Fax Initial Bystander with airSlate SignNow

Fax initial bystander

chapter 24 fallout mrs. haze initial reaction was shocked after all her son had been beaten up in a pet cemetery it was not the kind of news a mother hears every day so she freaked Erik couldn't blame her he did look like a mess before they reached Eric's house Mary had helped him clean up in the bathroom at McDonald's she went right into the men's room with him just locked the door up and went to work dabbing and rinsing and making a fuss Eric's face was bruised and swollen around the eyes and cheek his lower lip was split his body was sore stiff and bone tired noting that two advils every four hours with a full weekend of rest couldn't cure his body would recover mrs. haze asked a million questions and when she didn't like the answers she picked up the phone and started dialing Eric for his part downplayed everything at first he hoped to claim it was all a football injury but after he looked at his face in the mirror he knew that story wouldn't fly so he spooned out a watered down version of the truth it wasn't that big of a deal just a misunderstanding and so on and so forth but his mother took everything super seriously she wanted names she wanted facts she was like one of those detectives on Law & Order she even asked checkers his gravesite why does Nixon's dog buried in Bellport Mrs Hayes was not the type of person to let this kind of thing fade into the background as Eric had hoped she talked on the phone with school counselors teachers and the principal she turned everything into a big deal for Eric that was the worst part of it being at the center of all that hand-wringing he just wanted it to go away at the same time a part of him was relieved he was glad the school knew the eyes had been opened that this thing supposedly wouldn't happen again Eric managed to keep David hallenbeck's name out of it he had to tell about the other guys Cody Griffin drew will and Sanjay be not telling the whole truth was a mistake maybe he should have said something about hailing back but some instincts told Eric to leave it alone he wouldn't have said anything about Mary either except she insisted on waiting with Eric until his mother came home from work that was the first thing Eric said after his mother exclaimed Eric oh my god what happened he just had feebly with his hand and said mom this is Mary O'Malley it wasn't really a great time for introductions but what are you going to do it was not a perfect world as Eric had was outing Lee discovered the dogs Eric's suddenly remembered he'd forgotten all about his dog walking duties Mary volunteered to do it Eric wasn't sure no Mrs Hayes cut in I'll take care of the dogs then I'll wait here with Eric Mary said and there wasn't a trace of question in her voice she wasn't asking permission fine Mrs Hayes relented I'll be back soon there's some ice cream in the freezer Eric was sullen and embarrassed to be alone with Mary and in such sorry shape he was relieved when his mother returned and Mary left but she stopped by the next day to drop off a video she said it was the school of rock starring Jack Black Eric had seen the movie a few times already I pledge allegiance to the band of mr. schneebly but it was the thought that counted and to Eric it counted a lot seeing Mary was good though because now more than ever he felt cut off and alone Eric hated that first day back at school on Monday everyone knew about the fight there was no secrets in seventh grade plus his face looked like a bruised peach he wanted to stay home an extra day but his mother wouldn't allow it she was all about getting back on that horse and blah blah blah there was no arguing with her walking the halls sitting in classrooms from the way kids looked at him you'd think that his hair had turned into live snakes he was a Sofie sir Owen said in French class they freak du jour she was kidding Eric helped mr. the counselor summon Eric to a meeting in his office Eric was instructed to bring his lunch the invitation came as a relief since it allowed Eric to put off another day for the discomfiture of the cafeteria mr. Floyd Rose ingredient Eric when he entered the office he inquired how Eric was feeling gestured to a jail chair all very gracious and smooth Eric glanced around the room in addition to the usual setup of a big desk in a high backed swivel chair mr. Floyd's office included a round conference table to facilitate meaningful dialogue no doubt it was here where Eric now sat nothing much happened at first mr. Floyd busied himself with a folder stocked with a notepad and papers so Eric tore into his sandwich ham and Swiss on rye with just a whisper of mustard not bad there is a knock on the door behind Eric mr. Floyd looked up and said thank you for joining us Cody please take a seat Eric's heart sputtered Cody looked took along and distrustful he set down his lunch train and took a seat at the table as far from mr. Floyd and Eric as mathematically possible so that the three participants now represented the points of a perfect triangle I realize this must feel awkward for you mr. Floyd began but I felt it was important to bring you boys together to discuss what happened after school on Friday mr. Floyd ran a hand over his goatee and pursued and pursed his lips I understand punches were thrown Cody and Eric exchanged where he glances neither said a word because it was off school grounds mr. Floyd continued as he looked from boy to boy there isn't much I can do in terms of punishment but I do want you to know that you are on my radar he looked directly at Cody do you know what that means that you will be watching us exactly right mr. Floyd answered I want your agreement right now this ends here he tapped his finger on the desk along with each word this tap and tap here tap do you understand Cody glanced at Eric nodded Eric mr. Floyd asked it's not up to me Eric said I didn't start in the first place you did so Cody but or did I just finished it Aaron Eric looked away muttering soundlessly is there something you want to say Eric mr. Floyd asked not really I mean this is your chance mr. Flair urged I'm not asking you boys to kiss and make up Cody and Eric both instantly frowned and rolled their eyes but this is a chance to clear the air in a safe private environment Cody looked like he may say something as if he was forming the sentence in his head but it was Eric who spoke first look I should have never said that about you it's not how I want to act I'm not proud of it I'm sorry Cody swallow'd reached for a glass of water I got so mad when I heard it he confessed I've been trying to control my temper you know that mr. Floyd I'm sick of getting in trouble but the guys kept out but the guys kept after me they kept getting in my face saying are you gonna let him get away with it the guys mr. Floyd interjected meaning Griffin Connelly Cody instantly realized his mistake Griffin didn't do anything Cody corrected himself it was all on me I threw the punches Eric raised a finger and I caught them it was funny everyone chuckled even mr. Floyd did Griffin encouraged you to fight the counselor s Cody Cody looked across the table at Eric and then back to mr. Floyd his face was a blank stare nobody nobody can make me do something I don't want to do he said yes I understand Cody but Eric interrupted the counselor we're okay mr. Floyd if Cody says this is over then it's over we both made mistakes he reached out a hand and Cody took it truce they said listen to me Cody mr. Floyd said I'll be speaking with your parents I'm going to let them know what we've talked about and I promise you I'll be talking to mr. Conley to this kind of behavior is unacceptable we won't tolerate it in the school there will be consequences when the boys left the office they headed to their lockers fifth period was almost over when Cody stopped at the water fountain Eric paused there too he used you you know that don't you Cody looked up I searching what happened between you and me that was a fair fight it was between us and us only I fight my own battles good Eric replied or in my case not so good Cody grinned yeah and listen it was wrong what how and backed it out there he's a jerk I didn't see him go after you until I'll be all right Eric interrupted I can handle David he'll back he's not my main problem Cody stood motionless then nodded slowly I hear what you're saying the bell rang and the hallway flooded with students Cody and Eric went their separate ways both somehow felt a little better about things