Page 22 of Rock and a Hard Place

“I can handle that, but I’m going to have to plug in the phone or we’ll drain the battery on the first time out.”

She talked to him late into the night about anything and everything. It felt like they’d known each other forever.

Peter’s family interrupted off and on throughout their marathon conversation. Somewhere around two thirty in the morning, their energy began to wane, so they agreed to hang up and begin again the next day. They would text throughout the day, since she had school.

Libby fell asleep with the phone snuggled up against her, a symbol of the soul mate she’d found.

*. *. *

“Libby, you’re wanted in the office.” Ms. Dorsett, her American Literature teacher, held a pink slip of paper.

Libby closed the heavy textbook and grabbed her papers. She’d never been called to the office before and couldn’t imagine why it happened today. As she walked through the vacant halls, her mind searched for a reason. Then it hit her.

Dad!

He said he’d be back for her. When he dropped her off last year, he said it was only for a couple of weeks, but it turned into over a year. Finally, she could escape Rockville. She hurried the remainder of the distance. Wait until he heard about Peter. Libby burst through the office doors, searching for her father’s kind face. He had been a pillar of strength before the accident broke him.

The gray-haired secretary glanced up from her work. “I’ll be right with you.”

Libby’s heart beat in anticipation. She went around the corner and peeked into Miss Orman’s office. No Dad enjoying a nice visit with the counselor while he waited for her. Miss Orman glanced up from a call, her smile strained.

Libby returned to the main office and sighed.

“Principal Harried will see you now,” the elderly secretary said.

Was her dad in with the principal? Something didn’t feel right. She moved past the counter and down the short hall to the open door of the principal’s office. She paused, unsure if she should knock or walk right in.

“Ah, Miss Sawyer, please come in and take a seat. Close the door behind you.”

As Libby shut the heavy door with a solid click and took a seat in a worn chair facing the principal’s desk, dread pressed in. Please don’t let something have happened to her dad. She couldn’t bear it.

Principal Harried closed the folder in front of him and removed his glasses from his pointy nose; his bulging eyes reminded her of a rodent’s. The kids called him Rat.

“It appears we have a problem.” He leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes, delaying the news.

Libby gripped her hands. Her mouth went dry as words eluded her.

“Last Friday you sold bus tickets for the away football game. Is that correct?” His eyes pierced hers.

Oh crap.

The heat of guilt climbed her neck. “Yes, sir.” She swallowed.

“One of the women working in the lunch line saw you take money from the cash box and pocket it. Is that correct?” He spoke slowly and quietly.

More than anything, she wanted to lie. The only time in her life she’d ever taken anything, and now she was caught.

Panic hit. Deny it. Lie. She could taste the words on the tip of her tongue. She wasn’t a bad person; she just needed the money.

“Before you answer, I want you to know that the same cash box came up short seventeen dollars.” He tapped his finger against his temple; he had her cornered.

“Yes, sir.” She crossed her arms, hugging herself tight.

“What was that?” Principal Rat asked.

“Yes, sir. I took the money.” Libby’s head hung low. No wonder she always followed the rules; breaking them and getting caught sucked.

“Would you like to explain yourself?” He crossed his arms, his voice tight.

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