The 'Cousins'

Part Sixty-Six : Leon Moves Ahead While Walt Backs off

Time line, 11:12 Friday 20th April, Principal’s Office

‘I am sorry; Dr. Armstrong is very busy and cannot be disturbed. Is your business with him urgent. Perhaps I can help you?”

The College Secretary spoke in clipped, business like phrases that brooked no argument. She regarded Leon with suspicion over the top of her spectacles from her seat behind her desk.

Leon shuffled and fidgeted as he stood in front of her, fingering his throat and feigned looking lost. He glanced down at his feet and mumbled

“Not really Ma’am, and in a way it could be urgent, but I’m not sure. ...Perhaps you can tell me without having to bother Dr. Armstrong?”

Leon spoke politely and with respect. The secretary liked that, her solemn face cracked into a thin smile. She laid her spectacles on the desk in front of her shaking her head gently, causing her hair to swish prettily from one side of her head to the other.

“Why don’t you tell me what it is that’s troubling you." She asked with a slightly broader smile. She expected to hear one of the problems afflicting adolescents of his age that they brought to her almost every working day.

“Well Ma’am, it’s a bit awkward.” Leon dropped his head after speaking as if embarrassed.   Miss Patten assumed he preferred to talk to a man about his problem and that it was likely of a sexual nature. She smiled encouragingly at the boy and adopted a motherly demeanour with a corresponding tone to her voice. 

“You’re Leon aren’t you in the 12th grade?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“Well Leon, let me tell you, I have worked here for a good many years, and in that time have heard across this desk just about every issue, problem or difficulty that a student could encounter.”

Her smile widened further to give reassurance before continuing;  “I doubt very much, that you are going to tell me something I have not heard before; perhaps many times before. …That means I can probably help you. So, don’t be shy; if you want help, you’ll have to tell me what it is that’s troubling you? You can tell me in absolute confidence.” She finished with a smile that was almost a grin.

Leon fidgeted some more, looking to his left and then to his right, rubbing his Adam’s apple to build up the picture of his distress before replying. He hoped he was not over acting the part of the troubled schoolboy. Cherie Patten watched him closely, maintaining a benevolent smile while she waited for him to explain his predicament. She prompted him after waiting in silence for several seconds.

“Come on now Leon, out with it,” she spoke in soft, comforting tones perfected over her years of dealing with adolescents. Leon shuffled once more and looked up to meet her eye. “Well Ma’am, it’s not really about me. It’s about Jess White in 11th Grade. You see we were going down to his Pa’s place on Sunday to help him with the hay making and now we can’t go.”

The secretary sighed with relief and sat more comfortably in her chair. “I see; and why can’t you go. Do you have no transport?”

“No Ma’am. It’s not transport. I have my own car; It’s Dr. Armstrong. I heard he’s grounded Jess and he can’t leave the campus. That’s why we can’t go. I wanted to check if that’s right with the Principal.”

Cherie Patten pushed back her chair and stood up. “You wait there Leon. Perhaps I can sneak in and have a quick word with him and clear this up for you.”

"Thanks Ma’am.” Leon afforded her the special smile he saved for charming girls.

She tapped lightly on the door to the Principal’s office, placing her ear to the door panel and went inside once she heard his invitation for her to ‘come in’. She entered and closed the door firmly behind her.