Broken Toys

Chapter 41

"Want me to bring you something from the cafeteria?"

"No thanks, you go ahead. I'll get something after class." Casey managed a smile and waved Yogurt on. The younger boy hesitated for a moment, then gathered up his books and headed off to breakfast.

Casey waited until the door closed before dropping back onto the pillow. Ow. He felt like he'd been run over by a truck. A big truck. His head was stuffy and throbbing in time with the bruise on his face. His back hurt and so did his wrist where he'd caught it against something in Snuffy's closet. Oddly enough, the only thing that didn't hurt at the moment was his broken leg.

Casey hadn't slept very well last night, knowing as soon as he'd laid down on the unfamiliar bed that he'd made a mistake; he should have stayed with Zeke. At least then they could have held each other for a while. No, he reminded himself, it had been necessary. They needed a little time apart after that terrible fight, needed time to work things out without sex getting in the way.

He rolled onto his side and winced, reaching out for his watch. He'd better get moving if he was going to make it to class on time.

*****

"Case," Zeke greeted him mildly as they waited for class to start. The taller boy was slouched in his seat, book open and pen tapping idly against the page. His lip was still swollen and there was some discoloration along the left side of his jaw and on the knuckles of his right hand.

"Zeke," Casey replied stiffly, trying not to move his head too much.

"Did the dean catch up with you yet?"

"Yeah. Doesn't take news long to travel in this place. Punishment at 11. Wonder if we'll get the rack?"

"Probably worse." Zeke managed a faint grin, reaching out and dropping a candy on Casey's desk. "Have some breakfast."

"Thanks," Casey said gratefully, unwrapping the lemon drop and popping it in his mouth. Maybe it would soothe his sore throat.

"Seen Billy today?"

"Not yet. I figure he'll be there for the beheading, though."

"Yeah." Zeke and Casey shared a look. For the first time ever, they weren't in a hurry for Sorens' class to end.

*****

Why didn't I take an aspirin when I had the chance? Dean Parker wondered, regarding the sullen group of boys filling up his office. He'd decided to interview them all together rather than separately, hoping that hearing other perspectives might give them all a better understanding of what was at the root of all the discord.

The significance of the seating arrangements wasn't lost on him, nor were the looks exchanged between some of the boys. Casey and Zeke were next to each other, as expected, but Billy had taken the seat farthest away from that pair, and Hank sat beside him. Snuffy was in the middle with Ricardo and Yogurt, the three of them looking very unhappy.

He'd listened to each person's description of the fight and then prodded for information on the incident between Casey and Hank outside the cafeteria. It was clear that it had been one cause of the fight, but he suspected there were many other factors, some of which the boys probably weren't even aware of. The question was, what was the proper punishment? This wasn't the usual breaking the rules or challenging authority; there was much more at stake here.

Standing, the dean looked hard at each boy before dismissing Snuffy, Ricardo and Yogurt. Once they were gone and the door was closed, he turned his attention to Casey. This would be the hardest punishment of the four. Casey hadn't been responsible for either incident, but the dean didn't think letting him off without punishment would do anything to help this situation.

"Mr. Conner, while I am aware that you did not start either incident, I still find it necessary to respond to your recent behavior. As such, I am revoking your darkroom privileges for a period of one week. At that time we will meet again to decide if an extension is necessary." The dean steeled himself against the devastation on the teen's face and held out his hand. "The keys, Mr. Conner."

Jaw set, Casey slowly extracted the keys from his pocket and surrendered them to the dean's outstretched hand. As soon as they were gone, Casey seemed to deflate. He slumped back in the chair and looked down at the floor.

"Mr. Tepper, I believe you are familiar with your punishment."

Billy nodded. "Pots and pans."

"Correct. For the next month, Mr. Tepper. Every meal."

He looked from Hank to Zeke and back. "You gentlemen will spend the next month assisting in the laundry. You will report there at 6am every day, and return after class, remaining until the work is complete."

The dean surveyed the range of emotions on display; Casey's hurt, Zeke's mixture of protest and acceptance, Billy's resignation and Hank's anger. Now for the rest of it.

"In addition, gentlemen. You are confined to campus for the next two weeks, including weekends. For those of you with appointments, I will be escorting you for the duration of this punishment. Is that clear?"

Four heads nodded unhappily.

"Allow me to remind you gentlemen that graduation is less than two months away. Another incident like this and you may find yourself spending another year here at Regis. Do I make myself clear?"

The group nodded.

"Dismissed."

When the door closed and the dean was alone, he looked down at the keys in his hand and sighed. He really did need an aspirin.

Return to Broken Toys