Page 32 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Calm down, Rod. My office or yours?”
“Telling me to calm down is not helping.”
“I’m free all afternoon,” Janice said.
“This won’t take long. I’m on my way.”
I slammed the receiver down without a closing courtesy. Janice’s attitude set me off, and her sudden fake concern worsened the seething anger over the false rumor from Alfonso. I wanted to punch someone. Wearing a scowl lest anyone attempt to speak to me or stop me, I went to Janice’s office in the faculty building. I knocked on her open doorway.
“Hi, Rod. Come in,” Janice motioned me inside. An imposing woman with a commanding presence, many found her intimidating, but her management skills kept her division running smoothly, or so I thought.
“May I close the door?”
“Sure,” Janice indicated a chair. “Please.”
The noise of the hallway diminished to nothing as the door clicked shut. I took a chair, sat forward, and kept my back straight. I wasn’t a wimp coming to beg her help. I was one very pissed-off administrator about to demand she do something.
“You said something about a rumor?” Her suspicious gaze told me everything.
“Stella mentioned a rumor going around campus. When I pressed for detail, she told me Alfonso Ortega said he saw me in the courtyard kissing one of my students.” I cleared my throat. My already tense muscles were edgy from the potential of putting Wyl in the spotlight.
“Who is the student?”
“The student is not the problem. The problem is an administrator who was falsely accused.”
“I understand, Rod. But I need a clear picture of the incident.”
I hesitated. “The student is Wyl Sterling.”
Janice huffed. “Did the kiss happen?”
That question and her attitude inflamed me. Her earlier curtness and this unfair accusation almost pushed me over the edge. “Really, Janice?” I shot out of my seat. “Your question tells me this situation is best discussed with Dr. Waverly.” I started for the door. This shit didn’t fly.
“Rod,” Janice stood. “To deal with the situation, I must understand what happened.”
I turned to face her and leaned forward, emboldened by my need to defend Wyl. “Your approach tells me you already think the kiss happened. You’re not willing to help uncover the truth. I see no point in this discussion.” I turned again, hand on the doorknob.
“Wait.”
I turned to find Janice still standing, an arm outstretched toward the chair I had occupied before.
“Why should I?”
“I know you're gay,” Janice said
“What does my being gay have to do with this situation? It sounds like you are lumping all gay men into a category where such action is commonplace. Shall I place you on the list of people sexually harassing me? I find this line of questioning inexcusable.”
“My question was more about Wyl Sterling than you,” Janice said. “What can you tell me about him?”
“So, you’re making the same broad generality about Wyl? What makes you think he is gay?” My anger seethed, and I was about ready to punch something.
“Please, Rod. Sit. I’m obviously handling this the wrong way.”
I hesitated, still ready to march out the door. But I needed Janice’s help in uncovering the lie Alfonso Ortega spread. I huffed and sat.
“Now, tell me about Wyl Sterling and how he became involved in this rumor.”
“Wyl is enrolled in my music course. He is also enrolled in Ortega’s biology course and Bowden’s economics class. He is a non-traditional student, close to my age, so his student experience is made easier through our casual conversations over morning coffee on class days. We discuss the class readings and the musical examples. I never accompany him around the campus. He isn't here except on class days.”
