XXIX
The day of Officer Williams’s ceremony at City Hall finally arrives. From the look of things and all the media coverage, you’d think a big-name celebrity was in town. The guest list includes the Who’s Who in city, county, and state politics. A red carpet greets community leaders as well as clergymen, and interviews are being conducted all over the place. The entire staff of Ohallowbee and its detainees are present, except for Brandon. Strangely, and to everyone’s dismay, Mr. Jones—Officer Williams’s boss—is a no-show for the event.
Meanwhile, a black limo arrives with the guest of honor and his family. They exit the limo to applause and flashing cameras. Now that the honoree has arrived, all in attendance make their way inside and take their seats. The mayor is the master of ceremonies, and after a few congratulatory speeches by others, the mayor announces that it is his distinct honor to introduce the man of the hour, Bernard Williams.
Officer Williams takes the podium and begins speaking. “Good evening, friends, family, and colleagues. Working in this field wasn’t my original choice, but somehow, someway, destiny has revealed itself to me. To be able to work with the at-risk-youth population has been so fulfilling. It’s also a very rewarding experience to serve youngsters society has given up on.
“If you give a child hope, they’ll begin to believe. Whatever a child believes, they’ll ultimately achieve. Once he or she has grown, they’ll return the favor that was given to them: h-o-p-e. I’ve dedicated my life to helping these kids reach their true potential by giving them hope, and I—”
While Officer Williams is speaking, he spots two sheriff’s deputies and his boss, Mr. Jones, standing behind the curtains at the end of the stage. He has a feeling in the pit of his stomach that something is wrong. One of the officers signals him to cut his speech short, and he complies. He makes his way over to the end of the stage, and as he nears it, he gets the shock of a lifetime. There it is, staring him dead in the face—karma! Officer Williams sees Brandon sitting in a wheelchair, accompanied by Mr. White and Ms. Oukinuwin.
“Bernard Williams?” the deputies ask. “Are you Bernard Williams, sir?”
“Yes, sir, I am. What’s the problem, Officer?” Officer Williams asks.
“You are under arrest for aggravated battery of a minor with the intent to kill.”
“What do you mean, Officer?” Williams says. “Battery on whom? I’ve never harmed anyone in my life!”
“You are under arrest for causing serious to life-threatening injuries to a minor, Brandon Bright,” one of the officers says while fastening cuffs to Williams’s wrists. “You have the right to remain silent . . .”
At that moment, Officer Williams realizes his fate. He turns toward Donnell, Brandon, and Oleta with a deadly stare before looking back at his own family, seated in the first row. Then he drops his head in shame as he’s escorted out in front of a stunned crowd.
Later, when asked how he got the courage to face and take down Officer Williams, Brandon says that he wanted to prevent him from hurting more kids.
Because of Brandon’s courage, other detainees came forward and talked about Officer Williams’s abuse. Interviews were conducted by the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the charges against Officer Williams began to pile up.
…
Brandon’s release date is quickly approaching, and as a ward of the state, he will have to return to a group home once he is released. Donnell is worried about Brandon’s living situation, but Oleta, his fiancée, has a little surprise of her own. She has researched Brandon’s background, looking for possible living relatives, and discovered information on his older brother, DJ.
DJ is a seaman in the United States Navy. Oleta had gotten in touch with him and found out that DJ had already taken guardianship of Brandon’s younger brother, Jaylen. DJ agrees to take guardianship of Brandon and will allow him to stay with Donnell and Oleta.
Brandon is released, and everything goes as planned. While under Donnell and Oleta’s roof, Brandon enrolls in high school and does well academically. He joins Donnell and Oleta as a mentor for the BWBBF, just as Donnell had envisioned he would.
At first the organization has mediocre success attracting at-risk youths. But after Brandon joins, the number of participants who enroll is staggering. Overnight, it seems, the Boys Will Be Boys Foundation has become the largest nonprofit in northwest Florida. Donnell and Brandon’s dynamic-duo motivational-speaking routine is in high demand, garnering the attention of the local media, which is in a frenzy over the huge impact the Boys Will Be Boys Foundation is making. Donnell and Brandon are featured in almost every publication throughout the city. Over the next twelve months, both “father” and “son” establish a legacy on which they can build for years to come.