Reese The Lawyer Chapter 1

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement of the construction site. Reese Wilkerson stood at the edge of the lot, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his oversized work pants. The air was thick with the scent of sawdust and the distant sound of hammering. He watched the other boys, their laughter ringing out as they exchanged crude jokes, their voices a harsh contrast to his silent brooding.

Reese had been thrust into this program against his will, a decision made by Miss Thompson, his guidance counsellor, who had long since given up on him. She had watched him squander every opportunity she had offered, and now, with a sense of finality, she had placed him among the troubled boys in a construction program. It was a place where they could be out of sight, out of mind—a dumping ground for those deemed unworthy of a traditional education.

As Reese surveyed the scene, he felt the weight of his circumstances pressing down on him. The other boys, with their crude humour and rough demeanour, were a reflection of the path he had been forced onto. Yet, unlike them, he harboured a secret—one that set him apart. Beneath the layers of baggy clothing, Reese concealed his true self, a truth he kept hidden from the world. He was transgender, a fact known only to him, and he guarded it fiercely, fearing the repercussions of revelation.

The foreman, a burly man with a grizzled beard and a voice like gravel, called out to Reese, snapping him from his reverie. "Wilkerson! Get over here and start chopping that wood. We aren't got all day!"

With a resigned sigh, Reese trudged over to the pile of logs, picking up the axe with a practiced motion. The task was monotonous, but it provided a semblance of escape, a way to lose himself in the rhythm of the work. As he swung the axe, the world around him faded into the background, leaving only the sound of wood splitting and the dull ache in his muscles.

Despite the harshness of his current reality, Reese found solace in the small moments of reprieve. In the evenings, when the sun dipped below the horizon and the site was bathed in twilight, he would retreat to the solitude of his thoughts. It was during these times that he allowed himself to dream of a future where he could be true to himself, where he could shed the facade that had become his Armor.

But such dreams felt distant, almost unattainable. For now, he was trapped in a cycle of survival, navigating a world that seemed determined to keep him in his place. Yet, even in the face of adversity, Reese held onto a flicker of hope, a stubborn belief that there was more waiting for him beyond the confines of this program.

As the day drew to a close, Reese leaned on the handle of the axe, wiping the sweat from his brow. The other boys were gathering their things, preparing to leave, their laughter echoing in the cooling air. Reese watched them, a mixture of envy and disdain swirling within him. They were free in a way he couldn't be, unburdened by the secrets he carried.

He turned his gaze to the horizon, where the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. In that moment, Reese made a silent vow to himself. He would endure this, he would find a way to rise above the expectations and limitations imposed upon him. He would carve out a future on his own terms, no matter how long it took.

The gymnasium buzzed with the low hum of student chatter, the anticipation of the assembly palpable in the air. Reese Wilkerson sat near the back, his eyes scanning the room with a mixture of boredom and wariness. He knew that the presence of the superintendent, a man with a notorious reputation for disliking both him and his mother, Lois, could only mean trouble.

As the assembly commenced, the superintendent took the stage, his demeanour exuding authority and disdain. His gaze swept over the students before settling on Reese, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Reese shifted uncomfortably in his seat, sensing that he was about to become the centre of unwanted attention.

"And now," the superintendent announced, his voice dripping with condescension, "we have the pleasure of addressing a matter of utmost importance concerning one of our students."

Reese's heart sank as the superintendent gestured towards him. Two out-of-shape, corrupt cops lumbered forward, their expressions a mixture of smugness and malice. Reese recognized them immediately—officers with a long history of animosity towards him. They relished any opportunity to humiliate him, and today seemed to be no exception.

"Mr. Wilkerson," the superintendent continued, "please come forward. We have reason to believe that you have been engaging in activities that require our immediate attention."

Reese stood reluctantly, feeling the weight of every eye in the room on him. As he approached the stage, Lois watched from the sidelines, her expression a blend of irritation and indifference. Reese felt a pang of betrayal, knowing that his mother had long since given up on him.

The cops wasted no time in rifling through Reese's backpack, their hands moving with the practiced ease of those who had done this many times before. As they pulled out various items, Reese's heart pounded in his chest. He knew what they would find, and he braced himself for the fallout.

The first item to emerge was a stack of legal paperwork—documents pertaining to cases he was working on. The cops sneered as they examined them, clearly unimpressed. Next came a photograph of Reese at his Yale graduation, standing among his much older peers. The image of a young Reese, beaming with pride, seemed out of place amidst the current chaos.

The superintendent's eyes narrowed as he inspected Reese's wallet, revealing his legal license and a check book. The calendar, filled with appointments to meet clients and legal contacts, only deepened the superintendent's scowl. But it was the briefcase, containing notes for Reese's first murder trial, that truly caught their attention.

Lois's eyes widened as she processed the array of items, her disbelief mingling with a flicker of something else—was it pride? The cops, however, were less impressed. They exchanged a glance, their disdain for Reese evident.

"You need a warrant, you crooks," Reese snapped, his voice steady despite the tension. He met their gaze with defiance, refusing to back down.

The superintendent's face flushed with anger, but Reese held his ground. He knew his rights, and he wasn't about to let them trample over him without a fight. The room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

As the assembly continued, Reese stood firm, his resolve unshaken. He had come too far to let them tear him down now. He would face whatever came next with the same determination that had brought him this far.

The tension in the gymnasium was palpable as the superintendent, his face flushed with indignation, announced his decision. "Given the circumstances, I see no other option but to suspend Mr. Wilkerson immediately."

Reese's heart skipped a beat, but before he could react, he found his voice, firm and unwavering. "Oh no, no, no, no, Superintendent. You will do no such thing. Not on my watch."

The room fell silent, all eyes on Reese as he turned to the cops, his gaze steely and unyielding. "Names and badge numbers, now. I know you're legally obligated to provide them upon request, and I want to see if you have a warrant. Oh, you don't?"

The cops hesitated, their expressions a mix of surprise and irritation. Reese's confidence was unsettling, and they exchanged uncertain glances.

Reese stormed up to the superintendent, holding up his legal license for all to see. "You see that? Well, you can clearly see—unless you want to play blind. I don't know what crap you're trying to pull here, Superintendent, but let's see. We have a Fourth Amendment violation, your officers are legally obligated to give their details, which they refused, and now you're trying to suspend me for what? Having a job? Having a legal license?"

The superintendent shifted uncomfortably, his authority challenged in front of the entire school. Reese's words were like a cold, hard slap, and the weight of the situation began to sink in.

"I have every right to practice law while studying, and you're really going to try to pick a fight with a lawyer? Someone who knows the law inside and out? I am a criminal defence lawyer. No, you will explain here and now why you are suspending me, or I will give a cease and desist."

The superintendent opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Reese's defiance had caught him off guard, and the realization that he had underestimated the young man was evident in his eyes.

Lois watched from the sidelines, her expression unreadable. For a moment, a flicker of something like pride crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with her usual stern demeanour.

The students watched in awe, whispers spreading like wildfire through the crowd. Reese had taken control of the situation, turning the tables on those who sought to belittle him.

The cops, realizing they were out of their depth, took a step back, their bravado deflated. Reese had exposed their lack of authority, and they were left with no choice but to comply.

The superintendent, his voice now tinged with resignation, finally spoke. "Mr. Wilkerson, it seems there has been a misunderstanding. Perhaps we can discuss this matter further in private."

Reese nodded, his victory clear. He had stood his ground, and in doing so, had earned the respect of those who had doubted him. The assembly, once a stage for his humiliation, had become a platform for his triumph.

As Reese turned to leave the stage, the students erupted into applause, their support a testament to his strength and resilience. For the first time in a long time, Reese felt a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose.

The gymnasium buzzed with tension as Reese stood his ground, his gaze unwavering as he faced the superintendent. "You will tell everyone here and now," Reese demanded, his voice firm and resonant. "Explain your reason for trying to suspend me. Tell them now, not in private. You lost any right to professional courtesy the minute you made this a public spectacle."

The superintendent shifted uncomfortably, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He glanced at the assembled students and faculty, their eyes fixed on him with anticipation. Reese's challenge had left him with little choice but to comply.

"Very well," the superintendent began, his voice strained. "The original reason for considering Mr. Wilkerson's suspension was due to concerns about his extracurricular activities potentially interfering with his academic performance."

Reese's eyes narrowed, his sarcasm cutting through the air like a knife. "An apology as well, after all, sir, you did just say this is a misunderstanding, didn't you?"

The superintendent hesitated, the words catching in his throat. But under the scrutiny of the crowd, he relented. "I apologize for any misunderstanding that may have occurred."

Reese's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Good. Was that so hard? Pull this kind of crap again, and you won't just face a cease and desist—you'll face a full-blown lawsuit. Are we clear, Superintendent? I sure hope we are."

The superintendent nodded, his authority diminished. "Mr. Wilkerson is not suspended," he declared, his voice lacking its previous conviction.

Reese turned to the audience, his glare unwavering. "Well, you found nothing illegal and violated my Fourth Amendment rights, so joke's on you, old man. Just remember to back off."

Lois, watching from the sidelines, reacted with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Her son had turned the tables, and while part of her felt a begrudging respect, her anger at the situation simmered beneath the surface.

Malcolm, seated among the students, felt a surge of conflicting emotions. His brother's unexpected defiance left him reeling, a meltdown brewing as he struggled to process the upheaval.

The atmosphere in the gymnasium was electric, the air charged with the fallout of Reese's confrontation. As the assembly concluded, Reese stood tall, his victory a testament to his resilience and determination.

The assembly had ended, but the echoes of the confrontation lingered in the air as students filed out of the gymnasium, their whispers a constant hum. Reese stood near the exit, his mind still racing from the adrenaline of his public stand-off with the superintendent. He felt a mix of triumph and apprehension, knowing that his actions had set off a chain of events he couldn't predict.

As he made his way towards the hallway, he spotted Lois approaching, her expression a storm of emotions. Reese braced himself, knowing that a confrontation was inevitable. Lois had always been a force of nature, and he could see the tension in her every step.

"Reese!" she called out, her voice sharp and commanding. "We need to talk. Now."

Reese stopped, turning to face her. "What is it, Mom?" he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Lois crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "What was that back there? Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have caused?"

Reese met her gaze, unflinching. "I was defending myself, Mom. They had no right to go through my things or try to suspend me without cause."

Lois's frustration bubbled over, her voice rising. "You think you're so smart, don't you? Just because you know a few legal terms doesn't mean you can go around challenging authority like that."

Reese's temper flared, his voice matching hers in intensity. "I know more than a few legal terms, Mom. I'm a lawyer, and I know my rights. I'm not going to let them push me around."

The hallway seemed to shrink around them, the tension crackling like electricity. Students passing by slowed their pace, sensing the charged atmosphere.

"You think this is a game, Reese?" Lois pressed, her voice laced with exasperation. "You can't just make enemies of everyone in authority and expect to get away with it."

Reese's eyes flashed with defiance. "I'm not trying to make enemies. I'm just not going to be a victim anymore. I've worked too hard to get where I am."

Lois's expression softened, a hint of something like regret flickering across her features. "I know you've worked hard, Reese. But you need to be careful. You're playing with fire, and I don't want to see you get burned."

The words hung between them, a fragile truce in the midst of their heated exchange. Reese took a deep breath, the fight slowly draining out of him.

"I know, Mom," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But I can't just stand by and let them walk all over me."

Lois nodded, her gaze softening. "Just... be careful, okay? You're my son, and despite everything, I don't want to see you get hurt."

Reese nodded, the tension between them easing, if only slightly. It wasn't a resolution, but it was a start.