Swandale Way

“I hear you and my son are seeing each other again,” Principal Crabapple begins. His square face, still as stone as he eyes the student across from him.

She rolls her eyes. A standard reaction for this one. “Well, that’s none of your business, sir. Didn’t know gossip reached you all the way up here,” Jodie calmly remarks. She clears her throat and meets his unwavering gaze. “Is that a problem?”

The older man smiles and leans forward. “Not at all.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Then why bring it up?”

“I have a proposition for you,” he promptly states.

Jodie scoffs. “No offense, sir, but the last proposition you made, sent me to juvie. For six months.”

Principle Crabapple works his jaw. “It’ll be different this time,” he promises.

“How?”

“This won’t be just for Russell’s sake, but for the school,” he reasons.

“And this already doesn’t sound too different to me.”

It began with Russell North. At the beginning of her freshman year at Swandale Academy. A boarding school full of white kids, two Asians, and one black kid. She fell into the latter category. When she met him, Principal Crabapple had brought the boy to her to help tutor him in exchange for some school benefits. Cut a few classes, a little less homework. No big deal.

When Jodie asked why he was so special, the principal talked on and on about the long-standing history of the school. How Russell would be the rising star to put the school back on top in football. How they would sweep state and then reclaim nationals. All with just one kid? The girl shrugged and didn’t ask anymore of it. She didn’t care too much about the sport, but if all she had to do was teach him some stuff, it would be a simple job. She accepted.

Sitting down with him the first day, Jodie understood right away why the school depended on him. For a 14-year-old, Russell was huge. Six feet even, with broad shoulders, and sharp features. Even in the school uniform, it was hard to believe he was a child. They don’t even sell his size in the school store.

Russell didn’t seem too keen on learning. In fact, all he did was sit there until it was time for practice. The next couple of days he came in as he did before. Slouched in his chair, head down, completely ignoring her, until it was time to pack up his things and go. Jodie didn’t even bother wasting her breath. She waved her hellos and goodbyes, keeping herself busy sketching in a black notebook in between then. By the fourth day, he had finally spoken to her.

“What gives?!” The only form of greeting he gave as he stomped towards her in the classroom.

Jodie looked up from her drawings and sees blank homework assignments presented to her. She shrugged.

“I thought you were supposed to be my tutor!”

“Uh. I can’t tutor if you don’t want to be tutored,” she defended. Jodie closed her book and sets it to the side.

“I thought that’s what all that writing in there was for,” he continued to whine, pointing at the notebook. “But you haven’t done anything!”

“Wait. You expect me to do your work?”

Russell’s arm fell to his side. “That’s what they always do for me.”

“Not this one,” Jodie clarified. She kept her eyes on him as he worked out his own thoughts.

“We’ll just see what Crabapple has to say,” he threatens.

Jodie scoffed. “You can try. But good luck finding someone as good as me that isn’t charging money.”

Russell huffed. The last word taken from him. He slumps down in the chair next to her, unwilling to let go of what he’s used to. “I don’t get it.”

Jodie couldn’t help but smile at his pitiful tantrum. “Get what,” she asked to humor him.

“I’m strong. So, I do strong stuff for weak people, like you.” He gestured to her with his hands. Jodie’s eyebrows raise but she allowed him to continue. “You’re smart. So, you do smart stuff for people, like me.”

Jodie tilted her head. “Is that what you think you are? Dumb?”

Russell ruffled his brown hair and confidently replied, “Yes.”

“Well, that’s not fair to yourself.”

“But it’s true. Everyone says it,” Russell said, looking down at his feet.

“I’m not everyone,” Jodie countered. “Wanna know a secret?”

Russell picked his head back up. “What?”

“I’m dumb, too.”

“Nu-uh,” Russell shouted in disbelief.

“It’s true. I’m dumb in football. So, what do you say? I tutor you, you tutor me?”

From that day, Russell North became her first friend since attending Swandale. He soon became her first kiss. Her first date. Her first love. Her first boyfriend. And for a while, they kept it to themselves, or tried to. Gossip spreads fast in Swandale and the secret was out no later than October. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Jodie had been dating a nobody, but with the school super star around her finger, all eyes were on her as well. Mostly envious and spiteful.

Condescending stares appearing more prominent than usual. “Accidental” bumps and pushes were becoming more frequent. And the occasional death threat would slip into her locker. She told him all about it in a crying fit. Russell’s big idea to fix it was to be her forever bodyguard and never leave her side. If people were going to hate her, then why not make them really hate her. Enjoy herself as she supports him at practices and games. Go to dances and be around him all the time. It led to more dates in public and eventually more gifts. It was Jodie’s first glance at the upper-class life. Anything she wanted, she could have it. He pampered and spoiled her to no end. She had never felt happier since she moved.

The only place he couldn’t follow her was the girl’s dorm. And it was the perfect place for them to strike. Four girls from the cheerleading squad trapped Jodie in the bathroom as she was wrapping up her hair for the night. They just wanted to pin her down and cut some of her curls off. They just wanted to humiliate her. They didn’t think she would fight back. Or at least not so hard.

Jodie went into attack mode at the sight of the scissors. She threw one of them face first into a sink before the other three tried to overpower her. Loss of traction caused another one to slip and crack her skull against the tile floor. The last two could only handle few punches before backing off in defeat. Staff promptly showed up collecting all the girls and Jodie was the only one punished.

The story got flipped around to the point where Jodie was the attacker on 4 girls. Uppity parents defending their daughter’s name and face. Blaming Jodie and calling what she did in her nature. At least she left scars on them. With everything against her and no support. Jodie spent the rest of her freshman year and that summer in secure juvie. She returned to Swandale for sophomore year a tad bit more rigid and testy than when she left. Russell being the only one who cared she came back, he wanted desperately to pick things back up between them. And that’s how she ended up in the principal’s office.

“Why would I bother with you? You’ve already proven you would never defend me. When I needed you, you took their side. You didn’t care enough about me to know my story,” Jodie fumes at Principal Crabapple.

“I know your father is in jail. I know your stepmother didn’t want anything to do with you. I know she ripped you away from Oakland and flew you up her in New Hampshire by yourself. I know you’re alone.”

Jodie stays quiet.

“I know I wasn’t there for you and should have. I messed up,” he confesses. Let me make that up to you.”

“How?”

“A hundred thousand dollars right now and it’s water under the bridge.”

Jodie coughs. “You serious?”

“20 thousand now, to show you how serious I am.” Crabapple never breaks his gaze as Jodie searches for a hint of lies.

“What’s this other proposition you have?”

“You know my son quit football because of you?”

“And you want me to get back in?”

“And maintain a healthy relationship for as long as he’s in.”

Jodie pauses in thought. “He put you up to this?”

It’s the principal’s turn to scoff. “This is Russell we’re talking about.”

“And what do I get out of this?”

“Whatever you please. Whatever it takes. I know you like to draw. A scholarship or two wouldn’t hurt in helping you chase your dreams,” he offers.

“Wouldn’t I be using him,” she asks timidly.

“Can you truly use what you already have? You’re already have him. I’m basically giving you free money.”

Jodie is in shock at this.

“There’s a lesson in life I want to teach you, girl. It’s not about how hard you work, but who you work for and how hard you work for them. Work hard for me and you’ll never have to worry.”

“The bullies?”

“I can expel them today.”

Jodie laughs. “This is insane.”

“You may not now it, but you’re the biggest player here. And I need you. Your answer, Ms. Robinson?”

Jodie sits quietly, thinking long and hard before finally speaking.

“Can I get it in writing?”