BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL
by SANDEFUR
9-4-06/Labor day.
"Grace, can I help you?"
Grace sighs. Always strongly independent, it galls Grace to have to ask for help, but she nods her agreement. Quickly, her sister-in-law Joan moves closer and gives her a hand. Joan smiles reassuringly as she helps Grace, enormously pregnant, to gently come to rest on an air doughnut (hemorrhoids were one of the many side effects of being in her ninth month). Joan places Grace's walker in front of her, and sits next to her on the first row of bleachers. Joan double checks that Grace is comfortable before looking about at her surroundings.
Arcadia High Athletic field—the last time Joan was here was back in June on graduation day. At that ceremony there was a moment of silence in memory of Gavin Price's tragic death, but clearly that wasn't enough of an acknowledgement of a man who died trying to save the life of a student. So, on this day before the start of the school year, hundreds of former and current students, teachers and staff are gathered to pay homage to the late vice principal.
"Quite a turnout, especially considering this is all for Price." Grace comments.
"A lot of people are conditioned never to think ill of the dead, so they are here out of a sense of duty. But Grace, you use to call Price a fascist. I'm kind of surprised you wanted to come today, especially considering how hard it is for you to get around."
Grace shrugs. "The guy died trying to save the life of my sister-in-law. The least I can do is pay my respects."
Joan smiles. "'Sister-in-law'. I still love hearing that."
"Only because it is so new, since Luke and I tied the knot just three weeks ago. Speaking of Luke, he wanted to be here today, considering what Price did…"
"Hey, I get it. Luke had to leave for M.I.T. two weeks back, and he can't be constantly traveling from Massachusetts to Maryland, not even for this."
"It's still hard to believe Glynis went loco, killed Price and then kidnapped you with the intent of killing you. And then she turns the gun on herself? Bizarre."
Joan hesitates. She is stuck with this stupid story dreamed up by Homeland Security. Outside of the government, only she, Dr. John Hunter and Police Chief Will Girardi know the truth about Glynis' involvement with Ryan Hunter's mad scheme to launch his own version of Armageddon.
"For a long time we all knew Glynis was weird, but it wasn't until she came under the influence of Ryan that she went completely over the edge. After all, she shot you and tried to frame Luke for it."
Grace automatically touches the scar on the side of her head, which is mostly covered by her blonde hair. "I guess I ought to hold a grudge, but I'm just too grateful to be awake and to have my baby unharmed."
Before Joan can respond, a shadow falls over the two young women. Joan looks up, recognizes Principal Steven Chadwick and sighs. She was expecting this…
"Miss Girardi, I'm so glad you've arrived. I'm sure everyone will want to hear any tribute you wish to pay to Gavin."
Joan sighs again. "Okay, sure. I'll say a few words."
Chadwick smiles and focuses his attention on Grace. "And Miss Polk, how goes things with you?"
Grace holds up her left hand and points at the gold wedding band. "First off, I'm now Mrs Girardi, and as you can see, I'll be popping out a baby soon. My due date is in one week."
Chadwick nods and points at the walker. "Complications?"
"Not as many as you'd think considering I was shot twice, spent nearly five months in a coma and because of my pregnancy, I've made little progress with my physical therapy."
"Mrs…Grace, I'm sorry for your troubles."
Grace pats her huge mid-section. "On the other hand, my little girl is thriving, and once I deliver, my doctors say I'll start to make rapid progress in my recovery."
"That's wonderful news. I wish you a speedy return to full strength, and I look forward to your return to Arcadia High."
Joan asks, "What's this?"
Grace replies, "I'm three credits away from my diploma, and I'm not going to have my kid thinking I'm a drop out."
Chadwick says, "Grace, since you haven't turned 19 yet, you have the option of returning to regular classes."
Grace shudders at the idea. "No thanks. I'll stick with the adult night classes I signed up for."
Joan mocks in a sing-song voice, "Grace is a senior!"
Grace suppresses a smile. "Oh, go give a speech, Freshman!"
Joan laughs as she and Chadwick walk away. They travel only a short distance before coming across Helen Girardi in conversation with Elaine Lishack and Coach Keating. Chadwick smiles a greeting...
"Helen, how good to see you again. Any chance you're reconsidering returning to teaching?"
Helen shakes her head. "My portrait commission work is still going strong. Besides, in a few short days I'll be busy helping to take care of my first grandchild."
Joan says, "Mom, I have to say a few words, so can you sit with Grace? I worry about her."
Helen briefly looks over to where Grace is sitting. "Sure honey, but don't worry. Grace is healthy and doing better than you think. Ladies, if you'll excuse me...?"
Lishack and Keating say a hasty goodbye as Helen heads toward her new daughter-in-law. Keating addresses Joan...
"Miss Girardi, if you have no plans, this afternoon the girls soccer team will be having their first practice of the season."
Joan follows Keating's indication up the stands and spots several of her old team mates. Let's see, there's Vicky Parker, Ellen Eastwood and...Susan Radovitch--the bitch who tried to blackmail her with her old psychiatric files. Susan and Joan exchange hostile glares until Joan notices Goth Kid God sitting just behind Susan. Oh no, are you kidding me? An assignment involving Susan?
Joan grunts her displeasure as she and Chadwick continue on until they reach the speaker's microphone, where several dignitaries are waiting to give their formal tributes to Gavin Price. One of them is a Methodist minister, no doubt Price's own pastor. The man has a long scar on one side of his face, and Joan recalls that several local ministers were attacked by Ryan's thugs last year.
As the speeches begin with their expected reviews of Price's career and proposed tributes (a plaque in the school's main entrance and a scholarship in his name), Joan watches the crowd. In the front row she spots Price's family--a brother who is strikingly similar to Gavin, and an elderly couple who are no doubt Price's parents.
While everything is proceeding, Joan tries exercising her new ability. It is something that began to develop during her war with Ryan--this power to 'read' people. (It is how she knew Glynis was thoroughly corrupted when the other sub-defectives were willing to forgive her. Joan suspects Ryan also had this ability, and it is why he could so easily manipulate people.) Joan's power is still weak and vague, but it is growing with practice.
However, Joan is always reluctant to try because it seems such a violation of privacy. But with crowds, it wasn't so personal. This crowd, for instance, is bored and feeling guilty about it. This tribute for Gavin Price is so generic and dull, it could be for a total stranger. Many will regret coming, and most will block their feelings for it by tomorrow.
"And now our final speaker whom most of you remember as last year's student council president, and who was with Gavin in those last moments...Joan Girardi."
Reluctantly, Joan approaches the microphone, and as she does, a bible scripture pops into her head...'You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free'. Joan looks up into the crowd and spots Goth Kid God, who gives her a quick wink. Yeah, okay, thanks for the hint.
"Gavin Price use to scare the hell out of me."
(A few people chuckle, and numerous students--past and present--nod their heads.)
"I often thought to myself, and even said to Mr. Price a couple of times: 'Why do you have to be so mean'? I even once asked if he were the devil."
(Again, a few people are pretending to be shocked, but most are silently agreeing.)
"At the time I didn't understand why. I, like a lot of students, just assumed it was his nature. We all thought Price was a mean and scary guy who just enjoyed making our lives miserable."
(Some of the crowd are growing uncomfortable, thinking this was going too far.)
"As the daughter of a cop, I should have known better. It's never easy being the one who has to enforce the rules. It's a tough job that isolates you and makes you unpopular. But someone has to do it, and Price did it well. His diligence and his tactics were what made Arcadia the safest high school in this city. Few of us fully appreciated how much better that made our lives."
(The mood of the crowd begins to shift. Many are remembering the times when Price broke up fights, challenged bullies and unflinchingly faced down very wild and scary thugs.)
"What I never understood about Mr. Price until that last moment is, the why. It was all done out of love. Gavin Price loved being an educator, he loved this school and most of all, he loved the students in his care. Oh, it was a tough love, but it was real. When a man has trouble verbalizing his love, he often expresses it through his actions. That was Mr. Price. In the last moment of his life he sacrificed himself trying to save the life of a student. It was me, but honestly, he would have done the same for any one of you. For greater love has no man than he would give his life for another..."
(Many in the crowd are now crying, while others hang their heads as the re-evaluate the man they thought they knew.)
Joan looks skyward. "Father, we thank you for the privledge of having known this good man, and our love goes out to him as we trust that he is now in your arms."
Tears are flowing freely as many in the crowd respond, "Amen." Hugs are exchanged and others express their heartfelt condolences to the Price family, who are relieved. They weren't really here for formal tributes or phony rituals. They wanted to know that Gavin mattered to the people around him. Now they did, and somehow that made their loss a little easier.
A few people thank Joan with handshakes and hugs, and even Grace sends her a 'thumbs-up', but Joan is distracted. In the back of her mind she hears Ryan Hunter's voice saying: "Excellent, Joan. See how easy it is to manipulate the rabble?" Joan does her best to shake this from her head for she needs her wits about her. The last woman to approach her is not a well-wisher. It is Glynis' mother, Lillian Figliola, and her eyes are burning pools of hate...
"You filthy whore, how dare you continue this lie about my Glynis?"
"Mrs Figliola, I'm sorry for your loss..."
"Bitch! Do you think I haven't figured it all out? You were the one who killed Price and blamed my little girl. It was all part of your plan."
"Plan?"
"To ruin Glynis so you could get Adam back."
"Ma'am, it was Ryan Hunter who..."
"Lies, lies, lies! You faked those photos of Glynis and Mr. Hunter so you could trick Adam, her friends and the whole town. Poor, poor Glynis, crying her eyes out for weeks because everyone had turned on her. No one would give her a second chance, not with the word of the town 'hero' against her!"
Tears flow down Mrs Figliola's cheeks as her body trembles with emotion. Surprisingly, no one seems to notice the tense exchange of words.
"Mrs Figliola, I truly am sorry I was so harsh with Glynis, but that had nothing to do with Adam."
"No? I've been watching you Joan. All summer long I witnessed your seduction of Adam."
"Seduction? No, we haven't...that is, we have only been rediscovering our romantic feelings for each other."
"Which never would have happened with Glynis still in the picture. You knew Adam loved her, and you were terrified he would take her back. That's why Glynis had to die. That last day, it was You who took her prisoner. It was You who faked her suicide on Mt. Nashman. But I know the truth, you killed her!"
"The police report..."
"Is sealed! Do you think I'm stupid? Why would an ordinary suicide be sealed by Homeland Security? Did your father arrange that using his police connections? I've tried...I've tried so many times to get someone in authority to listen to me, but they won't. Your lie stands as the truth, but we know the real story. You murdered Glynis!"
Suddenly there is a long, sharp knife in the hand of Lillian Figliola...
TBC. PLEASE REVIEW.