St. Bernard School, Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
Conversation between Mr Shurmer, the principal,
and Miss Bolton, one of the school's two secretaries
Secretary. Sir, can I have a word with you?
Principal. Sure, Connie. What is it?
Secretary. James Ballwin, a colored kid who is in 2B-1, was here just a couple of minutes ago.
Principal. It's not recess period. How the hell can he be running around at this time?
Secretary. He had this wooden pass sticking out of his hip pocket, and he told me Miss Blossard had given him permission to go to the bathroom.
Principal. I see. So …?
Secretary. Well, he was real excited. He said he saw a big kid on the staircase who looked kind of funny.
Principal. Staircase? Funny?
Secretary. Yes, sir. James said the boy looked very pale, as if he was sick or something. Also, he said the boy had a crewcut, and he claimed the boy had lots of gray hair, but only on one side of his head.
Principal. Gray hair? On one side? Wait a minute – that reminds me of this kid we had in Miss Clarke's class a couple of years ago – Holden something. Must be 17 or so by now. Anyway, what's the problem?
Secretary. Well, James said he peeked around a corner and saw that boy standing in the middle of the staircase, rubbing off something that was written on the wall.
Principal. Christ! He must have written on of these Fuck you!s on the wall, and then he tried to rub it off again! Most likely he is the perpetrator who has recently been writing all these obscenities on our walls! Sometimes even scratching them into the walls! – Listen, Connie. Have a look at the old files in the basement and find out what the surname of this Holden kid in Ms. Clarke's class was. I have a hunch –
Secretary. Sir?
Principal. Yes, Connie?
Secretary. One more thing. That boy turned up here too. He fit James's description. He gave me a note and asked me to give it to his sister – Phoebe Caulfield in 4B-1. He claimed it was very important.