Chapter 25

The day of the graduation exam arrived with a heat that seemed to press down on Hootyville, as if the very earth was holding its breath in anticipation. The schoolhouse was packed with students, all sweating and nervous, their eyes darting around the room as they waited for Mrs. McGowan to begin.

Erick sat at his desk, his heart racing. He had studied harder than he ever had before, his nights a blur of candlelight and textbook pages. He glanced over at Nick and Micko, who sat on either side of him, looking equally as tense. They had become more than just friends over the past few months; they were comrades in a battle for the soul of their town.

The schoolhouse was packed with students, the air thick with anticipation and nerves. Mrs. McGowan, her stern expression belying the pride she felt for the young man who had taken it upon himselves to clean up Hootyville, called the room to order. The silence was palpable as she handed out the exams, her eyes lingering on Erick’s for a brief moment before moving on.

The hours ticked by with the metronome-like rhythm of the grandfather clock in the corner. The only sounds were the scratching of pencils on paper and the occasional cough. Erick felt the pressure of the town’s future resting on his shoulders. His hand was steady as he answered question after question, his mind sharp and focused despite the distraction of Berty’s promise weighing on him.

Finally, Mrs. McGowan called out, “Pencils down!” The room erupted into a cacophony of sighs and shuffling papers as the students handed in their exams. Erick took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he placed his paper on the pile. The weight of his responsibility was palpable, the fate of Hootyville’s moral rebirth resting on his ability to balance his role as a moral guardian with the rigors of his education.

The minutes stretched into hours as he waited for Mrs. McGowan to grade the exams. The air charged with the anticipation of the town’s future hanging in the balance. Erick find Nick, and Micko who sat outside the schoolhouse, the setting sun casting long shadows across the dirt road.

“Hey, Erick,” Nick said, his voice tight with anxiety. “You think you got ‘em all right?”

Erick shrugged, his eyes on the horizon. “I answered ‘em all,” he said, his voice tinged with doubt. “But who’s to say if they’re right or wrong?”

Micko looked at him, his dark eyes serious. “You’re doin’ the best you can, Erick,” he said. “We all are. And we’re gonna keep doin’ it, no matter what.”

Nick nodded in agreement, his expression a mix of admiration and concern. “You’ve got this,” he said, clapping Erick on the shoulder. “We’re with ya, all the way.”

A few moments later, Mrs. McGowan called Erick into the classroom, her expression unreadable. Nick and Micko exchanged a tense look before making their way to the window, eager to overhear the conversation. They pressed their faces to the dusty glass, their breaths fogging the panes.

Inside, Mrs. McGowan held out Erick’s exam with a firm nod. “You’ve done it, Erick,” she said, her voice steady. “You’ve passed with flying colors.”

Erick’s eyes widened in shock, his heart soaring. He took the paper from her trembling hands, his eyes scanning the neatly written words confirming his graduation. “Thank you, ma’am,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nick and Micko burst into the room, their faces alight with excitement. “What’d she say?” Nick demanded, his eyes wide.

“We did it,” Erick said, his voice filled with a mix of relief and pride. “We’re graduating.”

Nick and Micko erupted into cheers, slapping Erick on the back and ruffling his hair. The tension that had been coiled inside them like a rattlesnake uncoiled, and they were suddenly alive with excitement. They whooped and hollered, their laughter echoing through the quiet schoolhouse, sending dust motes dancing in the waning sunlight.

“This calls for a celebration!” Nick exclaimed, his eyes alight with mischief. “Let’s tell yor mom!”

Mrs. Elena’s eyes widened when Erick shared the news, her proud smile stretching from ear to ear. “My boy,” she said, her voice thick with emotion as she pulled him into a tight embrace. “You’ve come so far.”

The gravity of her words wasn’t lost on Erick. He knew his mother had sacrificed everything for him, including her own dignity. Her time in the brothel had been a dark chapter in her life, one she had never talked about openly. But he had seen the shadows of it in her eyes, the way she had closed herself off from the world outside their small house. It was because of her that he had the strength to fight for something better, to strive for the kind of future she had never had.

“Mom,” he whispered, his voice choking with emotion. “Thank you. For everything.”

Mrs. Elena pulled back, her eyes searching his. “What for?” she asked, her voice gruff.

“For fighting for me,” Erick said, his voice choking with emotion. “For giving me a chance at a better life.”

Mrs. Elena’s eyes searched Erick’s, a mix of pride and pain. “You’ve always been the reason I kept fighting, Erick,” she said, her voice soft. “I never wanted you to end up like me. In that place...” Her words trailed off, the memory of the brothel a dark stain on her soul.

The three friends left the schoolhouse, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting Hootyville in a warm, golden glow. The air was filled with the distant sounds of laughter and music, a stark contrast to the solemn mood that had gripped them. Erick felt a weight lifted from his shoulders, the promise of a future without the shadow of his mother’s past looming over him.

That afternoon in their small house house, Mrs. Elena had prepared a small celebration for them, the house filled with the tantalizing aroma of roast beef and apple pie. The sight of the modest feast laid out on the table brought a smile to Erick’s face, and for a moment, he allowed himself to forget the battles they had fought, the lives they had changed, and the darkness that still lurked in the town’s corners.

As they sat down to eat, Mrs. Elena looked at Erick, her eyes shimmering with a mix of pride and something else—concern. “You need to tell Berty,” she said, her voice firm but gentle.

Erick’s stomach knotted. He knew his mother was right. He had to tell Mrs. Hooper about the promise he had made to her, the one that now seemed so far away in the light of his new responsibilities. He nodded slowly, his heart heavy. “I will,” he said. “Tonight, just ... celebrate.”

Mrs. Elena’s gaze softened, and she nodded. “Alright, Erick” she said. “But, don’t come home too late.”

Later that evening, the Big Bite Saloon was packed to the brim with townsfolk eager to witness Mrs. Hooper’s latest bout. Erick made his way through the crowded room, his heart racing as he approached the wrestling pit. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and anticipation, the murmurs of the crowd rising and falling like a restless sea.