Meh, not quite the wait this time. I guess we are all getting a little better at dealing with these trying times. If anyone wants to read the disclaimer again about what this is all about, I refer you to the author's notes in the first three chapters of Book One. Things haven't changed, oh and at this time I am writing chapter 65 (64 finished up the Yono episode….yay I actually wrote one) and it is mostly through where this tale is going. Is Eric still a jerk? Yup.
I again want to thank everyone who has read, faved, followed, alerted (what's the difference between the two?) and or reviewed this tale. Speaking of reviews this is where I get to answer some of them. So here we go: Uberscribbler, Monique is a teen with 'issues', her childhood and past continue to haunt her. Her first real friend is Kim and she takes it personal when she feels she has been disrespected; Bobtrumpet, Yeah Bets has her nose in this because she wants to make sure she gets an agent. She has identified both Ron and Kim as future assets; CB73, our little heroine is not going to have a happy life after this book ends and like Monique Kim is going to have a long time to reflect. For Moni and Brick, he can bring her around and together they can make their way in the world.
Jimmy1201, Ron is going through a tough time, even if he is separated from his best friend forever, he still has others he can count on. Kimmie has Monique and 'Eric'/Hans and Ron has Hanna and the others; Gjagent, as I have stated several times in the story, Monique came from a bad place and she and her family were lucky to get to Middleton. About James Possible, he has identified Ron as being 'at risk' and is doing the best he can to support him. Ron for his part begins to concentrate on his sister; Anon451, get it on? Uh this is a family tale (for right now) so I didn't pry, but I don't think so…later? Welllllll, maybe. Remember, that is one of 'Eric's' goals.
Again, thanks to all those reviews and I want to also thank CajunBear73 for all his work over the years.
Let's get this show on the road,
OH, NO meds are required for this chapter guys.
ST-103
The Hunter: Book Two
Chapter 17
Middleton High:
The former Mad Dog slash former Middleton running back walked to his new locker.
Being in a hall way with under classmen was sort of a downgrade, but he knew it was happening and why so he sucked it up. Ron dialed the combination and opened the thing. He looked at his class schedule, then opened his backpack and took out the books. 'I'll come back at lunch to…shit Barkin didn't give me a damn lunch. I guess I'll toss all my books in my pack and go to the office to straighten this out.' With a grimace he loaded every book and notebook he had into his pack then slammed the locker shut. Wondering if this could get any worse.
Grumbling, the blond teen trudged back to the front of the school and entered the office.
The secretary inquired, "May I help you?"
Ron began since the secretary might have no idea of his circumstances, "Yeah, just got back to school. I was out for my Dad's funeral and everything else since I'm the adult in the house at the moment."
"What is the problem?"
"They changed my schedule from last semester and I just noticed that I don't have a lunch or study hall. What's going on? I need both of those."
"May I see your schedule?"
Ron handed it over.
The brunette stared at it. She asked, "Mister Stoppable?"
"That's my Dad, I'm Ron."
"Could you wait here?"
Ron warned her, "Yeah, but I'll be late for class."
"I will notify your instructor. I have to go over this with Mister Barkin."
Ron rolled his eyes knowing where this was going. He muttered, "Great. I guess I'll wait here to get some kind of final word on how big of a screw up this is going to be."
She offered, "I could just call you back…"
"No, with my luck I'll fall through the cracks and be forgotten about…again. I can wait.", Ron assured her.
"But you could miss out on vital information in class…"
"I suppose I could Ma'am, but I have been treated like a mushroom at Middleton High for the last three and a half years and I'm pretty well tired of it and might as well straighten it out." (AN…..definition of a mushroom. They keep you in the dark and feed you BS)
"We could let your parents know…"
"That won't work 'cause Mom's in a coma and Dad's six feet in the ground, which is the reason I was out. Now like I said, I am the adult in the house for the time being. I'll wait, if I fail, I fail. I'll take my chances. But…I do wonder why my school counselor can't help me through this though?"
The woman lowered her voice then glance around then leaned in, "Mister Barkin specified that anything to do with you will only be handled by him."
Ron said, "Just a moment please." In a moment of inspiration, born out of hard-learned self-preservation, Ron turned around and whipped his Kimmunicator out of his coat pocket and punched the 'connect' button. When it was booted up, Ron whispered into the unit, "Wade, monitor me for the next few hours. Record everything, but don't call me."
The unit went 'Ding'.
Ron turned back around and lied, "Sorry, a call came in about my Mom. Now what were you saying about my guidance counselor, Ma'am?"
"I didn't hear anything…Was that the hospital?"
The former running back just lied his way around the question, "Yes, but I had my phone on vibrate."
"Shouldn't you take care of that?"
"I can do it after school today, it was just a reminder. Now…about Mister Hines?", Ron diverted her.
"Oh yes, Mister Barkin told me and the rest of the staff in the front office that all matters concerning you were to be handled by him and no one else."
"Oh? I'm a special case? I don't know why, but I guess I should feel honored…It's more than I deserve,", Ron piled on with fake modesty, "I'll wait till Mister Barkin has time to deal with my schedule then."
"One moment. I will notify him that you are here needing assistance with your class schedule."
Ron grinned tightly, "Thanks."
XX
"How is your back today Eric?", Kim asked her boyfriend as she looked him over. As his back seemed to be giving him trouble, she took to carrying his books to class.
Doing a good job of faking it, the English 'teen' responded, "It appears Kimberly that my back is not responding as well as I first thought it would."
"I'm sorry to hear that Eric, is there anything I can do to make it better?", Kim responded, not thinking about her boyfriend walking normally…well since the 'accident' until recently.
"Hey GF, how are you and Mister Hotness doing today?", Monique Jenkins asked from behind.
"Eric's back is a little stiff today Moni, I wonder if it's the weather."
The 'English' teen smiled sheepishly, "I might have to go to a specialist to see if there is something seriously wrong. I would hate to have this follow me around for the rest of my life just because I slipped on a patch of ice that should have been cleared."
The fashionista observed, "That's what you get for being a nice guy Eric. I just hope Stoppable doesn't screw up me being on campus with Brick next fall."
Kim frowned, "Why would Ron do that? He wouldn't mess up your college experience. He thinks he might go to a junior college somewhere at night and work during the day to pay for it."
Monique explained with a growl in her voice, "They're trying to recruit him…That's why their running backs' coach was at the funeral. I still don't want Stoppable within a hundred miles of me. When graduation hits, I'm outta here if Stoppable stays in town."
Kim touched her BFF on the shoulder, "Maybe Ron won't go to the college Brick is…"
"And maybe he will, I can't be there. Maybe I can get Brick to transfer…I'm sure they would rather keep Brick then bring your sidekick in."
"Monique I'm sure that Ron isn't that bad and you won't be seeing him if you don't want to."
"Yeah, maybe. I'll talk to Brick when he calls next time, but we are going to discuss transferring."
Eric frowned and suggested, "Kimberly, maybe the school that Monique is planning on going to wouldn't be the right one for Stoppable either, but he still isn't through high school yet. Many things can happen."
The red head nodded, "True, but Colorado State is a large university…large enough that if 'Nique didn't share classes with Ron, they'd never even cross paths."
Monique frowned, "I don't want to even be in the same state as that clown, GF. He could move to Australia where I would never have word from him again and I'd be in bliss."
Kim didn't like where this was going, and it was messing with the warm feeling she had being close to Eric. She shrugged her shoulders, "With Ron's Dad being gone the family might just move to Norway where his Mom's company's head office is or Ron might just go to Israel and start all over with the Sayeret Matkal."
'Eric' had never even heard of this group and inquired, "What is that Kimberly?"
The red head replied, "It's pretty well not known, but it is one of the world's premier special force units. It is an Israeli group."
Monique frowned, "Why would Stoppable go there?"
"Ron would fit right in, he as a knack for languages and their intelligence service needs those experts.", Kim explained, "I have worked with them a couple of times."
Eric shivered at the prospect of the Mossad and several other sub-organizations which were not publicly known, but he had caught wind of over the years, but not the one Kim had just mentioned which made him more than nervous. Some of those groups had taken on the onus of eliminating those who assassinate Israeli citizens.
Kim inquired noticing the slight trembling, "Eric, are you alright?"
"Oh, it's nothing Kimberly, just the thought of actually living in Norway for the rest of your life is just not appealing to me."
"Well, you have to be realistic Eric Ron could go to either place and when Mrs. Stoppable gets back on her feet, she might just want to leave all this behind.", Kim said as she extended her arms.
"GF, I wouldn't mind moving to Florida, but it's not that bad here…"
"Moni, think of how Ron being taunted over the years. He doesn't have too many good memories of Middleton. He just might want to start over where no one knows who he is.", Kim argued having heard this from the boy in question herself.
They came to Eric's homeroom and the red head leaned in and gave her BF a brief kiss then handed him his books, "I'll see you after third hour Eric."
XX
"Stoppable! My office…NOW!", the menacing flat-topped school administrator growled at the teen, trying to be more menacing than he usually was.
Ron muttered lowly at the head that had peeked from around the corner, "Music to my ears." He rose from his seat and followed Barkin to his office.
Once Ron entered the office Barkin shut the door and snarled, "Attention, you maggot!"
The teen's eyes narrowed as he calmly sat down on the most comfortable seat available and slouched, "Get bent, you don't own me you flat-topped pile of pigeon crap."
"STOPPABLE?"
Ron frowned as his eyes narrowed, "Ding, ding, ding, congratulations that you are smart enough to recognize me and even remember my name, although not many others do. Now I have a problem with my class schedule. First and foremost, I have been put in classes that I do not have the pre-requisites for. Second, I do not have a lunch period…You might wanna check the federal or state laws on that one, but I could make a call to my lawyer and find out for you. And third, I do not have a study hall. Now considering what I have on my schedule I could take it to the school board and ask them…"
"No, you clown. Only your parents get to do that.", Barkin pointed out, "And the last time I checked you weren't your own parent. So, permission denied."
"Dad's in a hole for eternity, you ass wipe and Mom's in a coma and probably isn't going to wake up any time soon. You get to deal directly with me and or my lawyer until Mom's home and on her feet, or me when I turn eighteen.", Ron pointed out having enough of the 'Marine' hero to last four or five lifetimes.
"That's not how the rule reads…you are shit outta luck punk. If you don't get out of here you are going to have latrine duty.", Steve Barkin slapped his hands down on his desk to try and intimidate the teen.
"Not likely, I guess I'm out the door till after I speak with my attorney. You can have someone pick up my assignments and deliver them to me.", Ron rose to his feet and turned towards the door.
Steve Barkin warned, thinking that he could intimidate the teen, "And you'll be even further behind then you'll fail for sure. You won't be able to follow your 'girlfriend' around anymore." The school administrator finger quoted.
Ron sneered, "Kim Possible will be on the other side of the Atlantic next fall from what I hear. Soooo, I figure world saving gig will be on hiatus for a while. She won't need me, I think she'll end up partnering with some alphabet agency and make a career of it."
Barkin stared at the teen not wanting Ron to cause more trouble with the school board, "And you?"
"Gonna do my dream job of lawn maintenance and snow removal. Maybe I'm move to Israel and settle down, after putting up with your bullshit for four years it ought to be a cakewalk. Anyway, expect a call from my lawyer and a court date." The teen got up from his chair and turned to leave.
In a fit of anger, Barkin grabbed Ron by the shoulder from behind. The teen slipped out of the hold by going under the football coach's arm and slammed Barkin's head into the doorjamb.
XX
The secretary muttered to her friend at a neighboring desk, "Sounds like Stevie is getting a little rough with that student, do you think we should check to make sure that Jarhead doesn't get carried away?"
"Hell no, Barkin doesn't like that kid and I want to keep my job as long as Mrs. Magrath isn't here to hear it, I am not going to say anything. I'm good and so should you.", Beth Andrews cautioned her coworker.
XX
"Don't you ever touch me again, Mister Barkin. I have friends that would cut your head off as soon as look at you.", Ron hissed in the vice principal's ear as he kept the pressure on the vice principal's head grinding it into the doorjamb. "As I was saying, I will have one of my friends pick up my assignments, I am going to see my lawyer."
The teen then tossed the much larger man off to the side, opened the door and walked out.
Ron pushed the door to the hallway open and bumped into very pretty platinum blonde.
The former running back wasn't paying attention and said, "Excuse me…oh hi Tara…"
The cheerleader responded touching his shoulder, "How are you feeling, Ron?"
"Trying to work through everything, I'll see ya tomorrow, I gotta get a hold of my lawyer…"
"Is there anything I can help you with?", she inquired.
"Not really, but I thought it was required that we are supposed to get thirty minutes for lunch…"
"We are Ron.", Tara stated, "Why?"
Ron pulled out his class schedule handed it to her and explained, "No lunch and they have me in classes that I haven't taken the prerequisites for. That physics class is supposed to be an Honors course and the math class is calculus…I have no idea what I'm doing in them."
"Ron if you didn't have the prerequisites, you are not qualified to be in those classes."
"Yeah, but for now I really need my lunch period…basically Barkin told me tough, so I'm going to check with the lawyer…"
Steve Barkin busted out through the door, "STOPPABLE!"
Tara whipped out her cell phone and dialed her Mom's. While it was ringing, she sweetly smiled, "Hi Mister Barkin."
"Miss King, ah what are you doing here? Homeroom is about to start."
"Dropping off some paperwork for Mom…It's school board stuff, just calling her to let her know that I didn't forget."
"Uh carry on, I have to go to homeroom. Stoppable you are going to be late…"
"I told you I am going to see my lawyer. I should be back tomorrow."
Barkin stomped off. The former running back muttered, "Tara you shouldn't hang around me, Barkin's gonna be pissed…we had an altercation."
"Did he lay his hands on you?", she asked.
"Yeah, but I got out of it, he's not as tough as some of the Henchmen® Kim and me have to face once in a while."
"Okay, but be careful driving…"
"Yeah…"
"Did you see your Mom this morning?"
"Yeah, Hanna's at the hospital daycare, so I'll see Mom again before I take Hanna home."
"A lot of people wouldn't spend all their extra time…"
"Tara, I have to take care of things. After I put Hanna to bed tonight, I have homework and housework. It's a hell of a way to grow up."
"Ron, that's just not right. I can come over and help out.", Tara offered.
"No, you need to have some fun. I figure you and Josh have something going on and I am not going to impose. My religion says I'm an adult, I just need some time to work things out.", Ron assured the blonde cheerleader.
"Ron, we're your friends and we like you and we don't want to see you getting down."
"I promise that I'm doing fine. Once Mom is on her feet and able to function, I'll go into a corner for a weekend and fall apart. Right now, I don't have that luxury. Listen, I have to contact that lawyer and you have to get to class. I'll contact you later. Thanks for diverting Barkin's attention, he wants to tear my head off and I have to keep it where it is 'cause I have to look after Sis.", the blond former running back turned to the outside doors.
XXX
Three hours later:
"Mister Stoppable, Mister Rhodes will see you now.", the secretary, Mary Swittle, told the blond teen who had been sitting patiently in the lawyer's office for the last forty minutes.
They both rose and walked to the door of the lawyer's office. Mary opened the door, Alan Rhodes rose and offered his hand, "My condolences on the passing of your Father, Ron. I have heard he was a good man."
"Yeah he was.", Ron responded.
"Please sit Ronald…"
"Please call me Ron."
"Sure Ron, did you need anything with your father's will?"
"I'm not thinking about that right now, I'm having some trouble at school."
The lawyer raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you be speaking with someone at your school?"
"Yeah, maybe I should, but they won't let me speak with my guidance counselor. Only the vice principal is working with me and he's…a roadblock."
"What do you mean, roadblock?"
"Well when I returned from Japan, I found my class schedule completely changed…I have classes now where I haven't had the prerequisites…I haven't had trig and they have me in a calculus class and the science class is an honors one.", Ron explained.
Rhodes frowned, "Do you have a copy of your schedule that I can copy? You see, I find this hard to believe."
The teen reached into his pocket, pulled it out and handed it over.
The lawyer then took a sheet of plain white paper, set the school paper on the scanner, placed the sheet on top of it then pushed the Scan button. Moments later Rhodes handed the class schedule back to Ron with three copies. He then suggested, "Keep the original one at home and take one of the others to school with you."
Then he read quickly and said, "I notice that you do not have lunch. It is the law that a pupil must be given time to eat at school. Either this is an oversight or it's against state law and must be corrected."
"Yeah that's one thing I noticed and mentioned to Mister Barkin."
"You don't have study halls either. By the time you are a senior you should have at least one and if you are correct about these classes it is possible you could end up failing one or both of them. This should be an easy fix and I'll call the school principal to see what we can do here. It must be a computer glitch."
"You see Mister Rhodes, Mister Barkin is, well…hard core…at least to me as you know. Although, I have seen the same behavior with others, I'm going to share a recording of him and I this morning."
The lawyer motioned for Ron to continue and the teen pushed the Connect button on his unit and said into it, "Wade, as you know I am in my lawyer's office, could you play that recording you made this morning before school?"
A voice came through the unit, "Coming up in five seconds, Ron."
As the noise came through the Kimmunicator Alan Rhodes cocked his head and paid attention. When it was over Rhodes commented, "Pretty damning in my opinion Ron, although you did egg him on. Just so you know both parties do not have to know they are being recorded."
"I understand that Sir, but I would like to leave the recording out of any dealings with the school, I don't want them to know about my capabilities."
"Understood, just who is your guidance counselor Ron?"
"Mister Hines."
"And your principal?"
"Mrs. Magrath."
"I will call them right away to straighten this out Ron, I would say that you should be back to a more normal class schedule tomorrow."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Where are you going now?"
"Over to the cemetery then to the hospital to sit with my Mom. Then I have to give the insurance company a copy of Dad's death certificate…Shit.", Ron leaned back in his chair as he turned very pale.
"Are you alright Ron?"
Sigh "Yeah, give me a second. I felt the walls closing in, you know."
"I understand. You just sit here, I'll make those calls right now."
X
Twenty minutes later:
"Well Ron this is the best I can do; you have a lunch period and a study hall now. Since all the classes are full and you didn't make it back to school sooner you have to take the calculus and the science class. The classes are locked. I have been able to get tutors for you however.", Alan told Ron as he ticked off what the new schedule was going to be and it was going to be a grind.
"I guess I'll have to live with it. If I fail, I fail."
"Unfortunately, true, although Doctor Load may be able to assist you in learning since he has a Doctor's degree."
"I also have other friends."
"How are things at home…with your Father…I…I am deeply sorry."
"Trying to get organized, I'm lucky to have the friends I have."
"Oh?", the attorney inquired.
"Yeah, they drop by and watch Hanna when I leave to go see Mom on the hospital. The insurance agent is really cool, he and Dad went to college and is taking care of a lot of things that I just haven't thought of that would bite me in the ass if I didn't take care of them.", Ron revealed.
"As you said, he is a friend of the family and no doubt has been through this before."
"Yeah, but can I get some sort of emergency power of attorney? Mom can't sign anything and I need to put the life insurance money in an account where I can pay for the funeral and pay utilities and insurance and stuff and buy groceries and get gas. I really don't have enough in my account to take care of all that.", Ron asked.
"I can do that fairly quickly Ron, I'll have my secretary type one up. Once moment.", Rhodes told Ron as he pushed the button on his intercom and spoke into it.
Ron thought for a moment, "You know I don't know if it's legal, but the vice principal at my school threatened me with cleaning the restrooms if I didn't obey him…."
"He did what?"
"Yeah…"
"Does Mister Barkin normally threaten students as a matter of performing his duties as vice principal, Ron? I have heard rumors….but being a member of the school board most do not speak with me."
"Well he has for me, I've been on latrine detail before when I was a sophomore. He also did the same thing to the other lowlifes at Middleton High.", Ron enlightened Rhodes.
Alan rubbed his hands through his hair as he contemplated putting his child in a religious school instead of dealing with the hogwash he was learning about.
"Okay this is going to be brought up with your tormentor when the school board finally gets him there, but can this Wade make me a copy of that recording? This Mister Barkin looks like he has violated several state laws and maybe some federal ones to go along with it…I am going to have to look at this both as your attorney and as a member of the school board."
"I understand, but sometime this spring the school board has him coming before them to look into some irregularities. They mentioned that I might be called as a witness.", Ron informed the older man.
"Oh? I think I'll be there as your mouthpiece, if, of course, you do not mind."
"Yes sir, I don't mind."
"Good, that gives me and my staff the time to look over the laws and the policies of the Middleton School District in exacting detail then. We are scheduling Mister Barkin later in the spring."
XXX
Middleton High:
Tara and Josh were sitting at their normal table in the cafeteria with Dave and Liz and Justine and Big Mike. Kim leaned into Eric, "I want to sit with Tara today. You don't mind, do you honey?"
The 'English' teen scanned around and not seeing a mop of messy yellow hair he said, "I would love to Kimberly."
"And Mister Barkin…", Tara stopped speaking as Kim and Eric stopped at the table.
"Can we join you, T", the red head asked.
"Yeah, put your books down.", the blonde replied as Liz and Dave moved over.
"We'll save this discussion till later.", Dave Alberts told everyone at the table after Kim and Eric left to go through the line.
Josh asked the athlete, "Why is that?"
"Ron doesn't like Eric…so we don't tell him anything about Ron."
Justine frowned, "That's only because Possible is dating that clown now instead of Stoppable."
"Yeah maybe, but Ron doesn't trust him and he doesn't want Kim to know much about what's going on because he's afraid that Kim will tell Eric…" Dave paused and looked around the table, "This isn't about Kim anymore, it's about Ron's kid sister. He doesn't want that English clown anywhere around her. And anyway, Ron's been distancing himself from Possible."
Liz responded, "I don't think Eric is that bad, but I understand Ron's point of view."
Kim and Eric were returning with their trays as Kim asked, "Anyone see Ron today? He was supposed to be back in school."
Tara swallowed the bite she had in her mouth, "Yeah, I saw him before Homeroom. He was in the office."
Eric chuckled, "Did he forget the combination to his locker?"
Tara frowned, "Ron's schedule had been changed and he wanted to straighten it out."
Kim stared down at her food, "I heard he said some changes were made and they transferred him out of the ones we shared because of my allergies to him, what's the problem?"
The blonde stared at the red head, "He had no lunch assigned, he had no study hall assigned and he was put in Calculus and an advanced science class. He was more than a little aggravated…"
"Ron knew about the math and the science class, I've been helping him with the math end and I heard Felix is helping with the science one.", Justine informed them.
Dave smiled, "It's good Ron is getting help with some of his classes…"
Kim set down her fork, "I used to help him with all of his Math. What the heck did he do…suddenly get smart?"
Justine smiled thinly, "No, he's having more trouble than he should Possible. He's not getting it and even if he could think his way through the process. I don't think he'd have time to get through a test…he won't have the time."
Dave asked, "Has Ron had trig yet?"
Justine informed them all, "No."
Kim's eyes narrowed, "Then he shouldn't be in that class."
"I agree Possible, there is no way that Stoppable should be my class, but for now he is there."
"So, where is he…you said he doesn't get a lunch now…"
Tara lowered her voice, "Ron went to see a lawyer. Lunch periods are state law and the school has violated the law. Ron wants it fixed ASAP."
"Suing the school? Isn't that a bit of a reach?", asked Kim.
"When you are considering that there is a real chance of Stoppable flunking out…Yeah.", Justine countered.
Eric chuckled, "Then he would have to come back. Graduation is compulsory."
"Actually,", Tara pointed her delicate little index finger at someone she was beginning to dislike, "Ron doesn't have to come back if he fails, he can take the GED test instead."
"Wouldn't that affect Ron getting into college?", Kim inquired.
"Yeah, but he did say he didn't plan on going to some elite university. I know he mentioned going to junior college for at least a couple of years. Although he did mention going part time so he could pay for the whole thing as he went.", Justine either informed…or reminded Kim. The genius didn't know, nor did she care.
Kim shook her head, "I think Ron mentioned something about that, but I don't remember."
Justine smirked, "If Stoppable fails I can guarantee you that his math and science skills will be enough to pass his GED. There are a few of us are getting his assignments for today and will make sure he gets them finished tonight so there is no grade lowering from the teachers."
XX
Abby King stood in front of Steve Barkin's desk tapping her foot while Alice Magrath stood in the corner watching what could be determined as a Class A ass chewing. Mrs. King told him, "I don't care who started what, you allowed the situation to get out of hand, Mister Barkin. Mister Stoppable has been under undue stress and you aggravated the situation and threatening corporal punishment if he didn't immediately obey you…"
"But Miss Possible has allergies to Stoppable, these were the only classes I could get him into…"
"The only?", Abby's eyes narrowed, "That student does not have the prerequisites to be in two classes without the prerequisite classes unless he is a genius. Both classes are college level aimed at exceptional students. IF he fails there are going to be questions from more than once source, a great many questions about how we assign students. YOU had better hope to hell he passes AND graduates on time because of this stunt…And if the unions get a hold of your having Mister Stoppable perform cleaning duties that he hasn't be properly trained for and for not being a member of their union…You do not understand how much trouble you have caused with your rant. Mrs. Magrath, a word with you in your office please." The school board member motioned as she stormed out of the vice-principal's office.
The middle-aged woman followed out one of the people on the board who really cared about students. And on the way out of Barkin's office she turned and pointed with her right eye twitching. They both walked into the principal's office and Abby shut the door. She sat down in a chair and asked lowly, "What the hell is going on around here?" Then held out her hand for the glass that was filling already.
"Steve Barkin is our problem child in management as you know Abby. He has been here longer than I have and he has some scam going on that I can't find out much about. People in the know are pretty tightlipped around me.", Alice picked up her glass and raised it to her lips.
"I am aware that the vice-principal here is troublesome, but threatening janitorial duties as punishment as well as putting Mister Stoppable in classes he is not ready to take in this point in his academic career does not shine a good light upon us Alice."
"I agree, I have spoken with Mister Barkin and he just doesn't seem to get that this isn't the Marine Corps. These are children…"
"I want you to know there are members of the board who are not happy with Barkin. We feel that if we keep him around that we will be liable if someone gets hurt.", Abby told her.
XXX
Middleton Memorial Hospital:
"Hey Mom, it's me Ron.", the blond teen announced himself as he sat down next to her bed.
He didn't get a response, but that didn't stop the former running back, "I know that it's bad news, but I think holding it in and not share it with you probably hurts more. Anyway, sigh, Dad…sob, Dad passed away on the operating table. We had to bury him, I know that you can't say goodbye to Dad and that's really hard, but I think he's in a better place. There were tons of people at the funeral. I didn't know Dad had that many people who knew him. Rabbi Katz did a wonderful job of officiating the service. Don't worry about me, I have my friends who are helping out with Sis"
Still there was silence. "Mom, Dad's buddy the insurance guy is going to issue me a check to keep everything going since I don't have enough funds in my account to do all that and pay for Dad's funeral. I, the lawyer who helped me with Smarty Mart, wrote out an emergency power of attorney since you haven't woken up yet."
XXX
Middleton High:
The cheerleader captain was loading books into her pack as the computer inside the locker booted up. "Hey Kim, how was your day?"
"It was fine, do you have any missions for us?"
"Not today, it's been pretty quiet."
Sigh, "Good, I'm heading to cheer practice and then get a bite to eat with Eric. Do you know where Ron is?"
Wade glanced up at his screen, "He's at the hospital sitting with his Mom."
"Oh, he left school early today from what Tara said…"
"Yeah he went to the cemetery, his insurance agent, lawyer and now the hospital.", Wade informed Kim.
"Ron spends a lot of time at the hospital?"
"Yeah, he does. I think he's feeling a little guilty…"
"Why would Ron feel guilty, Wade?"
"They got in an accident while they were going to pick him up from the airport. Ron now thinks that he should've walked…well he did. He's castigating himself for even accepting them ever trying to get him. He feels he should have insisted that he walk."
"Wade, the weather that night was horrible…"
"The weather didn't stop Ron from walking across Colorado, Kim."
"Wade, I know that was my fault..."
"Kim you were forced out, I should have kept an eye on the situation. If you take the blame, I should take more than you."
"But I was responsible…"
"More than I was, Kim? I am tech support, I look out for my team members, that's in my job description. I screwed up, but you know what?"
A now red eyed Kim Possible asked, "What?"
"Ron doesn't hold it against us. The only thing he wished was different was having a Kimmunicator which would have allowed me to get in contact with him and maybe guide him to a place where he could have sheltered. He might have missed that game, but he would have been safe."
"I couldn't just take Ron's old unit away from Eric…"
"I know you couldn't Kim…Oh by the way. That unit hasn't been active, although I sent commands to it to curtail some of the functions that Eric shouldn't have a use for and they are my property. Have him power it up so the updates can be downloaded into his unit."
"Okay Wade, I'll have Eric do that. Is there anything else?"
"Not from my end Kim, if something comes up, I'll notify you and Ron…"
"How can you do that Wade? Ron's taking care of his sister."
"I can either get Hanna into the hospital daycare or the GJ one. And since a mission would probably come from GJ, I think they can supply day care duty. I'll talk to you later."
XXX
The Stoppable home:
The blond teen had bags under his eyes as he carried his sister in her car seat into the family room to the sofa.
"Let me get you out of your seat so you can run around for a while.", the older brother told the child.
Just as he set her down on the floor the doorbell rang. Putting off taking everything out of the diaper bag, Ron went to the door to see who it was.
"Doctor Director?", Ron asked (although she wasn't in uniform and wasn't wearing her eye patch), "Please come in, I'm working on getting Han's dinner and washing her bottles. So, I have to multi-process. Sorry about that."
"Of course, Ronald. I understand.", Betty Director responded.
After the teen emptied the bottles and put them in the dishwasher, he got out several jars of baby food. Ron then snarked, "This is the messy part. Hanna are you hungry?"
X
"She is a very well-behaved child Ronald…"
"Yeah, after Mom and Dad went in the hospital, she like changed all at once, like she knew I didn't have a lot of extra time…Weird."
"I am sorry about your Father…"
"Thanks, a lot of people showed up for his funeral. I noticed some of your people around. What were you doing, providing security?"
"I can neither confirm or deny that Ronald, but the thoughts of my agency are with you. How are you handling things? I know they are not easy."
"Trying to get my shit all in one sock, Ma'am. It's tougher than I thought being an adult and trying to go to school and taking care of my sister.", Ron informed her as he picked up Hanna and sniffed, then set her down in her highchair.
He gave her some cereal to munch on then went about heating up her food while he finished with the dishwasher and started it.
XXXXX
The shit all in one sock comes from my Air Force lifer brother-in-law, basically it means having your act together.
"Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Hanna, Tara, Josh and all the other 'canon' characters of the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation and not me nor CajunBear73. This little hobby has been going on for years and it looks like I have enough material for a few more years of writing.
We'll see ya down the road,
ST-103