Ask Me Some Questions and I'll Tell You No Lies
"I don't know how to begin. I've never come here with this type of situation."
"Well, why don't you start at the beginning? I've been your guidance counselor for four years, and you've only come to see me about college applications. Since you're going to Georgetown on a football scholarship--congratulations by the way--I know it's not about that. Something is troubling you, I can see that."
"I'm embarrassed." He couldn't look her in the face.
"Don't be. You can tell me anything. I've heard it all before."
"Maybe I'd be more comfortable talking to a man. Is Mr. Keltner in his office?"
"Please, talk to me. I want to listen. It's my job you know." She smiled, and he looked up and gave a half-smile back.
He inhaled sharply, and an uneasy silence followed.
"Is something the matter at home?" she prodded. "Are things alright between your parents, or between you and your parents?"
"No, it's nothing like that." His voice had a pathetic quality to it.
"Something is obviously bothering you." He leaned back in his chair, considering whether coming to the guidance office was a good idea. He had stood in the doorway unsure if he had the guts to enter, when Mrs. Hall saw him and roped him into her office.
"My girlfriend is sleeping with another guy," he blurted.
"Oh, Chad, that's awful. She broke up with you?"
He didn't answer.
"You'll be OK. Hey, you're the football hero! You led the team to the league title. I'm sure the girls will be all over you once they hear you're back in circulation. It'll be tough, for sure, but you'll get over her." She was trying to rebuild his confidence.
He said nothing.
"I'm sorry Chad, I really am. When did this happen. You and Kate have been dating for almost a year, and you seemed so happy together, but do you really want to be going out with someone who would betray you like that? Count yourself lucky, in a way."
"We didn't break up."
"Really? She slept with another boy and you forgave her? Well, that's very noble of you. Forget that last thing I just said." She paused. "Have you talked about it? Did she promise you it wouldn't happen again?"
"You don't understand," he answered, his voice choking up.
"OK, explain it to me."
"She wants to keep dating me, but not have sex. She only wants to have sex with him. It's like she's his slave or something."
Kimberly Hall leaned forward in her chair. Though she had assured the young man in front of her that she had "heard it all," this was new to her. "What? Slave? Who, Chad, who is Kate having sex with? This is important. I need to know. I have a legal responsibility to report abuse, so you must tell me."
Chad thought he was going to pass out in fear and shame. "Alan Marshall. Kate is," his voice strangled up as he said the next word, "fucking Alan Marshall. And he is also dating Pauline." Chad wiped the tears from his face.
* * *
Kim Hall didn't know what to do for a second. Composing herself, she sent Chad Krieger to the nurse's office to lay down for the rest of the day. She then went to the main office and looked up Kate Van Devanter's schedule. A few minutes later she had reached the classroom, and after a brief conversation with Mr. Eichler, Kate's social studies teacher, she was walking with her back to her office.
"I don't understand, Mrs. Hall. You're not my counselor. Where's Mr. Ruggerio?"
Kim ignored her protests and gestured Kate to take a seat. "Before we start I just need to know, are you OK?" Kim asked the girl.
"I'm fine. What makes you think otherwise?"
"Chad Krieger was just in here, and he told me that Alan Marshall may be abusing you. Is there any truth in that?"
"No."
"'No.' That's it? That's all you have to say? 'No.'"
"Right."
"Did he threaten you? Did he tell you he'd hurt you if you said anything to anyone?"
"No."
"Is that all you're going to say?"
"Yes."
* * *
Kate left Mrs. Hall's office and walked to the end of the hall. After turning the corner she broke out into a run. She knew that Alan was in Math class because her friend Suzy was in the same class, and by the time she reached the door to the classroom the bell was about to ring. She cornered Alan as he came out and led him to the end of the hall.
"We've got trouble. Chad went to Mrs. Hall and told him about us. What are we going to do?"
"Come with me, slut. I'll take care of it."
"Where are we going?" she whined.
"We're going to see her. I'll explain everything to her."
"NO!" she gasped, causing heads to turn in the hallway.
"Are you questioning me, slut?" he asked her sotto voce.
"Yes. Maybe. No," she whimpered softly.
He pulled her aside, into an alcove. "Who am I?"
"Y-y-you're Alan. I don't understand."
"Who am I to you?"
"My m-m-master." She began to tremble slightly.