It was the last straw. 4 schools in 3 years. As much as his parents loved Brandon, his outbursts just couldn't keep going on like this. Public schools had formed many anti bullying policies in the past few years, and they would not allow a child to go around beating up teachers and students. It didn't seem to matter that the ones on the receiving end were the bullies. It didn't matter that after the matters came into the open that faculty members were fired with charges pressed for harassing their students. Two wrongs did not make a right. It is unacceptable to assault someone even if they are harassing or assaulting someone else. Self defense was one thing, but he needed to find more constructive ways to manage his anger and to help others, violence wasn't the answer even if it proved a consistently effective solution.
His parents enrolled him in Bullworth Academy, a private reform school well known for its history of taking problem children and putting them on a path to success. Though the school's reputation and direction had changed since Dr. Crabblesnitch retired and handed down his title to a former head boy of the school, Dr. Peter Kowalski. There were no formal programs of therapy, psychology, or behavior modification, but something about the school set kids straight and made them into cooperative and respectful members of society. This would hopefully be exactly what Brandon needed to calm his violent tendencies.
So there he stood. 15 years old, short, skinny, dark hair shaved almost to the scalp, a plain grey hoodie over his Bullworth blue uniform vest, white shirt underneath, and the common khaki pants all the male students wore. He stood at the gates for his first day moving in and was greeted at the gate by Dr. Kowalski.
"Good to meet you, Mr. Grinder, and this must be Brandon. I'm Dr. Kowalski, headmaster here at Bullworth." He shook hands with both gentlemen in front of him. He expected the same resistance that nearly every new student sent there for behavioral reasons gave, but was surprised with a respectful and firm handshake from the young man.
"Glad to see you have at least some semblance of enthusiasm to be here. We don't get that often with new transfers, its a good sign. Anyway, Mr. Grinder, if you'd just follow me, I'll show you where you can drop off all of Brandon's belongings. Follow me, please."
Pete Kowalski walked forward a few strides and turned to the right towards the Hopkins Boys Dormitory. The campus was abuzz with activity as it was move in day for the returning students who didn't live on campus year round. Most of the students seemed to be greeting their old friends after the long summer away while their parents carried personal belongings from cars to dorms.
Pete opened the door of the dorm and took an immediate hooking right into the first room.
"This will be your dorm. Namesake of this dorm spent most of his years here, at least when he actually slept here. Kind of a troublemaker, and not the same reason as you, Brandon. I've actually been intrigued by your record, you seem like a good kid, we just need to point you in some right directions. I think you'll do just fine here. Just keep your nose clean, as my predecessor used to say. Wouldn't want to have to clean it for you."
The Grinders looked at the headmaster awkwardly imagining the man holding a tissue to Brandon's nose.
"Ah, yeah, well, anyway, business to get to, more new students to greet. Thanks for choosing Bullworth. If you make your way up to the class building, we have some fliers up if you want to join any clubs or teams. Have a nice day sir," shaking Mr. Grinder's hand, "and you have a good semester here. Hopefully I don't have to have you in my office for anything but commendations." He shook Brandon's hand again and walked quickly out of the dorm.
"He seems...friendly," Brandon's dad told him starting to unpack some bags.
"I'll bet he was a weeney as a kid."
"Don't say things like that, you know better than to talk about people that way, and I know you're not kind of person."
"Dad if you knew what kind of person I was you wouldn't be sending me to boarding school, you'd just let me keep going to public school."
"Son, its not that we think you're a bad kid, you just have to learn how to control your actions. We're not saying that you were wrong challenging all those bad kids and teachers, we're saying you need to use your words and your brain, not your fists. I know you'll thank us once you really learn how to help others."
Once all the bags were unpacked, his bed was made, and his dad said his goodbyes, he left Brandon at the school and went home. Brandon had nothing better to do and didn't know anyone so he headed for the large central building of campus.