Monday the 27th

After leaving Jennifer's house, you puttered around the house doing chores and grading papers.

Monday rolled around, and you woke to the sounds of thunder as another storm system was moving through the area. After arriving for the day, you posted a notice that cheer practice was moved to the gymnasium.

The day from there started as normal, aside from some of your students who kept wishing for the power to fail again. You were sitting in the teachers' lounge during your administrative period, going over some parental correspondence. A person from the office arrived in the lounge.

"Mr. Clarkson," Junior Utumbwei stated, coming over to you.

Looking up, you replied, "Whatcha need, Junior?"

"Sir, the principal asked for you to go to the conference room, sir."

"Okay, let me finish this message, and I'll be right there," you tell him.

Nodding, Junior leaves the lounge while you complete your message assuring Mrs. Jackson that you will teach real US history and not woke nonsense.

Laptop in hand, you ambled over to the front office. Entering the room, you nodded to Alice before knocking on the conference room door.

Principal Smalley opened the door for you. A chill ran down your spine as you saw sitting at the conference table two police officers. You were already mentally preparing yourself for the worst when the corporal and older man about your age cleared his throat.

Standing up, the officer shook your hand, saying, "Mr. Clarkson, thanks for coming. I'm Corporal Derek Winters, and this is my partner, Officer Jaimie Smith." The other officer and young woman in her mid-20s nodded to you. "We have some questions about one of your students, Miss Rebecca Thompson."

Sitting down at the table, you asked, "Well, she's in my fourth-period class. How can I help you?"

Opening up a manila folder, Corporal Winters looked at the contents before asking you, "Sir, we received a report that the young lady has run away from home."

You fought down a sigh of relief and replied with what was suitably puzzled, "Really, when did this happen?"

"According to the report, last week on Monday the 19th, Rebecca Thompson, after getting into an argument with her parents, fled her home and has not returned." Corporal Winters stated.

You blinked in confusion several times before replying, "She was in class all last week, and she was at the pool party that our head cheerleader threw for our team on Saturday." Leaning back, you then add, "She's also been sitting in the bleachers during each of the cheer practices, doing homework."

You see, Corporal Winters, write that down as you were asked by Officer Smith, "Do you know anything about why she fled her home?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," you reply. "Last Tuesday at the end of practice, I heard my head cheerleader go with her and Rebecca to the girls' home to retrieve what remained of her things."

"That's strange; you're saying she went home the next day. But according to her father, she hasn't been seen since that Monday," Officer Davies wondered.

Leaning in, you say, "Listen, I asked Jennifer and Rebecca about what was going on, and here's what I learned."

Corporal Winters is jotting down notes as you informed them, "Rebecca and Jennifer are together." "You pause to let that sink in." Apparently, Rebecca went home with a visible hickey, and her parents flipped."

"Hmmmm, first thing we've heard about this." Corporal Winters opined while scribbling on his notepad.

"According to Jennifer Marlow, they called her a whore and threw her out." You stated solemnly.

"Anything else we should know," Corporal Winters asked.

You think before saying, "I don't know if it's relevant, but during the fight apparently Rebecca threw out an accusation that her mother was sleeping with her church's female pastor."

Leaning back, you hoped they got everything they needed without a hint that you were fucking the girls in question.

The officers thanked you for your help. Leaving the conference room, you saw Rebecca seated in the outer office with Felecia Goodie, the school counselor.

You give the teen a helpful smile as she and Miss Goodie go into the conference room. As the door closes, Principal Smalley turns to you, sighing, "It's a shame that some parents can't accept certain things about their children."

Nodding, you say, "Well, what can you do?"

Barbara looks at you for a moment. "There is one thing. You were at Miss Marlow's team party on Saturday."

You smile, saying, "Yeah, I ended up slaving away at the grill all day."

Barabara smiled before counseling you, "I'd be hesitant at going to any more unsanctioned parties with your students. Some parents might jump to conclusions."

"Thanks for the warning, Barbara. I'll take it to heart," you say before heading back to your classroom.

Walking back to class, you fire off a quick text to Jennifer. Arriving at your classroom, there were a couple students waiting for you as you unlocked the door.