Page 14 of The Falcon and the Foe

“What about you, Chase? Any good deeds you’d like to share?” I asked.

Before Chase could squirm in the spotlight, Cal rumbled into the room, Josh behind him.

“Where my Falcons at?” He jogged around the circle of scouts, hi-fiving each one. When he held his big palm up to my face, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of reciprocation. “C’mon, Scout Leader Russ.”

I checked the clock above the door. “You’re six minutes late.”

“I told you I was running fifteen behind, so technically this means I’m early. Isn’t that hi-five worthy?” He held his hand up to my face—too close. I gently but firmly lowered it.

“Falcons, why is punctuality so important?”

“Because when you’re late, you’re wasting someone else’s time,” they replied in unison. It was a mantra I had instilled in them from day one.

“Wow, that was kinda creepy,” Cal said, finding it amusing more than illuminating. “Very Children of the Corn.” His smile made me see red.

“It’s true, though. When you’re late, what you’re telling us is that you don’t value our time.”

“Or that there was a line out the door at work, and I had to stay a few minutes extra. I value our customers’ time.”

“Falcons, what do we say about people who make excuses?”

Cal stepped in front of me. “Falcons, does anyone know the meaning of the word passive-aggressive?”

I heaved out a gargantuan breath through my nostrils. “Cal, a word, please?”

I motioned for him to join me in the hall. I wanted to yank him by the collar but tamped down my growing frustration. I flashed a pleasant smile to a staff member walking past us and waited for her to round the corner.

“I’m trying to teach these kids the value of being punctual. I don’t need you strolling in, blatantly undermining me. Don’t you think it’s a good lesson for kids to learn? To be on time?”

“Six minutes isn’t the end of the world.”

“You should really be here at least twenty minutes before the meeting for setup and prep.”

“What is this, an airport?”

“That’s part of your responsibility as co-leader. Unless you don’t want the job anymore?”

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you? You probably jerk off to the thought of me handing over my badges.”

I whipped around to make sure the door was closed and the Falcons didn’t hear that comment. A rush of heat flashed through my body because I definitely heard it, and my mind instantly went to places it should not travel.

“We all have things, Cal. I have a job, too. But I make time for this.”

“I’m sorry, okay? This wasn’t some evil act meant toundermineyou, Herr Ettinger. I wasn’t able to switch shifts today, so by the time I left work after the unexpected crush of shoppers, got home, picked up Josh, and arrived here...that’s why I texted you to let you know I was going to be late. I thought you’d appreciate that heads up.”

A twinge of sympathy stung between my ears, a quick mental reminder that not everyone had a flexible work situation like myself. But I couldn’t give an inch here because Cal was the kind of guy who’d take a mile, who’d keep being late and using work as an excuse. What would it look like to the troop if their leader was perpetually late to every meeting?

“Life happens to everyone, Cal. But that doesn’t give us license to be late all the time. Give me your phone.”

I held out my palm. If I wanted to make this uneasy partnership work, I had to go the extra mile.

“Are you confiscating my phone?”

“No.”

We played chicken for a few more seconds before Cal pulled out his phone and slapped it in my hand.

“You don’t use a phone case?” I asked, horrified.

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