The Honor Roll: Episode 5. The Gifted One: Part 1 of 3

   As a day ends at Waters Elementary, Thomas prepares to leave his office, as Dwight walks inside, and tells Thomas "There's a meeting today in the Media Center you and I have to attend." Thomas rolls his eyes, as he sighs "IEP?" Dwight nods, and tells him "It's about the kid that's in the Special Ed program with Maura." Thomas asks "Who's going to be there?" Dwight asks "Do you take nerve pills?" Thomas responds with a question "And will there be anyone there besides you, and Erica, that can distract me?" Thomas responds "Pat and Alice. He's in their classes also, and Pat taught a second class in the Special Ed program for a few years before I was promoted by Mr.Bevis to become the Counselor, and Pat returned to 5th Grade, and Ms.Winnie replaced her before she went to being an assistant, and the classes merged." Thomas goes "Caswell County politics never change do they?" Dwight responds "It was a madhouse here for a few years. But Mrs.Betty and Mr.Fred donated to the schools when they still worked here. Mrs.Betty stayed as Principal until she was 80 years old, and.." Thomas tells Dwight "I already know, and that Mr.Black and Blue (Mr.Bevis) took most of the load off of her." Dwight asks "Well let's go to this meeting Thomas. And keep your cool." Thomas quips "I think I'll be joining Pat for a cigarette after this is over."
   Inside the Media Center, The Directors of "The Graveyard" arrives, as Maura hugs Ken Walton, and Trish Marsh, as Erica sits at the table, and Ken extends his hand to Erica, and Erica responds "Dr.Walton, pull that hand back before you lose a hand." Trish laughs "Shouldn't you have retired by now Dr.Elliott?" Erica asks Trish "Ever considered a dye job and makeup? You are starting to look like Maura's partner." Alice, meanwhile rolls her eyes, as Pat tells Erica "Keep your composure yankee." Maura glares at Erica, as the child, named Blake, along with his Parents arrive, and take their seats, as Blake is scared, and Alice tells the young boy "Sit here." Blake is quiet, as Ken walks over, and Blake ignores him, and Maura tells Blake "Dr.Walton and Mrs.Marsh are here for a special meeting." Erica snides "Your favorite kind of meetings." Dwight walks inside, as he tells everyone "Thomas will be joining shortly", as Thomas hears Ken and Trish's voices, and has flashbacks, and looks up and prays "Valerie I may join you. I hear the devil." Thomas walks inside, as Maura tells Thomas "You're not needed in here. Professionals besides Alice, Pat, and Erica are here." Alice glares at Maura, as Blake's Mother welcomes Thomas, and responds "Mr.Duncan, I wanted to tell you how glad I am that you are working here." Thomas sits down, next to Alice, as Dwight sits to the other side of Thomas, as Alice grabs his hand under the table, as Ken extends his hand to Thomas, and responds "So you're the new Prinicpal?" Thomas doesn't acknowledge Ken, and glares at Trish with anger, as Maura starts talking "Blake has severe behavioral problems, and he needs to be sent to the Bankhead School (The Graveyard), it'd be best for him. His Mother has already signed off on it, as has his Father." Erica responds "I've had no trouble with him in speech. He's made amazing strides this year with what I have set for him." Alice responds, as does Pat, as they both asks Maura "You sure seem to be in a hurry. Headed to Milledgeville?" Maura tells Alice and Pat in a snarky tone "We're not here to discuss that!" As Trish writes, Ken reads Blake's files, and tells Blake's Parents "I think the Bankhead School will be great for Blake." Thomas mumbles under his breath, as Ken tells Blake's parents "Thomas can share some insight on our wonderful program." Alice, Pat, Erica, and Dwight all look at each other with hesitation, as Thomas shakes his head, and responds, as he gets up "Since the School System's currently looking for a Director of Special Ed, and I'm the Principal, and read up on this, I think this is a complete rush job." Thomas looks at Blake's Parents, and asks them "Have you been taken on a tour of the Bankhead School?" They shake their heads, but responds "We hear it's a nice place." Thomas yells "That's it! Meeting over!" Maura's eyes widen, as Ken and Trish whispers to Maura "I thought everything was in place?" Maura responds "I did too. But apparently somebody else wants to step in where they aren't qualified." Alice and Pat both look at Thomas, as he tells Blake's Parents "This is unconventional, but tonight, meet me at my Farm. Here's the address." Thomas writes his address down, and hands it to them, and tells them "I want to speak to these people without you all here. It'd be for the best." Dwight whispers to Alice and Pat "He's about to crack." Blake, and his parents leaves, as Thomas yells at Maura "What in the hell are you doing you crazy bitch?" Maura snaps "Doing what's best for the child. He doesn't fit in here." Ken and Trish agree, as Thomas turns to them, and forcefully yells "The two of you get the hell out of my damn school NOW!" Ken tells Maura "I think he has issues." Meanwhile Erica watches on, as Alice and Pat both tells Thomas to calm down, as does Dwight, as Maura yells "And you call me unprofessional?" Thomas asks Ken and Trish "Before the two of you leave, I want the two of you to ask yourself a question as you drive back home, what in the hell are the two of you accomplishing running a damn prison for innocent kids, and taking away any chance they have for a normal life in society?" Ken and Trish leaves, as Erica applauds Thomas, as Maura warns Thomas "You should have never been in this line of work." Thomas looks at Maura, as he gets in her face, and snarls "Before ANY kid in this school is sent to that hell while I'm Principal, it will be my call, and make damn certain on that!" Thomas storms out, as Erica looks at Maura and smiles, as she goes "You got the rug pulled out from under you." Maura yells at Dwight "He can't do this!" Dwight responds "Actually, he can, and like he said, meeting over!" The Media Center empties out, as Alice and Pat, along with Dwight heads to Thomas' office, as he fumes, and tells Alice and Pat "20 years ago all over again. Damn!" Pat hugs Thomas, and asks "Are you alright honey?" Thomas responds "I want you, and Alice to come out to my farm tonight, as I talk to Blake's parents." Dwight tells Thomas "I think today you proved yourself." Alice and Pat agrees, as Dwight asks Thomas "I think I should come out there also." Thomas agrees, and tells Dwight "Call Blake's parents, and I'm leaving." Thomas takes Blake's folder with him, as Alice looks at Pat, and Pat tells Alice "We should also invite the yankee." Alice reminds her "Her name is Erica." Pat goes "Oh yeah."
    In Maura's classroom, Maura paces, as she calls her Daughter, and tells her "You're WHAT? No. I forbid it." Maura's Daughter, Missy, tells her Mother "Get over your rage Mother. I've taken the job at Waters Elementary, and I'm going to be teaching Pre-K. And no I won't be your ally in your wars with the new Principal." Maura hangs up the phone, as Erica walks in and tells Maura "Well that was just sweet. And I'm leaving for the day, so bye." Maura yells "Hold on!" Erica quips "I have to get my hair done. Date night with my Husband. Go to Milledgeville, and give psycho a keychain to play with for me." Erica leaves, as Maura shakes her head in disgust, as Dwight walks inside, and tells Maura "I heard you down the hall, and you need to accept that you're not the boss, the board didn't make you Principal for a reason, and you will never be nothing other than a mere teacher at this school. Just count your years, or call your friends in Bankhead for a job, because if you knew I do right now, you may just be doing it." Maura asks "And what might that be?" Dwight responds "You'll have to find out for yourself." Dwight leaves, as the day ends at Waters Elementary, and Maura fumes with anger, as she leaves, and drives to Milledgeville.
     As evening arrives, at Thomas' Farm, Alice and Pat arrives, as does Dwight, as Thomas tells them "I went up to the store and got some pizzas, help yourselves. Erica's on her way." Alice tells Thomas "You took quite a stand in that media center today Thomas. I am amazed." Pat asks "Where's Erica?" Alice quips "I'm glad we got it right. No calling her yankee when she arrives." Dwight responds "She lives north of Bankhead, so it's a longer drive for her than for us." Meanwhile Bill arrives with Peanut, and responds "I seen all the cars, and is that pizza I smell?" Thomas tells his Father "We're meeting with Blake and his parents tonight." Bill goes "Oh, the boy that rides my bus? He's my favorite, and Peanut sits on his lap." Alice quips "Wow Bill, I wouldn't have thought you liked any children." Bill responds "Thomas told me about today, and Peanut will enjoy tonight." Erica arrives, and a few moments later, Blake's parents, along with Blake, as Blake yells with joy "Peanut!" Bill tells Blake "You and Peanut go outside and play, but stay out front. Peanut likes to wonder off." Erica tells everyone "I had so much to do, and sorry for being late." Pat quips to Erica "Did you go to New York and visit family?" Alice nudges Pat, as Blake's parents asks "Where's Ms.Carson." Thomas tells them "She wasn't invited, and I wanted to talk to the two of you where it's comfortable, and I read Blake's records, and he didn't start to speak until he was 3?" Blake's Mother responds "Yes Mr.Duncan. He was mute, and I heard that was a sign of autism, and I asked the director of Special Ed of Caswell County, and she had no clue, and Ms.Carson recommended.." Thomas goes "The Graveyard?" Bill and Blake's Father walks outside, as they discuss cars, and Alice tells Blake's Mother "He's an excellent student in my class, but he's in his own world." Pat responds "I have talked to him some, and he's very smart, and I want to teach him next year. I've already got him picked on my list." Blake's Mother asks Thomas "Why do you call the Bankhead School "The Graveyard"?" Thomas looks down, and Pat quips "Because it is." Erica chimes in, as she tells Blake's Mother "When I worked in Bankhead County, I never sent a child to that place after working there. And from what I've seen from Blake, he's doing great, and Mr.Duncan has a spotless record in his line of work." Dwight listens on, as Thomas tells Blake's Mother "I have met Blake since I've started, and he loves the yearbooks. I see he loves history." Blake's Mother smiles "Why yes he does." Thomas tells Blake's Mother, as he takes a deep breath "I know about the Bankhead School very well, and Maura sent me there also." Thomas begins to open up, and tell his story, as Blake's Mother gasps, and her Husband walks inside, as Thomas tells his story, and adds "I lost so much time there, and I still have nightmares from it, and more from the past few months, but we're here to discuss Blake, and I want the two of you to reconsider sending him to that place. He will regress, and from what I've seen, I would say he has autism." Erica agrees, and tells Blake's parents "Thomas is right, and since I am a Doctor, I can diagnose him officially." Blake's Mother starts to cry, as she tells Thomas, Dwight, Alice, Pat, and Erica "I am so thankful for all of you, and this has really changed my views."  Bill walks back inside as he tells Blake "Let's go have some pizza, and share with Peanut." Blake's Father tells Thomas "I have always had a distaste for Ms.Carson, and this is an eyeopener for my Wife and myself." Thomas assures them, as Blake walks inside "It will be at the top of my list to keep your Son from going there, and I will make sure of that!" Alice adds "Thomas is a man of his word, and if you seen him after the two of you left earlier today, you'd been amazed." Thomas looks at Blake, as he tells him "You take that pizza home with you, and you be ready for school tomorrow." Blake tells Thomas "I really like you Mr.Duncan. You listen to me, and treat me good." Thomas smiles, and tells Blake's Parents "Things may get rough within the next few days, so be ready, and remember we all have your back." Blake's parents thanks Thomas, and Blake hugs Thomas, Erica, Alice, Pat, and Dwight, and Bill, as they leave, and Alice warns Thomas "You know you've just declared war." Thomas responds "And I will fight for that kid with all I have!" Meanwhile in Caswellton, at Maura's apartment, Maura's on the phone with Ken, as he tells Maura "We have another meeting in a few days, and remember our deal." Maura goes "I do have to follow protocol." Ken tells Maura "After today, Thomas is still angry, and he shouldn't be allowed to be in school." Maura agrees, and asks "What should I do?" Ken responds "Set him up to be fired. I'll help you. And Betty Waters won't have no room to save him."  
                                                              To Be Continued