Five More Years

This was an exercise in characterization. I underlined the dialogue that was given to us and we had to build a story and characters around the dialogue. 

Five More Years

            Bernard Rice should have become a doctor. Or a lawyer like his parents advised him. But no, Mr. Idealist had to challenge himself as the vice principal of a large inner city high school. I’m going to make a REAL difference for kids!

            For 20 years, he corralled students with waning enthusiasm in the Halifax County school system. The administration was numb to innovation and the kids didn’t care to look up from their texting. Bernard had long given up on saving the future of America and focused on saving for retirement in New Zealand. If it was good enough for hobbits, by golly, it was going to be good enough for Bernard Rice.

            Five more years, he silently prayed. I just need make it through five more years.

And now, he had to discipline the infamous Miss Sheila Hetzel. After a rough week with budget cuts and firings, this was positively the icing on the proverbial shit-cake. He sighed, popped a Tums into his mouth and went to retrieve her.

            Bernard Rice didn’t say a word to Sheila as he walked her through the empty halls towards his office. Silence produced a desired effect, he knew. Sheila, for a moment anyway, was docile. He opened the door for her as the bell for third period began to ring.

            “Sit down, please.”

            Sheila sat and looked straight at him, but she didn’t speak.

            “Would you like the chance to tell your side of the story?”

            “You won’t believe it. Why bother.”

            “Miss Hetzel, you’re repeating Science 9 for the second time. Do you remember why you failed in the first place?”

            “No, I’m guess I’m too stupid to remember.”

            “Don’t be wise. You’re in very hot water my friend. Cheating on an exam is grounds for suspension.”

            “Suspend me.”
            “Strangely, you seem to want that.”

            “There’s no way I’m ever going to pass as long as that- dishrag is the teacher.”

            “I think a call to your father is in order.”
            “Great. You can’t touch me, so call him. He’ll take care of it. Guaranteed.”

            Bernard hated that Sheila was right. Mr. Hetzel happened to be the CEO of Centuar Labs and made more money in a week than Bernard could stuff into his mattress. After all, he had spawned the clever little shit sitting in front of Bernard.  Mr. Hetzel was the type of guy who took “care of things.” Bernard was the type of guy who had done the actual “caring.”

            Mr. Hetzel had gotten Sheila to repeat Science 9 after Mr. Seward failed her, despite the fact that Sheila had spray-painted his car in protest. She probably had another college aged boyfriend on spring break. Despite his weary exhaustion at Sheila’s antics, Bernard felt it was a shame that a ballsy firecracker like Sheila was probably going to drown herself in years of afternoon chardonnay like so many “Halifax County wives”.

            In trying times such as these, Bernard pictured scenes from “Lord of the Rings” as his therapist had instructed him: his “safe place”. He wished his mission in life was as simple as getting a ring to fucking Mordor.

            “Mr. Rice?” Sheila squawked Bernie out of his reverie. “So can I go now?”

            Bernard rubbed his eyes. “You want to know something? You’re a smart girl, Sheila. What do you want to do with yourself?”
            “Oh, should I ‘make something of myself?’ Are you a Hallmark card?”

            “I’m just curious. Cheating in class you’ve already failed is a waste of your time. What do you want to do with your life?”
            “Nothing.” Sheila folded her arms.

            “You don’t have to come here. You can get your GED. Get a job. Get out there in the real world. Do something.”

            “That sounds like a stupid idea.” She sunk lower into her chest.

            “I think it’s stupid to cheat on an exam and get suspended for a class you’ve already failed.”

            “Maybe I’m just stupid.”

Bernard took a breath. “Sheila, your dad may take care of everything now. Your boyfriend might take care of things later. But one day you’re going to realize you haven’t done anything with your life. Or you can decide what you want to do NOW and then go do it. I’ll give you some time to think about it while you’re suspended.”

            Sheila rolled her eyes and walked out in a huff.

            Gandalf didn’t have to put up with Frodo’s eye rolling. Bernard sighed.