Page 25 of Mr. B

“I’ll see this through.”

“I can fill you in.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Dennis suddenly jumped to his feet and tried to get to the door again. Wes grabbed him by the back of the collar and dragged him back to the chair. “Sit, dammit.”

Dennis scowled. “You can’t touch me like that.”

Wes nodded toward the frog. “In this instance, I believe no one will have a problem with it.”

Justin arrived ten minutes later and came through the doorway. “What’s going on?”

Dennis sat up straight. “He grabbed me. Twice.”

Justin looked at Wes and raised an eyebrow.

“I did. Right after he chucked that glass frog at my head.”

Justin picked up the frog and tested its weight. “This could’ve done some damage.”

“I know.”

Justin took the frog to the desk and set it down, then looked at Cassandra. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

He turned back to Dennis. “So, young man. What are we going to do with you?”

Dennis nodded his head toward Wes. “He says he’s going to expel me.”

“That is his prerogative. Seeing as he’s the principal and all.” He turned to Wes. “Would you like to press charges? I’d say that frog constitutes assault with a deadly weapon.”

Dennis got to his feet. “No way, man.”

Justin put a hand on his chest. “Sit down.”

Dennis sat. “You guys are trying to frame me.”

Mrs. McFee appeared at the door. “Dennis?” She looked at Wes, then at Justin. “What did he do now?”

Wes looked at Cassandra, who still seemed shaken. He turned to Mrs. McFee. “Ma’am, your son is formally and permanently expelled from Bridgeport High for harassing Dr. Jordan and trying to assault me. Sheriff Donahue is here to escort your son off the property. If he returns at any time in the future, he will be arrested for trespassing.”

She sighed. “Can we get his things from his locker?”

“Of course. The sheriff will go with you.”

She pulled Dennis to his feet, then dragged him to the door. She glanced at Cassandra. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jordan.”

Cassandra nodded, and Mrs. McFee removed her son from the office.

Justin smiled. “Um…that was easy.”

Wes nodded. “It’s been at least four years of visiting my office on a regular basis. She knows her son. I hate to give up on the kid, but there’s nothing else we can do for him.”

Justin patted Wes on the shoulder. “I’ll make sure he leaves peacefully. Do you want me to charge him?”

“Nah. He’s going to have a rough enough time out there in the world without being charged for trying to bean his principal.”