The Principal’s Office

“How did it feel?  Are you proud of yourself?  Feel good about yourself?  Do you want to try that again?”  I was sitting outside the principal’s office, trying not to get sick, I didn’t know who exactly who he was talking to, but I had a pretty good idea of who it was. 

Bruce was my neighbor and had a side hustle of getting into trouble.  He was smart, likeable, friendly and everyone in school knew who he was.  And everyone in school egged him on.  I wondered what he had done this time for Dr. Shelton to be in such a rage.  I had never heard him be quite this loud as he usually took Bruce quietly into his office and asked about his home life and how his family was doing. 

Bruce didn’t have an easy life, but he did the best he could with what he had.  But the more I listened to Dr. Shelton’s rumblings, the more I wondered if he was talking to Bruce.  Bruce’s pranks were usually harmless jokes with no risk of anybody getting hurt, but Dr. Shelton’s raised voice kept mentioning injuries.  Multiple injuries. 

The longer it went on, the more uncomfortable I became.  As I finally stood up to leave, Dr. Shelton’s door opened and I froze.  Bruce wasn’t even in the room and Dr. Shelton was being led out in handcuffs.  The police were carrying a tape recorded full of his indiscretions.