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Hatfield Preparatory Academy- 1848
The little girl bounced the ball a few times before stopping to straighten the bow in her hair. Her mommy had told her to be sure she didn’t lose it, so she was checking it every few moments.
She felt herself roughly shoved off balance. She fell forward and hit the ground hard, skidding her right knee on the rough ground. She looked up as the ball roll away slowly.
A large boy walked past, “I didn’t tell you that you could play,” he sneered. He grabbed the ball, grinning defiantly.
She felt hot tears welling up at the corner of her eyes. Her knee hurt and felt like she skinned it. “I had it first, Phineas!”
Phineas looked down at her contemptuously, “And now I have it, what are you gonna do about it?”
“Give it back!”
She turned at the low voice; two boys were standing off to her right, the smaller one was glaring at Phineas, his hands clenched tightly at his side. “I’m not telling you again...” The boy spoke low and menacing. He couldn’t have been more than ten years old, and much smaller than the teenage Phineas. She recognized the brothers, Billy and Joey. They were newer students; their father was in the Army and had just moved here a few weeks ago.
“Oh look, it’s the general’s kids. What are you going to do? Call the Army?” Phineas turned to walk away.
Billy, the smaller boy, flashed past her tackling Phineas to the ground. Phineas attempted to fight back, but the small boy was fighting with ferocity. He pinned Phineas down and pummeled him in the face, until several teachers finally pulled him off.
As they led him back toward the school, Joey stepped forward, helping her to her feet. “I think he wanted you to have this,” he said simply, as he handed her the ball. He then started to follow the rest of them to the school.
She watched them go with a small smile on her face.
******************
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID Stone marched down the school hallway, irritated that his work had been interrupted by the messenger. The school had told him his presence was urgently needed.
He passed a nurse assisting a young man down the hallway. The boy’s face was battered and bleeding; blood had covered the front of his shirt as well. General Stone rolled his eyes as he passed; the kid was sobbing about his injuries. He shook his head as he continued down the hall. He wondered if they were training future adults, or future sissies at this school.
Entering the office, he took in the scene in one glance. The principal was across the room speaking to some upset parents, and young William sat in a chair to the side, ramrod straight, with his hands in his lap. General Stone immediately noticed the skinned knuckles and deduced the rest. A grim smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He interrupted the group, feigning ignorance as he demanded, “Why have I been called away from urgent business?”
The principal pardoned himself and rushed over, apologetic, “I am so sorry, General Stone, but we have a situation. It seems that your William has gotten himself into a scuffle with another student...”
“My William? A scuffle?” He looked over at William who was watching him intently. Snapping his fingers, General Stone barked, “Front and center!”
William jumped up and sped across the room, coming to attention in front of his father, “Sir!”
“Were you in a scuffle?”
“Yes sir.” William answered simply.
“Why?”
“General Stone...” The principal interrupted, “It does not matter why...” he trailed off as General Stone glared at him.
“It absolutely does matter why, and do not interrupt me again you insolent ninny.” He continued to glare, using the annoyed look that he reserved for spineless windbags, until the principal backed off and remained quiet.
“Sir...” William spoke quietly, “The boy pushed a little girl down, and hurt her.”
General Stone looked quickly at his son and nodded slightly. He trusted William absolutely and knew he wouldn’t lie. He turned back to the principal, “And this is a problem?”
The principal sputtered, “That... He... We are the ones who decide the punishment for infractions. We cannot allow common vigilantism to reign in this school...”
General Stone silenced him with a curt wave of his hand, “Fine then, how was the other boy punished?”
The principal stared, wide eyed. “He... uh, was injured, rather severely, so we did not...”
“So, what you are saying is that you consider my son’s punishment of him enough?”
“Well, not exactly...”
“So, he will be punished more?”
“No...”
“Exactly.” The general turned back to William, “Where is your brother?”
“In class, sir.” He answered briefly.
“Get him, and let’s go. I will be outside waiting.” General Stone turned to the principal, “I will not have my sons being taught by a group of self-righteous pacifists. I will give you three days to return the balance of the year’s tuition I paid.”
With that, General Stone turned and marched out of the office.
******************
“SO WHY DID YOU DO IT?”
William looked over at his brother as they walked toward the carriage. “No reason.”
“Liar.” Joe said with a smile, “I saw the way you’ve been looking at her the last few weeks.”
William shrugged, noncommittally. “I may have noticed her.”
“Seriously?”
William grinned at his brother as they reached the carriage. “One day, I’m going to marry her...”
******************
