Autumns Past
1 P.M.
Stephen found Scott in the corridor leading to the gymnasium giving a male student hell about his long and unkempt hair. The student tried to protest but Scott wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise.
"There is these things we have called shampoo, conditioner, and a comb, I suggest you learn to these three things if you ever expect to last another day in my school." Scott said his nostrils bristling in anger. Whatever Harry had done must have made Scott really angry, Stephen summed up in his mind. He stayed a half a step shy of the back of Scott and waiting for him to finish talking to the student.
"Do you get my meaning, 'man'?" Scott asked him. The student, clearly terrified, nodded his head meekly. "Then be on your way, no loitering." He ordered. The student ran off in the other direction, in fear of bringing more of Scotts anger onto him. "And no running in the hallway, punk." He turned to see Scott looking down at him. "Ah Stephen. word of mouth has it you looking for me?"
"Yes I am. Why was Harry arrested?" He asked.
"If its any of your business..."
"Harry is my student. It IS my business." Stephen returned.
"Assault on a school official. Me." He said.
"Did you have to arrest him on school grounds?" Stephen asked.
"Senate is getting out of control. I had to do it here to preserve order in the school. I have to make an example out of him." Scott said. "I don't think I need to answer to you." He huffed. "I have to go, I have more important things to do."
"I see you have guards." Stephen said following him.
"Not just ordinary guards. The national guard." Scott informed him.
"The national guard? Just to arrest Harry?"
"No, not just that. I am posting them outside and inside at the political rally this afternoon. I allowed the rally to happen, but I will have control over this, Stephen. By god I swear I will have control." Scott looked at the clock. "Haven't you a class right now?"
"Yes I do. But I also have more important things to do. Marla is covering for me."
"Dare I ask why?" Scott asked. He thought for a moment on the question. He replied before Stephen had a chance to. "You're going to bail out Senate arent you."
"Yes I am." Stephen replied.
"You've done it once already." Scott said to him. "Don't you realize that a few days, months, years perhaps in jail would be the best thing that you could ever do for that boy? It might even scare him straight." Scott continued as Stephen started walking to the front door. "Well I can't have it! I can't have you bailing out the most dangerous student in this school." He yelled. Stephen refused to stop. Scott sensed he was starting to lose control. "Guards!" He yelled out. "Stop that man!"
Two men in military uniforms emerged from a side door. They stepped in front of Stephen to prevent him from going into the main hallway.
"I suggest you cease and desist, sir." One of the men said.
"And what if I don't?" Stephen asked.
"Don't make us use force on you sir." The other replied.
"You either move your ass or you will have it moved for you." Stephen said. "I am going after one of my students, and no force on earth will stop me." Stephen said looking them both in the eye. The two guards looked at one another then moved aside.
"You imbeciles! You are supposed to stop him, not give him a escort!" Scott thundered. "Stephen!" He called out in a futile final attempt to stop him. "If you go out, then don't bother coming back in." He said. "You're fired!"
"Thats the best thing I've heard all day." Stephen muttered to himself as he exited the building.
Boston Police Headquarters
Stephen, after fighting post lunchtime traffic, finally arrived at the police station at almost half past one. Since Harry was still in a holding cell, no bail had been set for him yet. Stephen believed this was a great stroke of luck. He wouldn't have to use his own money to bail Harry out. After a few minutes of talking with the watch commander, an old friend of Stephens from high school, he managed to arrange to get Harry released to him. Stephen went to the holding cell trailing behind a young rookie cop. Harry was in the cell with some other prisoners teaching them a thing or two about three card monte'.
"Okay, now watch this time, I'm not gonna do it again." Harry said. "Heres the lady, now shes gone, follow the cards and she winds up where?" Harry said as he quickly moved the cards back and forth and around the small surface that he was playing on. He stopped moving his hand. "Pick one."
"Harry." Stephen said as the cop opened the cell.
"Can we have just a second more? There is a lot of money on the line here." Harry said holding up a hand.
"Harry, now." Stephen said.
"All right." Harry muttered. "I'm afraid guys all bets are off. Till next time?" He said while picking up the few dollars that were in the pot. The prisoners glared at Harry. He looked back at them. "I guess not. I'll just leave the winnings and hope to escape with my body intact." Harry said dropping the money. He slowly backed out of the cell. The minute he left the prisoners grabbed at the money as if it were going out of style. Harry looked at Stephen.
"Whats up boss?" He asked. "Did you miss me THAT much?" He said as he and Stephen left the holding area. "Thanks for getting me out so fast by the way. How much did you pay for my bail this time. I'll somehow get it back to you."
"I doubt that very much." Stephen said. "Let's just say I know I will be paying for it for quite a while."
They quietly signed a few papers at the front of the police station. They left after that. Stephen noticed on his clock that it was almost two o'clock. Almost time for the rally, and he wanted to be there to here Marla sing. Stephen told Harry what went on while he was gone.
"You told Guber off? And he fired you?" Harry said. "Brilliant."
"I know." Stephen said. "Where do you want to go? I gotta go back to the school and let Marla in on the news, clean out my desk."
"Shes not gonna be happy with you." Harry said.
"That'll be nothing new." Stephen replied.
"You might as well go back to the school. I have something to do."
"Go BACK to the school? Are you crazy Harry? Scott Guber has national guardsmen all over the school. He'd probably have you shot on sight." Stephen said.
"I know but I gotta go back for Lauren. We're going to Canada, I hope." Harry answered him.
"As far as Scotts concerned, Canadas not far enough." Stephen said. "All right, against my own judgment, I'll bring you back to the school, but I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Fair enough." Harry said. "But you better keep up with me."
"Deal."
Traffic was even worse on the way back. A bus full of protesters was blocking up some of the freeway. Most of the protesters were sitting in the middle of the road preventing cars from getting through.
"How ironic, protesters keeping us from our own protest." Harry muttered.
"Will Lauren be there?" Stephen asked.
"I told her to meet me nearby. I'm hoping she has changed her mind about going with me."
"Wait a minute, so she told you no?"
"Yes." Harry said. "But my problem is that I can't leave without her." He said looking out the window. "I can't imagine being anywhere without her."
"Well if you get caught back at the school, you'll have to imagine being in jail for a long time without her." Stephen turned into road that would eventually bring them to the school. After getting caught up in a few more smaller traffic snarls they finally made it to the school.
"All paths lead to Winslow high." Stephen mused.
"Don't tell Guber that, he'll use it on his stationary." Harry said as they got out of the car. They made a bee-line for the gym, being careful to avoid the national guardsmen they spotted all over the school.
"Guber is out of his mind. Its just a rally." Harry observed as they watched the national guardsmen walk around the school.
"Scott hates to be perceived as being out of control. Unfortunately this will be his downfall." Stephen told him. They crept into the gym as Marla went up to the mike. Several speakers had been up already so the crowd was getting worked up. By the time Marla started to sing, they would be at a fever pitch. Marla was not alone in singing, Marilyn was also singing with her.
Marla started to sing. "Mother, mother. There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying.
You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today."
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted Lauren. He waved at her to get her attention but she seemed caught up in the flow of the music. She closed her eyes and sang along with the women on stage. Marilyn started to sing at this point.
"Father, father. We don't need to escalate
War is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate.
You know you've got to find a way.
To bring some understanding yeah today."
Harry walked over to where Lauren was standing. He was halfway over to her when Stephen noticed he was alone at the gym door. He silently cursed himself and Harry for not listening to him yet again. He started to follow Harry as Marilyn and Marla sang together.
"Aw, picket lines, picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me so you can see
Oh what's going on,
Tell me what's going on"
Harry touched Lauren on the shoulder. She turned to him. Their eyes connected.
"Come with me." He said to Lauren. "Please."
"I can't." Lauren said. "You know I can't."
"If I leave, I can never come back. You know that." Harry said. "I'll never see you again and I don't think that will work out good for me. I don't know about you, but I think you feel the same way."
"Harry!" Stephen hissed behind him. "Wrap it up, Scott just came in the rear entrance.
"Reconsider." Harry said.
Lauren shook her head. "You know I can't." She repeated.
"Mother, mother
Ev'ry body thinks we're wrong"
Harry looked up and saw Scott with two national guardsmen. They must have seen my car, Stephen thought. He saw him pointing at Harry. He could see Scott mouth the words "get him".
"Harry, it's time to go."
"Just a second more." Harry said. He went to his pocket. He was about to pull something out when one of the national guardsmen pull out something from behind him.
"Baby who are they to judge us
'Cause our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way"
Harry pulled a long box out of his pocket. He moved to give it to Lauren when the national guardsmen that was coming towards him whipped out a gun. A few protesters nearby saw the gun and screamed.
"He's got a gun!" One screamed out. the protesters started to scramble around the gymnasium. A few ran outside while the others ran further into the school. Harry could sense the gun aimed at him. He moved to push Lauren aside. The guardsmen cocked his gun and pulled the trigger. A loud bang was heard.
"To bring some understanding here today, Good God" Was the last thing Stephen heard.
A loud bang woke Stephen from his nap. He sat up so quickly he fell off his couch. He tumbled to the floor. A dull thud was heard when he felt his head bang the floor. He sat up quickly. He rubbed his head. He looked around, trying to orient himself. To remind himself that he was in 2001, not 1971. He was the principal, not Guber. And that Harry was a teacher...with a gun...outside. He went to the window and looked. Harry had given the gun to a student who was now holding it.
"Sorry chief! Won't happen again." Harry said through his megaphone.
"You bet your ass it won't." Stephen said. He went to the door and yelled out. "Louisa, get Harry back to this regular schedule as soon as possible. And get me some ice!" He said. He was gonna have to break the news to Harry. He wasn't gonna be happy, but he would have to live with it. It wasn't the worst thing that could happen to him. Stephen knew that from his dream now. No more falling asleep reading history books for him.
the end
1 P.M.
Stephen found Scott in the corridor leading to the gymnasium giving a male student hell about his long and unkempt hair. The student tried to protest but Scott wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise.
"There is these things we have called shampoo, conditioner, and a comb, I suggest you learn to these three things if you ever expect to last another day in my school." Scott said his nostrils bristling in anger. Whatever Harry had done must have made Scott really angry, Stephen summed up in his mind. He stayed a half a step shy of the back of Scott and waiting for him to finish talking to the student.
"Do you get my meaning, 'man'?" Scott asked him. The student, clearly terrified, nodded his head meekly. "Then be on your way, no loitering." He ordered. The student ran off in the other direction, in fear of bringing more of Scotts anger onto him. "And no running in the hallway, punk." He turned to see Scott looking down at him. "Ah Stephen. word of mouth has it you looking for me?"
"Yes I am. Why was Harry arrested?" He asked.
"If its any of your business..."
"Harry is my student. It IS my business." Stephen returned.
"Assault on a school official. Me." He said.
"Did you have to arrest him on school grounds?" Stephen asked.
"Senate is getting out of control. I had to do it here to preserve order in the school. I have to make an example out of him." Scott said. "I don't think I need to answer to you." He huffed. "I have to go, I have more important things to do."
"I see you have guards." Stephen said following him.
"Not just ordinary guards. The national guard." Scott informed him.
"The national guard? Just to arrest Harry?"
"No, not just that. I am posting them outside and inside at the political rally this afternoon. I allowed the rally to happen, but I will have control over this, Stephen. By god I swear I will have control." Scott looked at the clock. "Haven't you a class right now?"
"Yes I do. But I also have more important things to do. Marla is covering for me."
"Dare I ask why?" Scott asked. He thought for a moment on the question. He replied before Stephen had a chance to. "You're going to bail out Senate arent you."
"Yes I am." Stephen replied.
"You've done it once already." Scott said to him. "Don't you realize that a few days, months, years perhaps in jail would be the best thing that you could ever do for that boy? It might even scare him straight." Scott continued as Stephen started walking to the front door. "Well I can't have it! I can't have you bailing out the most dangerous student in this school." He yelled. Stephen refused to stop. Scott sensed he was starting to lose control. "Guards!" He yelled out. "Stop that man!"
Two men in military uniforms emerged from a side door. They stepped in front of Stephen to prevent him from going into the main hallway.
"I suggest you cease and desist, sir." One of the men said.
"And what if I don't?" Stephen asked.
"Don't make us use force on you sir." The other replied.
"You either move your ass or you will have it moved for you." Stephen said. "I am going after one of my students, and no force on earth will stop me." Stephen said looking them both in the eye. The two guards looked at one another then moved aside.
"You imbeciles! You are supposed to stop him, not give him a escort!" Scott thundered. "Stephen!" He called out in a futile final attempt to stop him. "If you go out, then don't bother coming back in." He said. "You're fired!"
"Thats the best thing I've heard all day." Stephen muttered to himself as he exited the building.
Boston Police Headquarters
Stephen, after fighting post lunchtime traffic, finally arrived at the police station at almost half past one. Since Harry was still in a holding cell, no bail had been set for him yet. Stephen believed this was a great stroke of luck. He wouldn't have to use his own money to bail Harry out. After a few minutes of talking with the watch commander, an old friend of Stephens from high school, he managed to arrange to get Harry released to him. Stephen went to the holding cell trailing behind a young rookie cop. Harry was in the cell with some other prisoners teaching them a thing or two about three card monte'.
"Okay, now watch this time, I'm not gonna do it again." Harry said. "Heres the lady, now shes gone, follow the cards and she winds up where?" Harry said as he quickly moved the cards back and forth and around the small surface that he was playing on. He stopped moving his hand. "Pick one."
"Harry." Stephen said as the cop opened the cell.
"Can we have just a second more? There is a lot of money on the line here." Harry said holding up a hand.
"Harry, now." Stephen said.
"All right." Harry muttered. "I'm afraid guys all bets are off. Till next time?" He said while picking up the few dollars that were in the pot. The prisoners glared at Harry. He looked back at them. "I guess not. I'll just leave the winnings and hope to escape with my body intact." Harry said dropping the money. He slowly backed out of the cell. The minute he left the prisoners grabbed at the money as if it were going out of style. Harry looked at Stephen.
"Whats up boss?" He asked. "Did you miss me THAT much?" He said as he and Stephen left the holding area. "Thanks for getting me out so fast by the way. How much did you pay for my bail this time. I'll somehow get it back to you."
"I doubt that very much." Stephen said. "Let's just say I know I will be paying for it for quite a while."
They quietly signed a few papers at the front of the police station. They left after that. Stephen noticed on his clock that it was almost two o'clock. Almost time for the rally, and he wanted to be there to here Marla sing. Stephen told Harry what went on while he was gone.
"You told Guber off? And he fired you?" Harry said. "Brilliant."
"I know." Stephen said. "Where do you want to go? I gotta go back to the school and let Marla in on the news, clean out my desk."
"Shes not gonna be happy with you." Harry said.
"That'll be nothing new." Stephen replied.
"You might as well go back to the school. I have something to do."
"Go BACK to the school? Are you crazy Harry? Scott Guber has national guardsmen all over the school. He'd probably have you shot on sight." Stephen said.
"I know but I gotta go back for Lauren. We're going to Canada, I hope." Harry answered him.
"As far as Scotts concerned, Canadas not far enough." Stephen said. "All right, against my own judgment, I'll bring you back to the school, but I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Fair enough." Harry said. "But you better keep up with me."
"Deal."
Traffic was even worse on the way back. A bus full of protesters was blocking up some of the freeway. Most of the protesters were sitting in the middle of the road preventing cars from getting through.
"How ironic, protesters keeping us from our own protest." Harry muttered.
"Will Lauren be there?" Stephen asked.
"I told her to meet me nearby. I'm hoping she has changed her mind about going with me."
"Wait a minute, so she told you no?"
"Yes." Harry said. "But my problem is that I can't leave without her." He said looking out the window. "I can't imagine being anywhere without her."
"Well if you get caught back at the school, you'll have to imagine being in jail for a long time without her." Stephen turned into road that would eventually bring them to the school. After getting caught up in a few more smaller traffic snarls they finally made it to the school.
"All paths lead to Winslow high." Stephen mused.
"Don't tell Guber that, he'll use it on his stationary." Harry said as they got out of the car. They made a bee-line for the gym, being careful to avoid the national guardsmen they spotted all over the school.
"Guber is out of his mind. Its just a rally." Harry observed as they watched the national guardsmen walk around the school.
"Scott hates to be perceived as being out of control. Unfortunately this will be his downfall." Stephen told him. They crept into the gym as Marla went up to the mike. Several speakers had been up already so the crowd was getting worked up. By the time Marla started to sing, they would be at a fever pitch. Marla was not alone in singing, Marilyn was also singing with her.
Marla started to sing. "Mother, mother. There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying.
You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today."
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted Lauren. He waved at her to get her attention but she seemed caught up in the flow of the music. She closed her eyes and sang along with the women on stage. Marilyn started to sing at this point.
"Father, father. We don't need to escalate
War is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate.
You know you've got to find a way.
To bring some understanding yeah today."
Harry walked over to where Lauren was standing. He was halfway over to her when Stephen noticed he was alone at the gym door. He silently cursed himself and Harry for not listening to him yet again. He started to follow Harry as Marilyn and Marla sang together.
"Aw, picket lines, picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me so you can see
Oh what's going on,
Tell me what's going on"
Harry touched Lauren on the shoulder. She turned to him. Their eyes connected.
"Come with me." He said to Lauren. "Please."
"I can't." Lauren said. "You know I can't."
"If I leave, I can never come back. You know that." Harry said. "I'll never see you again and I don't think that will work out good for me. I don't know about you, but I think you feel the same way."
"Harry!" Stephen hissed behind him. "Wrap it up, Scott just came in the rear entrance.
"Reconsider." Harry said.
Lauren shook her head. "You know I can't." She repeated.
"Mother, mother
Ev'ry body thinks we're wrong"
Harry looked up and saw Scott with two national guardsmen. They must have seen my car, Stephen thought. He saw him pointing at Harry. He could see Scott mouth the words "get him".
"Harry, it's time to go."
"Just a second more." Harry said. He went to his pocket. He was about to pull something out when one of the national guardsmen pull out something from behind him.
"Baby who are they to judge us
'Cause our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way"
Harry pulled a long box out of his pocket. He moved to give it to Lauren when the national guardsmen that was coming towards him whipped out a gun. A few protesters nearby saw the gun and screamed.
"He's got a gun!" One screamed out. the protesters started to scramble around the gymnasium. A few ran outside while the others ran further into the school. Harry could sense the gun aimed at him. He moved to push Lauren aside. The guardsmen cocked his gun and pulled the trigger. A loud bang was heard.
"To bring some understanding here today, Good God" Was the last thing Stephen heard.
A loud bang woke Stephen from his nap. He sat up so quickly he fell off his couch. He tumbled to the floor. A dull thud was heard when he felt his head bang the floor. He sat up quickly. He rubbed his head. He looked around, trying to orient himself. To remind himself that he was in 2001, not 1971. He was the principal, not Guber. And that Harry was a teacher...with a gun...outside. He went to the window and looked. Harry had given the gun to a student who was now holding it.
"Sorry chief! Won't happen again." Harry said through his megaphone.
"You bet your ass it won't." Stephen said. He went to the door and yelled out. "Louisa, get Harry back to this regular schedule as soon as possible. And get me some ice!" He said. He was gonna have to break the news to Harry. He wasn't gonna be happy, but he would have to live with it. It wasn't the worst thing that could happen to him. Stephen knew that from his dream now. No more falling asleep reading history books for him.
the end
