Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:36:09 +0000
From: tim tim <noway16@hotmail.com>
Subject: chapter 69 of coach's assistant

Ok as promised here is the next chapter already, chapter 69. Hope you like
the way the stories is getting to its finish. Let me know if you have any
comments. My e-mail is noway16@hotmail.com.

You can also visit my website at www.geocities.com/timsfunplace


He got his coat and left.  "So, what do you know Francis?"

"Well, it seems that they are trying to get as many teachers into the school
so they can run a full class tomorrow and probably later on as well."

"Teachers?  What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I'm not sure but it could involve Randy somehow, for example."

"Maybe he's got some teacher friends."

"We'll just have to wait, I guess."

"So, are you going to go to school tomorrow?"

"Yea, I want to see what's been going on down there."

"You want to go up and rest a bit?  Maybe you can tell me what happened in
court, too?" he asked seductively.

I know he was trying not to be pushy, and I wanted him to know that I wanted
to be alone with him ... but, still, it was not going to be easy to explain my
feelings to him.

We got comfortable on the bed and for the rest of the evening we talked,
listened and just enjoyed each other's company.  The next morning we were
awakened by David.

"Come on, you guys!  It's time to get ready for the big day."

"Big day, David?"

"Well, I think from what I heard on the radio last night, you had a good day
yesterday in court.  Together with Randy you showed them what really
happened and who the bad guys in this really are.  All the newspapers,
radios and TV programmers are telling the same story ... well, almost all of
them are."

"Oh, well, I don't care.  I knew the truth all along."

"I'm sure the press will turn out even more strongly today at school as they
realize who the bad people are in this."

"Any mention of Randy as a TV star and his role in this?"

"No, not really ... or, at least, nothing too sleazy or nasty.  But he knew
the risk he was taking when he toOK the stand."

"I guess ... but still."

"So, do you think the plan will work, Francis?"

"It had better, David."

"OK ... you guys you have been trying to avoid the subject ever since
yesterday evening: what is going to take place at school today?"

"It's a surprise, Nick.  Just wait and see," David said.

"Francis, what is going on?"

"As David said, just wait and see ... because we're not sure what will
happen."

"Spoil sports!  We'd better go then," and, before they could respond, I
grabbed the car keys and left the kitchen, giving them no time to finish
their breakfast.

We arrived at school just before 8.30.  The normal time to start class is
9.00, so we came more than enough time in advance.  It was even busier than
it had been on Wednesday.  It loOKed like most of the protesters who had
been at the court house on Thursday were now here.  A lot of kids were
there, waiting to get in.  Some were let in through the rear entrance, while
a larger number were slowly allowed to enter through the main entrance.  The
police were there but didn't do anything.  There were no teachers or any
members of the school board present.  As we got closer to the main entrance,
a girl from the group we spOKe with on Wednesday saw us and toOK us to the
back door.

" Good!  You're here, Nick.  Heard you kicked ass yesterday.  Let's use the
back way ... it's quicker and I suspect you want to know what we're going to
do today."

"You bet!  I see that almost everyone is around."

"Yea, we made sure all the kids knew they had to come to school today."

"So, did you find a way out of the threat made by the director?"

"We'll soon find out.  We're expecting them to be here soon, together with
the board of education and the police, we think.  We know they had a meeting
last night and we think they'll come and let the police force their way in
if we don't give up.  Their plan is based on the rule that this building is
for educational use and that we're preventing that from taking place."

"Ah ... and what are we going to do about that?  Did you appoint seniors as
teachers then?"

"No, something much better.  Follow me.  We're gathering in room 101 until
we make an announcement to the kids just before 9 a.m."

We followed her to the first room on the ground floor, immediately beside
the entrance.  It was very crowded down there but we managed to get through
the entrance hall.  When they saw us they started to cheer.  It seems most
of them knew it had gone well in court yesterday.

"OK, guys.  We'll be back shortly with today's schedule."

She opened the door and again we were welcomed with loud applause.  The
small group of students from Wednesday was there, along with a lot of
strangers but also many people I knew - Randy, Brandon, and Andy were there
- but others that I knew by their face as well.

"Welcome, guys!" Alexei said as he stepped in front of the others.

"What are you all doing here, guys?" I asked.

"Jordan, the honor is yours!" Alexei said.

"Well, Nick, Francis, David ... I think we found our way out of our dilemma.
You know that the Board probably wants to force us out because this is a
public building for teaching.  I think we've got a way to make sure we teach
and they can't force us to leave.  Thanks to Alexei, Brandon and Andy, we've
found a bunch of people interested in teaching for a few days at our
school."

"What!!!  You're going to teach, Alexei?" I said, directing the question to
him.

"Yea, why not?  I can teach gymnastics, PE and certainly Russian, so I'll
have more than enough classes to attend."

"And that's not everything, Nick.  We've had people flying in from all over
to help us out.  Randy is here to teach drama together with some of his
colleagues.  We have some guys to do music and several famous writers to
teach English literature and so on.  I think we can say that the students
never could have better teaching than this."

I just loOKed at all of them, astonished.  I loOKed at Francis and David.
Incredible.  All those people!  That must have cost a fortune.  I wondered
who was paying for this?  I loOKed at Alexei again.

"Did you arrange all of this, Alexei?"

"No, it was a team effort and there would have been more but several willing
participants couldn't free up their schedules at short notice ... but others
will be here next week if necessary.  This is about students standing up for
their rights; this involves opposition to discrimination and support for a
free press.  There's lots of good reasons for all of us to join in and
support you guys."

"I'm just blown away," I said.  "We can chat later.  It's time to get this
show on the road.  You all have a student assigned to you to help you
through today.  I expect everyone back here at lunch time so we can see
where we stand.  You all have your schedules; the students will be asked to
go to their assigned homerooms for today's kickoff.  They'll get their
schedules handed out at that time.  If there's any problem, just gives us,
the students with a rainbow button, a call.  We've taken over management of
the school as a learning centre for the time being.  OK ... let's go!"

With that, he marched outside and everyone followed slowly.  We waited as I
still could hardly believe what was going to happen.  The girl who brought
us in was still with us.

"Francis, here's your button.  Nick, we have a choice for you: either follow
your class schedule, or join us in management."

"You're going to be part of the organization, Francis?" I asked.

"Yep ... it's a good opportunity to learn something and I want to support you
and Steve as much as I can ... so absolutely, if that's OK with you."

"Yea, I think so.  But ..."

"If you want to go to class, Nick, go ahead ... we'll all understand why you
don't want to get involved in the management."

I smiled when he said that.  There was just no way I could take more
pressure.  That would be too much.

"OK ... then you'd better go to your home room, Nick," the girl said.

"Can we chat later, Alexei?" I asked.  "Sure ... we have a lesson together, I
think."

"Oh!"

We left the room and heard Jordan and another student mount the stand on the
stairs and explain to the students what the plans were for today.

"So just behave normally, even if you idolize some of the teachers.  Don't
try to go to classes other than the ones on your schedule, as that will
disrupt the program too much.  If this lasts longer than one day, we'll make
sure next week that everyone will take a class with our celebrity teachers.
We suspect that, at some point this morning, the board of education or some
of its members will want to take a loOK at what's happening and will try to
order the police to force us out so, if that happens, stay where you are ...
follow the lesson ... and we'll make sure they know that you're being taught.
Have a great day and make good use of it."

With that they all started to disperse to their home rooms.  Some anxieties
remained and many students seemed to doubt that the management team could
pull this off ... but several members of the team spent their first hour going
around explaining details of the plan to ease the tension level a bit.  When
the 9 o'clock bell went off, the hall was empty and today's "teachers" left
classroom 101 to go to their assigned home rooms.

The team had worked hard to provide a capable teaching staff at short
notice.  They'd contacted recently retired teachers and the staffs of the
local colleges for volunteers to instruct in all the usual subjects, and
quite a group of teachers had appeared this morning.  Even more incredibly,
the parents of participating students had contacted people that they knew
who were interested in human rights and freedom of the press.  If everything
worked as planned, it promised to be an incredible week: the local gay
committee had appealed last night to various national organizations, which
somehow had contacted Sir Elton John and George Michael, both of whom were
interrupting their American concert tours to fly in to teach music and lend
their names to our causes.  They could only stay one day, but their support
alone would garner us national press coverage and considerable support ... and
Sir Elton had already invited some of his well known friends to replace him
when he had to leave.

Randy and several of his television colleagues would teach the classes in
drama, while the celebrated former Olympic diver, Greg Louganis, had agreed
to assist Alexei to offer instruction in physical education and, of course,
swimming and diving.  A professor at a local college had offered to teach as
many of the science classes as he could handle and had reportedly contacted
his doctoral thesis supervisor, Sir Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University
in England, to see if he would lend his support.  One of dad's friends, who
taught English literature at the same college, had asked the Canadian
novelist, Margaret Atwood, a former colleague of hers at the University of
Toronto, to help us for a few days since she was on a boOK tour in a nearby
city.  A noted advocate of the authors' freedom to publish, whether in the
press or in literature, and a life-long professor of English literature, Dr.
Atwood agreed to teach several classes in that subject, and contacted
friends of hers in the American writing community to come support us.  Every
hour we were informed of more famous people who wanted to support our call
for human rights and press freedom.  We'd never had so many distinguished
teachers visit in the history of the school, much less all in one week!

"OK, I'd better go ... I'll see you during lunch," I said to Francis and gave
him a quick kiss on his cheek.  "We'll have none of that is any school I'm
teaching at," I heard a teasing foreign voice say to me and turned to see a
laughing Sir Elton John, walking by on his way to his first class.  So far
it seemed to go just as the management team had planned it, I thought, and
followed Sir Elton to my own home room.

[The story continues, but now told by Francis].

When all the students and teachers had gone to their classrooms, we walked
back towards room 101.

"OK, this is the plan: as we talked about yesterday, everyone has his or her
responsibilities, so please go to your assigned tasks.  Francis, we've
chosen you to be at the reception desk today.  We thought you'd love to
handle all the incoming calls and questions.  This morning we won't open the
school for anyone who doesn't need to be here.  Gerry and Rick are going to
take care of that.  We`ll discuss during lunch what we'll do during the
afternoon.  If we get any questions from the press, you need to forward them
to Andrew and Peter.  But this morning, we'll only hand out a press release
around 10 a.m., informing the outside world that the students have organized
the school with a new group of highly qualified teachers.  Everyone will get
a copy of the release, and that is the only statement that will be handed
out.  For this morning I will be in charge together with Susan and (Name
from gymnastic team to be filled in).  As we agreed, this afternoon another
student will step in and we'll continue to rotate next week as long as
necessary.  The management team will have two extra meetings, one just after
school to get feedback from our advisors what we did wrong or need to
improve.  We'll do the same before the start of each day.  If you have
questions, ask your advisor ;that's what they're here for.  Any questions?
OK ... let's go do this well and teach them a lesson."

"Wow, Jordan!  You're really good at this!" I said when most of the team
members had gone.  There were at least 15 of us who would take control of
daily management of the school.

"Well, I must say that I practised that speech and the one for the students
several times last night.  Can't say that I had a lot of sleep but, so far,
the adrenaline is keeping me going and active."

"OK.  When do you expect the director and the board members with the
police?"

"Well, I'd say before 9:30 for sure."

"OK.  I'd better get to my desk," I said in a bit of a nervous voice.

"Yea, you'd better do that, Francis," Jordan said, trying to sound like a
boss but his smile completely gave his true feelings away.

I toOK my seat opposite the front door.  Gerry and Rick, two big jocks, had
placed themselves at the door.  But, so far, it was still quiet on the other
side.  I toOK the answering machine off and within two minutes, I had a
call.  It was one of the teachers, one I knew was definitely on our side.
But I did as I was told: I gave him only the information that there would be
a press release at 10 a.m. and we were all doing OK.

Within ten minutes I had three more teachers on the phone and told all of
them the same thing.  This could get boring, I thought.  Maybe it would be a
good idea to put the answering machine back on with that statement so anyone
who telephoned would know what was going on.  I used the phone to call the
three members of management and they found it a good idea.

So that was that, I thought.  Now let's see what else I can do.  I didn't
need to think as there was still a big pile of mail on the desk.  I went
through it.

Halfway though it, I noticed some movement outside the building.  I could
see he approaching flashing lights of a police car and, a moment later, the
director rang the bell at the door.  Jordon, Susan and [add name] came out
of room 101 and waved to me.  "Join us, Francis.  We might need someone to
take some notes."

I followed them to the door.  Rick opened it.

"Good morning, director," Jordan said, not waiting but taking the
initiative.

"That awaits to be seen, Jordan.  I'm here with the board of education.
They've given the police the order to take any trespasser out so we can get
this school back into operation."

"Any members of the board around, sir?" Jordan asked.

"Yes, two of them are here."

"OK, then this is what we'll do.  We'll let them come in and decide if this
building is being used for its proper purpose or not.  They can come in
together with two teachers and, of course, you, sir."

"What!!!  You'll have to empty this building immediately, Jordan, or do you
all want to be arrested?" one of the teachers said.  It was the same one
who'd been the chief opponent to our protest at the parent-teacher council
meeting last Wednesday.

"No.  We just want to make sure that the board can assess the situation
properly, with full information and not by rumor and hearsay, sir."

"OK, let me discuss this.  I'll be right back."

Before we had turned our backs on them to wait for their answer, one of the
teachers was shouting through a megaphone that we'd be arrested if we didn't
leave the building now.

"OK, it's time for an announcement," Jordan said, picking up the microphone
attached to the school's audio system.

"Students, at the moment we're discussing the situation with the director.
We'll never allow the police to arrest you all.  We're inviting members of
the board of education in to assess the situation in the building.  We won't
let ourselves be pressured by people who don't stand up for the rights of
every American.  I'll keep you informed of what is happening."

"Good job, Jordan," I said.

There was another ring at the door and again we walked towards it.  The
director now was surrounded by four other people and two policemen.

"Good, Jordan," the director said when we opened the door.  "These are two
members of the board and they want to hear what you have to say.  They'll
accompany me together with the teachers and two policemen."

"Police are not necessary," Susan said.

"Maybe not, maybe it will.  They want to make sure we're safe."

"Have you been threatened by anyone?" she asked.

"No ...  But ...."

"See, so there's no reason for the police then."

"No, we won't enter without some police presence there.  We've heard enough
from you bunch of hooligans and we want witnesses so they can clear this
building out as soon as possible."

I saw Susan loOKing at Jordan and it seems they came to a silent
understanding.

"OK, they can come in," Susan agreed.

The director, the two teachers and the two board members went through the
door.  "We'll start in classroom 101, gentlemen," Jordan said.  "Please
follow me."

As the policemen tried to enter the building, they were stopped by Rick.

"Sorry to do this, sir ... it's nothing personal but weapons are not allowed
in this building.  Please leave them outside with a colleague."

"What is going on, director?" one of the policemen shouted.

The director turned around, not knowing exactly what was happening.  "Sorry,
sir, but weapons are not permitted here.  This is a school," Susan explained
calmly to all of them.

"But we need to take them inside, otherwise ..."

"It's simple: you are allowed to come in but not your firearms.  School
policy," Susan added.

"Since when?" I heard one of the teachers ask.

"Since we toOK over, sir," Jordan replied.

"OK, leave them outside and then come in and join us," the director
reluctantly agreed.  I had seen a few surprised loOKs on his face.  I think
he was slowly coming to understand that we wouldn't be so easy to deal with.

"Gentlemen, please sit down.  You can find coffee and tea on the table."

Still a bit surprised at all this, the director now asked with a smile, "You
were expecting us to come in, Jordan?"

"Yes, we were certain you'd not proceed without making at least some attempt
to talk with us."

He loOKed again a bit surprised as I know that these were the words that he
himself had used in a meeting the evening before.  I knew Jordan had some
good inside information.  We knew that the board understood the hard
position of the parent- teachers association but that the majority of them
would have liked to hear our point of view as well before they decided.

"So what is it you want to discuss?  You know how we're thinking on this
occupation," the director said.

Jordan loOKed at the board members and toOK out a sheet of paper and gave
that to them.

"Here is a copy of a press release we're handing out to all the press and is
being posted on the school website at this moment."

We watched their faces while they read it.  The director loOKed at us before
he finished.  "All the students are in class at the moment?"

"Yes, all the kids who turned up this morning ... the ones who wanted to stand
up against the injustices that have been perpetrated here.  I must say that
that is about 95% of all the students attending this school."

"Wow!  And you got that many teachers?" one of the board members asked.

"Yes, and more lined up in case we need to continue the occupation."

"But they're not qualified," one of the teachers interposed.  The other one
was smiling now as he knew we were ready for this criticism.

"What better qualification is there in a teacher than life experience and
being top notch in their area field of study?  We have retired teachers and
university professors ... and several celebrities have agreed to join our
cause, either today or later this week," Susan said.

"Can we join a class to watch, Jordan?" one of the board members asked.

"Certainly.  There's no problem.  You each can attend a different class if
you want to."

"That sounds like a good idea," one board member said.

"You will be accompanied by a student to help you."

"Why, you don't think we can observe it for ourselves?" the teacher asked.

"I'm sure you'll be fine.  We just want to make sure there is no disturbance
to the lesson."

"That's fine," the director said before that teacher could argue.

"OK, you can visit two rooms if you want.  Shall we say we'll meet in 35
minutes down here," Jordan proposed.

"Sounds like a plan."

With that each person left, accompanied by one of the students.  I walked
with the teacher that definitely found the occupation a very good idea.

"You got the director there, Francis!"

"You think we're doing OK, sir?"

"Yes.  They thought they had you on the questions of management and teacher
qualifications, but from what was said, they have no justification left for
police action."

"Well, we'll see.  I'm not sure what will happen after that, though.  Will
the association and the board negotiate?"

"I know it'll be difficult but still, if this goes to the press, it'll be
very difficult for the parent- teachers association and the director."

"So where are you taking me?"

"I thought you'd wanted to see the music class, sir, as it's one of the
subjects you teach."

"Ah, I didn't see how you could run any musical programs at such short
notice."

"Yes, one should be running right now.  Let me check where they are at the
moment."   I checked the schedule and said, "OK, they're in the auditorium,
the demand for music with this new teacher was quite large.  Let's go."

"You know who is teaching at the moment?"

"I'm not sure," I said innocently, knowing full well who was taking the
class.  "It's a pianist, I believe.  We'll see."

I quietly opened the rear door to the auditorium and motioned for the
teacher to enter. The real teacher gasped and the substitute teacher, Sir
Elton John, loOKed up from the piano at our interruption.

"Sorry to disturb you, Sir Elton, but one of the school board delegations is
here and wanted to see the teaching for about 15 minutes or so."

"Welcome to the class," Sir Elton said with a broad smile.  "Do you teach
music here" he asked.

"Why, yes I do," the teacher stammered.

"Then come join me, I need a second pair of hands to show the students the
difference between solo and duet performances."  For a few minutes, Sir
Elton and the teacher chatted amiably in front of an absolutely riveted
class, explaining a variety of musical styles, the importance of hand
position and, above all, the key role of practice, practice, practice.

I had to signal the teacher so he and I could go attend another class.  Sir
Elton thanked the teacher warmly for his assistance and added pointedly that
he admired teachers who seemingly had taught lessons in press freedom and
human rights that the students seemed to understand very well, even if their
parents and the board were less aware of.  After 15 minutes or so we left.

"I just played a duet with Sir Elton John!" the teacher said with awe in his
voice.  "I don't believe it!"

"Hmm," I said with a broad smile on my face. "I wasn't sure I'd seen his
face before!"

"That is unbelievable!  How did you get him down here?  No one will question
his competence to teach the kids music ... he's one of the most famous
pianists of our time!"

"So you were impressed?"

"Yes, very.  I'd have loved to stay and listen in to the entire class
myself."

"Well, you need to loOK into one more.  That's the requirement."

"Yes, I know.  What's next, Francis?"

I toOK him to the English class ... not as popular as Sir Elton's music class,
but crowded nevertheless, for it was being taught by the Canadian novelist,
Margaret Atwood.  "Good lord," the teacher said as he saw Dr. Atwood through
the classroom door.  "I attended her lecture on symbolism in the modern
novel last night at the college.  It was masterful.  Her work is amazing."

I had to drag him out of Dr. Atwood's lecture.  He, along with the rest of
the class, was mesmerized.

We made it back to room 101 in time to get a cup of coffee.  "Good heavens,
even the coffee is better!" the teacher jOKed.

"Will you be OK if I go back to the front desk?  Now that the press release
has been sent out, there's bound to be more calls."

"Go ahead ... and if it were up to me, you guys would be running the school
all the time.  I don't think you have anything to worry about at all."

"Thanks sir," I said and I walked back to my post.

[Nick continues]

The hour-long class was over quickly.  We heard Jordan's announcement but,
all in all, the first class was a blur.  We were in the auditorium with Sir
Elton John, a large group of us.  He proved an engaging teacher.  He found
out quickly what we were studying and began to speak about parallels between
classical and modern music.  When our regular music teacher appeared as part
of the delegation, Sir Elton invited his to join him at the piano so he
could explain the difference between solo and duet piano work.  I could tell
that our regular music teacher was enchanted.  How many people, I thought,
could say that they'd played a duet with Elton John?   And how many students
could say that they'd taken a course from the famous rock star?  He actually
had several students sit down and show him their playing skills, gently
correcting those with wrong hand positions or poor posture.  We were all
enthralled.

The next hour -- biology taught by a distinguished professor from a nearby
college – also went by just as quickly ... although, by the end, we started to
whisper among ourselves as we wanted to know what was going on.  There had
been no news from the management team for more than an hour now.

We went to our next class, which was English.  This was not my favorite
subject as I had grammar problems, but I loved to read.  As we walked into
the class, I thought I recognized the face of the substitute teacher from
the back of one of my boOKs.  I'm not sure any of the others knew who he
was.

"Hi!  My name is David Eddings.  I'm a writer and your teacher for today.
Can anyone tell me what subjects you were discussing in your last class?"

Wow, I thought!  One of my favorite writers!  How did he end up down here, I
wondered.   Before I could answer his question, someone else told him we'd
been talking about writers in the early 1900s.

"OK.  What kind of boOKs have you been reading lately then?"

Again, one of the others told him.

"OK.  Do any of you know any fantasy boOKs from that period?"

Well, that was an easy question for me and the next five minutes was more or
less a one-on-one chat between us about the boOKs I knew and what I'd found
of them.  I think he got the impression that the others felt left out as the
background whispers grew, so he shifted his attention to other subjects.  I
kept track of everything he said, and the lesson flew by very quickly.

"Can I talk with you ... Nick, is it?"

"Yea, that's me."

"You know quite a lot about fantasy stories, I gather."

"Yea, I recognized you when I entered although it toOK me a little time to
get the right name."

"Ah ... well, have you ever thought about writing yourself, Nick?"

"No, my grammar is terrible, but I love to read."

"Well, never think never as correcting grammar is where editors come in
handy."

"I think I'd better stay with my sketching.  I love to do that and they say
I'm not too bad at it either."

"OK ... I'm not sure how to ask this but I think you're one of the reasons
that we're all here, right?"

"I don't mind and, yes, I was more or less the start of all this.  But
there's more to it now, I think.  This is about students being committed to
what they want and what they stand for."

"I understand.  I read the articles that Steve wrote, so I know something
about it.  I hope you can introduce me to him.  Honest journalist needs to
be helped along in times like these.  There are not a lot of committed,
honest journalists in the publishing world any more."

"Of course, just join me during lunch period and I'll introduce him to you."

"I'll have to ask Randy where the lunch room is.  He seems to know his way
around."

"You're a friend of Randy's?"

"Yes, we've known each other for the past four years or so."

"Great!  Well, maybe I'll see you later, then.  I'd better go to my next
class."

Wow!  There were some advantages to knowing people, I now understood, and it
certainly had worked out well today, for so many friends of friends had
responded tour call for help.

[Francis continues]

The others toOK quite a bit longer before they returned to the room.  I saw
that the number of journalist outside had increased quite considerably.  I
think there were even one or two TV crews out there now.  But so far no one
had tried to enter the school building.  So I guess the press release had
had the desired effect, attracting the press like flies to shit.

Jordan came back with one of the education board members and winked at me,
inviting me to join them in room 101.

"OK, anyone for coffee?" Susan asked.

After she poured a few cups, the room went silent.  I saw a few glances
exchanged between the director and the members of the board of education.

"I think I can only say, Jordan, that I've been impressed by what you've
accomplished.  I agree with what the teacher said before ... some of the
substitutes might not have their full teaching degree but, I agree, their
experience comes in quite handy.  So I think we can say with assurance that,
after seeing what is happening here, that you're supplying a quality
education here."

"So there'll be no police involvement then?"

"No, not for the time being."

"I guess it's time for them to leave then," Jordan said, pointing at the two
police officers standing in one of the corners loOKing out over the hall.

"Yes, they can leave."

"No, they're here for our safety," one teacher protested.

"Well, I have no concerns about my safety at all at the moment, so we won't
need them," the director stated firmly.

"Oh, I think we need protection.  This is all a set up, staged like
everything else so far.  Mike, the doctors ... they were all set up just like
we're being set up."

"Shut up!" the director said.  "Don't be ridiculous.  They can leave.  I
feel totally safe here.  We have no need for them.  These students have
shown that they're very good organizers and I'm sure the student population
is listening to them, so there's no need to be afraid of something untoward
happening ... at least, not from what I've seen in the classrooms or anywhere
else in the school."

"You're right, sir," interjected Jordan.  "We just wanted to make it clear
that we're not in agreement with those few teachers and parents who are now
dictating to the majority in this school without giving us any chance to
tell them what we think."

"I know, Jordan, that that's been the most important item from the beginning
but it's how schools are regulated down here, by the board of education,"
the director said.

"Well, maybe it's time for the board of education to loOK at that system.
As you see we're quite capable of maintaining our own system and
organization."

"I think you've proven that, Jordan, but I think you've forgotten that most
students aren't capable of doing that and that some protection from the
outside world is needed to create a safe environment for them to get an
education."

"Sorry, sir, but I don't think any of this has to do with that.  It is just
pure censorship, nothing more, nothing less.  And let's not forget ... the
board's actions have been based upon rumors and gossip more than on the
truth."

"I can only say, Jordan, that we'll discuss the experiences we had today
with the other members and who knows what will come of it?  I think that,
before we go, we'll want to talk with some of the organizers on the
`teachers' side as we might want to extend this experiment in the future.
It's opened some great possibilities if we could interest some of your
volunteers into a more permanent organization of professional people coming
in to teach for a day or so.  On the other hand, I don't think it's our task
to do anything for the time being.  This is something between the director
and the teachers-parent organization.  We'll instruct them to discuss it all
again and we'll strongly suggest that students be heard.  But, as I said
before, it is their decision and we'll respect whatever the outcome is."  "

"So you're walking away from this without taking a stand, then?"

"That isn't up to us, Jordan.  We were brought in to see if this building is
being used for its intended function, and I can only deal with that issue at
the moment, so I see no need for further interference from us at this time."

"But you will order the teachers-parents organization to convene another
meeting?"

"We'll suggest that to them and normally our opinion weighs quite heavily in
situations like this.  So you'll give up the occupation now?" the director
asked.

"You agree with us then, sir?" Susan asked.

"Ahhh ... hmmmm ... I wouldn't go that far, no.  What I mean is ... once we've
arranged a new meeting, will you give up the occupation of the school and
allow things to return to normal?"

"Definitely not, sir.  We'll await the outcome of that meeting and then
decide what we'll do," replied Jordan.  "I agree with Susan.  We'll run the
school till the outcome of the meeting has been announced."

"But you can't keep going with the teachers you have for very long.  I don't
think the parent- teachers association can meet for several days."

"Oh, we'll cope.  Don't worry about that, director ... but if you're anxious,
you can ensure that the meeting takes place sooner.  I don't know why it
couldn't be held tonight."

"We have things to arrange and we need to inform all the parents and that
will take time."

"Sorry, but publicity won't be a problem; you have a full media contingent
right outside the school," I pointed out.

"That's true," the teacher I'd walked around with agreed.

"It'd help, that's for sure," agreed the director.

"May I suggest we try to arrange a meeting for 6 p.m. tonight?" the teacher
sympathetic tour cause recommended quickly.  "And I think it's time for a
public meeting as well.  So far the parents have been against that but I
think that we teachers feel strongly about that if we're to be taken
seriously in the future."

"Never!  We'll just hear more lies," the unsympathetic teacher protested.

"If I may," Jordan said.  "I think a public meeting is a good idea, and
there's no better place to hold it than down here in the school itself,
don't you think?"

"You'll make sure we can have a proper discussion here, Jordan?"

"Yea, I promise no one will interfere in the conduct of the meeting as long
as a few of the students are allowed to have their say, too."

"OK, we'll set it for 6 p.m. tonight then.  Let's go outside together and
announce it, Jordan, as I think that will give the message that we're trying
to work together to solve this problem."

"You're getting yourself into a lot of trouble," the unsympathetic teacher
said.

"I don't think I am," replied the director.  "It's time for me as director
of education to consider more than just a small group organized in the
teachers–parent organization."

Susan jumped in.  "I think I can say for certain that teachers who think
like that are no longer welcome in our classrooms, sir."

"I got exactly that impression, too, Susan," the director agreed.

"We'll see.  You just can't sack me, you know," protested the unsympathetic
teacher.

"Maybe the director can't, but we might just not show up for your classes in
protest."

"Blackmail!  That's what this has been from the beginning."

"I think," the director said quietly, "you'd better shut up.  You're making
your continued employment, here or anywhere else, more and more difficult."

"OK, a press conference together then," Jordan said.

"Yes, and I'll leave the opening statement to you, Jordan.  You deserve to
answer any questions about the press release you gave out this morning."

"Let's see if we can get the press conference inside so the students can
hear it all over the audio system in the classes as well."

For the next 30 minutes, members of the press were allowed into the hall.  A
small podium was set up and the school's speaker system was connected to the
classroom audio system.

I'd have loved to see Nick, but his class break had been while we'd been in
the conference with the director.  I wondered how he was doing at that
point.

[From Nick's point of view]

After another pretty interesting lesson, it was break time.  I wandered
around, trying to find Francis but he wasn't at his post at the reception
area, so I guess he was in the conference room with the others.  That wasn't
my place to be.

I'd turned on my mobile to see if there were any messages.  At least four, I
saw, which meant that others had heard about the school situation as there
weren't a lot of people who had my mobile number.  I didn't want to listen
to the messages but instead opened SMS and saw that there was a message from
my lawyer, too.  It read: "Nick - please - call me as soon as possible."

What was that all about?  There shouldn't be anything new until next
Thursday, or so I thought.  I dialed the number and waited for the secretary
to answer.


Ok just be patient chapter 70 will be here very soon. Hope you like the way
the stories is getting to its finish. Let me know if you have any comments.
My e-mail is noway16@hotmail.com.

You can also visit my website at www.geocities.com/timsfunplace