The Honor Roll: Episode 22. Grandpa's Dilemma

    It's the first day of the new school year, as the hallways in Waters Elementary are bustling with children, and Dwight, Judy, and Alice are on breakfast duty, as Dwight's Grandson, Colin walks up to his Grandfather, and asks him "Can I have a drink from the soda machine Papaw?" Dwight hands his Grandson a dollar, as Colin runs to the machine and yells "Drink fast before you head down to Ms. Winnie's class now." Alice turns to Dwight, and goes "Now you know better than that Dwight. He'll be hyper all day." Dwight responds "Well Alice, he's had some problems since his Dad was killed in Iraq, and I try to be good to him. I'm glad that my Daughter In Law moved back here so the Wife and I could spend time with him." Judy's silent, as she watches Colin, and whispers to Alice "I have a feeling today I'm going to wish I retired last year."
   In Thomas' Office, Missy sits inside, as she tells Thomas "I apologize for my Mom the other day." Thomas sighs "If she was my Mother, I'd run away and never come back, and not admit it." Missy looks at Thomas, and goes "Don't tempt me. But there's one thing I'd be leaving behind if I were to do that." Thomas asks "And what might that be?" Missy walks over to Thomas, and kisses him, as he turns away, and goes "I think the bell's about to ring." Missy asks him "Why are you so distant Thomas? We have went on many dates, but never one will you return a simple kiss." Thomas responds as he opens a file "I need to read up on things. See you later." Missy walks out, with confusion in her eyes, as she rounds up her class, and heads to her classroom, as Thomas says to himself "I just don't know. I'm scared." Outside in the Secretary's Office, Bill sits at Mary's desk, as he has his puppy, Scarlet in his pocket, and asks Mary "I have a puppy. You like cute things. Wanna go out?" Mary rolls her eyes, and reminds Bill "Scarlet is cute, but I am tempted to wear pepper spray or carry a Taser with you sitting in here, every day, trying to get me to go steady. Remember Eliza? Bill responds "Hell, we're divorced." Mary smiles "And you go see her everyday, and do bed swapping also. Now why do I want to date you?" Jean walks inside, as she's overheard, and asks her Brother "So this is why I can never get in touch with you? You are here tormenting this poor lady?" Bill rolls his eyes, and asks his Sister "What in the hell are you doing here Jean?" Jean responds "I now work here helping Susan. And I guess keeping you in line as I've done your entire life." Bill looks at his puppy, and sighs "Damn Scarlet, we can't catch no breaks here." Bill then turns to Jean, and responds "I was hoping Eliza was just torturing me. All of you are out to get me!" Bill and Scarlet leave, as he cries "Why! Why!", as Jean asks Mary "I need some files for Susan." Mary hands the files to Jean, as she tells her "Thank you. Now with you here, maybe that'll keep Bill from hitting on me everyday." Jean whispers something to Mary, as her eyes widen, and goes "Her too? This year will be so pleasant." Jean smiles, and tells Mary "Just buzz down if Bill bothers you. He fears me." Jean walks out, as Mary sits back, and laughs, and says to herself "Bill will be sitting at The Courthouse Inn, and I can get some work done for the first time in years!"
     Meanwhile in Winnie's classroom, as class starts, and Winnie walks inside, Colin yells at his teacher "You are old! You need to retire old woman!" Winnie glares at him, as Judy gently tells him "That's not a nice thing to say Colin." Winnie agrees, and snaps "You may be Mr. Waltrip's Grandson, but it don't make no nevermind to me. I taught your Daddy, and I have something in my desk that'll take care of any smart-mouth like you, so write those words on the board and keep your mouth shut." The class writes their spelling words, as Colin sits back, and picks up his Spelling book, and rips out pages, and wads the papers into paper-balls, and throws them to other students, as Judy takes a deep breath, and Winnie stops Judy, as she walks over to Colin, and asks "Got a problem following orders?" Colin snaps "You're not my Mama." Winnie grows mad, as one student goes "Oh no, Ms. Johnson's about to flip out." Judy yells at the class "Bathroom break. Line up!" Colin attempts to leave his desk, as Winnie bluntly tells him "No. Not you. Now what's wrong with you?" Colin responds "I don't like you." Winnie asks "Why is that?" Colin points at his hand, and at Winnie's hand, as Winnie's eyes begin to grow red, and she grabs Colin's arm, and walks over to the desk, and grabs a paddle, and they storm to Thomas' office, as Colin says something to Winnie, and she scolds Colin in the hallway, as she delivers two blistering paddles, as she snaps "Boy you done said the wrong thing to me, and I'm making sure those two won't be the only ones!" Marian steps out, as she asks Winnie "Did I hear..." Winnie responds "Yes you did!" Marian tells her "Hold on, as she grabs the paddle, also paddling Colin, as she warns "I know Dwight isn't like that, and around here, that won't be accepted." Marian walks back in her room, and slams the door, as Winnie and Colin storms to Thomas' office, as Colin snarls "You people..." Winnie asks "Want another one?" Colin grows silent, as they march up the hallway.
    At Sullivan Hill, Eliza sits in her dining room, along with Erica, as they drink tea, and Erica asks Eliza "Where did you get this recipe?" Eliza responds "When I was married to Pedro." Erica sighs "It's nice to be able to relax and still work. So far I've heard nothing from the bitch." Eliza quips "Well if it makes you feel better, I'm not done yet." Erica asks "Exactly what do you mean?" Eliza tells her "April Davis, the bitch's new Assistant, well she's getting paid extra, and Bill's Sister's down there too, and his other Sister works at the Inn, and she's about to start work soon in Marian's room." Erica laughs "You are damn crafty Eliza. This is exactly why we are so close." Eliza responds with a grin "Anyone who hates Maura with a passion as much as me, well they are good people." Erica asks Eliza "And what's your stance on Corey Horton?" Eliza walks into the kitchen and asks "More tea?" Erica answers "I'll take some more. Now answer me." Eliza walks inside, and bends down, and tells Erica "He's a goody goody. He follows the rulebook too damn much. But the one thing I do like is he hates Snowball." Erica sighs "You know he supports Maura. And I was going through some files, he's the only reason she still has a job." Eliza's stunned, and in shock, goes "Are you kidding? He went to school for all that training and he supports her?" Erica goes "Well he's gay, she's lesbian." Eliza lights a cigarette, and sits down, and sighs with disgust "Makes sense. All I worry about is my Son, and if he bothers Thomas over her, then he'll deal with me." Erica's phone rings, and she tells Eliza "I need to go to a meeting at the BOE (Caswell County Board Of Education)." Erica leaves, as she gets into her new Corvette, and says to herself "Corey Horton, the last thing on my bucket list before I retire, is to see you pack your shit, and get out of teaching, and it will happen. That's a promise I intend to keep."
    Back at Waters Elementary, Winnie arrives at Mary's desk, with Colin, as she asks her with anger "Where is Dwight? This kid called me.." Mary tells Winnie "Dwight and Thomas are checking on the new teachers at the moment." Winnie yells at Colin "Sit here!" Winnie tells Mary "Tell Dwight he needs to paddle this kid into the next week, or I'll gladly do it!" Winnie storms out, as she mumbles "I dealt with enough of that shit, and I'll be damned to hear it from a damn kid!" In the Secretary's office, Mary asks Colin "So what did you do?" Colin, in a disrespectful tone "I called that old woman what my Daddy said she was." Colin tells Mary what he said, as Mary gasps, and warns Colin "That's not nice at all, and Ms. Johnson has worked here for many many years. And she worked with Dr. King in the Civil Rights movement." Colin goes "And why should I care. She is what she is, and she's a...." Mary snaps "Now you stop before I go grab a paddle!" Meanwhile Winnie stands in the hallway, as she returns to her classroom, and shakes her head with disgust, as she mumbles "I'd like to just take a belt on his ass." Maura walks by, and snides at Winnie "I notice somebody's lost their way with the students. Do I need to start a petition to have you fired?" Winnie yells at Maura "Go to hell! I'm going to my bench outside! And leave me alone warden!" Winnie storms out, as Judy hears her inside the classroom, as one student asks "What's wrong with Ms. Johnson?" Judy tells them "She had her feelings hurt, and I'll be the one today watching over y'all." Winnie walks outside, and sits in the shade, on a bench, as she lights a cigarette, and says to herself "Hate is taught, and whoever taught that to this child needs a belt on them. I vowed in 1965 I'd never be called that again, and I sure ain't taking it from a 7 year old."
    Meanwhile Thomas and Dwight stands in Jacob's classroom, as he is teaching, and both are silent, as Thomas tells Dwight "He's good." Dwight points towards the marker board, and tells Thomas "He left Pat's instructions on the top as well." They quietly walk out, as Thomas heads across the hall, to his Cousin, Susan's room, as Dwight's paged to his office, and inside Susan's room, the students work quietly, as Jean tells her Daughter "It's time Susie." Susan whispers to her Mother "And we're working Mom. Remember I told you I was waiting for the right man." Jean yells "There's a man across the hall! And you're about to turn..." Susan points at her Mother, and asks "Want me to send you to the principal's office? I am 35." Jean quips "Add five more. And then comes menopause, and then I won't.." Susan hands over some files, and goes "Get these copied for me and I can teach." Thomas walks out as Jean reminds Susan "Remember what I said!" Susan ignores her, as Thomas asks "Aunt Jean still wanting you to settle down?" Susan sighs "Mom is insensate that I get married and have a child, and I don't want to." Thomas asks "Well are the two of you going to be able to work together in here? She's like my Dad so I know what it's like." Susan tells her Cousin "Yeah we'll be fine. I may let her work for that Maura for a few days." Thomas smiles, and laughs "She needs somebody to keep her in line." Meanwhile in Maura's classroom, April sends a text to Eliza, as Maura walks back inside and snaps at her Assistant "You are just lazy! Why are you texting when you should be watching these kids?" April responds "And why are you wondering the halls?" Maura snaps "Just shut up and know I can have you fired." April gets up, as she walks over to Maura, and whispers "I know the line you're on, so kiss my ass. I'm going wondering, so bite me." April walks out, as Maura is silent, and says to herself "Hmm. She works for the bitch, she's texting somebody. And leaves." In the hallway, April calls Eliza, who's sitting in her "den" at Sullivan Hill, as she asks "What's the report?" April looks around, and tells her boss "You need to add a zero to my check Ms. Sullivan. This bitch is driving me crazy." Eliza responds "She's drove me crazy for 26 years, so deal with the bitch and take comfort knowing I have money, and a gun." April hangs up, as she spots Maura, as she snaps "And who was that?" April snaps "None of your damn business!" Maura walks back to her classroom, as April follows, and sends a text to Eliza, telling her "I think she's starting to get suspicious."
     Back in The Secretary's Office, Colin sits at Mary's desk, as he goes "My Grandpa's the Principal. I can say anything I damn well please and get away with it. He should tell Mr. Duncan to get rid of.." Dwight walks inside, as he has a look of shock on his face, as Mary gets up, and tells Dwight "He's yours now, and Winnie's on her way back. I need a break!" Mary walks out, as Dwight asks his Grandson "What are you doing in here?" Colin boldly responds "Telling the truth!" Dwight takes Colin to his office, as he asks "What truth were you exactly telling Colin?" Colin answers "That the old woman needs to be fired. She isn't white, and she's old, and she paddled me, and another one of her kind." Dwight snaps "Excuse me Colin? Did you..." Colin smiles "Damn right I did! Just like my Dad told me to!" Dwight snaps with disappointment "If your real Dad was alive Colin Waltrip, he'd tear you up for acting this way. I don't like who your Mom married, but when you are in this school, you are representing me also, and I am sure not a racist, and your Dad wasn't either!" Colin screams "Well why did he leave then Papaw? Why did he run away?" Winnie arrives, as Dwight answers "He went to war and was killed. Who told you that?" Colin responds "My new Dad." Winnie is quiet, as Dwight orders his Grandson to apologize to her, as Colin responds "I'm not apologizing to no...." Winnie runs behind Dwight's desk, and opens the drawer, and snaps "Boy you won't be sitting down for the school year now. I've damn had it with you!" Dwight stops her, and tells Winnie "He's my Grandson, and I am sorry about this." Winnie tells Dwight "It's not your fault. It's who raised him." Dwight tells Colin "Want to get paddled again?" Colin mumbles "Sorry." Winnie cracks "I can't hear you." Dwight moves the paddle, as he boldly tells him "Apologize!" Colin looks at Winnie, and says "Sorry I called you that Ms. Johnson." Winnie tells Colin "That was very ugly for you to say, and very hateful. You hurt me, and I want you in ISS for awhile, and study black history. My book on black history, and then you'll know." Winnie tells Dwight "I'm returning to my class, he can return when he straightens up his act." Winnie walks out, as Dwight looks at his Grandson, and tells him, as Thomas arrives "Now you go up to ISS, and Mr. Duncan will be watching." Colin goes "But.." Thomas escorts Colin out, as Dwight looks at Thomas and shakes his head with disgust, as Colin heads to ISS, as Dwight sits in his office, and looks at a photo on his desk of his Son, that died in Iraq, and calls Colin's Mother, as she goes "What's wrong?" Dwight tells his Former Daughter In Law "Colin's going to be Suspended for two weeks for calling Ms. Johnson a racial slur, and he'll serve it here." Colin's Mom gasps "I tried to stop him from teaching that garbage to Colin." Dwight sternly tells her "You let him know that it's not acceptable around my Grandson, and not in this school, and if I ever hear it come out of my Grandson's mouth, I'll come over and kick his ass." Dwight's Daughter In Law apologizes, and sighs "Dwight, I am so sorry. I will be putting a stop to it when I visit the lawyer." Dwight goes "Finally.", and hangs up, as Thomas walks inside, and asks Dwight "So Colin called Winnie..." Dwight gets emotional, as he tells Thomas "I should have been protecting Colin from his Step-Father's hatred. I knew he has his beliefs, but to teach it to a little boy, it's horrible." Thomas sits down at Dwight's desk, as he tells him "Well just know one thing Mr. Waltrip. I know he didn't learn it from you, and he didn't learn it from your Son. It's the Step-Father's that accountable, and his Mother for being blind to it." Dwight tells Thomas "She's getting a divorce, and I'm asking her and Colin to move in with the Wife and I. At least I'll feel more comfortable then." Thomas gets up, as he tells Dwight "You're a great man, and I know you. And you know where I am." Dwight nods, as Thomas heads to his office, as Dwight looks up, and then looks at his Son's photo, and goes with a tear in his eye "I wish you were still here Son. But don't worry, I'm going to make sure Colin's raised right."