Here it is guys! The long awaited second chapter of my book. I'm not as happy with this particular chapter, it feels a little to happy. But I'm happy how it will fit in the overall plot line. It's hard to write the set up, I just want to skip to the good stuff! More to come.
Chapter 2: The Long Arm of Hanlon
When Hanlon regained his composure enough to speak through gritted teeth, he simply said, "Dismissed."
But the entire time his eyes were daggers. Emily packed up quickly, and was one of the first few to make it out the door.
She looked down the empty halls, but the boy Harold was already gone.
She exhaled. And looked at her school map. On to the next class.
Emily had to admit to herself that she was disappointed, but she couldn't say exactly why- or rather she wouldn't admit it fully but she knew exactly why. She knew she wanted to say some kind of thanks to Harold.
But she could see that being awkward, and him being long gone was a bit of a relief.
Spanish was next, she made her way there.
And she tried to do so quickly, because the raging douche Hanlon had more or less guaranteed that she and the rest of the class would be late to their next period on their schedules.
Sure enough, the door was closed and the teacher was already speaking to the class.
She opened the door, hating Hanlon all the while.
The teacher stopped mid sentence, and looked at her. "Hola, como te llamas?"
"Emily Green. I'm sorry I'm late."
"Me llamo es Senora Lopez. Porque eres tarde?"
"My last class didn't let out on time."
The teacher then asked, "Which class was that?"
"English. With Mr. Hanlon."
Senora Lopez chuckled to herself, and nodded knowingly. "Lo Siento." Then she looked at her papers and nodded. She gestured towards an open seat. "Sientate por favor."
So the other teachers, or atleast this one knew what Hanlon was like, and thought him absurd...
That helped put Emily at ease. She sat down and took a folder labeled spanish... But she did not bring out a pencil, and her mind strayed once again towards Harold- but she only entertained that thought for a brief moment, before forcing herself to focus.
Senora Lopez stood up, and handed packets to the front of each row of desks. "Ok class, now that everybody is here, let's take a look at the syllabuses. Take one and pass it back."
Emily grinned. This felt much, much better.
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When last bell of the day rang, Harold grabbed his stuff, and
headed straight for the administrator's office.
The rest of the students milled about in the halls, catching up on all the happenings since last semester.
But Harold didn't have the time, let alone the interest.
He was on business.
He found the administrator in her office, he knocked on her open door, and she looked up at his approach.
"Hello," She beamed, "How was your first day?"
Her smile faltered when she saw the bland expression on his face.
"What is it?" She asked- he could see her building up quick defenses in her mind- bracing herself for the first complaint of the school year.
"I'm not interested in ruining your day, Miss Marcy, just in telling you the truth. The guy you've got teaching 12th grade English is utterly inept."
She narrowed her eyes. "And how can you deduce that from so brief an introduction?"
He handed her a brief, neatly written note, and recited its contents from memory. "He insulted a student who came to day one without a pencil, and told her he'd amount to nothing. He angrily snapped my pencil in half when I tried to share one with her, and informed the entire class that we were not to share pencils with eachother and that if we tried, he'd take our pencils. He laughed at me having a female sounding last name. He held us past the bell. I left after three minutes, but I don't know when he finally dismissed the class. I'm sure some students were late on account of this. He slammed his clipboard on another student's desk so hard it snapped in two pieces. He corrected the word 'syllabuses' even though it needs no correction. He also called me and another student lovebirds, when we'd only just met today."
"Hanlon." She said. It didn't seem like she was terribly surprised.
"You've heard this, or similar complaints before?"
She made no acknowledgment one way or the other, but asked, "And what do you expect me to do?"
Harold shrugged. "I don't expect you to fire him. I know that's an unrealistic hope on my part."
She laughed, a mirthless laugh. He couldn't tell if it was condescending towards him or an indication that she had the same wishful thoughts... It sounded like a little from column A, and little from column B.
"That's not possible." She looked at her desk, then at him, and added "Or justified."
He noted silently that she added that last as an after thought.
"So again, what are you hoping will happen."
He remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke. "I guess, I'm simply informing you. It sounds like perhaps your hands are tied.
Granted, he didn't do anything outright violent, and the abuses he offered were purely verbal- other than stealing and destroying my property... I suppose I expect him to reimburse me for the pencil he destroyed. And while I don't know whether you can tighten the leash on Hanlon, I expect you to inform him that he has no special privilages allowing him to hold students past the bell. More than either of these things, I'm informing you that I'm not going to play his games. I'm going to perform well on the academics, but I am not going to submit myself placidly to his fragile ego."
At that, she actually laughed, and in her laugh Harold could find nothing malicious towards him.
"How old are you?" She asked.
"You first." He said.
She shook her head, "Forget it. I'm just impressed. Listen, you don't have to be in his class. If any teacher does something truly atrocious they'll lose their job. But they won't lose their job solely on the grounds that they are annoying."
He nodded. "I already know better."
She held up a finger, "But, that doesn't mean you are locked into this class. He's not the only English teacher, and I don't mind moving you to a different teacher."
Harold thought briefly about Emily, then replied, "I don't want to run away. If I perform well, he can't fail me falsely. I don't expect it to be fun, or peaceful... but I'm willing to work hard more than I'm willing to back down."
She smiled. "Well, good on you. But if this gets out of hand, I will move you whether you like it or not. After a certain point, that's up to my discretion. So keep it civil."
He nodded. And then offered his hand. "I'm Harold Maria by the way. I was too wired up to say so before."
She took his hand. "Here when you need me, Harold. Have a good evening."
He looked at the clock, saw it was almost 20 past the hour, and figured the buses might have already left. He'd have to rush to make it to the loop before they were gone.
As he was leaving he heard her phone ring. As he stepped outside her door he heard her say, "Hanlon. Fancy that, I was just about to call you."
He rounded the corner, then stopped to listen.
"Hmm. Noted. Well I've heard a few differing accounts- a number of complaints came forward that you held your class past the bell? Absolutely not. Don't ever do that again."
Harold could almost see the frustration on Hanlon's face.
"And hat's not the only complaint I heard.I've told every student who came to me today, that my door is always open. Yes, that's true. But you are the responsible one here. Set a better example for these kids."
Harold heard the phone click, and heard her mutter under her breath, "What a dumbass."
He wore a grin ear to ear, as he walked towards the bus loop.
The last one was pulling away, just as he got through the doors of the school.
"What the hell," he said to no one, "It's not a bad day for a walk."
He shouldered his bag, and started home.
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Well you made it this far, wanna read Chapter 3: The Dangers of Digging?
