Written by William E. Spear
Published by The Three Fifty-seven
12 March 2024
He’s dying to forget.
She lives to remember.
(Tenny’s Theme fades up)
Hello . . . and welcome to the Three Fifty-seven.
My name is William Spear and this is our series titled SEVENTEEN.
The central character is Severin Vincent Tennyson. Nicknamed “Tenny,” he is a sixty-four-year-old non-verbal, cane-using janitor at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey.
Previously, Jennifer Hargrove, Tenny’s job coach and a junior at the high school, followed him two floors below the auditorium. She found him ramming his head into a locker and yelling “No”, “No!”, “NO!” Grudgingly his hand gestures revealed seeing Superintendent di Stefano for the first time in over forty years triggered a flood of memories.
Also, and leaving the auditorium, the aforementioned Superintendent di Stefano and Principal Baker continued their verbal slugfest.
And now, Episode Six . . . HOSTILITIES ARE RESUMED.
(Tenny’s Theme plays then fades out)
Di Stefano tracked her prey with ruthless intent. She was in lockstep with, and hard on the heels of, Principal Baker and fired continuously: “You have driven Gunderson into the ground. You’ve cut programs and lost students for fifteen years. You’ve destroyed one of the leading high schools in the district. You’ve . . . you’ve . . . I’m talking and ordering you to stop.”
Baker spun around and shot back: “You CAN’T order me. I’m fired.” Then she stepped toward the Super, took another step, and counterattacked: “You and every other bureaucrat have cut the school’s budget and given yourselves raises for twenty years. Despite that, Gunderson still has the highest graduation rate in the district. But the real crime . . .”
Baker let her words hang in the air like an incoming grenade and di Stefano took the bait: “Go on. You have the floor.”
The corners of Baker’s mouth curled up with an assassin’s delight. She built from a whisper: “The real crime is that you’ve never admitted your brother’s death. The entire town went to his funeral but . . . but . . . you . . . Didn’t . . . GO!”
The grenade exploded and emotional shrapnel sent di Stefano reeling backward from her memories.
She remembered the news of his death and not fully understanding. She knew what it meant to die but old people were supposed to die not a young man like her brother. For a moment, she saw him standing in front of her and she reached out her hand but it was slapped away.
“Don’t touch me or I’ll have you arrested.” Baker spun back around turned down a hallway. Di Stefano shook off her fog and resumed the chase.
She rounded the corner into the hallway and found Clarke Evans, the history teacher, talking with Baker in front of a trophy case. Trace Jones, di Stefano’s Chief of Staff, was on the floor recuperating from her ill-advised decisions to call Tenny an “old-timer” and guide him to a rocking chair.
Di Stefano roared for Baker to pack her office and get out.
Baker ignored the Super and continued with Evans: “Are you sure?” The history teacher offered a photograph from the trophy case as proof.
Baker followed up with, “Where is he?” and Evans said he hadn’t seen Tenny or Jennifer since they left the auditorium. Di Stefano accused them of covering up Tenny’s assault on Jones.
Baker continued to ignore the Super and told the history teacher to come with her to Tenny’s locker. Di Stefano demanded on going with them. Evans motioned to another teacher and a few students to help Chief Jones to the school’s Medical Office.
Baker, di Stefano, and Evans climbed down the metal stairs into Gunderson’s basement. Each step clanged a little louder and echoed a little further. Di Stefano wobbled and Evans commented the stairs weren’t built for heels. The Super assured she could manage and Baker countered with, “Just like your brother’s death?”
Di Stefano stopped and threatened one more word about her brother and-
“-And what?” said Baker. “Fire me again?” She resumed the descent.
When they were standing at the bottom, Baker called out, “Tenny!” Through the dark came Jennifer Hargrove’s response, “Over here.” The three headed toward her voice.
Evans winced at Tenny covered in blood. Jennifer assured the flow had stopped from towels she had found. But he was still a red mess. Di Stefano took control and dismissed her: “Your work is done. Leave.”
Tenny rammed his fist onto the table in front of his locker and yelled, “SHE STAYS!”
Baker and Evans jumped.
Di Stefano didn’t flinch and challenged: “Or what?”
Tenny reached into his locker, slammed a wooden box onto the table, and growled, “Or this!”
He took his hands away from the box and it was labeled Paterson Firearms Company.
(Tenny’s Theme fades up)
You’ve listened to Episode Six titled HOSTILITIES ARE RESUMED.
Theme music is through the courtesy of Lemon Music Studio.
William Spear wrote the series and it was published by The Three Fifty-seven.
Thank you for your attention.
(Tenny’s Theme fades out)
WESJr
Clay Track Press 