Rot decides this has gone far enough

"Coach Phillips," Rot said, "Miss Gomez is quite correct. You have stepped over the line from disciplining a student who, frankly has done nothing wrong with physical **** of that student and verbal **** of one of your fellow faculty."

Rot wouldn't have guessed Coach Phillips could turn redder but he managed. "You know what we did in the Marines to punks who talked back?"

"I imagine you gave them a chance to defend their positions."

Coach Phillips snickered. "Is that what you want? To defend yourself? From me?"

"You mean so you could get me expelled for fighting with a faculty member who attacked me?" Despite Coach Phillips's hands on his throat, Rot spared a glance at Miss Gomez to see how she was taking this. He couldn't get the way her ass had wiggled out of his mind which, he knew, was not really the best preparation for a fight."

"A coward always has an excuse," Coach Phillips shouted.

"Good to know," Rot answered calmly. "So, what's your excuse for not showing up at my martial arts training program after school? Maybe you're too busy to actually spar, man to man? Maybe your coaching duties--"

Coach Phillips threw Rot, hard but Rot had been watching Coach Phillips's eyes for what turned out to be an obvious tell. Rather than crash into the female coach lockers, Rot spun in the air, kicked off, and landed on his feet. "I'm sorry," he said. "What, exactly, was your excuse, Coach?"

"Marines learn real fighting, not that phony Chinko crap. You dare show up, I'll take off my coach hat and show you what marines do to faggot-pussies."

Wow, Rot thought. I'd forgotten how rampant homophobia was back in 1971.

Rather than address Coach Phillips's hate speech, Rot turned to Miss Gomez. "Since you detained me, I wonder if you'd write me a note explaining my tardiness to French."

"I'll take you to class myself," she said. "Are you sure you're all right?" She brushed her soft fingers against his throat where, Rot suspected, Coach Phillips's fat fingers had left bruises.

"I am a little sore," Rot said.

"Let me look you over before I take you back, then." Miss Gomez glared at Coach Phillips. "If you've finished defending your muscle-bound football players, please leave so I can give this poor boy first aid.

Coach Phillips growled, made a few more disparaging remarks about Mexicans, but he did finally leave.

"Now," Miss Gomez said, "let's get a look at you."