that’s enough,” the president said.
Immediately, Sandy turned off the video and poised her fingers above the keys again.
Hank looked directly at Marge now. “We’re here today because of you, Marge.
And don’t talk when I’m trying to,” the barber warned.
“You made a spectacle of yourself at Bayfest last night. As a public school employee—a principal, no less—you are charged with being your best self at all times. You know that, Marge. You’re a leader.
A damned good one. The middle school has a fine reputation and exemplary test scores.
Very few disciplinary actions need to be taken because you run a tight ship.
Kids behave. And they learn on your watch. ”
He frowned. “But you were not the representative of Driftwood Bay Independent School District that you needed to be last night. What have you got to say for yourself?”
Defiance laced Marge’s tone as she said, “My son was removed from the basketball team by Carson Andrews. He did not even notify me. I had to seek him out, and he would not listen to reason when I tried to speak with him about the issue. Since he is also the district’s athletic director, I felt I had no recourse but to take my concerns to Dr. Perry.
As our superintendent, I expected Dr. Perry to be fair.
” She paused, taking time to glance at Mila and Carson.
“But his daughter is sleeping with Andrews, and Dr. Perry said it was a coaching call, something he would not get involved in.”
Marge came to her feet now. “I tell you, Carson Andrews has had it out for my boy. And he knows he can do whatever he wants because he’s got the backing of the superintendent. Dr. Perry is biased in favor of Andrews. No one will listen to me.”
“Please have a seat,” Hank suggested. He turned his attention to Carson.
“Coach Andrews, the board is not going to become involved in a personnel decision you made regarding your basketball team. You are well within your rights to dismiss a player if you have due cause. Will you please elaborate on your decision, however, as it may have factored into Mrs. Duncan’s mindset and behavior? ”
Carson rose. “Drake Duncan was never removed from the team,” he began.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Marge demanded, her face red with anger. “How’s he supposed to get a scholarship if you don’t let him play?”
“I don’t believe you have all the facts, ma’am,” he replied.
He returned his attention to the board, explaining how Drake’s grades were subpar and even failing in his English class. How his English teacher was concerned not only with Drake’s grades but also his attitude, and had made Carson aware of both.
“I took Drake aside at practice on Friday while the other players were involved in drills. We went to the locker room and had a frank discussion.” He paused, looking at the teenager.
“I believe Drake is a gifted athlete who is not living up to his full potential. That was what our discussion was about. At no time did I tell Drake he was dismissed from the team. I did make him aware that he was going to ride the bench during next Tuesday’s first scrimmage of the year.
I wanted to shake him up. Make him know how serious the situation is.
Help him to become the player—and leader—I know he can be. ”
He saw several board members nodding, and Jack Larson said, “Dr. Perry played the interview tape which detailed more of your conversation with Drake.” He looked at the player. “I think we need to hear from Drake.”
Carson sat, and Mila’s fingers found his, squeezing them.
All eyes were on the teenager now. He shook his head, and Carson thought he might actually cry. Then Drake turned to his mom.
“I’m sorry, Mom. Coach is telling the truth. I’ve been a real asshole to him and everyone on the team.”
Marge looked stunned by her son’s admission.
“I’m not blaming you, but after Dad left?
You let me get away with murder. I think you were trying to make it up to me, having a lousy dad who didn’t give a…
who didn’t care about either of us. I just turned off all my feelings.
I don’t care about my classes. I may be the best player on the basketball team, but I’m a lousy teammate. ”
Drake paused, visibly swallowing. “I was mad because Coach was the first person trying to hold me accountable. None of my teachers pushed me, asking me to try harder, except for Mrs. Smith. The other coaches always let me skate by with a bad attitude because I win games for them and make them look good.”
He glanced across the aisle to Carson. “You’re the first to call me out on my bullshit.
” Drake looked sheepish. “Sorry, Coach. I shouldn’t have lied to Mom about being kicked off the team.
I thought she would just chew you out, and you’d cave.
Like everyone else does. That you’d let me play on Tuesday.
But I don’t want to start. I want to ride the bench and see how the team plays.
They make me look good, and it’s my turn to do the same for them. ”
Drake looked to the board. “I’m the one to blame. Mom was just trying to stick up for me. Don’t punish her for what I did.” He sat, wiping his eyes.