Thanks for bearing with me, whoever's still reading! I'm slowly creeping towards the finish line! I know I'm dragging out this plot line, but I wanna capture the essence of how the characters may feel as authentically as possible. Within contains dialogue from the "Time Stands Still" famous two-part episode. I own none of the Degrassi content!
XXXVIII. He's What...?
WHACK-YOUR-BRAIN FINALS DAY
Queenie Parker
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Well I just need to rest a bit. Standing on my feet all day was just straight up too much for me."
"That's too bad." I sigh. "Well thanks for calling me, V."
'No problem." I can hear Vivian sigh from the other end of the line. "I know you wanted us to get lunch together. Sorry it can't happen today."
"Vivian, I'm not going to punish you for taking care of yourself." I reply.
"Well it was more or less my final decision." She chuckles. "Nurse Maci mandated me to go home, so she called my dad, and now I'm chillin' in the house with him and Vince."
"Ah, good! Family bonding time! Just what you guys need, and I'm being serious." I harden my voice just a little. "No matter what happened in the past or what will happen in the future, you guys still are a family."
Yet again, a sigh from my friend. "You're right, Queenie. Thanks for being such a good friend. It's like we've know each other for way more than, like, what, two months?"
"Well I don't know if you believe in that reincarnation jazz, but maybe we were close friends in a former life. Or sisters. Or soulmates!" I get carried away sometimes.
"Soulmates!?" Now Vivian is laughing. "I love you, Queen!"
"Just sayin'." I don't think that's a bad idea at all. "Alright I'm gonna go and eat my lunch now. After all that happened this morning, I'm gonna need some energy to get through the rest of the day."
"Ugh, poor Rick!" Dammit, why do I say anything? Now Vivian's gonna think about him for the rest of the day.
"Vivian, rest." I say to her sternly. "No stressing. You're away from Degrassi. Home, sweet home. A safe, peaceful place."
"Sure, sure." She brushes off my commands. "But could you just...ch-check on him for me and let me know how he's doing?"
And how did I know that she was going to ask that? "If it'll get you to stop thinking about what happened for a while, then yes."
"Ohhhh, you're the absolute best! I love you!" Vivian squeals like a five-year-old.
"I love you too!" I can't help but laugh. "And besides, I'm positive Rick won't be coming back to school anyway. After what happened today, he'll probably wanna switch schools for sure now."
"I sure hope not." Vivian sounds like her normal self: worrying about Rick. I gotta help her get her life back! "'Kay, I won't take up anymore of your lunchtime. Bon apetite, friend! Byyyyeee!"
"Bye, you dork." I flip my cell phone closed and resume with preparing my sack lunch to eat out on the picnic tables, which are located across the street from the school's main entrance.
October still has some warm days left before the chill sets in for good, and I'm determined to soak up as much sun as possible. Since I'm typically focused on, you know, eating, I don't give a damn about who joins me or not. Today I'm sitting on the edge of a picnic bench alongside Danny Van Zandt, Liberty's obnoxious younger brother, who may have found his soulmate in James Tiberius who's seated across from him. They take turns flicking apple seeds in each others' faces. I'm so absorbed in food consumption that even this fails to irritate me. When your mom takes the time to prepare your favorite meal in the entire world—for me this is a grilled cheese burger topped with bacon and spinach—you don't let her culinary abilities go to waste.
Also with them are Toby and Emma, who are both silently digging into their food with plastic utensils. Rick's incident happened only about an hour or so ago, and the two quiz bowl mates are still feeling the effects of it. Danny and J.T.'s behavior doesn't seem to be a priority of theirs either. Watching the four of them together, it's as if there's an invisible, cloudy barrier separating the sunshine from the gloom. Very surreal.
"How's Vivian?" Emma's voice startles me after the lag of silence.
"She'll be better after a day of rest." I reply, then chuckle awkwardly. "I think we all could use one, and it's Friday, so calling it quits a little early shouldn't cause any harm."
"Speak for yourself." The little Danny speaks. "I'm perfectly fine. Wonder what other exciting things will happen today?"
"Figures." I say. "What better way to kick off the afternoon than with an exciting game of...seed spitting? I remember my days as a niner being easily amused." Right now I'm embracing the stereotypical, "it's cool to be in grade 10 because I'm not a niner" asshole persona, but it's Danny for crying out loud.
"So much for all of our studying." Toby speaks up for the first time, ignoring Danny and me. "Our victory is soiled now. We would've been better off losing."
"And I doubt that would've changed the final outcome." Emma argues with him. "It still would have happened."
"And what are they going to do with the episode at this point? Throw it all away?"
I shake my head as I chew on my delicious sandwich.
"They can't air the quiz show, Toby."
"Yes they can. They can just...cut before the paint pours on Rick." Toby suggests.
I cringe. All of the teammates are suffering at this point. Though I don't know about Jimmy, Toby's clearly pissed off, and Emma looks a million miles away, and it appears as though, just by looking at her hazel eyes, she's revisiting the horrible event on stage. It's like she's deeply disturbed by it. Wow. She's developed a lot of empathy for Rick in the past month. And of course there's Rick...
"Which is now my new favorite mental image!" J.T., who was caught up in his game of seed spitting once-upon-a-time, now adds in his two cents on the matter-at-hand. What a smug little arse he is.
"You know what", Toby faces his friend, "you wouldn't think it was so funny if it happened to you."
"Haha." Danny chuckles. "I would." Suddenly he pauses and sits up straight, his gaze fixated beyond our table. "And speaking of hysterical images..."
I find the source of his attention as does everyone else as they all flip their heads around. Right across the street, walking at a steady pace, is none other than Rick Murray as he heads towards Degrassi's main entrance.
And he's still covered in yellow paint.
"What's Rick doing back at the school?" Toby voices the group's most popular question. "I should go talk to him."
"Go right ahead." Emma says dryly, shifting to face her food again.
I glance at her. She slowly steers her fork over her white rice held in a plastic container. J.T. and Danny begin snickering like little hyenas, and Toby springs up and heads for Rick, yelling his name in the process. My eyes follow Toby as Rick—who's back is facing me—slowly stops as Toby intersects his path. Unfortunately I'm too far away to hear anything they're saying.
I return my attention to my remaining lunch mates. Emma is visibly aggravated by the boys' heartless humor as they continue to laugh. Children, I think. "Wow" I say aloud, "he didn't clean up or anything. Guess he's just back to pick up his homework."
"Sure. Whatever." Emma continues to pick through her rice, avoiding eye contact.
"Or," more commentary from Dr. Yorke, "he secretly enjoys the ridicule, and he's more psycho than we originally thought."
"My, what a well developed, educated guess." I reply.
"Well, I try." J.T. replies. Sarcasm meets sarcasm.
I roll my eyes and look back up at Toby to see how he's fairing with Rick, but while I see the former plainly, the latter has disappeared, and—going by the direction Toby's facing—he has already entered the building. I watch as Toby turns around and walks slowly back to our picnic bench.
"How's he doin'?" I ask him as he sits down in between Emma and J.T.
"He's fine. Uh, forgot something." Toby shakes his head, biting into the sandwich he now holds in his hands.
Alright. What did he really say? Do I have to fill in for Vivian and not mind my own business? Nah. Too lazy for that. I shake my head.
Rick just had to ruin my afternoon. He wasn't supposed to come back, and now I have to report back to Vivian. Or do I? How about I lie and pretend like I never saw him? Maybe I could...if he wasn't covered in paint still! Why didn't he clean up? Why come back to school where you were humiliated and wear the evidence that reminds you of it?
Fuck it. I'm not Vivian: Rick can manage his own problems like an adult. I have a grilled cheese to eat.
Rick Murray
Emma: "We don't want him here, Mr. Raditch."
Emma: "We don't want you at Degrassi."
"I have a right to an education."
Emma: "I don't care. Find another school, Rick, or you'll be sorry."
"Alex, listen to me."
Alex: "Or what, freak, are you gonna put me in a coma too?"
Jay: "I said slam now pay attention next time."
Ivory: "I've been great. Until YOU came back!"
They're bastards. All of them:
Paige and her flunkies that started that damn campaign.
Spinner and his flying spit balls.
Jay—and EVERYONE ELSE—slamming me into lockers.
And Emma. That bitch Emma.
"Is that a threat? 'Cause Mr. Raditch warned you: you can't touch me."
"Yeah well maybe not at Degrassi."
Who gave her the right to yank me out of The Dot? A restaurant she doesn't even own? To trip me as I held hot coffee and barely miss burning myself?
"I felt sorry for you! I pitied you! Get a clue!"
Who does she think she fucking is? All she wanted was fame and recognition from the uppity cool kids, the Degrassi Gods of the school. Too bad they rejected her. Wanna be little prissy piss. I can expect that from Alex, being a bitch that is, but Emma? I had the nerve to think she was different. I can even write a pass for Ivory. At least there's a reason for her to be a bitch. I treated her like garbage in the past. I know that. I didn't deserve her compassion.
And they all had the nerve to laugh at me? At my agony? I'll give them something to laugh at. If they find pleasure in pain...I'll give them pleasure that'll make them cum in their pants. Wait until I get my hands on the little cunts that set this up. I'll make an example out of them.
With each step it feels more and more like I'm in a dream. I walk around the school, through the hallways, causing kids to stop, point fingers. Exchange whispers and continue to laugh. As I walked pass the gym area, Gavin clucks like a chicken. I should have ended his ass right then and there, but Raditch wasn't around, so I couldn't do anything without getting caught.
I have been defenseless for far too long, struggling to conform, while Degrassi mercilessly murdered my soul on that stage today. Have they any idea what that feels like? They will today. Rick Murray is not the same, weak pushover he's been forced to become. Today he's ready to fight anyone who dares threaten him. Simple bastards. Have no idea why I returned. None. I know that Degrassi kids are prone to stupidity, but this much? Fuck-tards.
Now who am I gonna shoot first?
One Hour Earlier...(Rick's house)
It couldn't have been that long that I stood motionless. Against the front door to my house. No one home. Yet it feels like I've been there for hours.
Nothing matters anymore.
Winning didn't matter to them.
Winning wasn't enough.
What good is this trophy when no one will respect you?
What's the use of continuing? Emma doesn't love me. Vivian doesn't love me. Ivory will never forgive me.
And they all laughed at me.
My thoughts are a carousel of today's reflected events.
Degrassi...why are you so cruel to me? I've never laid a hand on anyone since I came back!
This is their reward? This is what they offer me?
There's nothing for me at school. Nothing for me at home. I'm left alone to be consumed by the pain...
But wait! NO one is here! What did my father say to us when he showed it to us? Use it when it is absolutely necessary?
See I'm no idiot. I know that he means self-defense...but I can't take this life anymore. It's been a month! I have to go back to that school as Rick the chicken boy. No way am I doing that. No way. Then I have to explain to my dad what happened to his suit...and to my mom what's really going on. I can't hide this now. No way. My mom will be devastated. And father will no doubt beat me for letting this happen. Tell me that I'm a failure of a man. I've heard it all before, survived it all before, but this time is different. I can't do this anymore.
I pace back and forth, weighing my options. If I ended it right now, it would be perfect. No one's around to stop me. Who would miss me? Surely mother...I will hurt her no doubt, but for the last time. She won't have to put up with my psycho reputation ever again. She'd be free. She won't have to compromise her well-being and let father continue to torture her. She could leave. I would no longer hold her back from her life. Certainly NO ONE at Degrassi would miss me. Quite the contrary: I see them celebrating. "Ding-dong! The psycho's gone!" They'd cheer. Except maybe Toby. I'd leave him alone, and he would have to bear the brunt of Degrassi by himself. He'd take my place. He'd be ostracized.
Fully present, I adjust my steps and make my way towards my father's study. Toby? No fucking way he deserves to suffer just because he was man enough to be friends with someone like me! I can't let Toby suffer!
Steadily I unlock the giant wardrobe, and reach for the top most shelf. It should be right about...here!
I pull down the giant, wooden case and set it down on my father's orderly desk. I have no choice. If I'm going to follow through with this, I'll have to do it now. Shoot myself in isolation where no one can stop me. Actually I do have a choice. Suffer the rest of the term with Degrassi students, and hide my incident yet again from my mother; end my suffering now, and leave Toby behind. But it's either me...
Or them. Kill them.
It's not me! IT NEVER WAS ME! It's them. Them. THEM.
The bullies and hypocrites and tormentors and sadists that dare call themselves righteous. Who the hell are they? Who in their right mind thought they were so god-like that they would manage a campaign, run me out, and have the audacity to claim that they're doing so in the name of Terri Mcgregor? To pollute her name with filth like Degrassi?
Emma. That's who.
I slowly fold back the container and find just what I was looking for: father's firearm right where he left it. I can feel a venom spreading through my system as rapidly as wildfire. It's silver and shiny. Probably brand new. Probably never touched. Today's your day to blow, buddy.
Emma.
Paige.
Jay.
Ivory.
Spinner.
Toby.
Jimmy.
Alex.
Vivian.
Queenie.
Degrassi and death. They go together.
Queenie Parker
"Toobyyyyyyyy." I dramatically lay my head across his section of the table. "I really don't wanna read this book." I can feel the solid college rule from under my hat, my skull completely covering his open notebook.
"Queenie, c'mon, stop. My homework assignment's in there."
I sigh heavily, exaggerating just a tad, and roll my head back to my side. "I tried." I face him as my cheek rests against the cold table top. "Wrong day?"
"You think?" Toby brushes out the paper, attempting to eliminate what little crinkles I imprinted there.
"Hey. Toby." I say sternly, sitting up.
"What?" He stares at his notebook.
I pause, then say, "It's going to be okay." I articulate each word.
We're back in Miss Kwan's English class, where we have a split lunch: first half hour-lunch-second half hour. It's bizarre. Not a fan, especially if it means extending English! Gross. Miss Kwan enters just as I'm speaking to Toby, and she rushes to the front of the room to turn on the television, already set on the school network channel from the earlier Whack-Your-Brain festivities. I watched the entire thing go down right in this classroom, where half of us sat with mouths gaping at the paint and feathers. The other half laughed their asses off. I wasn't in the second half. I'm still haunted by Rick standing on stage, recorded live as he was drenched from head to toe in thick, yellow paint and sprinkled with white feathers.
This time the screen displays principal Raditch seated at his desk. The camera is facing him squarely as he stares directly into the lens. Uh-oh. This is for us.
"Twenty five years as an educator, I have never, NEVER, been embarrassed to be associated with this school. Whomever was responsible for the incident this morning should be ashamed of themselves..."
I stare around at the kids in class. A lot of them are giggling at the reminder. Some of them are shaking their heads. Fewer still wear poker faces, stoic and blank, unrevealing of their true thoughts. J.T. snickers on the other side of Toby. Toby himself hangs his head low into his notebook.
"...and let me assure you that the perpetrator of perpetrators responsible for this will be found out and punished severely. If anyone has any information, please speak to me immediately. I assure your confidentiality. Thank you."
Raditch disappears from view as typed announcements take his place. Miss Kwan glances back at us, her expression revealing her annoyance about the announcement—or about what was announced.
"So," She proceeds, "back to 1984."
Side conversation catches my ear, and I glance over to find J.T. taunting Toby. Easily I hear every word.
"So...how's the big yellow loser?" Kind words from Mr. Yorke.
"That's really nice, J.T." See? Toby agrees.
"I hope he just gets the hint and leaves." J.T., more forward, comments harshly. "And uh...you'll have to find a new gamer geek friend."
A person taps my shoulder and hands me clean packets that Kwan passed out. I take one and hand the rest to Toby, who carelessly tosses the pile in his friend's direction. I shake my head, still bugged by JT. This is ruining friendships as much as politics.
There's a vibration against my leg that jolts me upright: my cell phone. "Uh, Miss Kwan, may I...?"
"Go on." She says flatly, permitting me to leave the class and answer my phone. "Quickly now."
"Thanks." I quickly make my way for the door. Side note: I'm in stage four of cancer, so I'm allowed to have my cellphone on me at any time just in case I receive an emergency phone call from my doctor or family members.
I flip up my phone and answer it. "What's up, Vivian?"
"Sorry if I interrupted your class time."
"Oh you should see me in Miss Kwan's class with J.T. and Toby right now...I can feel the love between them!"
Look, Vivian is my best friend if you haven't noticed this far into the story: give me some credit here. Wouldn't you do the same if it meant cutting your least favorite class?
"Oh I certainly shouldn't!" Vivian exclaims. "Listen, Queenie..."
"I haven't seen Rick today, so don't ask."
"Aww geez, Queenie! He is not the only thing I talk about!" It's funny when Vivian gets irritated.
"I beg to differ! Okay so why the hell else are you calling me in the middle of class?"
"I never said that I wasn't going to talk about Rick if that's what you're arguing." Vivian the smartass is also amusing.
"Don't tell me: you want me to throw together a search party, flag him down, and make sure he doesn't hurt himself." Yawn. "Look, why don't you just call his parents if you're so worried about Rick?"
"I did! And now I want to check in on him." Vivian announces.
"Hello, my name is Rick Murray."
"Queenie! I could do without your sarcasm right now!" She snaps.
"And I could do without you dragging me into your wishy-washy relationship with Rick!" I refrain from letting my voice get too loud. Boy am I talented at that. "You have Rick's phone number. Why are you calling me?"
"Well..." my bff falters, "...this might sound weird, but I don't want him to know that I'm keeping tabs on him."
"Why the hell not?"
"Complicated." Vivian replies. "We're not really speaking to each other. And I think it would be good for him to realize that there are more people besides me and Toby who care about him."
"No offense, but...who else?"
"Uh...you?"
"Well I wouldn't go that far." I chuckle. "I do tolerate him because of what he means to you."
"Queenie, that's not enough!" I say. "Weren't you watching when they dumped the paint and feathers on him? He was crushed!"
"The whole school saw." An unknown fact. "And you should see him now. It's strange how—"
"—You're a liar!" Vivian screeches. "I thought you hadn't seen him? What else are you lying about?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, keep your eyes in your sockets." Dammit. I'm such an idiot! "Okay fine! I saw him today and he looked a little...out of it."
"No kidding! He just got humiliated in front of the entire school! God, what is he thinking right now?"
"Vivian, you're at home to relax, remember? No stressing about boys."
"Who are you to tell me to relax?!" Vivian thunders. "Listen, you just don't talk to Rick like I do to even to begin to understand the weight of what he's going through. He's been bullied so much—"
"Exactly." I interrupt her. "You know about him. Now why don't you bring back your 'magic petite powers and be there for Rick now?"
Vivian sighs, which is followed up by a long pause before she says, "I would use my 'magic petite powers'...if I thought this was something petite." Another long pause. "You're right, Queenie. You're right. I became friends with you for a reason, which is that you're more carefree than I am, and I think that's great, especially considering what I'm going through in this point of my life, but that doesn't mean you need to be heartless."
My mouth drops open. "Vivian..."
"What's been with you lately? First you sleep with Jay like that and now you're brushing off Whack-Your-Brain?"
"That's not fair at all, Vivian."
"Yeah I know, and I'm sorry." Vivian continues, "And it also wasn't fair of me to ask you to do something that I should do myself. I'll let you go. I don't wanna hold you back from class anymore, and you're right: I do need to rest."
"Vivian—"
"Talk to you later, friend." She hangs up before I can protest.
"Well, fuck." I say as I flip my phone shut. "What do you want from me, Vivian? This is not my problem!" Well to be fair, she doesn't know about the problems you're going through.
You're right. I agree with myself before walking back into Miss Kwan's hell hole.
Vivian Graham
What's going through his head right now? .
I stare up at the ceiling, the blankets on my bed tucked underneath my chin, a black, silky scarf wrapped around my hair, which compiled in a bun on the top of my head. Maybe he's going to tough it out. Maybe I am overreacting.
But I can't erase the image of Rick, smothered in yellow paint, hazel brown eyes bleeding agony, out of my mind. I try to close my eyes to nap, but I keep finding myself back at Degrassi, in the gymnasium, watching the spectacle from the very back of the room. How do you feel right now, Rick?
Rick Murray
Jocks. Athletes. Where do I begin?
Oh I know.
That cock Spinner. Gavin.
He's walking out of the gym. My hand is in my bag. I'm ready.
Shit. He's not alone. More importantly, he's with Jimmy. Jimmy is not my target.
I thought Spinner was cool. But I saw him laughing. I saw everyone who laughed. They're also with another kid...tall, dark hair, paler skin. C-Craig, I think. I don't know his last name, but I've had classes with him. I didn't see him in the audience. No matter he hates me too: he can be collateral damage.
The three all notice me, being at the front of the line, and they pause.
Gradually Gavin bends his arms to make wings. "Bawk, bawk, bawk, BAAAAAWK!" He hollers while he's approaching me.
Gentleman, the joke is on you: Jimmy is saving your life right now. You owe him.
"Mr. Mason? Perhaps you'd like to join me later for a chat?" Behind me bellows none other than Raditch.
"Awww, gee, sir, I'm awful busy." Boy do I want to blow away his brains along with that ugly haircut.
"Three-thirty. Be on time." "Mr. Murray, may I see you now?" His baritone voice is mildly less harsh when he addresses me.
Spinner and Craig walk away, the latter's eyes glued to me as if I actually pulled the gun out of my bag. Jimmy eases towards me with a basketball in his hand and tells me to ignore Spinner, and makes a joke about his inferior intellect: "The douche shares one brain with a chicken." Yeah, I can't shoot this guy. But he should tell his friend to watch his back.
Slowly I turn and walk towards Raditch, wondering if I should kill the principal. He was never helpful, even if he is claiming to search for the masterminds behind this stunt that's all over my suit.
But as I approach Raditch I rule out the possibility. Gotta save these precious bullets for my targets. Can't afford to waste any.
"Don't you have anything else to put on?" His voice is softer.
"For what reason?"—I don't say this aloud; rather I shrug.
"What happened was...inexcusable." He says.
"Thank you, sir."
"You have my permission to go home." Translation: he's ordering me to go home.
"I need some stuff from my locker." Mr. Raditch, students are going to die today.
"Go get them, and then off you go." That's exactly what's going to happen today, Raditch: I'll go get them, then "off" I will go: far, far, away from Degrassi. Don't miss me too much.
I walk away from Raditch, passing Mr. Simpson in the process.
Oh, Mr. Simpson: if I were you, I'd be worried about my daughter.
Ivory Mann
"...I completely disagree. I think there's a lot more you could be doing for these kids."
"Really?" Mr. Raditch, who was walking away, now turns back to face Snake and says, "Last I checked this wasn't a daycare, and 'How to make Friends' isn't on the curriculum." He walks away for the final time in the direction of the attendance desk—in my direction.
I begin to walk in Snake's direction as soon as Mr. Raditch spots me, but he's too busy fuming to notice me, but Snake sees me clear as day.
"Afternoon, Ivory." He greets me, facial expression resolving from tense to calm.
"Afternoon." I reply. "I, uh, saw Rick walk past. I'm kinda surprised he's still here, and still in paint for that matter."
"He's just passed through here, yeah." Snake acknowledges. "Do you have an errand to run?" He glances at the hall pass in my left hand.
"I already ran it." I say. Maybe I should mention what I heard so I won't seem entirely obnoxious. "I couldn't help but overhear you and Mr. Raditch arguing, and...you don't think it's best for Rick to go home?"
Simpson sighs. "We're not allowed to express our personal opinions in front of students."
Too late for that. "Sir, I heard you say that already, so I know you already have that opinion. What do you think should happen then? Because I think that Rick being here and being laughed at is the last thing he needs right now."
"Ivory, again, we're not allowed to talk about the affairs of other students, but..." Snake pauses.
"Do you know how bad he's been bullied here? Because I didn't realize it until the paint prank...I used to hate him like everybody else because we dated once upon a time, then he shoved me. Then I hear about Terri McGregor and what happened to her and think...I just dodged a bullet." I don't know what's possessed me to overshare with one of my teachers, but now I'm gaining momentum and can't stop.
"I never wanted Rick to return, but I would never have done something so horrible, and you know, even though I never participated in anything that hurt Rick, I still feel responsible because I didn't care about him anymore. I thought he deserved it."
Snake, now sitting on one of the steps that leads to the gym, nods in understanding.
Queenie Parker
"Toby", I nudge the guy in class with my wrist. "What did Rick say to you today outside at lunch?"
"It was nothing. He said he needed some stuff from his locker then was going home." He says, looking at his work packet.
"I didn't quite catch that. Say it again?"
"Look, I'm busy here, Queenie! Can't you see that?'
"And I will leave you alone as soon as you can look at me, with a straight face, and tell me what he really said."
I'm back in class, and there's only ten minutes left, so we have a bit of leisure time before the bell.
"What's it to you? You're not his friend." Toby says tartly.
"What did he say? And why hasn't he showered the paint off?" I ignore him.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Toby, this would be easier if you just answered my question."
"Okay!" Toby relents. I'm so good at interrogation: I should look into career fields in law enforcement. "I told him that he should skip the rest of the day, that it would be better for him. And he told me that this was the one time he wanted to be at school, and walked away. The end."
Before I can grill him with more questions, he moves one seat away from me. Fine, be like that. I think.
"The one time [you] wanna be at school"...? What could Rick possibly mean by—
Aaaw, Hehhhhhhlllll Naw! There will be none of that around here!*
Trust me: I want to rap this up as much as you want me to!