Tag: Seventeen

Written by William E. Spear

Published by The Three Fifty-seven

26 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.

Severin Vincent Tennyson, a sixty-four-year-old non-verbal, cane-using janitor at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey, has spoken for the first time in over forty years.

In the basement of the high school, Tenny is reliving battles only he can see while struggling to deliver a decades-old message to Superintendent Millicent di Stefano from her deceased brother, Tony. He is surrounded by Di Stefano, Principal Baker, History Teacher Clarke Evans, and Jennifer Hargrove, Tenny’s job coach.

And now the Eighth, and Concluding, Episode titled . . . HIS FINAL MISSION.

(Tenny’s Theme plays and goes under)

Tenny was distracted by the approaching sounds of whirring and slicing helicopter rotors.

His basement rattled and locker fell over.

He shook Millicent’s shoulders and shouted, “Get out!”

Metal beams twisted, growled, and dropped from the ceiling. It was chaos for one.

He backed away from her, grabbed his head, screamed, and collapsed.

(Loud explosion sound comes up and goes under)

Forty years melted away and he was lying in the midst of a bombed helicopter. Ears ringing and body bleeding, he called out: “Tony? Tony. Tony!”

Smoke stung his eyes and combat deafened him but he looked for his colleague. “TONY!”

A whisper, imagined and real, begged, “Tenny.” The voice was under a pile of rotors and cockpit.

Tenny dug into the rubble, pulled off the metal, found his friend from high school, Tony di Stefano, and screamed for a medic. And screamed again: “MEDIC!”

Tony spoke: “Take this to Millicent.” Tenny refused explaining he would get well and deliver it himself.

Tony shook his head “No” and demanded his request be honored but again it was refused. He held out his hand and this time Tenny knelt and grabbed it with his. Tony whispered, “Be strong.”

Sounds erupted around them.

Tenny wept. As his tears fell so did one more explosion . . .

(Loud explosion sound comes up and goes under)

. . . And he drifted through his memories looking for his friend.

Sitting in his hospital room, and watching over him as she had since becoming his job coach in her sophomore year, was Jennifer Hargrove. She heard him call out: “Tony? Tony!”

She heard him plead, “Don’t leave. Come back!”

She also heard him cry. Deep, body-racking sobs.

She remained stoic. Her posture was as rigid as Tenny’s cane leaning against her chair. She waited. Hour after hour, waited until . . .

There! A soft metal click followed by padded footsteps coming closer. She closed her eyes and calculated the distance of the intruder. Not yet . . . don’t move . . . a little bit more . . . NOW.

With a lightning move, she grabbed the cane and swung it within an inch of the throat of . . . Millicent di Stefano.

Jennifer cut the distance between them in half and growled, “I thought it was your stench.” The swiftness of the cane and fierceness of the interrogation caught di Stefano by surprise.

Hargrove ordered di Stefano to leave and raised the cane to strike but-

“It’s okay, J-j-jennifer,” spoke Tenny. “Thank you.”

He had never said her name and she smiled at the gesture. But she kept the cane aimed in di Stefano’s direction.

Millicent asked Tenny how he felt and Jennifer barged into the conversation: “How do you think he feels?” She turned to Tenny and said, “Say the word and I’ll throw her out.”

Tenny stared at Millicent and said, “She’s a fffriend.” Millicent told Tenny he was lucky to have such a friend.

Millicent spoke in a barely heard voice: “You said Tony wanted . . .” Tenny stared and Jennifer tightened the grip on the cane.

Millicent closed her eyes and steeled herself: “I am curious . . . curious to know what . . . if it is not going to upset you . . . what he wanted me to have.” When she opened her eyes, Tenny was offering three military dog tags. The first two were inscribed Anthony di Stefano and his enlistment date from forty years ago.

The third read: “Millie-You are always with me. Your loving brother, Tony.”

She sagged from the weight of delayed emotions and hugged Tenny. Jennifer lowered the cane.

However, Principal Baker entered and lacked any sentimentality. She strode to pull di Stefano off Tenny. Jennifer put up a hand to signal everything was okay.

Baker waited while the forty-year-delayed reunion played out. Millicent and Tenny separated and he spoke: “P-p-principal Baker, I’ve never p-p-properly introduced myself. I am Severin V-v-vincent Tennyson. Please feel free to c-c-call me T-t-tenny.”

They shook hands and Baker spoke: “It’s a pleasure to speak with you. While you were unconscious, doctors conducted tests and identified anomalies. Severe anomalies. Possibly connected to your combat service. They would like to discuss their findings with the possible recommendation of corrective surgery and related risks.”

He looked at Jennifer and said, “Maybe n-n-no more c-c-cane” and she smiled. He looked at Millicent and said, “You h-h-have everything f-f-from Tony” and she smiled.

He spoke to Principal Baker: “P-p-please ask the doctors to c-c-come in.”

(Sombre music plays and goes under)

Three months later, a sombre group gathered in a cemetery. Words such as “brave” and “courageous” were offered and acknowledged.

Chief of Staff Trace Jones, her missing puzzle piece restored, and Clarke Evans, history teacher at Gunderson High School, stood on the perimeter.

Jennifer Hargrove, job coach and soon-to-be-senior, was on the side of the grave. Next to her was Principal D.B. Baker.

Furthest from the headstone was Superintendent Millicent di Stefano. With her eyes fixed forward, she only glanced away to watch a wreath placed upon the grave.

Tenny struggled to stand and Jennifer instinctively stepped to his side. He thanked her and said, “Maybe getting rid of the cane was premature.” They smiled and leaned on each other.

Principal Baker stiffly asked the Superintendent to say a few words but she shook her head “No”.

Baker asked if Tenny might speak and di Stefano nodded “Yes”.

Tenny bowed his head, thought, then spoke to the headstone: “Anthony di Stefano served the country with distinction. With his final words, he launched me on a mission to deliver a precious gift.”

Millicent clutched the dog tags from her neck and stared at them.

Tenny continued: “But Tony’s gift went beyond that. As his life ended, he offered guidance that goes beyond the battlefield and echoes in every day moments. He said, “Be strong.” May each of us honor the memory of Anthony di Stefano and ‘Be strong’.”

Jennifer squeezed Tenny’s arm. Clarke patted his shoulder and Trace complimented his eulogy. The four walked away.

Principal Baker turned to join them but the Superintendent said, “Stay . . . Please.” The principal stayed. Reluctantly.

The Superintendent continued to stare at her brother’s headstone and spoke: “The Board wishes you to know it appreciates your return as Principal of Gunderson.”

Baker chose to say nothing.

The Superintendent went on: “The Board also acknowledges the outstanding work you have done with the school’s reduced budget.”

Baker screamed her silence through clenched jaws and gritted teeth.

The Superintendent took one more verbal step: “The Board-”

“-Has it ever occurred to you that I don’t care what you or the Board say or do?” roared Baker.

Di Stefano faced her detractor and resumed: “The Board appointed you as Superintendent of the district.”

She started walking to catch up with the others but Baker blocked her path and demanded: “What do you mean?”

Di Stefano sidestepped and tossed over her shoulder, “You got what you wanted.”

From behind her, di Stefano heard mocking laughter and cutting words: “Poor, poor Millicent di Stefano. Still running from the world.”

“Poor, poor Millicent” reversed course and Principal Baker braced for combat.

Di Stefano flashed bravado: “I submitted my letter of resignation.” “And?” prodded Baker.

“And told them you were better suited for the position,” alleged di Stefano. Baker bore down: “That’s not what happened.”

Di Stefano considered bravado or humanity and chose the latter: “I told them I needed time to grieve Tony’s death.” Forty years of denial fell from her.

Baker’s hostile tone relented but she maintained her intellectual distance. She walked by and offered a monotone: “That took courage. Compliments.”

Di Stefano delightfully switched gears: “However, I did recommend you for the Superintendent position.” She stared at the Principal, nodded her head up and down, and reiterated: “Yes, I really did.”

Baker did her best to fight back a smile but the corners of her mouth curled up. “Thank you,” she said then went on. “What are you going to do?”

The two walked toward the others and Millicent answered: “Travel the world. See where Tony died.”

Baker supported: “Let us know where you are. And, Millicent . . .”

They faced each other and Baker continued: “Take your Chief of Staff.” Di Stefano argued: “That was part of the deal.” Baker teased: “I’ll give you back the Super job.”

Millicent defended Jones: “She’s better organized than four of you and has more decorum than eight of you. Admittedly, a cactus has better decorum than you. Beyond that, she can navigate the Board blindfolded.”

Baker admitted better decorum alone was worth it. She offered her hand: “Deal.”

(Tenny’s Theme fades up)

You’ve listened to Episode Eight titled HIS FINAL MISSION.

Theme music is through the courtesy of Lemon Music Studio.

William Spear wrote and narrated the series and it was produced by The Three Fifty-seven.

Thank you for your attention.

(Tenny’s Theme fades out)

WESJr

Written by William E. Spear

Published by The Three Fifty-seven

19 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 story is about 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. Upon seeing Superintendent Millicent di Stefano for the first time in over forty years, he ran from the auditorium yelling, “Seventeen.”

In the previous episode, the Super, Principal Baker, and History Teacher Clarke Evans went into the Gunderson basement looking for Tenny. They found him, covered in blood, with his job coach, Jennifer Hargrove.

Di Stefano tried sending Hargrove away but Tenny roared, “SHE STAYS!” The Super confronted him asking, “Or, what?” He reached into his locker and slammed a large wooden box onto a table.

And now Episode Seven . . . AUGERING IN.

(Tenny’s Theme plays and goes under)

The box was sized and shaped to hold a large handgun. Tenny stepped back from it and across the top was labeled Paterson Firearms Company.

Clarke stepped in and spoke: “There’s no need for that.”

Tenny stood firm, tapped the table, and said, “Need now.” He turned to Millicent:

“Four? . . . You?” He winced at the lights stabbing his brain.

“For me?” she asked looking at the others.

“Not . . . for you? . . . Ffff-four? . . . You?” He rubbed his temples.

“I understand. For me,” she said.

Tenny looked at Jennifer as if to ask, “Does she have a brain?” and Jennifer shrugged back, “It doesn’t look like it.”

Clarke explained:

“He is asking “Four” as in the number “Four.” “Four? You?”

Millicent was more confused: “Why would he ask if I am a Four?”

Clarke continued, “He wants to know.”

Millicent stared at Clarke: “Maybe I’m a Nine. Or an Eighty-two.”

Clarke went on: “Are you the sister of the quarterback-“

-Millicent’s eyes lit up with recognition:

“-Tony, my brother, wore number Four,” said Millicent.

“Four,” smiled Tenny. Then he tapped his chest and pushed his words through gritted teeth, “Ssssss-seventeen.”

Clarke spoke, “Tenny caught the championship-game-winning touchdown pass thrown by your brother forty years ago.” He handed the photograph from the trophy case to di Stefano.

Tenny grimaced: “F-F-Four threw. I c-c-caught.” Blood started flowing from his nose and he wiped it on his shirt sleeve.
   
Clarke continued: “After he made the catch he got brutally hit – a severe concussion – and was hospitalized. But held onto the ball.”

Tenny rubbed his temple and slid the box across the desk. She looked around before opening it.

Inside was the game football and an inscription:

“To Severin Vincent Tennyson – number Seventeen – you are a great champion. And an even better person. Your friend.” Millicent choked on the words, “ Tony di Stefano – number Four.”

Tenny spoke: “For you.”

She looked up and said, “But he meant that for you.”

Tenny began stretching and twisting his neck as if something was preparing to burst from it. He continued, “T-T-Tony wanted . . . give you-u-u . . . m-m-more”

Millicent asked, “What more?”

Tenny was distracted by whirring and slicing sounds. In the distance but recognizable.

Millicent was frantic: “What else did Tony want me to have?”

The noises were coming closer. An explosion shook Tenny’s basement and toppled his locker.

He shook Millicent’s shoulders and shouted, “Get out!”

Metal beams twisted, screeched, and dropped in front of him. It was a singular chaos.

He backed away from her, grabbed his head, and screamed.

And collapsed.

(Tenny’s Theme fades up)

You’ve listened to Episode Seven titled AUGERING IN.

Theme music is through the courtesy of Lemon Music Studio.

William Spear wrote and narrated the series and it was produced by The Three Fifty-seven.

Thank you for your attention.

(Tenny’s Theme fades out)

WESJr

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

Written by William E. Spear

Published by The Three Fifty-seven

9 March 2024

SEVENTEEN, Episode 5 – The Clenched Fist

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 the continuation of 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.

In a previous episode, the appearance of the newly hired Superintendent Millicent di Stefano, triggered Tenny to run from the auditorium thumping his chest shouting “Seventeen.”

By the way, no one in the school had seen him even walk without his cane, let alone run. Nor had anyone ever hear him speak.

Along the way, he left the super’s Chief of Staff sprawled on the floor like a jigsaw puzzle missing a few pieces.

Also, Jennifer Hargrove, Tenny’s job coach and a junior at the high school, quietly slipped out of the auditorium and followed him.

And now, Episode Five . . . THE CLENCHED FIST.

(Tenny’s Theme plays then fades out)

Jennifer descended into the lowest part of Gunderson’s basement. Dimly lit with pipes everywhere, finding Tenny in the dark would take forever.

Until . . . There! In the distance! A muffled Bang! and No! were heard. The sound and the scream echoed everywhere and might have come from anywhere.

A few more Bangs! and Noes! guided her through the dark.

At the end of a long corridor, beneath a bulb hanging from above, Tenny was ramming his head into a locker. Over and over and over. Screaming No. No! NO!

His shirt was covered with blood.

People, places, and memories came screaming back. He slammed one more vicious time and let loose an angry “NOOOO!”

From behind him a voice spoke: “Tenny.”

He did not want this to happen. He knew the voice was inside his head and did not look.

It spoke again: “Tenny.”

When the hand touched his shoulder, he screamed and spun around. Jennifer asked: “What’s happening?”

He clenched his fist and rapped against the side of his head. Why he was punching himself?

Tenny shook his head “No” and pointed upward.

“In the auditorium?” she guessed. He shook his head “Yes” then rapped his fist against the side of head.

She continued: “’They?’ hurt you.” Tenny held up a single finger. Only one person was hurting him.

Jennifer was puzzled. He knew everyone but never responded like this before. She shrugged her shoulders and he emphatically held up a single finger. “Alright, alright,” she said. “Don’t yell at me.”

Principal Baker? He shook his head, “No.”

Clarke Evans, the history teacher? Again, “No”, then touched his forefingers to his thumbs and put the circles over his eyes.

Glasses? Jennifer tried to remember. Tenny pulled a quarter from his pocket, put it in front of her face, put his forefinger-thumb circles over his eyes, and tapped his wrist.

Silver glasses! Superintendent di Stefano! She wore silver glasses and a metal wristwatch. But how did he know the super?

He put his hand over his heart, held up four fingers, then pointed upward.

Meanwhile, the bespectacled and wristwatch-wearing Superintendent di Stefano was engaged in verbal warfare with Principal Baker. Di Stefano roared: “I’m talking and ordering you to stop.”

Baker spun around and shot back: “You CAN’T order me. I’m fired.”

(Tenny’s Theme fades up)

You’ve listened to Episode Five titled THE CLENCHED FIST.

Theme music is through the courtesy of Lemon Music Studio.

William Spear wrote and narrated the series and it was produced by The Three Fifty-seven.

Thank you for listening.

(Tenny’s theme fades out)

WESJr