All characters are eighteen and over.
I tried to do something a little different with this story, interjecting an inner monologue throughout. I hope you enjoy.
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"Send her in Jeanine. This may take a while, so if you need to head out for the weekend, that's alright," Principal Eriksen said. "See you next week" was the reply he heard over the phone. He had set up a late meeting, and given that it was a Friday, Mr. Eriksen was left to work by himself in the faculty office. Joseph Eriksen was in his sixth year overseeing the students and faculty at Blackhawk Valley prep school. Beloved by his students, and well liked in the community. He was a handsome man, a former athlete that had aged gracefully. Usually fastidious, he wore a well fitting pair of slacks, vest, and well pressed white shirt today. Rounding out the ensemble, he wore a tie in the school colors of blue and yellow.
He smiled broadly as the girl peeked her head in. "Susan! Take a seat." He gestured to a large comfortable looking seat in front of his desk. Mr. Eriksen had known Susan Pearson's family for a long time. His family had gone to church with Susan's family together, and he had seen her grow from a precocious youngster to a beautiful young woman.
Susan gave a small smile as she closed the door behind her. Shuffling around the seat, she sat down on the seat and straightened out her skirt. She was smartly dressed in Blackhawk Valley's school uniform. A crisp white shirt was buttoned down into her blue plaid skirt, long socks came up to her knees. In a word, Susan could be described as petite. Even with her modest inch and a half heels, she was no taller than five foot four. Once seated she gave Principal Eriksen a pleasant smile. He was seated in a comfy looking office chair behind his desk. It was clean, with the exception of his monthly desk planner and a single page of paper on top of it.
'Why am I here? On a Friday no less? I wonder if it's some sort of senior project that Mr. Eriksen wants me to work on. I didn't hear of any of the other valedictorian candidates being called in to the office.'
"Miss Pearson, how have you been? It's been a little while since we've had a chance to talk."
"Busy. I've been very busy," Susan had to admit.
"I would figure you would be at this point in your senior year," the principal said.
"Yeah, all the AP classes. We finished up basketball season. Soccer is coming up. Fencing a couple times a week. I'm tutoring a couple kids. Thankfully drama finished up with the Seussical last weekend," she said.
"I had a chance to see it. The costuming was especially fantastic. Give my compliments to Ms. Vallejo. So, where are you going to school next year? You are one of the school's brightest lights."
'Is this it? It seems a little weird that he's just checking in on me. Hopefully that's all it is.'
"Well, I did manage to get a number of offers for scholarships, both in state and out of state. However, I think I'm going to stay in state. It's cheaper, and a little more convenient. Besides, it's still a good school too," the senior replied.
"Of course, of course. This is good to hear," his smile faded. "Miss Pearson, do you know why you were called in here?" he asked.
"I...was actually wondering myself," Susan replied coolly, straightening out her skirt again. She was actually getting more and more nervous.
'Its okay, everything is okay right?'
"Well, it was brought to my attention by Miss Carragher that you plagiarized your essay response to the last unit exam. Over ninety percent of it was copied from another source. As you know, plagiarism and academic dishonesty are taken seriously at Blackhawk Valley. Do you have anything you have to say in response?" Joseph said grimly.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck. What do I say? He wouldn't understand. How did she figure that out? Sasha took that test years ago, no way that's in some system. What's going to happen to me. I'm going to lose everything. Everything.'
Tears welling up in her eyes, "I...I was SO busy! I didn't know what to do. Do you know how much pressure my parents placed on me? Every single day I had a practice or a game. There were tests, and essays, and the AP tests are coming up." She started crying. "I needed that. I just wanted a break. I needed a little bit of time."
"Susan," he said softly. "Take a breath. Listen to what I have to say first before you get too caught up in this." He leaned over, and held out a box of tissues to her.
She looked up at him. Taking a tissue, she wiped her face and dabbed her eyes. Her normally bright blue eyes were a little red. Looking down, she took a big breath and looked up and met Mr. Eriksen's kind eyes.
'Wait...what's going on? He doesn't seem as upset as he should be.'
"Before you is a choice. Either one is valid, but let me tell you about them first before you make your decision. Given the guidelines, normally in response to academic dishonesty I would have to contact your other teachers about your indiscretion. The test grade in question would be considered a zero. In addition to that, I would have to call your parents at home." At this point Susan started into another quiet sob. "Finally, your counselor will have to contact the universities you have been accepted to."
Susan's heart started pounding in her chest. Her vision narrowed for a moment.
'This would ruin me. Everybody would know. I'd be a cheater, a waste. What will my parents say to me? I've worked so hard. Wait, my scholarships they'd be gone too. I'd have nothing left.'
Looking down at her hand, she nervously flexed it over and over. Susan had stopped crying but had started breathing quickly, almost hyperventilating.
Mr. Eriksen had gotten up, and moved around his desk. Crouching down beside Susan's chair, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Alternatively, according to Blackhawk's book of rights and responsibilities there is another way. At my discretion, I can provided clemency if you consent to corporal punishment."
'What does he mean, corporal punishment? Does he mean to belt me? Paddle me? Here, now?'
He handed her a sheet: "By signing this document, I declare that the entirety of the following statement is true...'Susan Pearson plagiarized and copied portions of an essay for use in completing an exam, as attested to by Miss Carragher. By signing this document, you declare to submit to corporal punishment as given by J. Eriksen. If you fail to accept the punishment, then you will be subject to standard responses as indicated by the Blackhawk book of rights and responsibilities. If the corporal punishment is carried to completion the infraction will be declared forgiven, and no further punishment will be administered. Beyond this document, no record will be kept." At the bottom of the sheet was a line for Susan to sign, along with the date. Next to that was a line that Susan assumed would be for Mr. Eriksen to assign.
'Forgiven...no record kept. I would...be okay with that. No one would have to know. Hold on...'
