Chandler
April 1980
Nothing more said of the disastrous morning. He got ready for his birthday and his mom drove to Castle Park, with Keaton sitting in the passenger seat. Chandler was still angry, he was pissed. He just wanted a day. One day.
"So you gonna act normal?" Chandler asked.
"Someone's in a pissy mood," Keaton said.
"Yeah, 'cause you wanted to spank me for my mother being a bad parent," Chandler said.
"Can it with the attitude. I will turn this car around," Nora said.
"No, you promised me and you don't think I know how to hail a cab or walk? Do you need tips on how to act normal? Conversation starters? You know what to say to other adults who don't spend their days boozing, doing drugs and having multiple sex partners?" Chandler asked.
Nora bit her bottom lip. She was getting angry as well but she was determined. She felt responsible for what she created. She felt guilty. She couldn't punish him because he was right. The pot, the drinking, even the morphine, it was her fault.
"You know, I can spank him. Kid's got a mouth," Keaton said.
"Try me," Chandler grumbled.
"No, no….it's...I had….it's fine. I just….no," Nora said.
"He shouldn't be speaking to you that way," Keaton said.
"Well, I shouldn't have easy access to drugs and booze. Can't always get what we want," Chandler said.
"Wow, you're really pushing your luck today, aren't you?" Nora asked.
Chandler let out a snort, he didn't particularly care anymore. He just wanted normal. He wanted to be with his friends. He wanted to golf. He wanted to just be with people he liked.
"Oh, G-d," Nora said.
"It's Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Cool," Keaton said.
"Well, guess I'm not the worst parent of the day," Nora said.
"Oh, hell no," Chandler said.
Nora pulled into a parking spot of the Castle Park Golf Course. Chandler kept glaring at his father, standing there dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. He got out of the car, he had not seen his dad in so long and this was how he decided to make his grand return? It was unacceptable.
"Surprise," Charles said.
"What-why-"
"I thought I'd surprise my kid," Charles said.
"I haven't seen you in two years and why are you dressed like that?" Chandler asked.
"You like movies," Charles said.
"Why are you dressed like...? Why….all of my friends are going to see you like that," Chandler said, tears starting to fill his eyes. "Why-you couldn't….for one day. One day."
"What's going on?" Charles asked.
"He's just hung over," Keaton said, "he had a rough night."
"Is he drinking?" Charles asked.
"Oh, come on…..you're gonna judge me?" Nora asked.
"I wanted to dress comfortably," Charles said.
"Then wear pants," Chandler said.
"If you keep this attitude up, we are going home and you are going to your room," Nora said.
"Whatever….I'm going to find my friends. You guys do what you want," Chandler said, walking off to find his friends. Nora, Keaton and Charles exchanged looks, Charles was confused.
"What is going on with him? Preteen?" Charles asked.
"No….no...he's angry…." Nora said.
Nora was sad, so sad about the entire situation. Keaton reached into his pocket and pulled out a joint, lit it and began smoking. Keaton was laid back, but so laid back that really he could just spend his life lying down.
"Wait, are you smoking pot?" Charles asked.
"Yeah, your kid loves it by the way. Gave it to him with some pain killers yesterday, he was so happy," Keaton said.
"What? What the hell is happening at that house?" Charles asked.
"Wait, wait...I'm getting parenting tips from you," Nora said.
"Wanna hit?" Keaton asked.
"Yeah," Nora said, taking the joint and taking a long drag on it. She was so emotionally worn out and really was no longer in the mood to be discussing how she was raising her child especially not by someone who hadn't been in her life or Chandler's life in two years.
"Are you serious right now?" Charles asked.
"You haven't been in his life in two years. So do not discuss parenting with me," Nora said.
"I've sent you child support," Charles said.
"Great, thanks but-" Nora said.
"And he has a giant theater and a tennis court and the house, that I paid for and am still paying for," Charles said.
"Great, but he doesn't have you," Nora said.
"Hey, we should probably go see the kid. Make an appearance," Keaton said.
Nora took another hit off the joint as did Keaton. Charles looked at both of them and shook his head. It was going to be a long day. He reached into his basket and pulled out an Altoids tin. He opened it and quickly popped what looked like a pink piece of candy in his mouth.
"What was that?" Nora asked.
"LSD, man," Keaton said. "Can I have one?"
"Oh, now who's the bad parent?" Nora asked.
"It's going to be a long day," Charles said.
Keaton grabbed an LSD tablet from the tin and swallowed followed by another hit on his joint. Nora took a hit as well. They stood, the three of them in silence, finishing off the joint debating what to do. They did think about waiting for the party to be done, they thought maybe it would be best if they didn't appear with Chandler. Chandler didn't want them there but they weren't sure they could make that choice. They remained in the parking lot instead. Smoking, letting the high rush through them, talking. Planning.
Chandler had reached his friends who were all sitting in the pizza place, their designated spot. There were parents there, everyone was there and he greeted everyone with a smile. This was going to be his day.
"Ready to lose your balls," his friend, Evan, said.
"I'll crush your balls," Chandler joked back.
"Chandler, where's your mom?" One of the mothers asked.
"Oh….um….she had to do something. Run a quick errand. I think she's getting the cake. She said go ahead without us," Chandler said.
"Okay?" the mother responded, confused.
Chandler wanted a head start. He wanted to start golfing and hopefully, he'd leave his mother and father behind. He did not want his classmates to see his father dressed as Dorothy, he didn't want his classmates to see his mother or Keaton. There were other parents there. They would be supervised. He figured his mother wouldn't even know how to supervise anyway.
"Are you sure we shouldn't we wait?" another mother asked.
"No, no...let's split up into teams," Chandler said.
They split up. There were about thirty kids so there were three groups of ten although it didn't really matter "we weren't paying much attention to the teams," Chandler recalled, "we just wanted to hit balls and make ball jokes. It was actually really fun at first." At the first hole, they had to hit the ball through some weird crooked maze and the hole was guarded by a large lollipop. With such a large group, it took awhile for everyone to go through. He hadn't seen his parents or Keaton at all. He had for a brief moment thought everything would turn out fine. He would get through the day with it being normal.
"Oh, gross….look at that," Evan pointed.
They were on the fourth hole, right in front of the windmill. Thirty kids, six moms, everyone stood, everyone noticed. "We got high in the parking lot," Nora said. "All three of us. We got high and decided to look for Chandler and then it happened….." Chandler stood in horror, watching them.
"Hey, isn't that your mom?" one of his other friends asked.
Keaton was standing in the middle of both of them, his pants down and leaning back. Nora was kneeling in front of him, her mouth on his private area, eyes closed and head bobbing back and forth. Charles was behind Keaton, his Dorothy skirt hitched up and seemingly going doggy style on Keaton. He was kissing Keaton's neck. Chandler felt his breath get caught in his throat as he could hear parents pulling the kids away and his friends gasping. He was in a bubble, furious as he picked his golf ball up and threw it, hitting Keaton in the head.
Nora, Charles and Keaton stopped and stared at Chandler. "It was horrifying, I was looking at all these moms who were covering their kids' eyes and I looked at Charles and Keaton and I knew we failed," Nora said. Charles echoed it, "we failed as parents that day." Chandler kept glaring as Nora stormed towards Chandler, grabbed him by the arm and began to spank him in front of everyone. Chandler could hear the uncomfortable giggles of his classmates and the gasps of the parents. When she was done, she pulled Chandler off the golf course and into the car, telling him the party was over. Chandler sat angrily in the back seat as tears streamed down his face. He looked back as his mom drove out of the lot, leaving his friends, leaving everything behind. When they reached the house, he was sent to his room which he flatly refused.
"No, no, you couldn't do it, why couldn't you do….just one day," Chandler screamed.
"Go to your room, I've had enough of you and your attitude," Nora yelled.
"You fucked up my day. This was my birthday," Chandler cried.
"Go to your room," Charles said.
"I haven't seen you in two years. You're no one. You don't get to tell me what to do," Chandler said.
"That's where you're wrong," Charles said.
"See, he's uncontrollable," Nora said.
"I'm uncontrollable because of you. Because of both of you. I wasn't allowed to have one fucking day, what happened?" Chandler asked.
"Well, we shouldn't have mixed LSD and pot, big mistake," Keaton said.
"Keaton," Nora said.
"What is wrong with you?" Charles asked.
"I got knocked in the head," Keaton said.
"Apologize," Nora said.
"For what? You were having a threesome….I'm probably going to have another Child Protective Services meeting and wait….you were….you were high….I was in the car. Just now? You drove me with me while you were high? And I get in trouble?" Chandler asked, tears streaming down his face. He was shaking almost violently.
"Chandler, it just happened and-" Charles said.
"You have to take him for the summer," Nora said suddenly.
"What?" Charles asked.
"What?" Chandler asked.
"I can't control him. I can't….this is getting worse and worse and I can't be a good parent and-" Nora said.
"I'm going to camp," Chandler said.
"No, no, you're not," Nora said.
"No, no, that is not fair. This is you, not me. This is so not fair," Chandler was shaking, he could barely control himself. He was spitting when he spoke, his body felt hot.
"Little dude, you need to calm down man," Keaton said.
"Shut the fuck up, Keaton," Chandler said.
"Chandler," Charles said.
"What? I have to watch my language after today, no. I hate both of you so much. I don't…..when I'm eighteen, I am leaving this house, I am never speaking to either one of you again," Chandler said.
He stomped away from them and into his theater where he loaded Kramer versus Kramer and began to watch. He didn't care what it was, he just wanted to watch, he wanted to forget the day. Although, he thought he did pick a very telling movie.
Outside, Nora and Charles were arguing and Keaton was now sitting on the steps, just watching. Nora was sobbing and Charles was pacing back and forth.
"What has been going on here?" Charles asked.
"You left."
"Yeah, and-"
"Why didn't…..I spent so long married to you and then you left and I had to raise him by myself...I don't know what I'm doing? I'm not...I never even wanted to be a mother and you should never have been a father," Nora said.
"How is this my fault?" Charles asked.
"You left. He needed both of us but...no, this is my fault but I can't handle him, I'm doing it all wrong. You know, maybe a change of scenery would be nice. Maybe Los Angeles could be fun. You could enroll him in classes, he could do tennis…."
"I don't know. I mean, I screwed up too," Charles said. Nora was in hysterics and he was trying to hold himself together as well.
"You showed up to his birthday party dressed as Dorothy."
"I'm trying to feel comfortable. I like wearing dresses. I liked this outfit. They call it being a trans, like transitioning."
"Are you transitioning to a woman….or Judy Garland?" Nora asked.
"No, no….I don't know," Charles said.
Nora lunged at Charles, shoving him back. She felt rage bubble up her, hysteria. She needed to get it out somehow. Charles remained stoic.
"Why did you marry me? Why didn't you figure this out when we got married? I spent so long…..and-" Nora said.
"I wasn't ready...I didn't know...I did love you, Nora and I love that kid of ours," Charles said.
"Who we are fucking up so badly," Nora said.
"This is so great," Keaton mused.
"Shut the fuck up, Keaton," Charles mused. "We screwed up today. though, didn't we?"
"Oh, yeah," Nora said.
"I'll go talk to him," Charles said.
Chandler was sitting watching when Charles plopped down next to him. Chandler glared at him but did not speak.
"Kramer versus Kramer," Charles said. "Hmmm, fits."
"Going with movies that fit my mood. Next up, Escape from Alcatraz." Chandler asked.
"Look-"
"I'm not spending the summer with you," Chandler said.
"Yeah, you are. It's not really a discussion and you'll even be able to help me in my show. I have a drag show at this place called Hamburger Mary's. You can pluck eyebrows."
"No and you can't make me either. You haven't spoken to me in two years."
"I know."
"You can't decide that now you'll be my dad and I don't want you as my dad. I made my decision and you left two years ago and you didn't say goodbye and you embarrassed me today so you're not my dad anymore," Chandler asked.
"Hmmm, ouch…..you know how to cut people down with your words."
"I know. It's 'cause I don't know how to punch people."
"I understand but here's the thing…..you're not eighteen and there's something I have that you don't and therefore-"
"Money."
"Yep….so, you're staying with me. You don't get a choice. We're going to work on behaving."
"You had a threesome on a golf course in front of a class of fifth graders and some of their moms," Chandler said. "I learned what the word hypocrite means and that's what you and mom are….you're both hypocrites,"
"You're staying with me."
Chandler folded his arms and let out a huff. It was angering him that no one was listening to him. It angered him that he was getting in trouble yet the adults in his life suffered no consequences. He hated that he was the one that kept getting screwed.
"Now, I am sorry that I did not say goodbye to you when I left," Charles said.
"I don't care."
"Okay," Charles said, not really believing him. "But...I was going through some things and I….I knew….I had to….I spent a long time hiding and I had to run and when you're older, maybe you'll get it but I'm very sorry."
"Whatever," Chandler said.
"I'm gonna smack you upside the head."
"I want to watch Kramer versus Kramer. It's like watching my life in movie form."
"Someone's growing up to be a smart ass."
"That would be me. I'm a smart ass and I'm proud."
"You want me to leave?" Charles asked.
Chandler looked at the ground and back up at his dad. For as angry as he was, he really did not want to be left alone. He shook his head and turned back to the screen. Charles turned and watched with him. He slowly lifted his arm and placed it around Chandler and when Chandler didn't shrug it off, he left his arm there.
It's not fair. You guys haven't disciplined me in eleven years and suddenly I need to be disciplined. It's stupid and I'm not going to school on Monday. All the kids are going to make fun of me," Chandler said.
"Well, if they make jokes, then make a joke back. Since when has my son not been able to make a joke."
"And you know, one day, I'm gonna leave this house and I'm never coming back, ever and I'm never going to speak to either one of you for the rest of my life and I'm not going up to my room, I'm staying here. You and mom don't get to make rules for me to follow if you can't even be normal for a day. That was all I asked. All I asked and I didn't get that and I'm getting in trouble for it, I mean, mom brings home guys who offer me pot or LSD and you dress funny and...I've been drunk, stoned and high and no one blinks but I throw a golf ball at mom's stoner boyfriend and all hell breaks loose."
Charles just nodded. There wasn't much else to say because he knew he wouldn't get through to Chandler. "I think we both knew then we had screwed up," Charles said, "we had neglected him. We had worried about ourselves, our own issues that now even trying to discipline him, trying to get him to listen to us was impossible. The thing was, I didn't blame him. I wanted to be someone else. For a really long time. I wanted to be that guy, husband, wife, kid….but I was really unhappy and I kept...I kept denying everything and I knew I had to run but it….I hurt my kid in the process and that, that will remain the biggest regret of my life." Chandler looked like he wanted to cry when I showed him the quote, he needed a break. It must be tough to be a kid growing up like that, not really understanding what was going on with your parents, not getting they were going through issues. It becomes anger, at least for Chandler. Anger and sarcasm.
Nothing more was said about the failed birthday party. Chandler spent the remainder of the weekend holed up in his theater, watching movies and drinking until he passed out. His parents left him alone and he had his thoughts. He kept imagining school on Monday, walking through those halls, hearing the whispers, the giggles.
That Monday, Sophie pulled up to the curb and Chandler sat frozen against the seat. The memory of what had happened flashed in his brain again. He wanted to be back in that theater again. He wanted a drink, he wanted to go home.
"I can't go in there," Chandler said.
"Yes, you can."
"Am I bad?" Chandler asked.
"What?"
"Am I bad kid? A bad person? How come mom and dad couldn't act normal? How come I can't go to summer camp now because mom, dad and Keaton were engaged in a threesome in the middle of a golf course. Am I….did I do this?"
"I don't know. Oh, honey, I don't know. But you are not bad. You're not. You're an amazing kid."
"Do you think I'll ever have normal?" Chandler asked.
"Yes."
"I bet the girl who gave me the friendship bracelet has normal," Chandler said as he reached into his pocket and pulled it out. He had been keeping it in his pocket ever since she gave it to him, "You know what she told me when she gave it to me? That all I had to do was look at it and I'd know I had a friend. I don't remember her name right this second, right now...but it was very nice."
"Maybe you'll meet her again one day."
"Doubt it."
"I keep saying, your future wife," Sophie said.
"No, she's not," Chandler said.
Chandler got out of the car and walked towards the front gates when Gladys stopped him, telling him that Principal Allens wanted to speak with him. Chandler was nervous, not shocked but still nervous. He kept wondering if he was about to get into trouble for what had happened at his party. Chandler followed Gladys into Principal Allens office and sat in one of the chairs, Gladys sat next to him.
"Chandler," Principal Allens let out a sigh.
"Am I suspended?" Chandler asked.
"No, no...but we do know what happened Saturday. We got some calls," Principal Allens said.
"And I'm friends with a couple of the parents that were there," Gladys said.
"Oh. So I'm expelled?" Chandler asked.
"No, but I am going to tell you Child Protective Services was notified again," Principal Allens said.
"No," Chandler said.
"Were your parents high? I was told they seemed high and then drove you home," Gladys said.
"They weren't high. They weren't and-"
"Chandler, this is really serious," Principal Allens.
"Who called Child Protective Services? I don't want to get taken away. Why doesn't anyone get that? They weren't really exposing themselves. It was just….a threesome. I don't….please...," Chandler said.
"They're on their way and I can't say who called," Principal Allens said.
"They're on their way now? It's Monday morning and it's not even 9a."
"Go to class and we'll come and get you when they're here," Principal Allens said.
"This is bullshit," Chandler said.
"Hey, not here," Principal Allens said.
"Well, it is," Chandler said.
"Also, I'm warning you, you have not been suspended all year. It's April, you got two months left. You can get through this, okay?" Principal Allens explained.
"Okay."
"We like having you here. You'll get through it," Principal Allens said.
"Thank you," Chandler said as he got out of the chair. When he got to class, every kid was looking at him, snickering. Evan was the first one, who tapped him on the shoulder.
"Your parents are gross," Evan said.
"Wait, if his dad is Dorothy, does that make him Toto?" Daniel asked.
"He's his dad's little bitch," Mark whispered.
The three boys began laughing. Chandler simply nodded as the teacher finished writing the schedule on the board and began class. It didn't matter. It was going to be a rough day and it was because of his parents. It angered him.
He was called into the principal's office a little after lunch and Principal Allens had him use his office. This serious man with a serious clipboard was Mr. Brando which of course led the wheels in his head to begin spinning.
"Hey, Stella," he screamed as soon as he sat down and Principal Allens left the room.
"Excuse me?" Mr. Brando asked.
"Stella….I love your movies, I'm a big fan, big fan. Stella."
"Okay, this is an emergency meeting due to the events of this past weekend," Mr. Brando said.
"What happened this weekend? Did Stella leave? Did she finally find that streetcar named, Desire? I mean, I wanna know."
"At Castle Park Golf, did you witness any drug abuse with your parents?"
"No. My parents don't use."
"Where they high in the car when they drove you home or-"
"Nope."
"Chandler, if you're telling us the truth-"
"I am. I am so telling the truth and now just remember what Huey Long said - that every man's a king - and I'm the king around here, and you don't forget it," Chandler said, repeating yet another line from Streetcar named Desire.
"Okay, about your father and what he was wearing-"
"Yeah, I mean he gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! You was my brother, Charley, you shoulda looked out for me a little bit... I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it."
"On the Waterfront," Mr. Brando said, "very good movie."
"Hey, you wanna hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you," Chandler said, repeating another Brando line.
"Do you understand what indecent exposure is?" Mr. Brando asked.
"You know, someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day."
"Godfather. Are you just going to quote movie lines?" Mr. Brando asked.
"Maybe."
"Chandler, indecent exposure means that your parents as well as your mother's boyfriend-"
"No. Okay, nothing happened."
"They didn't engage in a threesome on a golf course in front of children."
"No, no they didn't. Nothing happened and I don't want you taking me away and-and-won't they get in trouble?"
"Why would they get in trouble?"
"Please. I keep saying and no one is listening. I want to remain in my home. Okay? They didn't do anything and-just you're not-and this is bullshit. I'm sorry parents complained but they're my parents and yes they're fucked up but they're mine and I don't want to leave. If your job is to protect me then protect what I am asking you," Chandler was yelling, shaking as tears were falling down his face again.
"Hold on," Mr. Brando said.
Mr. Brando left the office, leaving Chandler alone to try to collect his thoughts. He hated everyone. He hated CPS. He hated his parents. He hated his classmates. Everyone pissed him off. Soon Mr. Brando came back with Principal Allens. Chandler listened as Mr. Brando explained the situation with the Principal Allens. He wanted so badly to leave at that moment.
"Chandler," Principal Allens said. "What your parents did this weekend...it was pretty serious."
"They didn't expose themselves….I mean, technically not really. Look, I'm eleven. No one is going to take me. I like my home. I like my tennis court. I like my movie theater. I have a nanny. I have food. I have a bed. I should not be your most serious case. I don't want to be taken."
"I understand but-" Mr. Brando said.
"No. Look, you guys keep talking to me and….and I'm not….I don't wanna leave."
"Are you happy?" Mr. Brando asked.
"Not right now, not this minute," Chandler said.
"He is a smart kid. I will vouch for him," Principal Allens said. "I'll write a letter. I don't think he needs to be taken out of the home but…..your parents are no longer allowed on this campus when other parents are here, You only have a year and a half left so parent teacher conferences will need to be scheduled when parents are not on campus and-"
"Have your parents ever come to parent-teacher conferences?" Mr. Brando asked.
"Yeah all the time," Chandler said.
"No, they have not. I'm not lying for you. To my knowledge and he's been here since kindergarten, they have not attended any conferences," Principal Allens said.
"When was the last time you spoke to his parents?" Mr. Brando asked.
"When he arrived for kindergarten on the first day. Since then, I think, nannies and other people have been in charge of taking him to school and picking him up," Principal Allens said.
Chandler's eyes widened, he felt betrayed. He could almost taste the betrayal. Principal Allens was supposed to be on his side. He looked at Mr. Brando writing things down on his notepad. He could feel himself wanting to throw up.
"Okay….that's interesting to note," Mr. Brando said.
"I'm graduating next year. Why does it matter?" Chandler asked, he wanted to cry again. He could feel the anger bubbling inside him. This just wasn't okay. Why was he being punished for the adults acting badly. Why was he being betrayed? He could no longer speak, the anger taking over him completely. He was blinded to everything else except to the taunts. When he was finally allowed to leave the office, he noticed Evan and a few other boys from his class laughing at him. "Dorothy's bitch," Evan yelled from across the hall. He had enough, he had to take care of himself. He walked down the hall, ignoring classmates and walked into the Teacher's Lounge. It was empty but he began searching through drawers, he wasn't sure what he was looking for but he would know when he found it. Finally, he found a bag of balloons and two buckets. He walked out and walked into a bathroom where he filled each balloon up with water. After he was done, he was ready for action. He began walking until he saw a ladder and began to climb up to the roof, carefully trying to hold both buckets and keep himself from falling. Then came showtime. He began to throw water balloons, pelting teachers, students, anyone who walked by. When he nailed Principal Allens in the head with a water balloon, his breath got caught in his throat as Principal Allens looked up and glared at him. He didn't stop though, kept throwing and throwing until Principal Allens appeared on the roof and stormed towards him.
"No," Chandler screamed at him, "no, I'm not stopping."
"Chandler, stop," Principal Allens said, his tone very controlled.
"No," Chandler said as threw another water balloon.
"You're in enough trouble right now. Let's go to my office, we'll talk."
"No."
"Chandler. I know you're upset but-"
With that, Chandler took the rest of the balloons and threw them all to ground, the water splashed everywhere, getting teachers and students sopping wet in the process. Chandler peered down at the students and teachers. He was hyperventilating, huffing and puffing. Suddenly, he just began sobbing. He sat down as Principal Allens yelled down to the teachers to shoo the kids away and that everything was fine. The principal waited until everyone was gone before he plopped down next to Chandler and placed his arm around him.
"I'm sorry," Chandler squeaked out.
"I know. Me too. You know I'm gonna have to suspend you for the rest of the year. You can do the rest of your work at home and start sixth grade in the fall."
"I'm not expelled?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"'Cause I'm not giving you what you want. I do have to suspend you though."
"Why did you tell Child Protective Services that-"
"Because I'm not lying for an eleven year old kid. What your parents did last weekend….do you understand how serious that was?"
"Yes."
"Do you?"
"I guess but my mom has a book tour and I do want her to do well even though her book is weird and my dad is in a show and I don't want….if they went to jail or something then I'd really have no one and I don't want them to go jail or anything and then-I mean-they really-it's just parents that complained and I don't think the kids in my class were all that traumatized because they won't stop making fun of me."
"They're not going to jail. Mr. Brando and I had a long talk after you left. I think it's been decided that would be far more traumatic for you to be removed. You'll remain at your home but they will be talking to your parents. It is still going in your file. All of those complaints are in your file and if something like this happens again, I'm not sure you'll be able to smart ass your way out of it….especially if they were high with you in the car. You're not the adult. I know you think you are but you're not. I know you're angry and I'd be angry too but-"
"I wanna go home. I just wanted one day."
"I know."
"They had a threesome on a golf course."
"That's what I heard."
"I know it's not normal. I know I don't have a mom who gives me milk and cookies but it's still my home. It's still where I belong. There are people at the house who take care of me, who feed me, take me to doctor's appointments and things….I take classes and I'm at school all the time when I not suspended and on time and in clean clothes-"
"There's more to it than that. You've been exposed to things that you should not be exposed to."
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, but what you just did….not the mark of someone who is fine."
Chandler didn't respond, just sat there as Principal Allens kept his arm around him. I asked Principal Allens what had happened after Chandler had left the office, "it was a long conversation. We discussed his family, the other stuff in his file and despite what he thought, we did actually take what he was saying into consideration. His parents, as well as Keaton, dodged a bullet that day. They were very close to being charged with sexual offenses and all sorts of things but they took what Chandler said, they took what I said…..and eventually, there was no charge. He was lucky. So were they, it could have been a whole lot worse." Nora and Charles understand that too and from what I gather, it's true. If it had gone another way, Chandler's life would have been far different.
Sophie picked him up without saying a word. Chandler barely said anything either, he did not want to speak. When he arrived home, his mother was pacing. She had gotten the call, she had heard what had happened. She had spoken to Child Protective Services. Charles had as well. When CPS left, they got the call. Chandler had been suspended for the rest of the school year. As soon as he walked in the door, Keaton grabbed Chandler by the arm and began to spank him. Nora wasn't sure she should after the meeting with CPS but she knew she could no longer control him. Chandler cried again as Keaton was spanking him. He was too tired to yell and Nora was too tired to fight. The next day, instead of going to school, Chandler went with Charles to Los Angeles. Nora thought maybe Chandler needed a break from her, a break from New York and she might need a break from him so he would be spending the next five months in Los Angeles.