9 Parfait
. In the principal's outer office, where, behind the long counter, two secretaries scurried between two desks and large file cabinets. Alanis. Nikki and Raspberry sat on the black sofa. waiting. They looked up at me as soon as I entered, my appearance obviously taking them all by surprise.
"Her. too?" Nikki muttered.
"Jordan March is here," the student helper announced. One of the secretaries paused, her face twisting like a rubber mask with displeasure at being interrupted.
"Take a seat with the others." she told me. "And no talking, Mrs. Browne will tell us when to send you in to see her."
Alanis sat between Nikki and Raspberry on the settee. I sat quickly in the only chair. Of course. I wondered why we were all here. I had never been called out of class to go to the principal's office at my school in Bethlehem.
"What is this?" Nikki moaned. "Why did she call all of us to the office? Maybe its got something to do with last night. Why else would she be here?"
"Shut up,' Alanis said. She watched the secretaries and the student helper, and then she leaned toward me.
"Remember. Whatever it is, we die first," she whispered and then sat back.
The door to the principal's office opened, and a policeman stepped out, his hat in his hands. He gazed at us a moment, shook his head and walked out of the office.
"Police! We're in trouble." Nikki muttered, her voice cracking. "Oh, we're in some kind of big trouble."
"I told you to shut up," Alanis said. "Whatever it is. I'll do all the talking.'"
We heard a buzzer. One of the secretaries picked up a phone and said. "Right away_ Mrs. Browne." She hung up and turned to us. "All of you go in now," she said.
We rose. I was too frightened to take a breath. I looked at Alanis, but she didn't seem in the least afraid. She actually smiled at me.
Mrs. Browne's office had a nicer leather sofa and two leather chairs. One wall was covered with shelves of books, and another had plaques and pictures. The walnut brown rug looked brand new. She had a large, dark cherrywood desk with everything on it neatly organized. With her hands clasped behind her back, she was standing by her window and looking out when we entered. It was a large, two-paneled window that faced the ballfield. It had blinds that were pulled up evenly and dark-brown dress curtains with gold tassels,
"Close the door,' she said. I imagined she could see it reflected in the window glass. Raspberry hurried to d
o so. Then Mrs. Browne turned slowly.
I thought she had wide shoulders for a woman. She had a heavy bosom and wide hips, too, but her face frightened me because it looked like someone had taken an ice pick and poked tiny holes in her cheeks and even in the sides of her chin. She wore a dark red lipstick, which picked up the reddish brown hair she had cut stylishly at the base of her neck. Her eyes rere a bright shade of blue. If it weren't for her pockmarks, she would be pretty, I thought.
"Sit," she commanded, as if she'd been speaking to four dogs. "And you. Alanis, take off that hat. You don't wear your hat in school."
Sullenly. Alanis took it off.
I went for the chair. Alanis sat in the other chair. and Nikki and Raspberry sat on the sofa.
We waited, no one moving, me holding my breath. as Mrs. Browne paused and looked up. It was as if she was reading something off the ceiling or saying some prayer. Then she lowered her head and fixed her eyes on each of us the way someone might fix her target in her gun sights. I had never seen anyone who could turn her eyes into cold, piercing orbs like this. It was as if she'd had tiny flashlights behind them. I felt myself actually shudder with a stab of ice at the base of my neck.
"Let me begin by telling the four of you that I've been principal here for nearly twenty-eight years and this is the first time I've had a serious problem brought to me on the first day, actually even before the day has had a chance to begin. With all the work we have getting organized. I have little or no time for behavioral problems, but this one is so serious..." She paused, put her hand over her heart and took a breath, "Perhaps the most serious one I've had in my twentyeight years. and I have no choice but to deal with it immediately.
"All of your parents are in the process of being contacted." she continued. "You." she said, turning to me. "are living with your Great-aunt?"
I nodded, I was afraid that if I spoke, my voice would fail me and nothing would come from my lips.
"I have papers from your grandmother's attorney assigning guardian rights to your great-aunt. Frances Wilkens," she added, tapping some papers on her desk. "So, unfortunately for her, she will have this. She will have to face something terribly unpleasant immediately."
"What will she face? Why did you contact our parents? Why are we here?" Alanis demanded firmly.
Slowly. Mrs. Browne turned to her.
"Oh, don't worry, Alanis. I'm getting to it, to all of it." She took a deep breath, sat and leaned back. "Last night, a student at our school named Stuart Gavin drove his father's gas delivery truck off the road and hit a tree. He wasn't wearing a seat belt, and he was thrown from the vehicle and broke his left arm in two places. He was fortunate that nothing more serious happened to him.
"A passing motorist noticed the accident and called the police. It seems young Mr. Gavin was intoxicated. The police discovered that the level of alcohol in his blood was way above what is acceptable when driving. Do you know what that means?"