Jeff's POV:
I listened patiently to Mr. Troken and Mr. Caulfield as they explained to me exactly what had led up to the chem lab accident.
"If the correct chemicals had been used, there is no way that an explosive reaction could have occurred, nor would the solution have been combustible."
"Are you trying to suggest that Alan did this on purpose?" I asked trying to keep my temper under control. I'd admit, Alan was a handful, but he wouldn't do something like that on purpose even if he was capable of it. I had seen Alan's chemistry grades. He would have no idea what chemicals to mix to even cause a reaction like what had happened this afternoon. Fermat might, but Fermat wouldn't do something like this nor would he help Alan do something like this.
"I never said that," Mr Caulfield said quickly.
"No, but it did seem implied."
"Gentleman please. Whether today's incident was on purpose or an accident is not important. It happened but Mr. Tracy, you have to understand the position we are in. If we let this go without some kind of punishment, other students will think they can get away with things. Not to mention the demands from the other parents that something be done so they can feel that the school is doing something to insure their children's safety."
"Then fire the teacher that had the chemicals in a place accessible to the students in the first place," John said beside me. There was an icy tone to his voice, one that I seldom heard.
I rested my hand on his forearm, telling him silently to calm down. It was unusual for John to react that way, but then he was protective of all his brothers. The idea of any kind of injustice toward any of them was one of the few things that could set him off.
"I have been teaching at this school for fifteen years. Those chemicals have been set up that way for fourteen of them. This is the first time that anything like this has happened."
"Then you've been lucky."
"John," I said softly. I saw my son look over at me and then sat back in his chair. I knew how he felt. I felt the same way. As mad as I was at Alan for not paying attention, I also didn't like the fact that Mr. Caulfield seemed to want to completely lay the blame for the accident on Alan. In my opinion, the chemistry teacher needed to take some of the responsibility himself.
"Look Mr. Troken, I do appreciate the situation your in but also understand that I'm not going to let you blame this solely on my son. Yes, Alan should have been paying attention in class but I also don't think that students should have unsupervised access to all the chemicals in the chemistry lab."
"The students were supervised," Mr. Caulfield told me. "I was in the room the whole time."
"And yet a student got a hold of the wrong chemicals," I told him calmly. "That sounds like a lack of supervision to me and I'm sure I can get quite a few of the parents to agree with me."
Before Mr. Caulfield could reply to my latest statement, Mr. Troken held his hand up to for quiet.
"I do understand you concern Mr. Tracy, and I assure you that something will be done about the storage chemicals at this school," Mr. Troken told me. I nodded slightly as the headmaster continued. "Still, the fact remains that this happened partly because Alan was not paying attention in class, which is not the first time for him. Lectures don't seem to get through to him and this could have been much worse than it was."
I did have to give him that. Alan needed to start paying attention. As for the lectures, I understood Mr. Troken's frustration in that department too. No matter what was said to him, Alan did what he wanted to do. He couldn't seem to be bothered with school which was something that I wouldn't put up with. If he wanted to be a part of International Rescue then he was going to graduate high school.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well, for starters a two day suspension, which means he would miss the last couple of days before finals but would still be able to take the finals. Also, a failing grade in chemistry. Not only wasn't the lab completed it clearly wasn't completed right."
Before I could say anything, I saw John stand up from his chair beside me.
"That's not fair. You can't fail a student just because he messed up on one experiment. What about the work he has done so far this semester? What about the final which he hasn't even taken yet? That should count for something. As for not completing the lab, technically neither did any of the other kids. If you're going to fail Alan on the experiment then you need to fail all of the other kids too. Were you planning on doing that?"
"Well no," Mr. Troken said sounding a bit taken aback. "The experiment was going to be dropped out of the averages."
"Then it shouldn't count against Alan either," John told him. He opened his mouth to say more, but stopped as I touched his elbow. He looked back at me and I nodded toward his chair. John, quietly sat down but I could still see the fury in his eyes.
"I can see where Alan gets it," I heard Mr. Caulfield say. "Maybe if you . . ."
"I recommend not even finishing that sentence," Mr. Troken spoke up before I could go off on Alan's chemistry teacher.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Truth was, I wanted to go off just like John had. Everything my son had just said were things that I wanted to say myself. I also didn't like the implication that I didn't know how to raise my kids.
"What is your position Mr. Tracy?" Mr. Troken asked me.
"I agree with my son. Failing Alan in chemistry because of this incident is not fair. Now, I will agree to the two day suspension because I know this isn't the first time that Alan has not been paying attention and not only in chemistry class. However, grade wise, Alan should get whatever treatment that you give to the other students."
"But he's the reason . . ."
"Mr. Caulfield," Mr. Troken said warningly. The chemistry teacher fell silent.
"I do have one more request for you Mr. Tracy. I would much appreciate it if you would find another school for Alan to attend after the holiday break."
I looked quickly over at my son, silently telling him to keep quiet. I already knew how John would feel about that situation.
"You want to expel my son over this?"
"No, no! Where not expelling him. I'm just asking you to find another school for Alan to attend. I think it would be best for all parties. Alan has been a handful and I just don't think that our school is well equipped to deal with that. I think he would be happier in a different scholastic environment. In exchange, we'll drop the failing grade for the experiment and class. Now that's not saying that if Alan doesn't do well on the final that he won't still fair the class."
"Fine," I told him. "Alan won't be returning for spring semester," I said giving in. It looked like I was about to spend more time looking for yet another private school to send my son too.
"Mr. Hackenbacker, is of course free to return if he so wishes."
"That will be up to his father to decide," I told Mr. Troken as I stood up. Somehow though, I didn't think Brains would be keeping Fermat at the school. " I believe we're through here. If you don't mind I'd like to leave and go be with my son."
"Of course Mr. Tracy," Mr. Troken said standing up and extending a hand to me. "I'm glad we could come to an amicable agreement for all involved," he said as I shook his hand.
"Have a good day Mr. Troken," I said much more calmly than what I actually felt inside.
I turned and headed toward the office door, with John not far behind me. The two of us left the administration building and started back toward the parking lot where Parker was waiting for us.
"I'm sorry Dad," John said as we walked across campus. "I shouldn't have went off like that."
"Don't worry about it son," I told him resting putting a hand across his shoulders. "You didn't say anything that I didn't want to say myself."
The two of us walked in silent for a little bit.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with him. Its times like this that I wish your mother was still here," I said quietly thinking about my late wife. Meg had always been so patient and understanding. I was sure she would be able to reach my headstrong youngest son.
"You're doing a great job with him Dad," John told me softly, the tone of his voice reminding me so much of his mother. "You've done a great job with all of us."
"Thanks," I said softly, needing to hear those words from someone.