Author's Note: My fumbling attempt at doing a section from Hawkeye's POV. Don't expect much more of that.
November:
Hawkeye eyed his dad without his dad noticing, quietly spooning cereal and milk into his mouth. It was Sunday morning, which meant it was his father's day off, which meant it was the only chance his father got to catch up on important, every-day type things like reading the week's mail, fiddling with the cabinet door that was always getting stuck, and checking over Hawkeye's quarterly report card.
Hawkeye eyed his dad without his dad noticing.
His dad flipped open the report card and ran his finger down the list of classes, grades, absences, and whatever other things the school cared about. Out of the corner of his eye, Hawkeye saw his dad pause briefly then go on. When he'd finished, his dad carefully folded the report card and put it back on the kitchen table. He picked up a letter from the bank and slit it open with a letter opener.
Hawkeye watched as his father put down this letter, picked up another, open and read it, put it back down, and picked up another. By then Hawkeye had forgotten about being covert, and forgotten about his cereal, and was staring at his father unashamedly.
Finally Daniel Pierce had gotten through his pile of letters and looked up to see his son staring at him.
Well? Hawkeye meant to say, but of course didn't say anything at all.
He father cleared his throat, "Good grades again, Ben."
His dad had started calling him Ben after his mom had died seven years ago. She had never really approved of the nickname Hawkeye.
And?
"If you're struggling in that Anatomy and Physiology class I'd be happy to help out."
"I'm not struggling," Hawkeye said quickly. Even though he was barely carrying a D. Honestly, the school was stupid to believe kids didn't open their report cards before their parents did.
His dad gave him a slightly incredulous, half-way amused look. "Glad to hear it."
Hawkeye knew that look. That meant cough up quick, you know I know, Hawk. Or at least he would know. There was a parent-teacher conference that night.
Hawkeye pushed away his bowl of soggy cereal.
"The teacher doesn't like me."
"Who couldn't like you, Ben?"
"I don't know. His loss."
"And he's giving you bad grades because of it?"
Often Hawkeye felt that because of all the time his father spent by the x-ray machines a bit of their electromagnetic energy had seeped into his skin and given him special powers. He seemed able to see through Hawkeye's eyes, into his mind, and right to the truth of the matter.
Hawkeye hesitated. "Not…wholly."
"So he isn't giving you bad grades because he doesn't like you?"
"No, he's definitely giving me bad grades because he doesn't like me."
"But there are some other reasons, too?"
Hawkeye felt his lip curl. He frowned at his bowl of soggy cereal.
"Did you want to talk about it?"
Not really, no.
His dad sighed and moved to get up from the table. He brought his empty coffee mug up to the sink. It was full of last night's dishes. In fact, the whole kitchen was in a rather disheveled way. They were, after all, two bachelors and there was little time during the week for tidying up.
"Well, I'm here if you ever do."
Hawkeye was about to get up when he changed his mind and tried to make his voice unassuming, "Want to catch a movie tonight, Dad?"
Daniel Pierce didn't bother looking over his shoulder as he started on the dishes. "You know I've got that conference tonight, Ben."
Darn. His father knew. Of course his father knew. Hawkeye had to work on that unassuming thing.
"Unless there's no reason for me to go."
"Yeah, you probably don't have to worry about it."
"Maybe there's some particular reason for me not to go?" His voice had risen slightly, to be heard over the running of the faucet.
Hawkeye frowned at the back of his dad's head. He had thought it was moms who had the eyes back there. Sometimes his father was a bit too shrewd for his own good – Hawkeye's own good, at least.
"Not if you want to listen to a whole bunch of boring, unimportant flattery about your son."
"And what about this Anatomy and Physiology guy? What's he going to have to say about you?"
"Vicious lies."
"So, is it that he doesn't like you or you don't like him?"
"He didn't like me first."
"I thought you didn't want to talk about it?"
"I don't." Hawkeye frowned and snatched his bowl of cereal. He began shoveling it back into his mouth and almost gagged. Gosh, that was disgusting.
Daniel chuckled. "Maybe we'll catch that movie after the conference, Hawk. Shouldn't run too late."
Hawkeye doubted it. Johnson probably had quite the list.
"Welcome to the school. You're new this year, Mr. Johnson, aren't you?" The man had gray-flecked hair and sparkling blue eyes hiding behind spectacles. He was a good six-inches taller than Johnson. His legs were lanky and arms swung at his sides casually.
Johnson took his outstretched hand in his own.
"Thank you –"
"Dan Pierce," said the man helpfully and Johnson almost dropped the man's hand by instinct. "You've got my son Ben in your class, I believe."
"You're Pierce's - Benjamin Pierce's father?"
"Please, call me Dan," said the man, easy smile on his lips. Now that Johnson knew what to look for, the resemblance between Daniel Pierce and his son was evident.
"So, Anatomy and Physiology, remember well when I took all that," Mr. Pierce said off-handedly. "How's my son been as a student?"
Johnson cleared his throat, "Well, about your son…actually, Mr. Pierce, I'm sorry to say your son seems to…lack enthusiasm toward my subject. At least the way he acts in my classroom has led me to make that assumption."
"Ben?" said Mr. Pierce. "Can't imagine him quite lacking enthusiasm for anything."
"It isn't the enthusiasm so much," said Johnson, suddenly uncomfortable. He had imagined this speech thoroughly in the privacy of his own office. He had never enjoyed confronting the parents. "In fact he seems to have ample enthusiasm, bursting with it, in fact – that is part of the problem."
Mr. Pierce frowned, "I'm sure Ben enjoys your class just fine. Boy wants to become a doctor, you know." Mr. Pierce laughed. "Just like his old man."
Johnson wondered if it was supposed to be a subtle reminder of just who among them had more sway in the town, moreover authority over the school.
"But anyway," Mr. Pierce continued. "What seems to be the problem? I did realize Ben's grades seemed to be down in your class. Anything I can help with?"
Johnson cleared his throat again. "Well, you see, Mr. Pierce, your son seems to have a – a mystifying disregard toward following the rules, especially in my classroom. He constantly undermines my authority and, you see, I have had little choice then to grade him with what his actions warrant…."
Mr. Pierce laughed, "Well, is that all?"
"Mr. Pierce," Johnson frowned. "Your son may have a serious problem with authority. It is hardly something to laugh about."
Nonetheless, Mr. Pierce laughed. "Why, that's just Ben. Don't take any mind to it, Mr. Johnson. Doesn't mean any harm, Ben doesn't. Why, when he was in first-grade Ms. Richardson kept writing to me to let me know Ben kept disrupting class and causing a ruckus but in the end she just gave into it. Funny thing, after that, Ben stopped causing a ruckus –"
"I fail to see what that has to do with the matter at hand, Mr. Pierce."
Mr. Pierce smiled, gently, if not like he thought Johnson was a little simple. "Maybe I'm trying to suggest that my son means no harm. I'm sorry if he's being a problem. But maybe giving that problem a little space might make it…resolve itself on it own?"
Johnson was not aware his frown had grown quite so pronounced until he began to feel his jaw muscles ache. To Johnson, Dr. Daniel Pierce seemed to be doing a wonderful impression of a kindly, simple country doctor. Perhaps he was playing the roll a bit too well. "Thank you, Mr. Pierce, I appreciate your advice and will take it into account."
Mr. Pierce smiled again and stuck out his hand, "Been a pleasure talking to you, Mr. Johnson."
"And you, Mr. Pierce."
Mr. Pierce flicked his fingers at his hairline in a salute that recalled his son, "Please, call me Dan," and he ambled away with a cheerful smile.