Chapter 4
Face was eager to go to school Monday to see if his plan worked as he planned it. The Spanish assignment had been turned in Friday and Face was sure that the Spanish teacher, Mr. Rodrigues had read it and passed the information on to the principal and vice principal, so he wasn't surprised when Jake was asked to report to the Principal's office as soon as Homeroom roll was taken. He smiled at both Neal and Timmy.
"This is it." He mouthed at his two friends.
"Would Timmy Parker, Neal Burke and Templeton Smith please report to the Vice Principal's office at once!"
That took Face by surprise, but he joined both Timmy and Neal as they got up to leave. "Are we in trouble Face?"
"No…I'll take the blame; it was my plan after all."
"Boys, come in." Mr. Matthews was waiting for them at his door.
"Have a seat. We have much to discuss."
Face gulped. 'Discuss' was a word often used in his family for a paddling. He hoped it wasn't the same here.
"As you know Jake was called to the Principal's office only a few minutes ago."
Face, Timmy and Neal nodded.
"He is facing expulsion for bullying. He says that it is a lie and that you, Mr. Smith is out to get him. I want to know the truth."
"Sir, if he is accusing me, why are Neal and Timmy here?" Face was trying to protect his friends.
"Mr. Parker and Mr. Burke are here because I have suspected that Jake has been bullying these two students to get his lessons done. I never had proof just suspicions, mind you."
"Jake has been bullying Neal and me since the seventh grade, Mr. Matthews. He threatened to pound us if we didn't do his homework or allow him to cheat on his tests by copying our answers," Timmy confessed with Neal nodding in agreement.
"It all started for us after Steve Williams moved out of state. Jake would always pick the smallest and smartest kids in class to do his work," Neal added.
"Why did you decide to bring it to an end?"
"It was when Jake couldn't make Face back down. Face wouldn't allow Jake to bully him." Timmy said with pride.
"Face? Who is Face?"
"That's me sir. It's a nickname my family and friends call me." Face was quick to clarify.
"Okay because Mr. Smith refused to be bully it gave you the courage to do the same?"
"Yes sir, then he told us his plan and it worked."
"What was your plan, Mr. Smith?"
"Well, the plan didn't come about until after they told me that Mr. Davis had threatened to enroll his son in a military school if his behavior and grades didn't improve. I told Timmy and Neal to continue to do Jake's homework but to gradually make errors in it. To make obvious errors that not only his teachers but his dad would notice and do something about."
"And did it work?"
"Yes, sir. It got Mr. Davis standing over Jake while he did his homework and when he did it wrong, he was punished for it. Jake learned to do it right and no longer needed or wanted Timmy's or Neal's help. Soon all Timmy was helping Jake with was his Spanish. Jake didn't know but a few words in Spanish. So we waited for just the right assignment, and that happened Thursday. We were given the assignment to write a paragraph or two about ourselves in Spanish. Jake ordered Timmy to write how he was a fantastic football player."
"But that isn't what you wrote, was it Mr. Parker?"
"No sir. I wrote that Jake was a bully and had been bullying students into doing his homework since the sixth grade. I handed him that assignment Friday morning so he could recopy it in his own handwriting and waited to see if Face's plan worked."
"Did it work, sir?" Face asked.
"Yes, but next time you are threatened or feel threatened by another student or students, please bring it to myself or Mr. Cummins, your principal and not handle it yourself. You can return to your class."
All three boys nodded and lost no time in leaving. The rest of the day was great. Jake has been expelled. He had been told to leave the campus and not return, and Timmy and Neal thought they were in heaven. This was the first time since the sixth grade that they only had themselves to take care of.
"See I told you that my plan would work." Boasted Face.
It was during lunch that Face got an inkling that not everyone was as happy about Jake's leaving as he, Timmy and Neal were. The worse looks came from the jocks, who had just lost a key football player, but when all they did was stare Face soon forgot about them doing anything to him. "After school, I need to leave quickly Timmy. My family will be leaving for a job, the first one out of state since my adoption and I want to tell them goodbye."
"So you will be telling them goodbye at home?"
"No, at the local airport. We have a plane now."
"I'll be waiting for you at the entrance, then. If we can hurry maybe you can take them a box of donuts for the trip."
"BA will like that…thanks."
Timmy was waiting at the entrance of the school for Face to appear and together they started off for the bakery. They had only gone a block before a large group of kids blocked their way.
"Who are they, Timmy?"
"It looks like the entire football team is here to voice their displeasure of Jake's expulsion. I hope you will be able to convince them of Jake's guilt. The boy leading them is Billy Wallace, our quarterback. He will listen to you, so make it good."
"What about the two older boys with Jake…who are they?"
"They're his cousins, Sam and Jim Davis. You need to watch out for them; they make Jake look like a mama's boy in comparison. They play dirty. They are in their later teens."
Face nodded as he waited for Billy to speak. He had noticed the boy stepping out in front of the others. "I have a bone to pick with you Templeton. Why did you cause Jake to be expelled? You have lost us our star tackle." The anger in Billy's voice caused Face to quickly explain.
"He did it to himself when he continued to bully my friends, Timmy and Neal. He tried it with me, but I fought back."
"I think you are mistaken if you think that Jake is a bully. I have seen him go to Timmy before to offer his aid. A bully wouldn't do that."
"Billy, he conned you," began Timmy only to be told.
"Watch what you say, Parker!" The threat came from Jake himself as he glared at the smaller boy.
But Timmy had regained his courage with Face's aid, and he continued his statement. "He wasn't helping me but complaining that he wasn't happy with the 'B' he got on his paper. He wanted an 'A' the next time even if it meant that my grade was lower."
"You mean he has been bullying you and Neal?"
"Yes. Jake threatened to give us a pounding if we didn't do his homework. He didn't care that it meant that we had to stay up even longer to do his and ours as well each night. Then we had to get to school at least thirty minutes early so he could recopy the work in his handwriting. Do you know that in the beginning, we were willing to help him with his studies but he was too lazy to want the help? He rather we do the whole thing that way he could enjoy his evenings however he liked."
Billy and the team looked with disgust at Jake. "Why did you do that Jake? I always thought you were a good guy, but now I see that I was wrong about you.
Timmy, you and Neal should have spoken up. I would have helped you. I haven't forgotten that time you helped me on the English paper. I hadn't a clue on how to write a term paper until you took the time to show me and I got a good mark from it."
"I saw how close you were to Jake and didn't think you would believe me. I'm sorry Billy."
"Why did you take him on this time?"
"Because Face was there to show me that I didn't have to be afraid, and I had the talent to take him down once and for all."
"Face?"
"That would be me," Face said as he reentered the conversation. "That's my nickname. I had a plan that would handle Jake, and all they had to do was to continue to do his homework but to make enough errors to catch his father's eye. I was told that he had threatened his son with military school if his behavior and grades didn't improve. Timmy and Neal made sure that his grades dropped. But it was in Spanish class where he hung himself. He copied word for word what they had written about him being a bully and that he had bullied students since the sixth grade into doing his assignments and copying from their papers during a test that sealed his fate."
"You lie…. that paper was handed in without my knowledge." Jake was quick to protest.
"So you did your own paper about being a star football player and handed it in, instead?"
"Yes, I did."
"So you can read and speak Spanish?"
"Yes."
Face quickly wrote something in Spanish and handed it to Jake. "Then prove it…read this."
Jake looked at it recognizing only a word or two and bluffed the translation. "It says I am a great football player."
Face grabbed it back and took it to Billy. "You read it to him, please."
"Jake it says that you are a liar and a bully who soon will be wearing the uniform from a military school."
Jake scowled and lunged at Face intending to pound him only Face was ready and within a couple of blows had him knocked to the ground with shock. That was the first time he has been beaten since he started to bully kids. Although he was larger and heavier than Face he wasn't trained to defend himself as Face had been in the Special Forces.
Billy was amazed at Face's skill and speed and hurried to his side. "You move quick. Would you be interested in joining our team? You would make a great receiver."
"I'll think about it, but I'm running a bit late now and need to go."
Billy nodded and moved out of his way and watched as Face and Timmy hurried towards the Bakery. "You leave them alone," he said threateningly to Jake as his cousins helped him to his feet.