February began-

The next month was a great month. Therese enjoyed going to school and walked with a hint of confidence she had never shown before. Therese raised her hand in her classes and volunteered to answer questions. She went shopping with Erin and bought new clothes. Heads turned, even though she still walked carefully and deliberately through the halls. A few girls started asking her where she bought her clothes and went shopping there themselves.

Therese walked tall. She volunteered to answer questions, and she hesitated less when she walked to the front of the room. Kara, one of the trio of girls who had made fun of her, stopped her in the hall. Kara was glamorous to Therese. For years, Therese had always struggled to try and be like her. Therese would always stop to talk to Kara if she asked. Therese wished they were best friends again.

“Hey look, I’m sorry.” said Kara. Kara, too, had always known Therese. They had known each other since elementary school, but had not talked to Therese since her last hospitalization and large absence from school, it had terrified Kara, who didn’t understand how much more it had terrified her friend who was suffering alone.

When Therese waved to Kara from Special Education classes, Kara pretended not to see her. When Therese returned to the main classes, Kara did her best to avoid her. Kara hated herself more and more every day. She liked her popularity, and she hated herself for it. She had a great void that never filled up, a black hole in her heart.

“Sorry for what?” asked Therese, meaning for which offense, feeling she had earned that right. Therese held her head up and looked forward. Kara took a half step backward and struggled to keep her own head up. Kara’s chest hurt as she looked into Therese’s eyes and saw both the pain she failed to help her with and the pain Kara herself had caused.

“Everything?” said Kara, turning her head to break eye contact.

“Everything might as well be a place.” said Therese. Therese would not consider it an apology unless Kara specified the offense. She felt she had earned the right to be stubborn on this.

“I just have a good thing going right now, the parties, the boys, I didn’t mean it.” Kara said. It was a cheap out, she knew and she knew Therese saw right through it.

“I suppose it’s easy and fun.” replied Therese.

“High school is just so hard; everyone is always judging me. It’s a constant struggle, you know.” said Kara as she hated herself for her response.

“If I am going to be damned, I want to be damned for who I really am. It is better than being damned for pretending to be someone else.” said Therese, then slung her bag, and walked away. Therese was careful, deliberate, and defiant as she walked away.

“Hey Kara, who was that girl? You know her? She’s hot.” Several boys asked. Kara put on her sunglasses to hide her eyes, shouldered her bag, and walked recklessly away. The boys kept looking at Therese and paid no attention to Kara walking away.

Therese went to her American History class. She hated the teacher. Unlike Mr. Shank, Mrs. Smith seemed to always treat Therese as if she was less capable. Therese had confronted the teacher one day earlier in the semester and flat-out asked her what the problem was, and the teacher mentioned the term “special needs.” to Therese, who replied to her that her only special need was to be given a chance, when that argument proved another challenge, the teacher called Therese defiant, and disruptive which led to yet another trip to the counselors. Since that day an open quasi-war existed between the teacher and Therese.

This day Therese’s sense of confidence and dislike of Mrs. Smith collided in a brilliant display for all to witness. The principal later put it in the referral investigation, Therese created verbal fireworks that were loud and disruptive, further disrupting the educational processes of the school.

“How did the Dred Scott decision affect the ownership of slaves in America?” Mrs. Smith asked. No hands went up, except Therese. Mrs. Smith intentionally kept her back turned as to avoid Therese. Finally, a hand raised. “Yes, Elijah?” Mrs. Smith asked.

“Therese has her hand up, I thought you might not see it.” said the young man sitting next to Therese. Elijah had little tolerance for any injustice and was also bored, and boredom is always the perpetual enemy of young men as much as injustice is of good men. Elijah was both a good young man and bored, although he started thinking about riding in a tank.

Mrs. Smith pretended to act surprised like she did not see Therese. She turned, Therese, would you care to comment?” The teacher's dislike of Therese was a poorly guarded secret.

“First off, the term owning slaves is incorrect. You cannot own a human being, you can oppress them, you can put them in shackles at the point of a gun. You can abuse them, you can torment them, but you cannot own a human being because they belong to God.” started Therese.

“That’s quite enough. Anyone else?” asked Mrs. Smith.

Therese stood at her desk. “I am not finished, and I am not silenced. By continuing to refer to people as being owned, as a result of being enslaved, you are using your position as an educator to continue to excuse the oppressor and degrade the oppressed.” said Therese.

“Sit down, or I am calling the principal, you can go back to building E.” said Mrs. Smith.

“Well apparently then, the Dred Scott is still in effect, because in the end, your morality is self-defined, and regardless of where I may be, you seek to define me by your own interpretation.” Therese said, slammed her book shut then sat down. Therese sighed, and waited for the principal, she knew she had gone too far.

Elijah turned and said to Therese, “I just want you to know that is the most awesome thing I ever heard. If I wasn’t literally going to boot camp just after graduation, winning your heart would become my life’s work.” Therese smiled, maybe if she wasn’t in love with Peter, she might encourage him. She liked Elijah, he had nice calves and danced on the tables in the cafeteria.

The Principal arrived and stood in the door. He pointed his finger at Therese and motioned for her to come. Elijah sat up to run his mouth. “Don’t, not this time, this is my fight. I need to go the distance.” said Therese, placing her books in her bags and leaving the classroom.

“Another disruption, really?” The principal scolded Therese, “Follow me.” The principal said, walking away from the classroom.

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“Your office is that way.” said Therese as she stopped and pointed.

“And the special education, building E, is this way. Follow me.” said the principal. Therese lost her defiance, and her heart sunk. “Call me Dred.” Therese muttered to herself as she carefully, and deliberately walked as best she could to keep up with the principal.

“You will wait in here, until we have a meeting after school.” The principal said, taking her into a room where the para professionals who helped teach and supervise the kids, were helping two more challenged students. The paras grimaced at the Principal as he left. Therese sat in a chair, and placed her head on the desk, and sobbed. Douglas, one of the paras who knew her best came and sat down next to Therese. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” yelled Therese.

“I will, but if you need me, I am here too.” said Douglas, giving her space. He knew the girl and respected when she needed space or when she needed to talk. He tucked his head as he saw Therese shake and sob, and went to help another student, he had seen Therese come so far and knew neither one of them was ready for her to quit. Therese struggled to text her parents and Erin. Douglas offered her is own cell phone charger when she yelled out about her battery dying. Therese took the charger and said, “Thank you, I don’t want you to get in trouble for helping me.”

“I will not be a silent friend.” said Douglas, as he plugged the charger into the wall. Douglas had no intention of being silent in speech, or in action.

Therese’s parents left work and arrived at the office and were directed to the far building where Therese was for a meeting. Therese’s father, Rodger told her mother “You go to our daughter and bring her here, I will deal with this.”

“Get me your principal now.” said Therese’s father. He was ready to raze the building, but Therese’s mother, Mary, had sworn Rodger to be calm.

“He’s in a meeting. Please have a seat sir.” said the secretary.

“Ma’am, have you ever known me to be disruptive, disrespectful or rude to you?” Rodger asked.

“No sir.” The secretary said,

“And I am not going to start now, but you will let me sign my daughter out.” said Rodger. The lady nodded, Therese’s father had always been polite, but an electricity radiated in him that did not need put to the test.

“Your daughter was disruptive and tried starting a riot.” The Principal said, coming out of his office.

“It was Mrs. Smith’s class wasn’t it, you know she antagonizes Therese.” Her father said. He was going from irritable to angry.

“Excuse me, if you will allow me, Therese has hired me as her attorney.” Came a voice from behind Rodger. Therese’s father turned and saw Vivo standing there, having added a tie to his Kookie Mart work shirt. “Hank Vivonoski, attorney.” Vivo said handing the principal an embossed business card and pulling out a recording device. “As Therese’s attorney, I will advise you that our conversation is being recorded and will be used against you in court.”

“What the hell is this shit?” A loud voice came right as Vivo finished, and the principal turned and saw Mr. Shank standing there, his face red in anger. “Beatrice is screwing with Therese again, isn’t she, you know she has it out for that kid, and damn-it, I’ve told you that before.” yelled Ed Shank.

“Shut up Ed.” The principal said. “This is Therese’s attorney, and her father.” the principal said as he shook realizing he told Ed Shank to shut up. Principal Weaver took a step away from Mr. Shank.

“Great to see you again.” said Rodger, shaking hands with Ed Shank, who greeted likewise, both men were happy to see each other. Rodger calmed some as he respected Mr. Shank.

“How about we have the meeting in my classroom. The last room you had a meeting about her in smells like piss.” said Ed Shank, staring the principal down.

“We agree.” said Vivo.

Therese and her mom came into the office. Therese saw her dad and hugged him, saying he loved him, and then did the same to Vivo. “I don’t really have much money Mr. Vivo,” said Therese.

“You know that one drink Erin makes with orange and chocolate in it? Next time you are at work, make me one of those.” Vivo told her.

“Are you serious? that’s all you want?” asked Therese. Her eyes betrayed her flat face in surprise at the generous offer.

“A muffin for Ben?, you know he really likes those.” said Vivo. Therese smiled as she thought about all the excuses Ben made to walk up to the muffin cases and grab one. The principal became impatient and restless. “Take a chill pill, there is still plenty of time for me to sue you so bad you have to take out a loan to buy penny gum.” said Vivo, in a childish taunt to express his opinion of the principal. Then the principal told the secretary to contact everyone and meet in Mr. Shank’s room.

Mr. Shank, of course, was there, as was the Principal, Douglas from the behavioral help department, Mrs. Smith, Vivo, Therese, and her parents. Mrs. Smith gave her variant of the story about Therese yelling at her, disrupting the class and refusing to sit down.

“Lying bitch.” said Therese. She had gathered herself and faced her oppressor. Therese’s parents were angry and nodded in agreement.

“As your lawyer, it is my advice that you refer to the lying bitch as your teacher.” said Vivo, loud enough to be heard.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” The principal asked Vivo.

The intercom buzzed in the room. “Principal Weaver.” the voice said. “We checked his credentials, Mr. Vivonoski is a real lawyer and the district office has advised you to appease him, they would like to own the school in the morning and that comes straight from Superintendent Chummers himself.” the voice ended.

“That’s who the hell I think I am.” said Vivo. “I also sell really good cookies at the Kookie Mart, you are all welcome to stop by.” The principal grimaced.

“Mr. Shank, your opinion please.” Vivo asked Mr. Shank. Therese finally became less defiant and let out a small smirk at Mr. Shank being asked for an “opinion”. She knew his love for her would cause him to betray his code of no opinions another time. Ed Shank shook his head at Therese as he saw that thought in her eyes. Mr. Shank would not fail their friendship.

“My observations are that Therese tries harder than any other student I have. My opinion is that she has never been given a fair chance by this principal or that charade of an educator there.” said Mr. Shank, pointing at Mrs. Smith.”

“Mr. Shank!” Mrs. Smith countered.

“Oh please, Therese is not the only student I have who takes your classes, she is just my favorite, and maybe you should learn from her.” stated Mr. Shank.

“And you sir?” Vivo asked Douglas.

“I have been there for years with Therese, she doesn’t need me anymore, if you, she ever does, I am here, but my other concern is Principal Weaver using our building as a punishment, instead of the center of helping people it is.” said Douglas.

“Our offer is this. This incident will be dismissed without any negative consequence or punishment. Mrs. Smith will issue an apology to Therese, in the future you will avoid taking Therese to anywhere but the school counselors office if she is accused of a disruption or other negative behavior, where she shall have immediate access to her lawyer.” Vivo stated.

The intercom buzzed again. “Principal Weaver, Superintend Chummers again asked me to call you and ask you to not cause the school to lose a lawsuit to Mr. Vivonoski, and suggests you offer your covered parking space to Therese.” the intercom buzzed and clicked.

“Who are you?” Principal Weaver asked Vivo. Principal Weaver had turned pale.

“I told you, I own the Kookie Mart, it is a little convenience store, we have the best cookies in town.” said Vivo.

“I don’t want his parking spot. I want to park by Peter when I get a car.” said Therese. Principal Weaver sat with a blank pale look on his forehead.

“As I was saying, the law specifically prohibits the type of discrimination you have shown my client. We may choose to continue this in court at our pleasure, so therefore we expect you shall remain in compliance, and in any case, I’ll be watching.” said Vivo.

“Thank you. The meeting is over.” Principal Weaver said, as he and Mrs. Smith left. Douglas stopped to give a high five to Therese and ran back to his work.

“How can we thank you, Mr. Vivo?” asked Therese’s mother.

“It’s already been taken care of, the price of my favorite coffee drink and a muffin.” said Vivo.

“Can I ask you one question about the Kookie Mart?” Mr. Shank asked Vivo.

“Sure.” said Vivo.

“How come you have such good cookies and yet terrible coffee?” asked Mr. Shank.

“It’s all marketing. The bad coffee makes the cookies taste better. If you want good coffee you go to the Cowfee Cup where Therese works. Everyone knows that.” said Vivo casually. Therese and her parents nodded in agreement.

“Well, at least that explains the morning coffee. (Mr. Shank smiled at Therese.) Thank you all, I hope we never have to meet like this again.” said Mr. Shank.

“We won’t have to.” said Vivo confidently.