An Excerpt from My Next Thriller

I added a little scene to my vigilante thriller yesterday, so I thought I’d share it. Here’s what you need to know: Molly Jergins attends Poeticule Bay Consolidated High School. After a fellow student, Barry Graves, is attacked by the school bully, Keith Faun, Molly confronts Keith. After that scene, a teacher shows up. Molly proves that, despite her young age (or perhaps because of her youth), she’s made of sterner stuff.

Oration: Scene fragment / Molly and Mrs. Simmons

Molly’s history teacher, Mrs. Abby Simmons, pushed her way through the crowd. “Hey! People! The bell has rung! Get to class! What’s going on? I’ve got an empty classroom, and I get lonely talking to myself! All of you have somewhere to be!”

Molly, sporting a wide and grateful grin, turned to her. “Sure, Mrs. Simmons!”

Keith turned and walked away, and Molly called after him, “You’re welcome!”

Some students snickered. Mrs. Simmons shushed them and waved them on. The crowd dispersed. A few of the juniors and sophomores touched Molly’s shoulder as a silent gesture of respect as they passed. She was relieved, certain that those witnesses and their phones had saved her from getting a black eye, or worse.

“What are you up to, Molly? Did you just make a bad situation worse?” Mrs. Simmons demanded.

“Me? Nah. That guy is like an ice cream headache. He’s going to get worse before he gets better. Not that anyone cares, but a lot of us don’t feel safe going to this school.”

By her eyes, Molly could tell the teacher didn’t disagree. Mrs. Simmons didn’t feel safe, either.

“You should know,” Mrs. Simmons said, “when you’re young and immature, you’ve got a lot more anger and energy. You look at the state of the world and….” She trailed off. They were alone in the corridor, but the teacher still looked around nervously to make sure no one else was within earshot.

“What is it, ma’am?” Molly prompted.

The teacher’s jaw worked for a moment as she searched for the right words. Finally, Mrs. Simmons said, “I just think you should appreciate that a lot of people around here, not just the students, are appalled by the incident between Keith and the Graves boy. But we’re also tired and just trying to get through our days. The police and the principal were informed. The ball’s in their court now. What’s best is to leave it be. Not our monkeys, not our circus anymore, right?”

Molly cocked her head to one side. “You’re tired?”

“Of this business? Surely and immeasurably.”

“If you’re tired, imagine how exhausted Barry must be. It sounds like you’ve given up, ma’am.”

“You will, too. Everybody does. When you learn the limits of what you can do, it makes sense to set your sights lower.”

“Spoken as a true educator, Mrs. Simmons! You’re an inspiration!”

The teacher shot her a sour look. “Tend to your own knitting, Molly, and get your butt to class.”

“I’ve got a free period in the library, ma’am.”

“Then get to it.”

She’d meant to curb Keith, not shame Mrs. Simmons. “Sorry,” Molly said, “maybe you’re right. I guess a lot of people do give up for whatever reason. I understand you’re trying to help me.”

But Molly couldn’t leave it at that, couldn’t stop herself. “As long as I’m still young and full of energy, though, I think I’ll keep on being angry when it’s right to be angry. Your way, powerless people stay powerless. You taught me that in your history class.”

Molly thought she had earned herself a detention, but Mrs. Simmons said nothing more. The teacher spun on her heel and strode back to her classroom.

Whatever happens, Molly cautioned herself, don’t turn into her. Don’t get so chicken of being wrong that you don’t do right.