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As the day ground forward, Josh’s paranoia got worse. Every faculty member he saw could have done this to him. Any student might mouth off for the attention. Tyler’s name meant national coverage and worse; anyone in the building might sell them out just for the chance of being on ESPN for ten seconds.
After the last bell, Josh stopped by the front office. Vicky gave him a sympathetic smile. “Hey, handsome. Rough day.” It wasn’t a question.
Josh just nodded, too exhausted to go into it.
“It’s going to all work out. You watch, hon,” she said gently. “We’ve got your back. A whole bunch of people, in fact.”
“Thanks, Vicky.” Josh managed a tired smile. “I should get going….”
She leaned over the counter and whispered, “She’s just jealous.”
Josh frowned. “Who is?”
Vicky rolled her eyes and muttered, “The nerve. I remember when that woman was selling lingerie out of her car. And now just because she’s bought a vibrator and found Jesus—”
“—to regret this!” A hostile Myra Waxman emerged from the principal’s office, red-faced and sputtering.
Josh tensed, realizing she’d just been reprimanded. She was the culprit. “Myra?”
“On leave! On leave!” Myra caught sight of Josh and barreled over. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Jockstrap Adonis,” she said loudly. “Seems like you and your boyfriend have really stirred things up around here. I’m suspended without pay while you and Fantana corrupt innocent angels. Making eyes at each other. Flaunting yourselves half-naked before the entire community.”
Josh clenched his fists and exhaled slowly.
Carver emerged behind her. “Myra, that’s more than enough. I don’t want to have to call security. And defamation is illegal.” He gave Vicky a look, and she started dialing.
“What a joke. I’ve done my Christian duty.” Myra had obviously shown up spoiling for a tacky scene, and Josh had inadvertently stumbled into it.
Carver put his hand on Josh’s shoulder. “If you want to wait in my office.”
“I don’t know what you think you’re going to accomplish by tempting students and encouraging defiance,” Myra continued. “It’s just asking for trouble.”
Josh struggled to stay calm. “We teach kids to think. To solve problems. Not blind obedience.”
Carver held open his office door. “Josh… please.”
Myra scoffed. “Don’t pretend you’re so high and mighty. Parading around in your little shorts. We all know this is just you forcing your agenda on impressionable young minds.”
Josh trembled with anger, but he refused to give her fodder for another scene. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked toward Carver’s open door, leaving Myra shouting insults behind him.
A couple of faces appeared, drawn by the raised voices. A small cluster of students and staff had begun to form in the hall.
The security guard had shown up and was trying to herd her to the exit. “Miss Waxman. Please, Miss Waxman….”
Carver stood between Myra and Josh. “You’re not helping yourself, Myra. There will be a review of your behavior, and this kind of—”
“You worthless faggot!” she spat behind him.
Vicky gasped. A trio of high school girls stopped in the hall and drifted closer to rubberneck.
Seeing red, Josh turned then. “Say it to my face.”
“You heard.” Myra stood there looking triumphant yet terrified, like she expected him to hit her but also wanted exactly that. “Corrupting children and glorifying perversion with that trashy reprobate. His father was a drunk. His mother was a maid. From Mexico!”
“Venezuela,” Josh muttered, holding it together for the moment.
The crowd was angry now, their faces shocked and souring. Even if they thought those things, no bigot wanted to get caught saying them out loud. Even the assholes knew how dumb and evil it sounded.
“I’ve been kind to you, Myra. I’ve helped you.” Josh strode toward her, rage roiling through him, but he kept his voice low. “I won’t press charges, but I will make certain you never work in a school again. Never.”
