2020-12-16 Words on Walls

 2020-12-16 Words on Walls

It was Wednesday morning and the school day for the 11-12 class group started with a double period of ELA. Mrs. Birch had assigned them to each write a poem in the style of their choosing and for the class to let her tack their poems to the long bulletin board wall she had in the classroom. To give the assignment a bit of intrigue she had told them not to put their names on their poems and that they would each be reviewing one classmate’s poem, without knowing who wrote it, interpreting their poem. She would then hand that review back to the student whose poem she knew it was. Sort of a peer marking system she was trying. 

Miranda could see her poem among the others but since it had turned out to be so personal, she was now pretty thankful they were anonymous. She clutched her notebook and a pen as she walked along the wall, milling with the other students and reading other people’s work, trying to guess who wrote what. Today she was wearing a long grey wool cardigan over a long sleeved purple shirt with a picture of a pink haired princess on it and the words What the Cabbage. She had on a pair of loose black jeans with rolled cuffs that met her black lace up boots. Her purple hair was really showing it’s brown roots and in a low ponytail. She normally would have re-dyed the purple or chosen another fun colour by now but she was actually going to be dying it back to her natural brown on Friday night before holiday break as promised for her father’s request and family pictures.

There was a haiku about tic tacs and Miranda read it and giggled. Tyler’s, because who else? Then she read an amazing free form poem about a woman in the forest following the flight of an eagle and finding her way to the spirit of a whale singing her a song about belonging to the earth, the sky and the sea. Miranda looked sideways at Sparrow Walsh wondering if it was hers, but not wanting to assume. Sparrow turned her head and looked at her back a bit sharply and Miranda pursed her lips and moved onto one that rhymed but didn’t quite rhyme on what seemed to be the topic of race cars? She frowned at it trying to figure out whether the author was making an attempt at humour or just really that bad. Fernanda stepped beside her and read the race car poem with a critical look and then began making fast notes and muttering “Doesn’t rhyme……” She got distracted from her query and Fernanda as Levar Hawkins-Domino stood in front of her poem and read it intensely and then swallowed and wiped at his face, trying to make it look casual as he wrote something down in his notebook. Well, now she knew who would be reviewing hers, or at least one of them. Miranda’s poem was called Safe Place to Land and it went like this:

Safe Place to Land

Your dad said you found your safe place to land, finally, in death, some peace.

But those you left behind...we’re still hovering

Looking for pieces of you in the world

Looking for a safe place to land.

Some days you’re everywhere until I remember you’re nowhere

Nowhere I can find anyway, nowhere I can see or hear

So I float above it, trying to stay in the memories of you

Looking for a safe place to land

I see our old street, racing to the play structure at the park

Before we knew the world could be so sad you’d have to leave

Hide and seek, you can’t find me….now I can’t find you

Looking for a safe place to land

Bumper cars, dinosaurs, laser tag….I can see all your birthdays as one day

Hovering above us, watching us grow up

Watching you push me away one day with no explanation

Looking for a safe place to land

I moved away. I don’t walk by your house anymore.

I wish I could tell you about this new island, beautiful and strange.

Welcoming and yet sometimes so fucking lonely

Because I’m still looking for a safe place to land.

Spencer Newcastle was bored 2 minutes into reading everyone else’s poetry. What a stupid assignment and way too much of a tour of people’s emo bullshit. He had half assed a poem about race cars to get the teacher off his back since he’d slacked on the last two essays for this class. They just happened to be on TV the other night so he made some shit up and rhymed it. Poetry was stupid but he knew he could rhyme. But while everyone was busy, and this was a double ELA, he casually slipped out of the room to his locker. Spencer wore a nice black leather jacket in the cold months and rarely took it off. Someone might steal it after all. He had on a loose fitting pair of black cargo pants today and a plain white hoodie with the designer logo Stronzo in red across it. He still had his fairly new sneakers as usual but he rotated between several pairs. His early morning prank time had been thwarted by too many sports teams and music groups showing up for extra curricular stuff before school so for this one he’d decided to put up some posters during a class when everyone was busy. He’d make it look like he was going to the bathroom but he had stashes of poster in key places and tape and a stapler in his roomy cargo pants pockets. This poster was his ultimate masterpiece, better than the notification about Gene, it also featured Gene….well his face anyhow and Miranda’s pasted over models from a porn site engaged in a graphic sexual scene with the male bending the woman over a school desk with books on it and his hand raised like he was spanking her with a  ruler in his hand. Both subjects were very tanned white people and neither skin tone from the pasted faces matched at all but it got the message across. And just to stick it to Miranda he’d put a blindfold on her face, like he’d gotten her to wear for him in their one encounter together. He’d added some words to the scene: Uppity Bitch was the jail bird’s wet dream. Now he spanks her when she can’t even see.  There was his poetry again. He grinned at it as he plastered the junior high and high school areas. He knew better than to hit the elementary halls with nudey pics. But he did get quite a few bathrooms before he ditched the empty tape roll in a garbage bin and left the stapler on top of a row of lockers. Hands free he casually slipped back into ELA like he’d been there the whole time. Everyone was still reading poetry at the wall so he took his notebook and pretended to write. He casually wrote about one he’d glanced at : I hate tic tacs. Your poem is lame Tyler. Because everyone knew the tic tac poem was Tyler Wheeler.

Gene carefully read every poem in the room, including his own, so it would not look like he knew it was his own.  He figured he did OK, but he also thought it was sort of dark.  Then again, so was he, so that made sense.  His read thusly;

Shadows

Born into light

First shadow

Abandonment

Parent for money

Second shadow

Black and blue

Earn your keep

Third shadow

Labor of love

Searching for freedom

Fourth shadow

Lines

Freedom

Shadows fading

Distant light

Gene read it and moved on.  He liked two in the class a lot.  One was called Lightning about love out of the clear blue sky.  He’d bet good money that was either Fernanda or Duncan.  They seemed the type to have that kind of love he’d only heard about.  The other was called Safe Place to Land and it resonated with him.  Reading it again, he thought back to the images he’d seen on Miranda Rogers computer when he’d repaired it.  Could it be hers?  He shook his head at it and moved on, rolling his eyes at himself.  The others didn’t resonate for him, or they were just plain old stupid, but he seemed to remember something about Tyler and TicTacs on his first day of school.  At last he retreated to a corner and wrote notes on one of the ones that resonated with him.  He choose the Lightning one, because if he was right about the other one, he didn’t want to judge Miranda’s writing .. or her anything else, for that matter.  So he wrote of it ‘Very nice poem.  Whoever you are, you’re really lucky’.

Romeo had been sent to the Admin office to deliver the daily attendance report for his homeroom.  He was late, because Mr Arnette hadn’t remembered until the first double period was over.  But finally, he sent Romeo and he went at a quick walk to deliver the report and return to the class.  En route, he rounded a corner and spotted Spencer Newcastle taping something to a locker.  As a matter of fact there were posters all over the hallway.  Pulling out his phone, Romeo snapped a couple of pictures of Spencer taping the fliers to lockers and waited.  Spencer soon returned to his class and Romeo walked forward to get a closer look at the flier Spencer was taping all over the place.  As he approached, he realized that the poster was of two people having sex on a desk, but as he cot closer and the picture became cleared, he realized that over the people in the hphoto were badly photoshopped faces.  Of his sister and Gene Sinclair.  Romeo reached out and snatched the poster just as the bell rang to dismiss the classes.  He did the only thing he could think to do and ran back to the admin office at a dead run, completely heedless of the school rule against running in the hallways.

Miranda was having a hard time deciding on a poem. She figured out which one was Duncan or Fernanda and smiled at it. They had something special. She wasn’t sure she ever would but it made her happy they found it. Then she was drawn to a simple but intense poem with minimal words and lots of shadow and light imagery. She wrote the title down and then stood there and read it again a few times. It called to all her own shadows but this person had different struggles. But the word abandonment settled into her and she started to write a review.

Shadows 

Few words but they’re powerful and moving. I can see the journey but not the details. The pain is visceral and I hope that distant light grows, warms and heals. Really good writing.

Miranda 

She put her name on her review and looked around. Her poem made Levar weepy. Maybe it was him? She wasn’t sure why she felt like it might be a guy. Levar looks cheerful now. She glanced at Cosmo. He wasn’t that deep. Then Spencer. No, the subtlety was too intelligent. Then she caught sight of Gene. Miranda shook her head around. Stop looking and hand in the damn review. She was telling herself not to care if it was Gene. The bell was about to ring. She grabbed her bag and found Winona “Let’s have another movie night. Keep me company while I dye my hair?” As it rang they moved out of the classroom to the hallway and then someone gasped as she walked out. There were people at the lockers and posters again. Miranda had a sudden pit in her stomach as she walked towards one as if she was in a trance. It was her face and Gene this time and she knew immediately who had done it before she even read the words. Spencer Newcastle. She ripped down the poster in front of her and held it tightly in her hand, shaking with rage and completely mortified.

Fernanda walked out of the room after hugging Duncan. She had read his poem but she didn’t want to give it away. Floating on a happy romantic cloud she drifted with him to the hallway but something wasn’t right. There were posters again and even from the back she could see Miranda was not ok. Then she saw what the poster was and sighed “What the hell....” 

Levar brushed past Fernanda and started ripping them down and trying to get those gawking to leave, but the damage was done “Go to your classes... move on people!”

Sparrow stopped dead in front of a poster and yelled “Sonofabitch!” And then looked worriedly for Gene. She could see Miranda was already reacting and for once she felt sorry for her. Why the both of them? Who did this?

Tyler was a little slow getting out of the room but stopped and stared in disbelief at what was happening.

Spencer hung back in the classroom but enjoyed the sounds of chaos beginning. Only two people might guess it was his work and neither of them was likely to challenge. And Miranda would have to revisit something she’d rather forget to prove it from her side. He’d been bullying her enough to know she would just have to take the hit. And since Gene defended her in the noodle place he could go for another ride too.

Mrs Birch pushed through the crowd at all the noise and commotion “What on earth is going...” A student handed her a poster and she looked like she was going to tip over from the shock “Who?!” She looks around at her students and then pulls out her phone and dials the school office. She had a duty to report.

Romeo burst into the administrator’s office, barely slowing down just because he had a door to open.  He was so upset, he didn’t even speak, he just ran into Mr VanBuren’s office.  Ms Fisher was also in there.  Romeo threw the poster on Mr VanBuren’s desk and looked at his phone long enough to access the photo he’d taken only minutes before.  But he didn’t speak.  He was panting too hard between his rage and his run.

Gene heard the bell and walked out of the room, that nice romantic Lightening poem still in his head.  Across the hall, he could see a locker with a poster on it.  Looking left and right, he saw many of them and his mind went straight to the last time he’d seen something like that.  His picture.  His record.  Moving across to it, he saw what it was and snatched it off the locker, reading the words.  Uppity Bitch was the jail bird’s wet dream. Now he spanks her when she can’t even see.  His eyes widen and he looks at the picture again, then reads the words again.  It clearly was not them.  And it was clearly mean-spirited.  For a second he thought who would get the idea to do this, and his mind went immediately to Spencer.  The anger management classes of prison left his head completely.  He turned and saw Spencer still in the classroom, across the room.  Poster crumbled in his hand, he pointed to Spencer.  “You’re dead!”  and he begins walking back to the classroom.  He’ll probably go back to prison, but right now, he isn’t worried about that.

Arthur VanBuren was talking to Vera about the upcoming Winter Festival.  The school’s music classes and singing classes were going to perform, and they wanted it to go smoothly, of course.  Suddenly his office door bursts open and Romeo Rogers storms in, throwing a poster on his desk followed by his phone and a picture of Spencer Newcastle taping what appears to be this very poster on a locker.  Looking at it, followed by the poster, he does something he rarely does in the Alexandra Academy building, never mind in front of a student.  He swears.  “What the fuck?”  He’d read the words and seen the picture and hands the poster off to Vera.  Without a word, he leaves Romeo panting on his desk and heads for the ELA classroom, half afraid that Spencer Newcastle will die before he can expel him.

Miranda was very much in her own bubble of fury but for some reason the sound of Gene’s voice yanked her into awareness. Spencer. Gene...Gene’s record. She heard him say you’re dead and believing he might be serious or at least serious about hurting him, just like she wanted to, she made a snap decision and ran after Gene, using her basketball dodging instincts to get around and in front of him “Wait...” She implored Gene looking him right in the eyes “Don’t...please don’t..” Without thinking too hard she pressed her hands flat into his chest like she was trying to hold back a raging bull.

Sparrow saw Gene finally and heard his words. She also saw a flurry of Miranda and followed after Gene, also pulling him back by the arms “Gene... listen to her. Don’t throw it all away for this asshole..”

Vera gasped at both pictures and stares at Arthur as he swears but then nods and follows at a quick pace “Thank you Romeo...you did the right thing.”

Spencer actually does look quite terrified of Gene as he threatens and advances but then starts to relax as Miranda and Sparrow step in. Still breathing hard though.

Romeo’s breathing hadn’t really improved, but he heard Ms Fisher’s words and he grabs his phone and runs after them.

Gene can see his quarry at the end of his tunnel of fury, but he hears voices calling to him.  Miranda …  and Sparrow.  What did they want?  He feels hands touching him at the same time.  Please don’t … Gene … listen to her … don’t throw it all away…  It’s almost like a plug has been pulled at the bottom of a sink.  His fury begins to drain.  Looking ahead, he sees Miranda blocking his view of Spencer.  Blocking his path to the asshole.  Then he looks at her.  “I’m so sorry, Randy…”  he speaks low, doesn’t realize what he called her and likely no one else will hear him.  Gene steps back, breaking the contact of Miranda’s hands on his chest.  He looks to the side and sees that Sparrow also has a hold on him.  In a more normal voice he looks at her  “OK …  OK …  I … I’m ..  I’m ok.”  he isn’t sure he isn’t lying, but he turns to face Sparrow … because he can’t face Miranda.  Not after that photo.  Did Spencer think …  what was this supposed to mean?

Arthur bolts up the stairs and through the crowd of students.  Some are staring at the poster … it looks like a hundred of them.  Others are looking towards the ELA classroom where he can see Gene with Sparrow Walsh holding onto his arm.  “Back to class!”  he orders as he approaches. 

Miranda somehow knew and trusted that Gene wouldn’t hurt her...or anyone that didn’t deserve it, but for some reason she knew she was safe to step in the path of his anger. But then she heard his vice speaking to her in a low voice, saying he’s sorry and calling her Randy and she gives a silent little gasp of surprise at what impact it has on her in the moment. “No….no I’m sorry…Gene..” She almost whispered back. But then he stepped back and turned to Sparrow and she felt like she blinked back to reality from a moment frozen in time. And behind her she heard Spencer’s voice in competition with Gene’s now answering Sparrow telling her he was ok.

“Best not to further tarnish that record Sinclair. You know he’s got one Miranda…” Spencer taunted. 

Miranda glances back at Spencer. She’s heard Mr. Van Buren now telling people to get back to class and she knows she’s in full view of the principal. But something begins to snap in her head and she answers Spencer “Yes I know he does…...but you know what Spencer?”

“What’s that?” Spencer asks haughtily.

Miranda’s hand closes into a fist and she uses momentum to both spin and lunge towards Spencer at the same time and with everything she’s got she hits him dead centre in his stupid fucking nose that he keeps shoving in everyone’s business with his posters on the walls. She hears a crack and Spencer screams.

“You bitch...you fucking bitch!” Spencer howls as blood pours from his nose.

Miranda towers over him as he slumps in pain “I don’t...have a record.” Her hand is in immediate agony but she doesn’t care.

Sparrow was holding onto Gene and nodding at him encouragingly when all of a sudden Miranda says something to Spencer and then punches him in the face. Sparrow just stares open mouthed and then can’t help but break into a half grin.

Vera catches up to Arthur and helps herd students away and then finally hears a smacking noise and then Spencer swears and looks into the classroom with wide eyes “Miranda?”

Arthur hears the words in the back of his mind.  Spencer is taunting Gene just as it looks like the young man is exercising incredible restraint. Then Miranda is in the classroom and he can hear a smack, but he isn’t sure what’s happening.

Romeo is behind the teachers and he finds Duncan in the hallway, not going back to class.  He opens his mouth to try and speak to him about what happened when he hears the taunt and sees Miranda going back in the classroom.  “Fuck…”  he heads intot he classroom.  He’s a lot smaller than Miranda, but he is her brother.  He grabs her by one arm to restrain her.

Duncan sees it all … the poster, Miranda’s reaction, Sparrow’s reaction, Gene’s reaction and how Miranda and Sparrow keep Gene from making a horrible mistake.  But then Romeo runs up to him and Miranda goes after Spencer.  Duncan is right behind Romeo, taking her other arm to drag her away from Spencer.

Gene heard Spencers taunt and turns his head in that direction to tall him to fuck off when, of all the people on Earth, Miranda goes in and punches him.  Gene knows the sound of a breaking nose all too well and he blinks as Miranda’s brothers rush in to get her away from Spencer.  His respect for Miranda Rogers goes up several high levels in that moment.

Arthur manages to get in the room, at least.  Spencer is bent over and bleeding and Miranda is being restrained by her brothers.  He moves around them and takes Spencer by the shoulder.  “Nurses office and then my office … or the hospital, whichever you need first.”  he intomes.  “You’re in a lot of trouble, young man.”

Spencer hears the principal and is in a world of pain but also furious. He moves with him but sputters out “I’m in trouble...look at my fucking face….call the fucking cops I’m charging the bitch with assault!”

Miranda does get dragged back by her brothers “I’m done I’m done...let go you guys…” She really only needed that one punch but she gets it. Her adrenalin is through the roof though. She’s never punched anyone before in her life.

Vera sees Arthur taking on Spencer and moves to Miranda “Miranda, you need to come with me please.” But she stands in the way of Miranda’s access to Spencer until Arthur has him further down the hall. This was a mess alright. She’s seen the poster “Gene, you as well but give them a moment…..ok...let’s go.”

In the hallway stood Tyler who had been trying not to get crushed as people pressed in to gawk while he gave a play by play to Winona who had gotten separated from Miranda by the crowd. “I think she broke Spencer’s nose…” He called out as his latest “He’s talking about charging her with assault…”

Arthur doesn’t give Spencer a lot of choice but to move with him.  “We’ll call the police.  Don’t you worry about that.”  Personally, he didn’t want to call them on Miranda, but he knew he had no choice in the matter.  He takes pencer to the nurses office and calls for help for a broken nose while he gets on the phone and calls the Alexandra Police Departments non emergency number and requests two units at the school..

Duncan doesn’t let Miranda go until VanBuren and Spencer are out of the room.  He can hear the kind of trouble she is in and sighs.  He also hears that Gene is going with them to the vice principal's office.  “What about us, Ms Fisher?”  he asks.

Romeo also releases Miranda and wonders the same as Duncan.  He waits to see.

Gene watches VanBuren and Spencer leave the room and then nods as Ms Fisher says he will have to come also.  He looks at Sparrow.  “I’m OK.”  he reassures her.  “I’ll see you later … okay?”  he doesn’t want to drag her into this and will fill her in as soon as he can.

Vera looks between Duncan and Romeo “Boys, I know you’re worried but you need to head back to class too please.” She puts a hand on Miranda’s shoulder but looks at both her and Gene “Come along now.” She’ll steer Miranda for a moment and then let her go but bark a little at the students still milling in the hall “Get. To. Class.” Her stern tones are always a surprise when they happen because she’s usually so sweet in her demeanor. But she has a near lifetime of teaching in her. As they walk she quickly hits a number on speed dial on her phone “Mr. Stevens...I need you to take down some posters. Oh no it’ll be obvious. In the senior years area mostly but do a thorough sweep. Yes thank you.” she hangs up and her heels click on the linoleum floor as they walk to her office. Once they’re in she’ll gesture to two chairs across from her and go sit at the one behind her desk “Did anything happen between either of you and Spencer….before the poster? I’m not blaming either of you for his choice. I just want to understand the situation.” She looks between them.

Miranda is steered and then walks in silence. She sits in the chair Ms. Fisher gestures to when it happens and then when they’re asked about past conflicts with Spencer she rolls her head back and looks at the ceiling. Where the hell did she even start? One thing she was beginning to realize...this was likely directed at her from Spencer. She felt like Gene was getting caught in the crossfire of something that began before he even lived here and she had to find a way to make that right so he wasn’t taking shit for her problem.

Sparrow nods at Gene but still looks worried for him. It seems like Miranda is the one really in trouble but there he was heading down to the office again “Yeah…” She says back to him and then after they’re out she also heads to class.

Duncan and Romeo both hesitate, but ultimately obey Ms Fisher and head to their next class.  Neither of them can concentrate very well, but they do their best.

Gene says nothing as he goes to Ms Fisher’s office with Miranda.  He sits and listens to the question Ms Fisher poses to them both.  He knows that poster was aimed at both of them, but he also feels that Miranda’s story should remain her story.  So before Miranda can speak a word, he looks at the vice principal and tells her.  “He was trying to rile me up, Ms Fisher.”  he begins.  “Starting from the first day I came to school.  Then he made the other posters … I think that’s pretty obvious now.  After that, I thought he was just leaving me alone, but last week, Miranda came to pick her computer up from the place I work.  Spencer was there also and he was being a pig, so I asked him to leave.  He did, but after I got off of work, I ran into him at the new noodle shop.  While I was there, he told me I’d survived another encounter with the…”  he makes air quotes over the next two words.  “Uppity bitch, which is something I called Miranda after that incident when that and something worse was carved into her desk.”  he pauses.  “I accused him of carving that into her desk and he told me that he’d done it.  He also said there was nothing I could do about it.  My word against his and I am the one with the criminal record.”  he shrugs.  “Then I told him to just leave us alone.  Me and Miranda.”  he realizes he still has the poster he'd snatched off of the locker in his hand. He tossed it on her desk.  “Looks like he decided he wasn’t going to leave us alone.  Me and Miranda .. right on the poster.”  his story is about 98% true.  The part about Spencer being a pig is true, but he left out the innuendo Spencer had tossed out and the details of what Spencer told him about the beginning of the graffiti .. about Miranda’s breasts.  “So ... this is my fault, ma’am.”  he looks at Miranda.  “I’m really sorry.  I didn’t know he’d be so ... stupid.”

Vera listens very patiently to Gene with a few nods and glances at Miranda now and then. She remembers the desk writing and the uppity bitch words on the desk and the huge conflict between these two kids then. She tilts her head a bit in the last part tne frowns “I don’t think it’s either of your fault that Spencer made the choices he did. Thank you for sharing all that Gene.” She looks towards Miranda “Miranda?”

Miranda felt that pit in her stomach again just gnawing at her as Gene spoke. He was taking it on, all of it, when it was really HER fault. Most of it was Spencer’s fault but her bad choice with Spencer was this never ending black hole it seemed. Not only that Gene knew from Spencer’s little comments that she had slept with the guy...why the hell would he protect her now? He also kept saying me and Miranda. He’d said it to Spencer? Defended her to Spencer? Knowing Spencer he probably thought that meant she was fucking Gene...because that was how the guy thought. But hearing Gene say her name in connection with him was strangely comforting. A comfort she didn’t feel she deserved right now as he took on all the blame. She swallowed and looked at him, her grey eyes filling with tears “No...no I’m sorry. Spencer is dragging you into a problem he’s had with me for longer than you’ve been here. I need to figure out ….” She was about to go on when she caught the sight of some uniformed Alexandra PD officers milling about in the office speaking to the secretaries and being directed towards them. “Oh shit….” Miranda said distractedly as a knock came on the door. Ms. Fisher’s doro had a window and blinds which at the moment, were open.

Ms. Fisher saw the officer at the door and had heard Miranda say oh shit. “Pardon me…” She said and stood to go answer it.

Chris Peterson had arrived at the school with Frank and they had made their way to the office to arrest and bring in Miranda Rogers. One of the secretaries told them she currently in the vice principal’s office so after thanking her they headed to that door and Chris knocked. The door was opened and he smiled at the admin “Hi…..Mr. Van Buren called us and we need to come speak to Miranda Rogers.”

Vera sighed and opened her door all the way “I understand.”

Gene listened as Miranda started talking.  He wanted to shut her up, but the only way he could do that was to slap his hand over her mouth and .. well no need in BOTH of them getting arrested.  For a change, the police showed up at an opportune time and when Ms Fisher got up to open her door, Gene learned over and whispered to her.  “Listen to me, Randy.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Take my advice and tell the cops what happened today … and nothing else.  He made a fool of you and you hit him.  Case closed.  You’ll get community service at worst.  Trust me.”  and he sits up, praying she takes his advice because that’s all he can offer her.

Frank Sharp saw Gene and was actually relieved that they weren't here to take him away, even though it was in many ways just as bad they were taking in Dr Rogers kid.  She walks to Miranda’s chair and motions to her.  “Please stand up.”

Gene reaches onto the desk and grans the crumpled poster.  He could do one last thing to help Miranda.  “Lieutenant.  Officer.  This is why she hit him.  I think he was trying to test me .. maybe see what it's like to go against a con … but she hit him instead.  Anyway .. it’s evidence.”  he hands it to whichever cop wants to take it.

Miranda looks up at Gene after he whispers his advice. She gives him a small sad smile and nods lightly. He called her Randy again. She found she had to work really hard not to like it more and more each time she heard it in his voice. Damn him for actually being a good guy after all. But then Lieutenant Sharp tells her to stand and she’s pretty sure she knows what comes next. So she stands but to show she’s compliant and won’t give them any trouble she helpfully slides her hands behind her back. She tries to look brave but in truth it’s a little terrifying and she looks up at Ms Fisher and asks in a small voice “Can you please call my Dad ...and Levi…?” Then she closes her eyes and waits for the dreaded sensation she’s only ever seen on TV or imagined. Handcuffs. She’s being arrested. She punched a cop’s kid no less.

Chris takes the poster as he knows Frank is closer to ciff Miranda. He’s glad they’re not taking in Gene but arresting the doctor’s daughter is not a happy thing either. He looks at the poster and then the two young people. Chris clears his throat “Yeah this is pretty bad….” He pulls an evidence baggie out and puts the poster in it and then pockets it. “Thanks Gene.”

Vera looks stricken for Miranda. “Yes….I’ll call them.” There’s not much more she can say right now. It’s a police matter now.

Frank handcuffs Miranda and it just feels wrong somehow.  But she does her job.  She even puts them on her carefully and loosely.  “Let’s go, Miranda.”  she murmurs and moves to walk her out of the office.

Gene watches them go and his jaw tightens.  His teeth catch the inside of his jaw and he grunts a little with the pain.

Miranda doesn’t want any more trouble and certainly not with the cops so she moves obediently with the Lieutenant and is walked out of the school and put in the back of a cruiser. It’s not comfortable sitting in a  car with handcuffs on and they’re not even tight. As the car pulls away and she looks out the window she thinks about Gene’s advice. He’s telling her because he’s been right where she is right now. He’s also been to prison. Could she serve time for punching Spencer? She’s pretty sure she broke his nose from the crack. The anxiety starts to rise up in her being as they drive but Spencer still deserved that hit.

Spencer in the meantime whined and wailed in the nurse’s office like he was having a near death experience. He was also upset about the blood on his expensive leather jacket and hoodie “That’s never going to come out of a white hoodie and the jacket will have to be dry cleaned. I hope the doctor knows his psycho daughter is the reason he has to pay for that…”

Vera is left with Gene in her office “We’ll wait for Mr. VanBuren….you’re not in trouble Gene. We’re just here to support you. I do need to make a phone call so I’ll be right back in a minute.” She stepped out of her office into Arthur’s for privacy and called Jasper, who she lamented had been part of the joyful conversation on the weekend about she and Joseph telling his children they were in love. Now she had to tell his son's partner his daughter was arrested. Jasper was of course very upset but thanked her for informing him. He said he would call Levi so Vera went back to wait with Gene. She suspected Arthur was still with Spencer who would also likely be arrested. As she came in she said “The police may wish to interview you...as one of the victims of what Spencer did. I’m not actually sure how it will go. If you want to call your foster father for support you can though.”

Jasper Rogers had taken the call from the school while in a meeting with Susan. He looked at her after the call with total panic “My daughter……” He was near hyperventilating. “I need to call Levi….she’s...she’s been arrested?” He looked like he might be sick. Not even waiting for her answer he dialed Levi “Levi…” His voice broke as he shared the news “Miranda’s been arrested for assault….they’re taking her to the police station. Can you please meet me there? I need to cancel my appointments…”

Arthur stayed with Spencer until Sam Wright and Darcy Lynch took Spencer away in handcuffs.  Then he walked back into his office and could clearly see that Miranda was gone.  He sighed and stood looking at Vera for a moment before turning his attention to Gene.  Arthur had walked in just in time to hear Vera suggest that the police might want to interview Gene and he watched for Gene’s reaction to that.

Gene sat in the office and wondered what was going to happen now.  He also expected the police to interview him and he didn’t look forward to it one bit.  Part of him wanted a lawyer, not Shea, but that was his past experience with police talking.  “I … guess I’d better call my foster father.  Especially if the police are going to be involved.”  he pauses and pulls out his phone to dial Shea’s number.  His body began to shake slightly and he tried to suppress it.  That was fear of older foster families talking … not Shea.

Susan had nodded and told Jasper to take as long as he needed to for this family.  Priorities.  Family first.  Always.

Levi had listened to Jasper when he called and tightened his jaw.  “Of course, love.  I’ll meet you there.”  After hanging up his phone, he slipped into his suit jacket and overcoat, took his briefcase, straightened his tie, told Natalie and Kira where he would be and that he may not be back in the office before Friday, as he had to pick up Dante Mendoza from his stint in prison the next morning.  Then he quick-walked to the cop shop and opened the door.  In the small space, he could see that Miranda was already being processed and that she was handcuffed.  Since the building was so small, he could also see that Spencer Newcastle was also being processed, his father looming over looking equal parts worried and infuriated.  He knew next to nothing about the case, but he walked in as if he had up to the microsecond information and was completely confident.  “I understand that this is a small town police force, but I would like my client separated from Mr Newcastle immediately.”  he looked at the receptionist.  “Mr Fitzgerald, please arrange my clients arraignment with all speed, thank you very much.  I will also need to speak to my client in the IR as soon as humanly possible.”  In the meantime, he walked to Miranda’s chair and placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.  “How are you?  They’re treating you alright?”  he knew that they were.  He looks at Chris, who is typing away.  “I’ll need that written report as soon as possible, please.”

Frank watched Levi blow into the cop shop like a winter gale.  She had expected it and was ready.  Samuels and Sons lawyers were tough, but not complete jackasses.  Usually.  She’d never seen them in court before.

Shea Walsh had just secured his ladder to his electrician’s van when his cell phone rang and he saw Gene’s number on the call display...in the middle of a school day? He frowned and answered hoping it was something minor like a stomach ache and a request to go home. “Hey Gene. You alright?”

Vera watched Gene’s reaction too and felt compassion for him as he called his foster father. This kid had been through a lot and was clearly shaken by the latest round of what seemed to be uncalled for and unprecedented extreme bullying from Spencer Newcastle. She exchanged a look with Arthur briefly as Gene was on the phone.

Jasper expressed his gratitude to Susan for her understanding and support and then was about to stop by the clinic desk when he saw Shelly Newcastle on the phone reacting to the other side of his same news, Spencer’s side of it. Shelley’s eyes met his own in a cold stare and Jasper sighed and flagged down Tarek Nadir “You might need to do some desk duty. Check in with Dr. McKinney please.” He left the building before Shelly was off the phone and jogged to the police station arriving at the front desk to hear Levi go full Samuels and Sons super lawyer on the receptionist and an officer who was typing. He stood in stunned hesitation for a minute but then his immediate focus was on Miranda and he gave Levi an impressed look before walking right through without a word to the receptionist and flocking to her other shoulder and trying to give her a half hug “Mandy….what happened?” He looked simultaneously heartbroken and terrified for her.

Chris raised his eyes from his screen at Levi Samuels and then he darted a look at Frank. He’d seen glimpses of this during Dante’s time but he had never been in it’s full blast before. “Alright…” He said slowly and then kept typing for a moment longer before clicking to print. He got up from the desk as the printer was the big one networked to multiple devices.

Miranda let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding when she heard Levi’s voice in the mix of all the others. She’s been trying to tune out Spencer’s which was making her want to punch him yet again for all his whining. Then suddenly Levi and her father were on either side of her and asking how she was, how they were treating her and what happened. Sometimes a person can only hold it together until they connect with the safe people in their lives and that was exactly what happened to Miranda. She looked between her Dad and Levi...her dads really and then just choked on a sob and hung her head as she began to cry “I’m…..I’m fine...they’re fine…..there’s a lot of stuff….but...there was a poster with my face photoshopped on it…..and Gene’s….a pornographic image...and some words…Spencer made it...I hit him.”

Chris takes the poster from his pocket and makes a copy to put with the report. And then comes back with both and hands them to Levi and Jasper. “She’s being charged with assault causing bodily harm.” He nods to Frank and gestures in the direction of the interrogation room “But yes we’ll make the IR available for you to decide where to go next...with your client.” He was directing most of it at Levi but realized that between the two men, Miranda was more family to him from the looks of it. He’d seen the doctor and Levi out and about together and it was clear they were a couple. He begins to lead the way to the room which means walking past the holding cells, into which one now has Spencer Newcastle since he has no legal counsel as of yet.

Shelly Newcastle burst into the police station and flew to the reception desk shouting at Uilick “Where’s my boy?! And my USELESS ex-husband?! I want some ANSWERS god dammit!!” But the party around Miranda were already passing through the door to the IR.

Spencer heard his mother yelling at the reception desk as the door opened to the holding cell area. But in came Miranda with her father and his lover and Officer Peterson. She was crying and he couldn’t resist a dig “Funny how I’m locked up when you’re the violent one Miranda. At least the guilt is eating you….go on cry it out with your daddies…”

Miranda was still crying but she turned her face away from Spencer’s taunts refusing to engage with him again. She just walked to where they were being directed.

Gene heard Shea's voice and sighed.  "Yea.  I mean I'm not arrested, inthe hospital or dead."  he tells him.  "But um ... something ELSE happened at school today."  he explains what happened and what Miranda did.  "The police are probably gonna want to talk to me and . um .. you might want to be there .. you don't have to, of course,"  he quickly ads.  "I don't want to interrupt yoru day more than I have to."  he still had a deep deep fear ofbeing a burdon and paying the price for it.

Arthur listened, but did not look at Gene.  He's heard this sort of nervousness from kids before and he got it especially in Gene's case.  The only cure for it was time in a good foster home and not even that worked all of the time.

Levi stood watching the father and daughter.  Miranda's words made him wonder if those pictures had resurfaced.  If they had, Spencer Newcastle would feel Samuels and Sons wrath.  Chris finished the report and explained the charges.  "I will need to see this poster."  he intones.  He was not pleased with the charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, but there was really nothing lighter they could charge her with.  When Chris hands him the poster, Levi would give anything in the world not to let Jasper see it, even before he does himself.  But when he looks he realizes it is not the pictures of Miranda Spencer took, and that makes him feel much better right away.  He hears Shelly Newcastle and it also occurs to him that her ex may not have told her about his visit earlier in the year.  In the interrogation room he nods for both Miranda and Jasper to sit.  He assumes they will sit beside each other and he sits across from Miranda, setting his briefcase down.  He blows out a breath.  "Alright.  This shouldn't be all that difficult."  he explains.  "First hurdle is bail, so we can get you out of here."  He sends a couple more text messages ordering his office in Vancouver to do a background check on Spencer Newcastle and his entire family.  Duncan can't do it.  Conflict of interest.

Shea is getting into the van as Gen talks about what happened and he can hear the door close and the engine start up. “Hey I’ll be there. Don’t worry Gene. It’s not an interruption. I can reschedule the last two no problem. They’re not emergency calls…..no one’s without power….and family first. I’m not far away. I’ll be there in 5 minutes.” He ended the call and sent two texts to cancel his appointments.

Vera feels even worse for Gene when she hears him not wanting to obligate his guardian. This kid needed some support and security. She hoped this foster dad would show up for him.

Jasper had leaned over to look at the poster when Levi had held it to view it. It was disturbing but at least it was obvious it wasn’t her, or Gene for that matter. The intention unsettled him though. The image of her blindfolded and being used and spanked by a male figure even as a prank was truly upsetting. He was also confused as to why Spencer had put Miranda and Gene in this image together. Did he have a conflict with one or both of them? Was he just a disturbed bully? Did he think Gene and Miranda were involved? Were they involved? His mind buzzed with questions. Miranda had been leading what he thought was a pretty quiet life. She worked, she hung out a lot with Winona and tyler. She had never brought home any boys since they moved here…..why was she being targeted this way by Spencer Newcastle? He’d heard the taunt as they went by him and he had to work to keep his own cool so he was beginning to get why his daughter had been driven to punch him even though it was  still so unlike her. Levi’s lawyer mode and cool logic were a confort right now because he could barely think straight. The officer had at least had the decency to take off the cuffs when Miranda was sitting in the room so now Jasper held her hand tightly. “Just tell us what to do Levi…..”

Miranda heard Levi and nodded “Thank you Levi…..” She held her father’s hand and sniffed “I’m so sorry Dad…..” She felt like she had let him down. None of them had ever been arrested before.

Chris had stepped outside the IR after shutting the door but had walked over to Spencer and given him a warning look “You don’t speak to her again. You want a harassment charge on top of everything else?” The question was rhetorical. 

Spencer just looked at him and then went to sit on the bed and look at the wall, his nose swollen, bandaged and stuffed with gauze pads. His eyes were beginning to blacken which was common with a  broken nose but made him look like an evil clown.

Gene hears Shea and nods, clearing his throat.  "Right ...  family ..."  but he is not family.  He's just a foster, in his mind.  "See you in 5 minutes.."  he cuts the call off and shrugs.  "He'll be here in 5 minutes."  he blows out a breath.  Christmas break was coming ... and he wasn't feeling very festive.

Arthur nods.  "Good deal."  he moves and sits in the chair Miranda had been in.  Of course, the police hadn't asked to interview him, but he didn't want to send the boy back to class.

Levi offered a comforting smile to both Jasper and Miranda, but especially to Miranda.  "I am waiting on the judge to contact me virtually in order to arrange bail for you.  It won't be too bad.  Then you can go home until the trial date.  But there won't be a trial.  We'll plead you down." he made it sound like it was nothing.  No big deal.  

Miranda looked relieved but also surprised “That’s amazing….but I think I actually broke his nose. I’ve been imagining jail and trying not to let the idea give me a nervous breakdown…..”

Jasper had worked in the prison system but not the legal side. “Well you’ve never hit anyone before...never even jaywalked…..and Levi…” He gestures at Levi “Is rather brilliant at this….” He can’t help but smile a bit at Levi despite everything.

Vera looks happy to hear Shea is on his way “Good.” She had heard him say right family like he didn’t believe it “He sounds like a nice foster father.” She offers. There’s a bit of a pause before the knock at the door but it’s less than 5 minutes. For this one Vera just calls out “Come in!” knowing it’s Shea Walsh and he’s expected.

Shea is let into the office by a secretary and sees Gene with the two administrators. He still has on his tool belt like he really rushed here as fast as he could “Hey..” He looks very kindly at Gene “You ok Gene?” He looks genuinely worried.

Gene looks over at Ms. Fisher and nods.  "Yea.  He's the best."  he admits and it's absolutely true.  Then there is a knock on the door and it's Shea.  Early.  He nods at him.  "Yea ... I ... well ..  I almost killed a guy today.  Sparrow stopped me .. and Miranda Rogers ...  she hit the guy .. but he lived."  He sounds a little disappointed in that fact.

Arthur listens to Gene, even after Shea arrives.  "Well let's all be glad he did live, eh?"  he offers.  "He will be on a suspension, but it is almost Winter Break."

Levi nods at Jasper's words.  "What he said."  he grins at Jasper.  "It's ..."  and his phone rings.  He straightens his tie, tap the earpieces attached to his phone and picks up said phone.  "I'm ready your honor." he listens for a moment and then says.  "Not guilty, your honor."  he pauses again and shorts.  "Your honor, my client has never so much as spit on the sidewalk.  She's lead an exemplary life up to this incident and I strenuously object to any bail.  I request she be released into the custody of her father, Dr. Jasper Rogers."  he pauses again and he grins.  "Thank you your honor.  January 18."  and then he taps his phone and looks across at Miranda.  "You're being released into your father's custody and the trial date is January 18th.  Don't worry about that, I should be able to get the plea agreement reached all settled by Christmas, actually."  th.at is less than ten days away.  No problem for a client like Miranda.  "A few hours of community service.  No big deal."  he doesn't mention that it is very different for others ... like Gene Sinclair.

Shea has to chuckle “Well thank goodness for Sparrow and Miranda. But man that Spencer. That kid’s got a screw loose pulling a stunt like that. Do you think he made that other poster?” Sparrow had of course told him any details that needed to be filled in after the fact a while back. “And Gene if you want to go home after all this...after the cops talk to you if we need to do that….we can do that. I imagine everyone will be talking about it today….then it’ll hopefully blow over soon. Break helps I guess.”

Vera sighs “Break will help. But Gene we’re sorry this happened to you.” She doesn’t say again because that makes her feel like she’s failed as an administrator somehow but it was an again. There wasn’t much they could do but suspend people at this level.

Miranda stays quiet during Levi’s call but jerks back when he says not guilty and looks at Levi in protest of his words. She knew there was strategy but this was a lie. She’s hit Spencer, on purpose. People saw her do it. After he told them the details she leaned back forward and said worriedly “Levi...I did it though. I hit Spencer. There were witnesses….what if his lawyer calls them in to testify?”

Jasper was confused too but also happy to just whisk Miranda away from this terrible situation. “Mandy…..just let Levi do what he does. He knows how the plea bargaining works better than anyone.” He rubs her back “Let’s go home…”

Gene nods.  "Yea .. I . Well I guess Sparrow made sense but .. whatever .. they both helped me"  he sighs.  "Part of me wants to stay home the rest of the damn week.  I mean Dante is coming home tomorrow.  So I hope the police are done with me by then."

Arthur chuckles.  "Well, I understand that.  And I suppose you could consider that.  Your homework could be sent to you, if it means that much to you....  and your foster father approves, of course."

Levi looks at Miranda with a slight grin.  "That's just the legal maneuvering."  he tells her.  He shrugs.  "Spencer will probably have an appointed attorney who will be calling me by the end of business today about a plea bargain.  But if he gets ambitious and calls witnesses to testify against you look into Spencer's life and find all the reasons that your hitting him is perfectly, I can find other witnesses to testify that what you did was perfectly alright ... resulting in your being not guilty by the time the verdict is turned in.  There are I am sure things Spencer .. or at least his attorney will NOT want brought out in public.  So ... listen to your father .. go home.  I have to talk to some witnesses of my own on the just in case."

Miranda nods slowly at Levi and looks between him and her father. This was not the time. Gene was right about that, which made her wonder just how much he knew. She shook that off and nodded again “OK….we’ll talk at home.” She means all of them and she’s working up the courage to tell her father everything so she can do what she has to do in the legal arena and be done with Spencer Newcastle and his bullying. She could handle it if he was just after her, but somehow him dragging Gene into it, makes her want to take him down all the harder. She stands up and looks at the door “Will they just let me walk out?”

Jasper puts a hand on his heart and looks at Levi “I love you...so much…” Then he turns to Miranda “And I love you, always….both of you.” He stands up too and then knocks at the door “Let’s find out.”

Chris opens the door up and pokes his head in “Come on out then…” He darts a dangerous look at Spencer who stays in his corner sitting on the bed and then is ready to escort the family through. As the door opens to the main station bullpen Shelly Newcastle is still ranting, this time it sounds like at Rich.

“You don’t think the example you set for our boy had anything to do with him putting nudey pictures up….I know what magazines you kept under your side of the mattress you lazy old pervert!”

Levi smiles at Jasper.  “I love you, too … both of you.”  Jasper is so eager he knocks on th door before Levi can even turn around.  He is half hoping that Spencer will say something he can add charges onto his case, but the boy remains silent.  They exit onto the main part of the cop shop and he can hear Shelly Newcastle ranting.  He stops at the desk.  “You are ready to release my client?”  he says it as a formality.  “And if I may have a copy of Mr Newcastle's charges.”  he actually speaks relatively low out of consideration for Shelly Newcastle.

Ulick Fitzpatrick nods.  “Yes sir, she is free to go.”  and he hands Levi two sheets of paper.  “Have a nice day.”

Levi smiles, glad they had the paper ready before he hacked.  “You too, Mr Fitzpatrick.”  he opens the door and holds it for Miranda and Jasper waiting until they are in the sunshine outside to look at the paper, which makes him smile.

Rich is red in the face under his ex wife’s rant.  It’s one thing to her her yammering when they were married but now she is dressing him down at work in front of everyone.  Chief Green opens his door and barks his name, demanding he get in his office.

Miranda walks through the door and when she’s outside turns to Levi “Thank you….for all of that.” Spontaneously she hugs him and whispers to him “I’m going to tell Dad the rest but I’d like you to be there….no rush.” She pulls back and gives Levi a meaningful look.

Jasper walks through the door as well, hearing the Newcastle fall out and glad the he has Levi and the  strength of their relationship is so good for his kids too. “Thank you love.” He says and stes back as Miranda approaches Levi. He watches them have a moment and it warms his heart and fills him with gratitude. She whispers something to him he can’t hear but that’s ok too. He really feels like his kids have two Dads now and he trusts Levi with the whispers and the moments that are his half of it. They had survived Miranda getting arrested. She would likely be suspended but probably go back after break. Christmas and Hanukkah could come now.

Shea looks sympathetically at Gene “You can work from home if it’s less stressful. This was a shitty deal kid. Rufus would love it if there’s a walk at noon. He’s gonna get spoiled on the break I know.” He smiles at Arthur “Thank you...yeah send the homework. And you know since they’re not banging down the door, those cops can come talk to us at home or call us in. Can I just drive him home?”

Vera looks at Arthur and nods “We’ll speak to his teachers. Thank you for coming in.” She looks to the office “They’re probably busy with the other two but if they come looking here for Gene we can direct them to you both at home, yes.” She looks genuinely at Gene “I hope the rest of your break is very restful and enjoyable. Then it’s a new year.” She offers as a hopeful statement.

Gene doesn’t argue.  He’s glad of the time off.  “The police probably know where I am.  SO yea, I’d like to go home.”  he agrees.  And as he and Shea are getting in his van for the ride, he gets a call from Levi Samuels wanting to arrange a meeting with he and Shea.