Chapter 19

Thursday, October 28, 1976

When I got out of English class that Thursday morning, I went straight to Thelma's office. She had a cardboard carton beside her desk and was loading things out of her desk drawers and into the carton. <What's going on Sweety?> I asked.

<Sit down Mike. Maybe you can help me figure this out.> I sat and took a good look at her. Her eyes were red and swollen. She had obviously been crying.

<Okay, Sweetheart. Tell me about it.>

<I had just come down here from the lounge this morning when I got a call to go to Mr. Andrews' office. I knew it had to have something to do with the coach, but I wasn't worried. I knew we had everything covered, having the recording and all.>

<So what happened then?>

<I got to his office and he kept me waiting about fifteen minutes. I thought that was strange, but I figured out later it was meant to intimidate me. He finally called me in but he didn't ask me to sit down. I wasn't going to let him get to me, so I just made myself comfortable and I sat down anyway.>

<Good for you Lover.>

<He started in by saying he knew I was lying about the coach. I told him I had turned over a tape recording to the police that proved I was telling the truth.>

I waited for her to go on. I had a bad feeling and was just waiting for her to confirm what I suspected.

<He told me the tape was blank, except for you singing on it. I told him I knew that wasn't the truth, because I had heard part of the tape.>

<I did listen to part of it, Thelma. I wanted to make sure it had copied correctly.>

<I knew you had, Mike. That's why I told him what I did. He said that since I was trying to bring discredit to a student and to a member of the faculty, he was suspending me until further notice. I'm afraid I lost it. I called him a cocksucker.>

<Good for you. He deserved it.>

<Yeah, but then he said that since I was being abusive to the principal, I was fired. He also said that you are going to be expelled for using the tape recorder.>

<Thelma my love and my lover. We don't need the bastard, or this school. I say to hell with them.>

<I'd agree, Mike but he is going to make it hard on Missy, Beth and Sharon if he can.>

<Bonnie has been working on getting everything set up for them to be home schooled. I'm pretty sure she already has approval. If that's the case, I say we all walk out of here together.>

<Bonnie, can you hear me, > Thelma projected.

<Good morning Thelma. Yes, I can hear.>

<Hi Bonnie. I'm here too, > I told her. <Have you gotten approval for the girls to be home schooled as yet?>

<Yes. I was talking to Phil yesterday and everything has been approved. Why?>

Thelma filled her in on everything that happened this morning. <Mike says that he thinks that since I have been fired and he is going to be expelled, we should all walk out of here together. What do you think?>

<I think Mike's right. I think I should come down there and kick Andrews' ass first though. Mike do you want me to be with you when you go in to see him?>

<I think that would be a good idea, Bonnie. I would like a witness. I'd get Thelma to go, but he'd just claim she was lying. How soon can you get here? I just heard them paging me.>

<About ten minutes. Don't go in until I get there.>

<Will do Bonnie. I'm in Thelma's office and I'm going to have the girls come down here too.>

<That's a good idea. I'm in the car now. Hang in there.>

<Beth, Sharon, Missy, can you hear me?>

<Yes.>

<Yes.>

<Yes.>

<Okay, listen up. I need for you three to leave class now. Go to your lockers and get any personal items out. Leave all of your books in your lockers and anything else that might belong to the school. Then go by my locker and get out anything personal I might have left in there. When you have everything, come to Thelma's office.>

<Will do Big Bro. What's up?>

<We are all going to walk out of here shortly. They fired Thelma and are expelling me for what went on yesterday.>

<How the hell can they do that?> Beth asked.

<Well, in theory they fired Thelma because she called Andrews a cocksucker.>

<Three mental giggles.>

<They are expelling me because I used a school tape recorder. It seems that everything that was on the tape except me singing was erased.>

<So, who is playing games Mike, > Sharon asked.

<Andrews for one along with Daniels of course. They obviously know someone who works for the police or they couldn't have gotten the tape erased.>

<Beth, can you pick up the tape I gave you yesterday?>

<I already have it bro. We'll be in Thelma's office in two minutes.>

<I'm coming in the front door, > Bonnie said. <Why don't you meet me in front of Andrews' office, Mike?>

<I'm on my way, Bonnie. I love you.>

<Love you too.>

We arrived at the principal's office at the same time. We went into the waiting room and I told his secretary I had been paged. She looked skeptically at Bonnie, but announced me on the intercom to Andrews.

"Send him in," I heard Andrews say.

Bonnie and I went into his office and waited for him to acknowledge our presence. He was fumbling through some papers on his desk and I don't think he even realized Bonnie was there. After this had gone on for a couple of minutes Bonnie said, "Come on Michael. I don't think he really wanted to see us after all." She turned and started to walk out.

Andrews jumped like he had been shot. "Mrs. Green! I didn't realize you were here."

"I know you didn't. Otherwise you wouldn't have been trying to intimidate a sixteen year old boy with your clumsy tactics."

"I wasn't trying to intimidate anyone Mrs. Green. I was looking for a copy of the statement your son made to the police yesterday. This is a very serious matter Mrs. Green and I'm afraid your son is in a lot of trouble."

"Not nearly as much trouble as you are going to be in Mr. Andrews."

"What do you mean by that? You can't threaten me lady."

"Oh, I'm not threatening Mr. Andrews. I just wanted to let you know that I phoned our attorney, Phil Shelton, while I was driving over here. He's on his way here as we speak. Phil is our corporate attorney, so he'll be representing Thelma Richards as well, since she is the COO of MBBS Enterprises."

"I have no idea what you're talking about Mrs. Green. Ms. Richards is no longer employed here. I let her go this morning."

"For no good reason too, I understand, but I'll let Phil take that up with you. Word is that you plan to expel my son, Mr. Andrews. Is that correct?"

"Well, some type of punishment has to be implemented, Mrs. Green. Michael was using a school tape recorder without permission, then he made a false statement to the police concerning what was on the tape."

Bonnie laughed. I could tell she was enjoying this. "You really are a cocksucker aren't you, Mr. Andrews? Is that why you're bonded so closely to Daniels that you'll risk your entire career for him?"

"Mr. Daniels and I have no special bond. He is a good coach and I don't appreciate your son and Ms. Richards trying to make him look bad. I also don't appreciate the name calling you're doing. I think I've had about enough of you and your son. I want you both out of here right now. Michael Green you are hereby expelled. Permanently, I might add. Now get out."

"Well, I really wanted to wait for Phil to arrive, but I guess it's not absolutely necessary. Michael, do you have that copy of the tape you made to give to Phil?"

"Yes, Mom. I have three copies actually. I was afraid something might happen to one of them."

"I always knew I raised you right Mike. Okay, we'll see you in court, Mr. Andrews. Oh, by the way, I am aware that you and Daniels were roommates for four years in college. It's amazing what someone will do for an old lover."

We left the office although Andrews was trying to say something. Neither of us had any desire to hear anything else he had to say.

We stopped by Thelma's office and picked up the rest of our crew. "Did you kick his ass Bonnie?" Thelma asked.

I spoke up before Bonnie had a chance to answer. "Thelma, she didn't even give me a chance to say a word. She chewed him a new one. He is going to run through a whole box of Kotex this afternoon to stop the bleeding. She called him a cocksucker and then implied it was Daniels' cock he is sucking. I don't think we're going to be welcome in his office again."

The people we met in the hall must have wondered what all of the laughter was about. They sure gave us some strange looks.

We went back to the house for a while to calm down. It took a while. First the girls had to hear about Thelma's experience when she was fired. Then they wanted a blow by blow account of Bonnie chewing out Mr. Andrews.

"So, what are we going to do with the rest of the day?" I asked of no one in particular.

"We're going shopping," Bonnie said.

The girls all thought that was a marvelous idea and started making plans of where they should go and what they should get.

"Woah! Hold on a minute, people," Bonnie said. "We are going shopping for some very specific things. Beth and Missy, I want you two to buy pots, pans, dishes and silverware for the new motor home. Mike and Sharon, you two are in charge of procuring food for a one week trip. Plan for three meals a day plus drinks and snacks. Thelma and I will shop for towels and bed linens and anything else we can think of."

"So, what are we going to do with all of this stuff?" I asked.

"We're picking up our new motor home at 8:00 AM tomorrow. We are going to load everything in it and take off for parts unknown for at least a week. Maybe for much longer. We are going to hook the Suburban on behind it so we will have a vehicle to drive while the motor home is parked. When we get home from shopping, I want every one of you to pack clothes for a couple of weeks. Beth, Sharon, and Missy, you are all close enough in size that you can wear each other's clothes. Pack things that you can share with each other."

"Gee, Bonnie, I guess I could start wearing dresses too if you want me to share as well," I said.