Читать книгу The Hum - Ralph Anderson - Страница 10

“Do you two know why you two are here in my office?”

The teenage boys smirk, their heads hang down staring at the floor. There is a snicker from one of them. Tough guys. Wimps really. They are odd in a way that is hard to describe. Social misfits. Their hair is a bit long and unkempt. Zits blemish their sun deprived skin. Pale from hours and days spent in their basements playing video games. It is obvious that they have not bathed in several days. Body odor hits the principal’s nose causing him to lean back in his chair in an attempt to put as much distance between him and the boys as possible.

“You have created quite a reputation for yourselves... Many of the other students are afraid of you two. They say you intimidate them. That you act creepy around them. Whatever that means… Teachers have observed that you two tease the other kids and belittle them. Some students have come to me to say that they are afraid of you. And today you took another student’s books and threw them in the garbage. You ridiculed her and scared her… This kind of behavior won’t be tolerated here. At the beginning of the year every student had to sign a Code of Conduct Contract in the Student Handbook. This contract details the behavior that is expected of every student. Do you remember this?”

No reaction. The boys continue to stare at the floor trying to not give the principal any satisfaction that his message is getting through.

“Do you have anything to say for yourselves?”

After some time there is no response.

“I want you both to take some time to think about your future. Whether you want to stay here or get expelled... Think about it… I’ve called you parents to come pick you up. They’ll be here at 11:30. I am putting you on a one week suspension… Wait for your parents on the bench in the hall.”

They don’t move.

“Go! Now!”

The two boys get up and shuffle out of the office snickering as they go.

The principal sits quietly contemplating the two boys, his hands folded, index fingers pointing up, tapping his mouth. The principal gives a big sigh and reaches for the phone on his desk and dials. In a few moments there is an answer.

“I just had a couple of boys in my office that I believe fit your profile and would be good for the program. Their names are…”