Hey everyone! I've come to the conclusion that I will never, ever be on schedule again:) So, all I can do is humbly apologize for the delay between chapters lately:) Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it – this plot has come to an end, but the actual story isn't finished yet:) (I warned you it was long!) I will, however, do my best not to let almost a week slip by again!
To everyone on ff – in case my plan fails – MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes, and no infringements intended.
UNCLE, UNCLE
CHAPTER 28
PARTY TIME! YA'LL COME!
Sarah Samuels left Hazzard, returning to Oklahoma in time for the holidays, while the Dukes were getting ready to celebrate one of the happiest Christmases they could ever remember.
"Come on," Cooter urged, pushing Luke forward. "Just get in the General and follow me."
"Where we going?" Bo asked as their friend was urging him, Luke, and Ashley forward.
"You'll see. It's a surprise. Now just get in, start him up, and follow me," Cooter instructed.
The Dukes hadn't been planning on going anywhere, but they owed Cooter several times over. If he asked them to trust him, they had no choice. Shrugging, Luke helped Ashley through the window of the orange race car. Once she was nestled in between her uncles, the little girl turned to the blonde behind the wheel, raising hopeful eyes to him.
Bo knew what his niece wanted. It was a ritual that they had been doing since before she'd outgrown her own miniature version of the General Lee; a ritual that his cousin Luke hated. Having only recently taught her not to ask while her other uncle was in the car with them, Bo feared that she had forgotten that lesson with all the turmoil they had endured in the recent weeks. Silently signaling her not to ask, praying that she would catch on, his telepathy and pleas went unanswered.
"Can I Uncle Bo?" she begged, giving him her best smile.
"Can you what?" Luke asked her, though he knew that she had not directed her question at him.
"Please!" she whined, ignoring her dark haired uncle.
Looking from niece to cousin, Bo gave Luke a grin that was a cross between apologetic and almost fearful. Ashley may have been the youngster, but Bo knew that his cousin was about to make him feel as if he were the child, and one in trouble, at that. At any other time, he would have told the little girl 'no', trying to pretend that he had no idea why she'd be asking again after so long. Grateful to have her back in their lives, for good, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "Okay," he invited, bracing himself for the attack he was about to receive from both Ashley and Luke.
Launching herself upward, Ashley threw her arms around Bo's neck, making the task of moving the seat back more difficult. When there was enough room for both of them, Ashley scampered into his lap. As Bo started the ignition, he looked over to see Luke watching him. Shifting gears, the youngest Duke boy, with the help of Ashley, steered the General toward the road.
"Look Uncle Luke! I'm driving!" she announced.
"I can see that," he replied through gritted teeth. "Bo! Didn't we agree that she was getting too old for this a long time ago?"
"Well no, actually Luke, you said she was getting too old for this a long time ago," Bo contradicted.
"And you agreed with me, and promised that you'd stop doing this," Luke said with a raised voice.
"No, I just didn't say anything," Bo reminded him. "That ain't the same thing as agreeing."
"So, what? You think this is a good idea? I'm telling you Bo, it's dangerous."
"C'mon cuz, after everything that's happened, this one time ain't gonna hurt nothing. We haven't done this for a long time," Bo offered in his defense.
"Uncle Bo! Did you forget? You let me drive last week," Ashley stated in a helpful voice.
"A long time, huh?" Luke asked sarcastically, shaking his head.
"Traitor," Bo whispered to his niece, as the boys completed their journey in silence, keeping their friend's tow truck in sight since they had no idea where they were going or why.
The stage for that day's show had really started a few days before.
The children were out of school on Christmas break, but the staff wouldn't be on vacation for a few days. The halls of Hazzard's elementary school were quiet, except for the teachers straightening up their classrooms and preparing for the upcoming quarter. A knock on one of the doors caused Miss Mills to look up from the papers she was reading.
"Hi! Mrs. Clemons wants to see you in her office," the sixth grade teacher told her colleague.
"Okay, thanks," Miss Mills replied, straightening her desk and standing up. She assumed that the school's principal wanted to meet with her over the course outline she had submitted for the second half of the school year.
Entering the office and greeting the secretary, Hazzard's newest teacher was told that she was expected. Adhering to common courtesy, she knocked before opening the door and sticking her head inside. "You wanted to see me?"
Mrs. Clemons was busy studying papers of her own. Looking up, she nodded. "Come in," she invited, though the tone of her voice was anything but warm or friendly.
"Is there something wrong with the outline?" the young teacher asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
"I'm afraid that it just doesn't fit with our guidelines," the principal answered.
"Oh!" came the stunned reply. "Well, if you'll let me know what's lacking or what direction you'd like to see it take, I'll be happy to revise it."
Taking a deep breath, the older woman placed her arms on her desk and leaned forward. "That won't be necessary."
"I don't understand?"
"Miss Mills," the principal began, addressing her formally rather than by the first name she had once used. "I'm sure you're aware that all first year teachers are observed closely and evaluated frequently to ensure that they are a good fit with the school and students."
"Of course," came the reply.
"Well, after having observed and evaluated you this first quarter, neither the school board or I feel that you are achieving the goals set forth when you were hired. This semester outline is just one example where the curriculum fails to meet the objectives."
"But, I already offered to fix it, if you let me know what needs to be fixed."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple. Several of the parents have also complained that they feel their children are simply not learning the things that they should."
"It's not my fault that I've not been blessed with a class full of rocket scientists," the young teacher rebuked.
"Now, that attitude is just part of the problem. Except in large cities at schools for gifted students, no teacher is ever blessed with room full of 'rocket scientists.' You will always have a mix, and it is the teacher's job to reach as many of the students as possible. We understand that there will always be a few that will be left behind. However, if the majority aren't being reached, that falls on the teacher's shoulders."
"So, what exactly are you saying?"
The principal didn't think that it should have to be spelled out for an intelligent and educated young woman, but if she needed to hear the words, she was only too happy to comply. "What I'm saying is that your contract is being revoked. Your services are no longer needed."
"This has nothing to do with my teaching abilities. This has to do with those Dukes, doesn't it?"
"Well, Ashley Duke is one of your students, and her Uncles, Bo and Luke, are her legal guardians, but we wouldn't make a decision such as this based on one student," Mrs. Clemons answered in a sickeningly sweet tone. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but she knew she couldn't. If it appeared as the reprimand that it really was, it could involve a lawsuit, and their funds were limited already.
"Of course, it is, and you know it," Miss Mills accused. "There's nothing wrong with my teaching."
"The test scores don't indicate that," Mrs. Claire Clemons shot back. "As you know, we monitor progress by these standardized tests. The recent scores are lower than the ones at the beginning of the year. Now, whether that's attributable to your methods or just a disharmony in the classroom, we don't know, but it is definitely not meeting the expectations outlined in your contract."
The teacher had no rebuttal to that. She had seen the lower scores, and wondered when she might be having a discussion about them. She just had no idea that they would take it to these extremes. "I'd be willing to bet that I would have been given an opportunity to correct that had I not spoken up about a situation that I was concerned about."
"Miss Mills, we try to take all aspects into consideration, and terminating a teacher's tenure is not a decision that is made lightly. Yet, in a small community, we do hope to see a new teacher, such as yourself, become a part of that community. Good relations are crucial between the staff, the students, and the parents. Right now, we have falling scores and unrest in virtually all areas. To allow it to continue would only harm the children over the next semester. I'm afraid we don't believe that it's able to be overcome, at least, not in a timely manner." After a moment of silence, the principal closed the conversation. "I'm sure that with your qualifications, you'll have no problem securing another position. You might do well to consider transferring to a larger city. The interaction between the community is not always so vital there."
"So, the next time I think that something is wrong, I should keep my mouth shut, is that it?"
"Of course not, dear. That's a dilemma faced by all teachers. Knowing when there is a problem, though, and when there isn't, is somewhat of a judgment call."
"They weren't legally her guardians," Miss Mills reminded the principal.
"No, they weren't," came the agreement. "You were correct about that, and it's been legally corrected. However, there was no neglect or abuse taking place, either, so that, you were wrong about, and that accusation is a hard one to overcome, regardless of the findings. Thankfully, the Dukes have a solid reputation here in Hazzard, so I don't think they'll be any lasting effects. It doesn't matter now, anyway. It no longer concerns you. Now, if you don't mind, I do have other work to tend to," the older woman said, dismissing the younger one. "I'll have Barney, the janitor, escort you to your classroom to get your things. You can leave your key with the school secretary, and she's got some forms for you to fill out. I am sorry this didn't work out."
"Yeah right," Brenda Mills sarcastically muttered, rushing past Barney and the secretary in the other room.
The Dukes could see that Cooter was leading them into town; they simply had no idea why. As they reached the outskirts of Hazzard, they saw vehicles everywhere. It looked like every registered auto in the county was there. Continuing on, they began to notice people lining the streets.
"Ah, what's going on?" Bo asked, breaking the silence and looking at Luke.
"Not a clue," he replied, taking in the sight before them.
"Looks like they're having a parade," Ashley announced, and the uncles couldn't help but agree that the street was lined as if people were waiting for something to come marching down it at any minute. What they didn't realize was that the residents of Hazzard were waiting for something: the General.
Cooter stopped so suddenly that Bo almost rear ended him. They were going slow enough that it wouldn't have done any damage to either vehicle, but that wasn't the point. From the corner of his eye, Bo could see Luke smirking at him, as if Ashley's presence had somehow distracted him. Knowing that sometime in his near future was an 'I told you so,' Bo ignored the brunette for the moment. Seeing that he had stopped his truck, Bo cut their engine, too. Taking their cue from the mechanic, they crawled out the windows.
"Cooter, what is going on?" Luke asked.
Grinning, the mechanic pointed across the street.
"So? It's the boarding house. It's always been there, so what?" Bo asked, thinking that the entire town had lost their minds.
Before Cooter could answer, Miss Mills appeared. Carrying a box, she walked to the car parked in front of the building and placed it in the trunk before returning inside.
"Okay," Luke said. "I still don't get it," Luke commented at Cooter's wide grin.
"Miss Mills is leaving us," Cooter laughed, slapping Luke on the back.
"She going home for Christmas or something?" Bo asked.
"No buddies. I mean she's leaving us. Mrs. Clemons and the school board fired her!"
"What?" the boys gasped. They'd wondered how they were going to be able to get along with her for the rest of the year, but had vowed to make an effort for their niece's sake. Unfortunately, Ashley now hated her, blaming her for every bad thing that had ever happened in not only Hazzard, but the world. It had been a difficult situation that the uncles had been trying to make the best of, despite their own feelings of anger. They'd tried to talk to Ashley about giving her a second chance, but her Duke stubborness was young and had not been cultivated, yet.
"Yah! Yah!" the child screamed, jumping up and down.
"Ashley!" Bo scolded. It wasn't nice to cheer about someone else's misfortune, even if they had brought it on themselves. They may not have liked the teacher, but they never thought she'd be fired, either.
"When did all this happen?" Luke asked.
"A few days ago. Mrs. Clemons told her that Hazzard would no longer be needing her services. Said she just wasn't the fit they'd been looking for."
The teacher appeared again, doing her best to ignore the crowd that was watching her. She felt like a sideshow in a circus, and in reality, she was. Placing the box alongside the others in her trunk, she slammed it down. Going to the driver's side, she slid in the car and started it.
Rosco and Cletus had been parked behind her. When she slid behind her wheel, they got behind theirs. Turning on the lights, they were personally escorting her out of town. As she drove down the streets of Hazzard for the last time, the crowd started chanting, 'and don't ya come back, ya hear?"
Though relieved that they wouldn't have to deal with her for the next six months, Bo and Luke got not pleasure from knowing that she had just lost her livelihood, either. They didn't believe that she was a bad person, just a misguided one. However, before they could dwell too long, people turned their focus from the retreating vehicles to the Dukes. Crowding around them, they were happy to let them know that they took care of their own.
"I get a new teacher! I get a new teacher! Bye, bye Miss Witch!" Ashley chanted, sitting atop Cooter's shoulders.
"Ashley!" Luke corrected again, hating to admit that deep down, a part of him wanted to join her. Feeling guilty, he saw Bo grinning slyly at him from the corner of his eye.
"Betchya I know what you're thinking," Bo said.
"Bet you don't," Luke challenged, hoping that he didn't.
"Bet you're thinking that maybe the next teacher will be nicer, and you're wondering how you can get a date with her before I do."
"No Bo, that's not what I was thinking," Luke laughed, glad that his secret was still safe.
"Well good, cause you can forget it. I got first dibs," Bo informed his cousin.
"That's ok. I'm still gonna beat you to the punch asking Shelly out, remember?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that little filly," Bo replied.
"Well, you just keep forgetting about her. You worry about the new teacher, I'll worry about Shelly Lovegren."
"Deal," Bo said, sticking out his hand, glad that the Miss Mills mess had been righted.
"Uncle Bo?"
"What princess?" Bo asked, being interrupted from his bedtime story-telling task.
"Are you and Uncle Luke my dads now?"
Bo looked to Luke, who seemed just as surprised by the question as he was. "No sweetheart, why would you ask that?"
"Well, Matthew Ricketts said that now that we talked to the judge and got the papers that you must be my dads because you still ain't my uncles. He was laughing at me for having two dads and no moms."
"Matthew Ricketts, again?" Luke asked flatly, more to Bo than to Ashley. "Pumpkin, how many times have we told you to stop listening to him? Has he ever told you anything that was true, yet?" Luke asked, long ago deciding that Bo's idea of strangling the kid was a good one.
"No," she admitted.
"Then why do you keep listening to him?" Bo asked.
"I don't know. It sounds right when he says it," she admitted.
Luke grinned, thinking that in some ways, she and Bo were so alike. Ashley Marie was a smart child, hard to be fooled in some areas, yet so innocent in others.
"Honey, you have a mom and a dad. They just can't be with you because God wanted them to be with him. We are not your 'dads' and we would never try to be, though we love you like we were," Luke started.
"That's right," Bo picked up. "The papers we got says we're your uncles, officially. Matthew Ricketts is talking about adopting someone, and that's not what we did. That makes a person a mom or dad. It's not that we wouldn't like to be your dads, but we just didn't think that it was right since you do have one."
"That piece of paper from the judge says we're your Uncles, legally, and in all the important ways, so you tell Matthew Ricketts to mind his own beeswax, got it?" Luke finished.
"Got it!" Ashley confirmed. "Now, what happened to Laura Ingalls?" she asked, showing that her attention span also mirrored her Uncle Bo's.
A/N 2 – I'd like to give a 'big thanks' to Elenhin for suggesting the part about Ashley sitting in Bo's lap and driving:) I loved the idea as soon as I heard it, and ended up having a lot of fun working it in:) So a big thank you for a really great suggestion.
