Jason's Story
Copyright© 2025 by writer 406
Chapter 23
Jessica Hart hung up the phone and stared at her computer screen in confusion. A student’s mother, Mrs. Patricia Hendricks, had just spent ten minutes berating her about her daughter Natalie being constantly on detention:
“I don’t understand why a straight-A student like my Natalie is suddenly having behavioral problems. She’s been on detention every single day lately. Frankly, I’m concerned about what kind of influence those kids, who everybody knows are nothing but thugs and druggies, are having on her.”
Jessica pulled up Natalie’s disciplinary record: honor roll student, violin player in the school orchestra. There were no behavioral referrals, no detentions. Ever.
She called down to the main office. “Linda, can you pull the current detention roster?”
“Sure thing, but Jessica, there is something weird going on. I’ve been seeing a lot of kids on the sign-up sheets who aren’t on our offenders list.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, yesterday I counted thirty two names on the sheet, but our actual offenders list only has about fifteen students.”
She felt a headache coming on. Weird was never good.
Jessica stared at the sign-in sheets spread across her desk. Monday: 22 students. Tuesday: 26 students. Wednesday: 32 students. The names included honor roll students, athletes, band members, drama club officers—students who had never been within shouting distance of detention.
At lunchtime, she wandered through the cafeteria, listening to conversations.
At the first table—band kids—she overheard:
“Did you guys go to Survival Class yesterday?”
“Yeah, the stuff about decision-making frameworks was bussin’. I finally understand why I keep procrastinating on college applications.”
“Sarah said he’s covering money stuff next time. I’m definitely going.”
At another table:
“I keep getting in trouble because I’m coming home late, but I don’t want to miss Mr. S’s sessions.”
“Word! Yesterday he taught us how to analyze whether decisions expand or limit your future options. Emma, you should totally come.”
“I keep meaning to, but my mom insists on picking me up.”
By afternoon, she had a clearer picture. Jason’s detention program had apparently become the most popular educational program in the school. Students were attending like they were pep rallies.
At days end, she walked down to Room 237 and peered through the window. The classroom was packed beyond capacity, with students sitting on floors, leaning against walls, all focused intently on Jason Stone, who was explaining something using diagrams on the whiteboard.
She could hear fragments through the door: “ ... your present self versus your future self...” “ ... strategic thinking about consequences...” “ ... why smart people make dumb decisions...”
What the hell was going on?
When detention was over, she pulled her new teacher aside as he was leaving. “Mr. Stone, we need to talk.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“What’s up is that you have honor roll kids staying for detention. I have parents calling to ask why their kids are attending. What exactly are you doing in there?”
Jason grinned boyishly. “We’re having fun thinking about Life Skills. Decision-making frameworks. Stuff like that. Your kids are really smart. We’re working on the nuts and bolts of dealing with adult responsibilities. I’m trying to change the trajectory of a young person’s life, just like you said.”
“But why are the other kids showing up? These aren’t kids who need disciplinary intervention.”
“I’d guess that they think they need the education. A lot of high-achieving kids get anxious about life’s next steps.”
Jessica thought about Natalie Hendricks—straight-A student, college-bound, but apparently hungry enough for practical guidance that she was willing to let her mother think she was in trouble rather than miss Jason’s sessions.
Walking back to her office, she knew she had two problems. Her newest hire was running an unauthorized program. And now parents were getting involved.
She was afraid that her newest hire was going to be a big pain in her butt.
That night, Jessica sat across from her uncle and husband, the remains of a pot roast dinner in front of them. Her Uncle Joe was in town visiting his daughter and grandkids. He was nursing a cup of coffee and listening to her vent about her newest teacher.
She told them how she had been fielding complaints from parents all week. Now the administration was sure to get involved, along with the deputy of academic oversight.
“Uncle Joe, I don’t know what to do with this guy,” she said. “He’s prepared, the students love him, parents are mostly supportive, but now he’s operating completely outside normal procedures.”
Retired Brigadier General Joseph Matteson, seventy-four years old with sharp gray eyes, looked up, interested. “What’s his background?”
“Special Forces of all things. A former Green Beret with twelve years of active duty. Decorated. Multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Close to his master’s, speaks multiple languages.”
General Martinez set down his pen. “Special Forces? What was his specialty?”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.