Page 36 of Beyond Perfect

“Thanks. You’re a good employee and friend. But I’ll do it.” He checked his watch. “I’ll head over there now. Is Frankie still in his cabin?”

“He is. I checked on him this morning.”

On the way to the classroom building, he thought about stopping to see Frankie, but decided that might be a mistake. He still hadn’t decided on what to do with the boy.

No, you got drunk instead. You’re an idiot.

Pushing away the thought, he entered the Social Studies classroom. The space was soherwith motivational posters everywhere and kids’ work on the bulletin boards. It evensmelled like her. He took a moment to enjoy the scent, then the boys filed in.

They were loud. “Hey, anybody hear what’s going on with Frankie?” This from Bryce.

Harlan said, “You know what happens when you get five demerits.”

Jackson decided he needed to orchestrate this discussion. “All right guys, everybody settle down and I’ll clear some things up.”

The boys went to the tables. Maisy let them sit wherever they wanted to. When they looked up at him, their expressions were stony.

“Frankie’s back but is confined to his cabin. We just found him yesterday and I haven’t made my decision on what to do with him.”

“But he’s got five demerits,” Timmy exclaimed. “Does that mean we can get five and nothing’ll happen? Cause I got four.”

“Me, too.” Harlan.

“Me, too.” Quentin.

Fuck. He should have expected this.

“No, the fact that he’s on campus doesn’t mean that. Five demerits get you sent to juvie.”

“Then why isn’t Frankie sent away?”

That was a good question. And Jackson knew why. It was because of Maisy.

The lesson today included a movie,Dead Poets Society,that Annie picked out. He was supposed to show half today and half tomorrow. He’d already seen this film but nonetheless found it engrossing.

When he stopped the film halfway, he asked the boys to record in their journal their impression so far. What did they think about the main teacher. The boys? The plot so far.

The kids wouldn’t even open their journals. He knew why. He’d squelched questions they had a right to know. Still, he said, “Why aren’t you writing?”

Bryce folded his arms across his chest. Harlan and Quentin stared down at their desks. Timmy glared at him.

“I know why you’re doing this. I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow.”

“Then we’ll talk tomorrow,” Bryce said. “Maybe, depending on what you say.”

He wouldn’t ask them what they wanted to happen to Frankie. It wasn’t their decision. It was his. To buy time, he said, “Okay, we’ll watch the rest of the movie.” He turned it on and sat back.

This school was the best thing Jackson had ever done. He had to protect it. Not himself. Not Maisy. Not even Frankie. So when the boys filed out grumbling, Jackson got out his cell and punched in a contact.

“Onondaga County Juvenile Corrections. Steven Lewis speaking.”

Steven was the director of the whole system. He did his best but juvie was still a hard place. Especially for the younger kids. He stuffed the notion and said simply. “I’m afraid I have to send one of my own to you.”

“Seriously? You haven’t sent a kid here since your first year.”

“Yeah, well, I failed again. I’ll have Nick bring him over. When would be best?”

“He can do it now. And Jackson, you can’t save all of them.”

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