Principle Hurts' office was not a large office and the amount of items such as books, files, cabinets and art work narrowed the office space even more. Though Alice was not an expert on wood, the desk that sat between her and Mr Hurts seemed to be a simply plywood structure.
Principle Hurts was a mild manner man of late forties. His hair was tinting towards grey and laugh lines were very visible as well as lines around his eyes. Alice guessed him to be about six foot and weigh one eight, give or take. Her husband, Clint has taught his family to challenge their minds with descriptions of people, places and their surroundings as one may never know when it would be needed.
Principle Hurts passed a folder over the desk to Alice in order to get a clear picture of the topic of their conversation. "As you can see, Mrs Larabee," Principle Hurts sat back into his chair as he also looked at the same material in his own possession. "Vin's grades have declined further in this term than the first and second term. On numerous occasions, he has failed to hand in his homework assignments and not just in one subject but several. English, American History, and his math studies have plummeted drastically. He does remarkably well in Earth Science, which Mr Thomas enjoys teaching outdoors and naturally Physical Education. It appears to me that the studies that give Vin difficulty are the ones he spends on reading."
"He has prescription glasses and we are aware of his dyslexia." Alice spoke softly as she scanned his current grades. "He does his assignments. It's the first thing Clint and I ask of the children when they arrive home. We even review his work so I'm not sure why he isn't handing them in."
"I have asked as well as the other staff on the subject matter and we get no real response, merely a shoulder shrug or an 'I dunno' reply." Principle Hurts leaned forward in his chair, placing his elbows on the desk and folding his fingers in his hand. "He continues to disuse his glasses and if a teacher reminds him of them, he replies that he left them in another class."
"He told me he would start to wear them when we discussed this the last time." Alice explained.
"Children tend to do say one thing and do another," Principle Hurts gave her a small smile of understanding. "However, if his grades continue as they are, he will fail the grade."
"My husband and I will get to the bottom of this, I assure you." Alice handed him the papers back to him, which he waved them off to indicate that she could keep them.
"Mrs Larabee, I would like to recommend a different class for Vin. It's a class reserved for students that have problems in certain classes and allows them to get a more hands on help when its needed." Principle Hurts said. "It may provide the attention he may need."
"I believe it is the attention he wishes to avoid, Mr Hurts." Alice sighed, unsure of how to proceed with Vin's grades. "He feels singled out and that has always bothered him. He is very opposite of his brothers. Josiah and Chris who didn't care and Buck who relished it."
"Yes, I am still taking stomach tablets because of Buck's attendance. I pray he is treating High School better?" Principle Hurts grinned.
"Not even the slightest." Alice shook her head but there was amusement in her eyes.
"He always had a knack of getting of mischief and this would be a good time to bring up JD's latest behaviour." Principle Hurts scratched his head slightly. "Now I know that he and James Rufus are having problems learning to co-exist during school but no matter the reason, the school does not approve of fighting."
"Fighting?" Alice brows shot up. "What do you mean? I know JD has had verbal arguments with this boy but fighting?"
Principle Hurts stared at her for a brief moment in puzzlement. He dug through is files and on finding his prize, handed a sheet over to Alice to view. "Is that not your signature?" Principle Hurts watch Alice slowly shake her head before he continued. "Two days ago we gave JD and James detention for shoving each other. We sent that home with each boy to be signed by their parent."
Alice frowned at the letter. "I don't understand. This isn't Clint's signature, besides he would have told me about it."
"I had tried to make a phone call as well but it seems we have been given the wrong number." Principle Hurt explained. "Naturally, phone numbers of today change somewhat with the provider but…well, I went back to Buck's old emergency card and used that number to set up the appointment with you." He gave a small shrug. "And so you are here."
"Buck!" Alice slammed the paper down. "He did the exact thing when he was in this school. He changed the numbers on the emergency cards and forged our signatures when he was skipping classes."
"And we are improving our enrolment information to online to avoid this situation, next year." Principle Hurts explained. "As well as emails to parents. However in this case, we are a bit behind. I am afraid that JD and James disagreements have escalated to the use of their fist and both have started their in school detention this afternoon. Next time, JD will be looking at Out of School Suspension. Principle Wallaby in the High School will discuss the false signature to Buck and I can foresee detention in his future for this."
Clint turned the lights off to his jeep and stared through the windows of his home. All inside deemed it to be quite. There were lights on in the upstairs rooms as well the one in the kitchen and a flash in the game room to indicate the television was on.
He kept thinking of how he would tell his family about his other son. What their reaction maybe, what they may say. Tonight however, it all rested on Alice reaction. She may ask him to leave their home, their family. Tonight he would find if she would stand by his side when he told the other boys are if he would be doing it alone. If she accepts his mistakes well, maybe the boys would too.
The front door opened and Alice stood, leaning against the arch with a soft light at her back. She beckoned him to come inside with a nod of her head and a gentle smile on her face.
Clint took a deep breath as he tried to clear his mind before finding the courage to open the door of his jeep. He approached her, greeting her with a kiss that he hoped was not the last one.
"Mmm…" Alice grinned into his kiss. "You have a good day, I take it?"
"The worse." Clint grunted. "But coming home always seems to make it better."
"Dinner is ready once you wash up." Alice tugged the front of his shirt, forcing him inside their home. "All the boys, except for Chris are upstairs in time out."
"All of them?" Clint glanced in the game room and gave Chris a quick nod of hello.
Chris acknowledged his father out of habit than realisation that his father was home.
"Vin is not turning in his assignments, JD has detention for shoving and Buck for signing JD's papers he was to show us." Alice pointed to the rooms above their heads. "So as soon as they came home they got sent upstairs and patently waiting for you to get home."
"Why do I always have to be the bad guy?" Clint sighed.
"Because they don't take me serious." Alice explained. "You however, they know is a force to reckon with. However they don't know about my plan."
"What plan is that, babe?" Clint lifted an eyebrow in wonder.
"To curse them all with sons twice as bad as they are." Alice gave him an impish smile. "And then I will sit back and enjoy my revenge. But in the meantime, you deal."
"I still think I am getting the raw end of the deal." Clint grumbled. He walked over to the sink to wash up for dinner.
"I almost forgot," Alice threw him a towel to dry off. "How was your meeting with Travis?"
Clint focused on drying his hands.
"Clint?" Alice asked again. "What was the meeting about?"
"Nothing." Clint responded and mentally kicked himself. "It is something but can we hold off until the boys are in bed?"
"Of course." Alice frowned in concern but decided not to press it. "Why don't you let the boys know its dinner time?"
"G-Grounded!" Buck sputtered. "I can't be grounded! Not this weekend! I got a date all set!"
"I'm sorry. How about I let you check your calendar to make sure you're not busy?" Clint glared at Buck. "I have told you once before if you do the crime than you do the time. You get to make one phone call and that is to call off the date. Understand?"
"I do but I don't like it none." Buck barked.
"It wouldn't be a punishment if you enjoyed it." Clint turned to his two youngest sons, both sat shoulder to shoulder on the sofa watching Buck and Clint.
"Mrs Gims makes us read our assignments in front of the whole class, Dad!" Vin whined. "I can barely read as it is but had to do it in front of everyone makes it impossible and they all just laugh at me! And Mr Adams let other student check our homework and if I get a number backwards, they let everyone know! I hate school! I don't care if they fail me; I'm just dropping out when I turn eighteen anyways! I'll join the army!"
"You need a high school diploma or a GED to join the army, kid." Buck told him.
"Buck, you're not helping." Clint told him.
"Well I'll get my GED through them and then I will join the army." Vin stated with a cross of his arms.
"How about we discuss it when you turn eighteen? For now, you are still in school and you need to hand in your homework understand?" Clint asked. "Your mother and I offer our help to you and so do your brothers. We all want you to do your best, Vin. Doing your work and not handing it in isn't going to cut it. Your principle was telling us about a special class you could take to get extra help, what do you think."
"Doesn't matter, does it? Everyone thinks I'm stupid now anyways. Mind as well put me in a 'special' class for stupid students." Vin sulked.
"Your weakness is in reading and math, Vin. Nothing else. It doesn't mean you are any less intelligent. You just need a bit more time during those studies." Clint explained.
Vin only shook his head, hating the idea.
"Like Buck you get to spend the whole week thinking all about how you wish you handed those assignments in." Clint told him.
"B-but…" Vin started but stop as soon as Clint glared at him. "Okay. Not like I have a choice, does it?"
"Nope." Clint moved onto the next son. "And you, fighting in school. JD, what is going on?"
"Rufus is annoying! He picks on me all the time!" JD explained.
"So you use violence to prove your point?" Clint asked.
"Everyone keeps saying that you gotta stand up to bullies and they will back down." JD again explained. "So I stand up to him. He calls me a name, I call it back. He pushes, I push back but he won't leave me alone and I did nothin' to him! He's just plain evil! You should arrest him!"
"How about you start walking away? He cannot argue with you if you aren't there to argue, right?" Clint asked. "So walk away and tell a teacher."
"Then I get called a wimp and everyone will pick on me!" JD huffed. "I hate him. He's only mean to me because I'm smaller than he is!"
"This go between you and James Rufus is getting too serious. You are going to face out of school suspension. Do you want that?" Clint asked.
JD shrugged his shoulders. "Just don't have to go to school for a few days."
"Right. That is true but that also is put on your record and you may not get into a college that you want too when you are old enough to decide. You could miss out on an opportunity." Clint held up his hand before JD could state how he didn't care. "One fight will equal another and then another and sooner or later someone will get seriously hurt. So it will stop, understand? You will walk away from Rufus from now on."
"Yes sir." JD mumbled.
"I think two weeks without computer, television and games should make help you to remember the next time Rufus tries to draw you into an argument." Clint sentenced.
"Two weeks!" JD pointed at Vin. "He only got a week and so did Buck!"
"They weren't fighting. I find your situation more serious at this time." Clint explained. "Fighting will not solve anything, JD. Best to remember that."
"It isn't fair!" JD argued.
"That's how life is sometimes." Clint shrugged. "Off to bed, all three of you."
"Babe." Clint whispered in the dim light of his and Alice's room. He hated the silence she was giving him. "I didn't want to lose you. Not that I finally had you back."
Clint had told Alice about his affair and about having a son with Maude. Alice hadn't said a word; she simply turned her back to him and walked towards their wall window to look out at the night sky. It was hard to take in.
"I just received the documents to sign, to finalise that divorce. I was grieving Alice and I wasn't thinking clearly. I lost you in that moment and I was never going to get you back." Clint walked up behind her. He made a motion to put his hands on her shoulders but thought better of it, instead his hands fell to his side.
"She said she was in the same position, just going through a divorce as well. She said she understood what I was going through and I thought she did. One thing led to another…" Clint turned towards the bed, taking a seat upon it. "After a week together, she encouraged me to go back to you. To beg you to delay the divorce and to fight together to save our marriage. It was the best advice I ever took.
I always thought that she crossed my path in order to save my marriage. Travis told me that she actually target me to conceive a child that she could pass off as her husband's. She wanted to make sure I was out of the picture and that if I was happily back with my wife I would never track her down. She was right."
"Why didn't you tell me later? Why did it take you sixteen years to tell me?" Alice asked, finally turning towards Clint.
"Vin came along and we had our hands full with him and then, JD and well honestly, I was waiting for the right time but there was never a right time." Clint explained. "I started to think that this horrible mistake would never be found out. That it was something that I could lock away and hide from everyone around me. I was wrong."
"And now?" Alice asked.
"And now?" Clint shook his head.
"Why is she finally getting in touch with you? Why through Travis? Did he know about you and this woman?" Alice asked.
"No, he didn't know. I never told anyone. It was something I had always kept to myself, Alice. I was ashamed of it. I was afraid I would lose you again." Clint explained. "And Maude, well she has turned out to be a criminal and it seems the boy follows in her footsteps. Travis told me that there is a good chance she will have a long sentence. He offered a chance for us to take Ezra or to let the state take control of him."
"Bring him here?" Alice pointed to the floor of her home. "Won't that be lovely! The county will love this! And then his mother is released on good behaviour and I suppose she'll want to visit often?"
"I can let the state take him, Alice. No one will know. I don't even have to see him." Clint winced at his own words.
"That's what we will do." Alice nodded her head but slowly she started to shake it. "Clint, that makes him sound like some used sofa we plan to throw in a dump site and hope no one catches us. When it comes down to it, he isn't responsible for this mess and it would drive you crazy if you never see his face."
"I don't want to lose this family, Alice. If you can't stand at my side on this, the boys won't even accept it." Clint explained.
"I know." Alice huffed out a small puff of air. "Tomorrow we will visit him. Talk to his parole officer and decide if he is better off in a stable home or if he would be best with the state. Whatever we decide, we'll tell the boys. They have the right to know there is another brother out there."
"So…where does this leave me?" Clint asked. "Where does it leave me with you?"
"We were separated and I signed the devoice papers. We stopped the process before it could be finalised." Alice went to the linen closet and pulled out extra blankets. "So I don't see it as you cheated on me."
"I would never do that, Alice. I honestly thought I lost you for good and I just wanted to forget the pain for a moment." Clint assured her.
"Well you caused more of it." Alice handed him the blankets and pointed to the door. "Sofa."
"B-but…." Clint looked at her confusion clearly showing on his face.
"You didn't tell me about her either. Not until you absolutely had too." Alice explained. "You do the crime, you will do the time. A week on the sofa for hiding secrets that I should had been made aware of."
A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed. It was quite an encouragement. Also extremely helpful as I was just going to have Alice explain to Clint what had happen at her meeting. But since a reviewer wanted to know what happen at school - I think it turned out better this way. So your thoughts are helping me with the story. Nathan will be in the story as well. I have four ways to bring him into it but I can only use one. One is to have him as a neighboring friend of Buck's. Another is to have him go to a college near Josiah, who than invites him home. Another is have him as a cousin in a mixrace family and the one I am leaning towards is Josiah doing a big brother program and befriends Nathan. I do have direction to go yet I do not want to rush the story line. However, I have studies and work on over load so I am trying to do a weekly update. This month is going to be extremely busy for me so please forgive me if the delay is longer than a week. Again, thanks for all the support.
