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Matt and I slipped into the room unnoticed. Winston had his back to the door and was holding Gene against the chalkboard.
“You’d better have it to me by curfew.” Winston slammed Gene into the chalkboard with another thump. “Unless you want everyone to find out where your daddy went.”
Matt and I looked at each other in alarm. How could Winston have found out about Gene’s dad so fast?
“He wouldn’t,” Matt said through clenched teeth.
“You know he would,” I said softly, then took a step toward Winston. I needed to get to him before Matt could.
My injuries slowed me down.
Matt grabbed Winston by the shoulder and swung him around.
“Hello, Cadet Marshall.” Winston tried to look innocent. It wasn’t very convincing.
“You know that won’t work on me.” Matt held Winston by the front of his navy blue jacket and looked past him at Gene. “What’s going on, Gene?”
“Winston just had a question about his homework.” Gene shrugged and avoided making eye contact.
“A question about whether you’d done it for him?” I sat on the corner of the nearby teacher’s desk to rest, near enough to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. “That’s cheating, Gene.”
“I know, Scott, but you don’t understand.” Gene’s voice began to rise. “You don’t know what he...”
Matt glared at Winston and gave him a rough shake. “We do know. We heard the whole thing. Gene, go. You don’t need another asthma attack today.”
“I’m fine,” Gene protested, a worried look in his pale blue eyes. “What are you going to do?”
“Just go,” Matt said, never taking his dark eyes off of Winston’s sneering face. Anger boiled in Matt’s voice as he continued. “I’ll take care of him.”
Hesitating, Gene looked at me.
“Get Superintendent Hinkly.” I mouthed to him. I was too weak to stop a fight between Matt and Winston if Matt lost his temper. We needed Superintendent Hinkly fast, and I couldn’t move fast enough to get him. I spite of Matt’s advice to me in Superintendent Hinkly’s office, we were going to have a big problem very soon.
As Gene dashed out of the classroom, Matt slammed Winston against the chalkboard angrily. “How does it feel, bully? Do you like it?”
“Matt.” I stood slowly and laid my hand on his arm firmly. Winston was grinning at us wickedly, enjoying Matt’s reaction. “Pushing Winston around won’t solve anything. Let Superintendent Hinkly deal with him. I sent Gene to bring him here.”
“Like Superintendent Hinkly will believe us,” Matt interrupted, rage flashing in his eyes. “None of the teachers ever believe Winston is trouble. Winston’s going to stop picking on people, even if I have to be the one to stop him!”
“You’re not going to fight him, even if I have to be the one to stop you.” I tightened my grip on his arm. Matt was stronger than I was, even when I wasn’t hurt. I could only hope I could reason with him like I had done before. Lord, help me. “Matt, let him go.”
“Listen to Cadet McCully,” Winston taunted Matt. “He’s just trying to help you be a sissy, like him.”
“You stay out of this!” Matt snapped, shoving him back into the chalkboard.
“Matt!” I stepped in front of Matt, blocking him slightly from Winston. I just needed to distract him until Gene came back with Superintendent Hinky. “You know this isn’t right.”
“All I know is that someone needs to teach this bully a lesson.” Matt’s voice rose and he gave me an accusing look. “Even if you aren’t willing to stick up to him.”
“You know that’s not true.” I measured my words carefully. Losing my temper also would just make things worse.
“Leave him alone, Cadet McCully.” Winston’s words were directed at me, but his eyes were on Matt. “When Superintendent Hinkly catches him, there will be one less bully in this school.”
“You little jerk!” Matt shoved me aside roughly to get at Winston.
I gasped with pain as his arm struck my injured side. Weak from standing too long and the shooting pain in my side, I sank to the floor hard. Doubled over with pain, I gripped my side and bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood.
“Cadet Matthew David Marshall!” Superintendent Hinkly’s voice roared from the doorway.
I groaned, as much from the tone of Superintendent Hinkly’s voice as from the pain. Superintendent Hinkly was usually very calm. Now he was very angry. That was very, very bad.
“Man, are you dead,” Winston snarled as Matt released him and whirled to salute Superintendent Hinkly.
“Cadet Rogers, help Cadet McCully up,” Superintendent Hinkly said, his voice deadly soft. “Make sure he’s okay.”
“I’ll be fine.” I managed to sit against the side of the desk. The intense pain was beginning to subside into a dull, throbbing ache.
“Cadet Marshall pushed him down.” Winston stepped forward. “Cadet McCully was trying to keep him from hurting me and he shoved him aside.”
Matt took in a sharp breath and all color drained from his face as he realized what he’d done.
“Is that true, Cadet McCully?” Superintendent Hinkly asked sternly, a hint of skepticism in his voice. At least he was calm again.
“Well, sir,” I began as Gene helped me into the teacher’s padded chair. “Winston was..."
“I did not ask you what Winston did. I will deal with that later.” Superintendent Hinkly frowned. “Yes or no. Did Cadet Marshall shove you?”
I hesitated, looking for an answer that wouldn’t get my best friend in trouble. Yes or no didn’t give me too many options. I couldn’t lie to Superintendent Hinkly, but a yes could get Matt expelled. Any more stalling would just make Superintendent Hinkly angry again.
“I’ll answer that question, sir,” Matt spoke up huskily. He looked at me with lingering horror as he answered, “Yes, sir, I did.”
“Cadet Daytona, Cadet Rogers, you are dismissed,” Superintendent Hinkly said grimly. “Cadet McCully, I would dismiss you, too, but I think you need to stay put for a while.”
Gene and Winston saluted and left as Superintendent Hinkly closed the classroom door behind them.
“Cadet Marshall, I am very disappointed with you.” Superintendent Hinkly clasped his hands behind his back and faced Matt grimly. “After we talked in my office about not getting vengeance, you go and do this.”
Matt stood at attention stiffly, staring ahead of him without a word.
“I know you don’t like Winston, but in your anger, you hurt Cadet McCully instead.” Superintendent Hinkly lowered his voice threateningly. “I’m afraid I have no choice but to call your father.”
“Please, sir, not my father,” Matt pleaded, fear flashing across his face. “Isn’t there some other punishment you could give me?”
“You’re already on probation for sneaking out earlier this year,” Superintendent Hinkly reminded him. “Would you rather I simply expelled you now?”
Guilt struck me. That had been my idea. My determination to find my parents had led us off campus after curfew. We had been put on disciplinary probation for the rest of the semester.
Matt hesitated before answering as if weighing the two options. “No, sir,” he said uncertainly.
“Go to my office until he gets here,” Superintendent Hinkly ordered. “I’m going to take Cadet McCully to the infirmary. You’d better pray he’s not hurt worse.”
Matt saluted and glanced at me sharply, his eyes filled with regret and apology.
“I’m fine, Matt.” I forced a tight grin against the pain. “I’ll see you later.”
Once the nurse decided I was in no worse shape than before, I headed back toward Superintendent Hinkly’s office. Matt’s dad would be arriving any minute. Matt hadn’t meant to hurt me and I could tell he was more upset about the incident than I was. I figured the best thing I could do right now was to be there for my friend. I was exhausted and sore, but I needed to appear strong for Matt’s sake.
“Matt?” I whispered as I slipped into the receptionist’s office. Matt was sitting on a pale blue couch, staring ahead of him blankly. His face was whiter than the walls and his eyes were red-rimmed.
“You look worse than I feel,” I said lightly as I lowered myself to the seat beside my friend. It felt so good to rest for even a moment.
Matt didn’t even blink.
“The nurse said I’d be fine,” I tried again, hoping to reassure him. “She just told me to go to bed and stay there.”
“Then go,” Matt said monotonously, still staring at the empty wall.
“I’m not leaving until your father does.” I crossed my arms carefully over my chest. “You’re going to need a defense witness.”
“I don’t deserve your help.” Matt finally turned to look at me. Anguish filled his eyes and words poured out of his mouth like a dam had burst. “I hurt you. You were trying to help me, to keep me from doing something I’d regret later, and I hurt you. I allowed my anger at Winston to put you in danger. What if I had really injured you? I could have put you in the hospital. I don’t deserve your friendship.”
“I’m fine.” It seemed like I was saying that a lot lately. “You stuck by me when I got the news about my parents; I’ll stand by you now. That’s what friends are for.”
“Thanks, Scott. I really do appreciate it.” Matt sighed and looked down at his feet. “You were right you know. I allowed myself to become just like Winston - worse than Winston. I deserve to be sent to MacArthur Military Academy.” His face sank down into his hands in despair.
I looked at Matt in surprise. MacArthur was the boot camp academy that his dad always threatened to send him to. Matt had been in trouble for fighting before he came to the Academy. His dad promised to send him to a reform school if he messed up at JJMA. Matt had to be feeling really low to think he deserved to go there.
“Look at me, Matt.”
Matt looked up at me reluctantly.
“You’re not going to MacArthur, or any where else. Not if I can help it.”
The door to the receptionist’s office swung open, slamming into the wall with a crash. Matt’s dad, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a graying brown crew cut stood framed in the doorway. He was wearing an olive drab army uniform with General’s stars and looked angrier than I had ever seen anyone look in my life. In his hand was a thick sheaf of paper.
I followed Matt’s lead and snapped to attention. Beside me, Matt begin to tremble as he tried to put on a passive face. He looked scared out of his mind.
“Matthew Marshall!” General Marshall roared, not seeming to care that there were others around. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Well, sir, I...” Matt began nervously.
“Superintendent Hinkly told me he caught you fighting with another boy,” his dad interrupted angrily. I could see where Matt got his temper. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“But, sir, he...” Matt tried again, agitation creeping into his voice.
“I don’t care what he did.” General Marshall crushed the papers in his fist. “No son of mine is to be fighting in school. Is that clear?”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Matt’s shoulders slumped in defeat. I’d never seen anyone get the better of Matt before. Matt couldn’t even get in one word of defense.
“I’ve got your transfer papers here.” He waved the crumpled papers in front of Matt’s face. “I’m sure that MacArthur Academy for Troubled Boys will be more than willing to take you.”
Matt froze, staring straight ahead of him. Panic began to well up in his eyes as the blood drained from his face.
“Permission to speak, sir,” I said firmly, copying Matt’s respect for his father.
“Who are you, Cadet?” General Marshall frowned at me, but his voice finally lowered to just above conversational.
“Cadet Scott McCully, sir.” We’d met before, when Matt was dropped off our freshman year, but I didn’t expect him to remember me. “I’m Cadet Marshall’s best friend.”
General Marshal looked me over critically. I attempted to draw myself up straighter, but the pain in my side made me grimace.
“Superintendent Hinkly mentioned that my son injured you during the fight. State your grievance.”
“No grievance, sir.” Let General Marshal to listen to my side of the story. “I wish to come to Cadet Marshall’s defense.”
“My son injured you, and you wish to come to his defense?” General Marshall narrowed his eyes. “Very well, continue.”
“Cadet Marshall got into a fight while defending a smaller student from a bully.” I spoke quickly, before Matt’s dad could change his mind. “I was only hurt by accident. If you allow Cadet Marshall to stay, I will take full responsibility for making sure he doesn’t get into any more fights.” I winced inwardly. I hadn’t been real successful at that up to this point. Please help me to keep my promise.
General Marshall looked at me, then back at his son. Matt hadn’t moved at all the whole time I was speaking.
“This young man has chosen to stand by you in spite of the injury your actions caused him,” General Marshall said, his voice calmer now. “Are you willing to place yourself under his care?”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Matt was still staring ahead of him, but his body relaxed noticeably.
“Very well.” General Marshall nodded and looked Matt in the eye fiercely. “But if Superintendent Hinkly calls me again, you’re off to MacArthur. Understood?”
“Sir, yes, sir.” Matt’s face paled again.
“I will leave you to Superintendent Hinkly’s discretion.” General Marshall turned without a word of good-bye and left the room.
“My office, boys,” Superintendent Hinkly spoke from behind us. I hadn’t even noticed him enter the room. “We’ll talk in there.”
Quietly, Matt and I followed Superintendent Hinkly into his office and stood at attention as he closed the door behind us and took his seat behind his desk.
“I have decided to ground you to your room except for classes and other required activities.” Superintendent Hinkly looked at Matt sternly. “This will include the Fall Picnic tomorrow night.”
“How long, sir?” Matt didn’t appear phased by the punishment, just relived to be at JJMA at all.
“Until you can prove to me that this will not happen again.” Superintendent Hinkly folded his hands in front of him. “Fighting is a serious offence.”
“And Winston?” Matt asked, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.
“We are talking about you right now, not Cadet Daytona.” Superintendent Hinkly frowned slightly. “I will consider your accusations, but unless Cadet Rogers makes a complaint, I’m afraid there’s not much I can do.”
“Did you talk to Gene, sir?” I asked, surprised that Gene hadn’t told him the story when he had brought Superintendent Hinkly to the classroom.
“I did.” Superintendent Hinkly nodded. “Before General Marshall got here. He refuses to incriminate Cadet Daytona. He says it was all a misunderstanding.”
I glanced at Matt apprehensively to see how he would take that news. His face reddened slightly, but he still didn’t move.
“I’ll support Matt’s story,” I offered. “Will that help?”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” Superintendent Hinkly said carefully. “But without Cadet Rogers’ complaint, it’s just your word against theirs. My hands are tied. I’ll keep my eyes open, though.”
He turned back to Matt. “Frankly, Cadet Marshall, I’m disappointed in you. After the talk we had in here about taking revenge, you had to go do this. I know Cadet Daytona is difficult, but I expected better of you.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Matt said sincerely.
“I believe you truly are,” Superintendent Hinkly said. “Apology accepted. Dismissed.”
Matt walked like a zombie all the way back to our room. He didn’t even look at me. I followed behind at a short distance, respecting his privacy, but uncomfortable with the silence. Actually, I was pretty much just uncomfortable, period. Every breath I took felt like someone was sticking knife in my side and twisting it around. I never had gotten to my room to rest after either incident and each step I took just made the pain more intense. I couldn’t bring myself to ask Matt to help me; I didn’t want to make him feel any worse than he already did. I managed by myself all the way to the dormitory and to the stairs leading to our floor. In my exhaustion, however, I stumbled against the first step. I caught the rail before I fell, but the action jarred my side, causing me to gasp in pain.
“I am so sorry.” Matt was by my side in an instant. He took my arm and helped me up the rest of the stairs.
“Forget it, I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I just need to lie down... for about a week.”
“Thanks for sticking up for me back there,” Matt continued as we entered our dorm room. “I think you impressed Dad.”
“No problem.” I smiled weakly as I lowered myself carefully on to my bed. “That’s what friends are for. I’m just glad he agreed to let you stay.”
“I’m just glad he didn’t send me to MacArthur. I’m really going to try to be careful about my temper, from now on. I don’t ever want to go there.” Matt shuddered. “Missing the Fall Picnic will be easy compared to that.”
“I don’t think I’ll be making it to the picnic myself.” I groaned painfully as I lay back on my pillow. The doctor had told me to lie on my injured side – something about allowing more air into my good side. I was pretty sure at the moment that it was just a cruel way to teach me not to get in the way of swinging tire irons. “I don’t think I’ll be able to move.”
“Matt? Scott?” Gene poked his head through the open door hesitantly. “I thought I heard you guys in here. I came to apologize.”
“Come on in, Gene.” I motioned from the bed.
“I guess you guys know I chickened out.” Gene hung his head. “Winston told me he would tell everyone about my father if I ever told Superintendent Hinkly what was going on. I’m sorry.”
“Superintendent Hinkly can’t do anything without your cooperation,” Matt said tiredly. “And my dad wouldn’t believe me when I told him Winston started it.”
“I know. I heard your dad from the hall.” Gene looked at Matt sorrowfully. “That’s why I’ve decided to go to Superintendent Hinkly in the morning.”