This chapter has a slight M-rating.


Part 7

The next morning the boys were eating breakfast with their parents when Will asked Tanaka to fetch Mr. Montgomery. Tanaka left and soon returned with the young man. He then left the room, but stood eavesdropping behind the corner. He had to inform Shannon about the new teacher after all.

"Mister Montgomery", Will said. "Today I want you to make sure that the boys clean up their classroom so that they can attend classes."

"Of course", Wes said calmly.

"You will not have any lessons before it is done and you will not help, only supervise."

"I see."

"The boys can show you the room. You will stay inside the classroom and hold your lessons there."

"I take for habit to be outside more than inside", Wes said. "Air makes the brain work much better and faster, they will learn quicker."

"Maybe so but outside they will most likely get distracted."

"Exactly and that's what I'm looking for."

"Pardon?" Will looked really confused.

"If they get distracted by something I know my teaching method or the subject is all wrong and they will show that they are actually interested in something other than what I'm telling them. Something that can bring big knowledge or understanding, maybe even a choice of career."

"Still I want them to stay inside for the day."

"I see."

"Now the windows in the classroom have planks in front of them to keep the room secluded from the distraction of the outside world."

"Writing in total darkness will injure the eyes."

"It doesn't matter, they are helping the boys focus."

"No."

"Mister Montgomery-"

"It has been proved by doctors, scientists and experts that children need sunlight to be healthy, sunlight, fresh air and to exercise."

"They exercise when they practice their sports on the weekends."

"That is not enough."

"Enough Montgomery", Will said sternly. "These are my children and in my house my rules are law, you take care of that classroom. I will be home at six o'clock sharp and I hope the classroom will be clean by then and the children doing their homework."

"You say so", Wes said and walked out, without waiting to be dismissed. His students stared after him in shock. They'd never seen anyone be so rude… and still so polite. It was amazing! They really enjoyed seeing their father have to nearly lose a conversation with a teenager… and an employee and teacher at that.


But their enjoyment didn't last long as Tanaka handed them brushes, mops, feather-dusters and other cleaning supplies. Wes stood in the doorway watching the room.

"And I thought your room was a warzone", he said. "But this… this is utter chaos."

They boys looked into the room and assessed the damage.

"It's not that bad", David said and Wes gave him a look and then looked at the room again. The heavy drapes looked like if some wild cat-creature has used their claws on them. The benches and chairs were either overturned or tainted with paint, ink or glue. The paintings, posters and boards are all askew. There are shreds of paper, paper balls, sheets of paper, crumbled paper and notes everywhere on the floor. The lamps were either broken or splotched with paint or ink. The room is in utter chaos and is completely destroyed.

"Hmph", Wes snorted as he walked inside and saw that even some floorboards were broken and ink, paint, glue and other substances were all over. "You have been creative in your pranks."

"Thank you", Jeff said.

"It was not a compliment Jeffery", Wes said and turned to them, taking of his jacket and putting it on the least messy desk along with his carpet-bag. "So let's get started with today's lesson."

"What is that", Thad asked eagerly.

"It is called: let's clean up the classroom."

The boys groaned but Trent narrowed his eyes.

"Didn't father tell you not to help us", he asked.

"He did", Wes said and rolled up his sleeves.

"So why are you not listening to him?"

"If I listened to everything people told me I would never do anything", Wes said and smiled. "I would never do this for example…" He gripped the ugly drapes that blocked one of the windows. The boys stared as he tore them down.

"What are you doing", Nick asked in horror. "Father will kill you!"

"He told you to clean the classroom", Wes said calmly as he pulled down another pair of drapes. "But gave you no cloths to clean with. And these hideous drapes are a perfect. I rather stick my eyes out with needles than watch them again. He never said a word about not taking them down and he did say that I am to take care of the classroom, which means I can do what I want in here. Now get to work boys."

"No", Fred said and dropped the brush he was holding. Wes turned to him.

"Okay", he said and put his hands on his hips. "Let's play a game instead."

"Really", Blaine asked eagerly.

"Yes. Will you all join in?"

"Yes!" the boys chorused with big grins.

"Promise?"

"Yes!"

"Good, then let's begin."

"What's it called", Jeff asked and was practically bouncing on his place.

"It is called: clean the classroom." Wes said and turned to survey the room and the boys groaned. "And you promised to take part and you can't go back on that", Wes said calmly.

"I told you he was tricky!" Blaine objected and Wes turned to them.

"Shall we begin", he asked.

"It is a game right Mister Montgomery", David asked and Wes smiled.

"Well it depends on your point of view. You see… In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap!" he snapped his fingers. "The job's a game!" He smiled at them and started to sing:

And ev'ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake

A lark! A spree!

It's very clear to see

That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down – Wes surveyed the room again and rolled his eyes when he found a pair of socks on the floor.
The medicine go down, medicine go down
Wes swiped flour off of a desk
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
– Wes rose a chair back up.
In a most delightful way

He had been grabbing a few marbles when he heard a robin sing outside of one of the big windows… where the planks were covering it up.

"My point exactly", Wes said and then turned to the boys. He sang:

A robin feathering his nest
Has very little time to rest

Whilst gathering his bits of twine and twig

Though quite intent in his pursuit

He has a merry tune to toot

He knows a song

Will move the job along

The boys stared as Wes pushed the window open, the planks falling off as if they were not even nailed to the wall. Wes held out his hand and a robin flew up and sat in it singing along with their teacher, well not with words but you understand what I mean.

For a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down, medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way
– Wes let the bird fly out and turned to the boys.

"Spit spot!" he said and the boys stared as the brooms, rags, dusters and mops jumped into their hands. Now in the musical number this would be an instrumental part and Wes would whistle as he walked up to a bookshelf with books lying everywhere. He snapped his fingers before he pointed at it and the books flew off of the floor and into the bookshelf. The boys gaped.

Nick was the first to react. He ran up to the chalkboard and snapped his fingers and pointed. The sponges started cleaning the board and the chalks became whole again. All boys grinned and spread out. Nick and Jeff handled the papers by holding up paper bins and then snapping their fingers. The papers came jumping up from the ground and into the bins, while the planes took a few laps around the room first. Fred, Blaine and David handled the furniture. Trent and Thad the lights and stains. Wes smiled at them before getting a bottle out of his bag and taking out a spoon. The boys needed their medicine after all.

"Come along here", he said and Trent that was closest opened his mouth a bit reluctantly as he swept the floor with his broom. He grinned at the taste of raspberry. Wes smiled and sapped his fingers and pointed at the dusters and rags. Those came to life and started cleaning the roof and lamps. Wes sang:

The honey bees that fetch the nectar – He gave Thad a spoon, tasting strawberry.
From the flowers to the comb
He gave Jeff a spoon, tasting chocolate.
Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro
He gave Fred a spoon, tasting pear.
Because they take a litle nip
He gave Nick a spoon, tasting lemonade.
From ev'ry flower that they sip
He gave David a spoon, tasting blueberry and Blaine one tasting milk and honey. Then he took one for himself.
"Mmm, vanilla fudge!" he said. "My favorite." He looked at the boys and sang:
And hence
David: And hence
Wes: They find
Fred: They find

Wes, Fred & David: Their task is not a grind

Wes walked by the big windows one by one and snapped his fingers. Making the planks fall down and float away over the grass. The boys watched in awe as everything in the room moved by itself. Wes then looked at the windows and walked up to his bag. He opened it and stuck his hand in before singing:

For a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down – He threw up new, better drapes onto the window closest to him. The drapes were pulled open and tied to the side to let some light in.
The medicine go down, medicine go down –
He threw up at the next window.
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way
– He threw up the final drapes and they had been tied by themselves.

The boys and Wes watched the room and saw that it was almost shining, it was so clean. Tanaka stood in the door with big eyes and then ran off, who knows why… The boys put the cleaning material down and Wes snapped his fingers and the boys grinned as the brooms, buckets, mops and dusters walked out of the room. The drapes and rags rolled into tini-tiny balls and then jumped out one of the windows and disappeared. That's when Emma Banks entered. She stared.

"Oh my goodness", she said and looked at the clean and now whole room. She never thought that Wes could get the boys to do it, no one could.

"Can I help you with something ma'am", Wes asked her and she turned to him.

"You got them to clean it", she said.

"Yes."

"You've even changed the drapes and… oh, no, no, no! You took down the planks!"

"This is my classroom", Wes said and crossed his arms. "The house may be your husband's castle but this is my fort and I decorate it as I see fit to help the boys."

"How did… how did you get them to clean?" She looked at her boys that were grinning happily. She turned back to Wes and missed the last broom running out of the room behind her back. The boys sniggered. Wes looked at the ginger woman and sang:

Just a spoonful of sugar
Helps the medicine go down

"The medicine?" Emma asked confused.

Go down
Medicine

Emma: Go down

Wes & boys: Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

"So", Emma said brightly.

Emma: Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Boys: The medicine go down

Emma: Medicine go down

Emma & boys: Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Wes: In a most delightful way

All: In a most delightful way
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

The medicine go down, medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way

In a most delightful way

In a most delightful way

As they sang Mrs. Beiste came into the room and stared in awe at what had happened in there and Wes smiled at the happy boys, before taking his coat and walking up to his desk.

"Now let's start our lesson shall we", he asked. "Boys take your seat and take out your math-books."

The boys hurriedly took their seats and started to work at once. Emma and the others left them. Maybe things weren't so bad with this new teacher in the house.


That evening Will returned from work and went directly to the classroom to see what it looked like and he gaped in shock. It was completely cleaned and it looked as if it was newly built! Wes Montgomery sat at the front desk working with something and the boys sat in their places doing homework. Trent looked up and saw him. He got to his feet at once.

"Welcome home father", he said and the other boys got up, but Wes didn't move from his seat.

"Thank you Trent", Will said as he walked into the room watching it in awe. Everything was in its right place, everything was clean, there were even new drapes in front of the window and… the windows! He could see through them! The planks had been removed. Will hurried up, horrified that the wall would've been damaged as the planks were torn down. But there wasn't a mark, not even a nail mark.

"Mister Montgomery!" he yelled and turned to the teacher that looked up at him.

"Yes", he asked.

"I told you to leave the planks up!"

"No you didn't", Wes said and put his pen down. "You said that the classroom had planks over the windows, but you never said anything about removing them."

"The outside world will distract the boys from their work!"

"It will not, they have been working perfectly fine inside and outside."

"What?!"

"I said-"

"I heard you! I just want to know what you mean!"

"It is rude to interupt."

"Speak!"

Wes shrugged but spoke. He said:

"I took them to the park to easier have that lesson about natural science you asked me to hold."

"Mr. Montgomery showed us how to identify trees by looking at their leaves", Jeff said eagerly. "And we caught a caterpillar so that we can follow its lifecycle from caterpillar to butterfly!"

"We caught a few actually", David said and pointed at a bunch of glass jars. "Isn't it interesting father?"

Their father was red in the face and turned back to the teacher.

"I told you to not hold lessons outside!" he yelled.

"No you said to keep the boys inside for the day", Wes said calmly. "Good day you say before noon and after that it is afternoon. You never said anything about keeping the boys inside during the afternoon."

Will struggled for something to say.

"Father we've learned so many interesting things today", Thad said happily and walked up to their father. "Mister Montgomery showed us an easier way to solve multiplications."

"Oh?" Will said and looked at his smallest son.

"Yes and he gave us an assignment to write a kind of journal each day to practice to notice details and our surroundings! It was amazing to just write from the heart father."

"I see…"

"We got to write stories too", Jeff said and walked up to the two. "Well that was a homework. Do you want to read them when they are done father?"

"You should read Thad's story father", Fred said and smiled. "He's got a real talent for writing."

"I think I'll become a novelist", Thad said happily. That snapped Will out of his thoughts and he stared at his son.

"What?!" he yelled and Thad startled. All boys lost their smiles.

"I-I think I'll become a n-novelist", Thad stuttered out.

"Absolutely not!" Will yelled. "That is not a work that will give any money. You need a profession that can give you and your family food on the table and a warm home."

"But don't you always say that a loving family is all that is needed for a home to be warm", Thad asked. "Not cold money."

"You need money to live Thad! Knock that stupid and childish dream out of your mind!"

"But-"

"I said no!"

"Mr. Banks", Wes said sharply. "You have got no right to yell at the boys for having dreams."

"Dreams can't take them anyway or make them happy!"

Thad had enough at that point. His father always yelled at him and the others.

"Boys", Will yelled. "Go to your room!"

The boys, except Thad walked to the door, taking their homework with them. Blaine grabbed Thad's arm but he pulled it loose.

"Thad", Blaine hissed. Thad looked up at his father.

"No", he said and Will stared at him.

"Excuse me?!" Will yelled.

"I will not get rid of my dreams", Thad said. "Just because you want me to be a lawyer or a bank-worker or a doctor doesn't mean I want to."

"You will do as I tell you!"

"No."

His brothers stared at him.

"How dare you be disrespectful to me", Will yelled at Thad. "I'm your father!"

"Then start acting like one!" Thad yelled back. SMACK! The boys gaped in horror and Wes flew up from his seat. Thad covered his reddening cheek and Will lowered his hand.

"Go to your room", he growled and Thad nodded before running out. His brothers followed, but David first got Thad's homework. Will waited for them to be gone before he turned to the teacher.

"This is all your doing", he yelled. "You knock this childish ideas into their heads!"

"No", Wes said. "They have always been there, the boys are just starting to find them."

"You will stop encouraging them to follow their crazy ideas! You will stay inside this classroom at all times and you will teach them what they need to learn!"

"How can they learn about the world if they are not allowed to go out in it?" Wes asked. "How will they learn how much money they have left if they go into a store and buy something if they are not allowed to do it in real life?"

"They… uh…"

"The boys need to go out in the world", Wes said calmly and got his things. "I will be out if the weather allows it. You never said anything about not going outside to teach in any of your rules."

Will had enough and started to sing:

What good are rules if you can bend them?
We need a teacher who is disciplined and stern
With boys and girls you don't befriend them
I fear that you Montgomery has a lot to learn

"I do not agree", Wes said. "I am disciplined and stern, the boys do their work when I tell them to and they listen. But you must also be on a friendly foot with your students. It won't cause any chaos, only order and respect."

Will looked at him and sang:

Precision and order
Our credo for life
It's always been a comfort to me
And my wife

But now in our midst there's
Well, I can't explain
But something is unsettling
In Cherry Tree Lane

"Maybe you should calm down so that you can settle in for the evening sir", Wes said calmly. "I must check on my students' progress with their homework."

Will looked at Wes and then walked out, grumbling about the young man twisting his words. Wes just sighed and looked out the window.

"They all got their problems", he said. "But him more than most." Then he walked out of the classroom and headed for the boys' room.


Emma was already there and stood watching her boys comfort and upset Thad. She saw the red hand print on her son's cheek and knew who'd done it. Just like some of their children, Will had a short temper when he was tired. She had heard the fight so she knew of Thad's hopes and dreams… dreams that did not go well with their father.

Fred was sitting on Thad's bed, holding the younger boy tight. The younger boy hadn't been crying but he looked so distressed that it hurt Emma to watch him. The other boys sat around them, telling stories or just trying to make Thad smile. Fred rested his head on the smaller boy's and rubbed his arm. Emma sighed.

She wanted nothing more to go in and hug her son tight to her, but that would not go well over with their father. Thad had been rude to him so her husband hadn't really done anything wrong. She knew it was allowed to smack you children as long as it didn't leave a mark and Emma knew that there would not be a bruise from the slap. But she still ached inside to go up to her boy and hold him.

Then she noticed Wes enter through the second door to the room. He walked right up to the boys and sat down beside Thad and Fred. He smiled gently and tilted Thad's face up. Thad looked at him with big watery eyes. Wes pulled the boy into a comforting hug and sang softly as he threaded his fingers through Thad's soft brown hair:

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into Springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad – He put his hands on either side of Thad's face and they locked gazes.
I simply remember my favorite things – Wes rubbed Thad's now tearstained cheek softly.
And then I don't feel so bad.

Emma stared because when Wes removed his hand the hand-mark was gone and Thad didn't seem to be in pain anymore. He moved his hand to his cheek and smiled. Wes smiled back, ruffled his hair and then told the boys to finish their homework, finishing with his usual:

"Spit-spot."


Emma left silently and walked through her house. Her servant had done what she longed for but could not find herself to do because that would upset her husband. She sighed and sang softly:

Being Mrs. Banks
Should be an easy role
And yet it's one
Which I don't seem to good at
On the whole

I have a comfy home
I have a simple life
I have a name which tells the world
I'm someone else's wife

Being Mrs Banks
What does that entail?
Facing tests of character
I always seem to fail

And as for his 'best' people
Well, I'd like to say "no thanks"
They're not exactly my idea
Of being Mrs. Banks


TBC

Malurina - That he does, a big one.