|
PART 49 All four kids were excited about the Friday-Saturday trip. Tom had a meet Wednesday, and he won his 2-mile by almost 40 seconds, while the team crushed the overmatched opponents 102-43. Ricky was originally not sure if he really wanted to go, because he usually spent much of his Saturdays going to see Jenny—the girl had that “library studying” excuse down pat, and she knew to give the explanation to a different teacher each week, so that no one would get suspicious. The two young love sweethearts would usually make arrangements by e-mail the previous Wednesday or Thursday. Ricky had explained to her all about the horrible events of a few weeks before, and Jenny was now all into her whole “poor baby, I’ll take care of you” thing. These Saturday outings in the town park usually got Ricky all excited for a couple days beforehand. The way that chick kissed, how she opened her mouth and her tongue would go in there with his and down below she’d pet the boy’s penis (but nicely and gently, through his pants), oooohhhh, it was all definitely more interesting for Ricky to think about than pre-algebra. And those tits!! Ricky jerked off twice (or even three times!) on Friday night or early Saturday so he wouldn’t be tempted to lose control and not be what Jenny called “a gentleman”. But for this particular Saturday, Ricky figured that something different would be fun, too. And after all, he and Rob had been pestering Father for weeks to take them out there. Hey, change is cool. Father delayed and procrastinated and thought about stuff all Tuesday and Wednesday. How to tell good old Conroy? He planned out his opening lines like an actor rehearsing a script. He was mad at himself a bit for being such a wimp and delaying, but Thursday afternoon, just after sports, he figured let’s go. I’ve got permission from someone more important than this guy. Let’s get this thing done, and hey, if God’s with me, I sure as hell shouldn’t be afraid of Jerry Conroy. I’ve barely talked to the guy for four months. Let’s do this thing. He found Mr. Conroy in his 2nd floor office in Bats. “Hi, Jerry, how you doing these days?” Father asked with fake cheerfulness. “Ray. What’s up, what do you want?” “Well, you know that fishing cabin that my parents own west of here?” Yeah right. As though he would have ever really told Mr. Conroy about the place. But it was all part of the plan. “Huh? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I never told you? Oh, OK. Well, we’ve had the place since back when I was a kid, back since when I was a student here. We used to head up there a lot on weekends, me, my friends, Coach P, other teachers, you know, just to fish, hike, enjoy the campfire, that kind of stuff. Anyway, I was talking to Coach,” (Father wanted to get Mr. Prszeczkopowski’s name into this as much as possible) “and we thought it would be fun for me to take a few of the kids out there for a Friday-Saturday overnight. Once in awhile it’s fun to do something different. He’s arranged with the kitchen to get some food for us, and we’ll be heading out Friday after classes and should be back by Saturday dinnertime. Roger Mayne’s going with me to help out. Here’s a list of the kids—Ricky Spann, Tom Klein, Rob Colby, and Kevin Ackerman. And here’s a map, yeah, we’ll be right here. Coach has Roger’s cell phone number. Hey, maybe next time you can join us! I can’t believe I’ve never told you about this place. Coach just asked me to make sure you knew who was going and when we’d be back.” Father had carefully practiced every word of this, speaking fast enough so he wouldn’t get interrupted, and all happy and matter-of-fact. He thought the line about inviting Mr. Conroy next time was funny. He smiled, paused, and waited for the expected reaction from the Residential Supervisor. “What exactly are you thinking about? You mind explaining to me what is going through your mind here?” said Jerry, his eyes narrowing to slits. Yeah, knew this was coming. Feign ignorance, play this clown like a violin. “I think everything’s clear. It’ll be tight, but I can fit everyone in my car, and Roger…” “Ray, don’t play dumb with me, I don’t have time and I’m not in the mood. How in Christ’s name do you think you should be alone in some remote place for over 24 hours with four innocent children? You know damn well what I’m talking about. You’re not stupid.” OK, this was expected too. Get the guy to lay his cards on the table, and debate him. I have the permission, I hold the aces here. “Mr. Conroy,” said Father much slower, “I don’t really like the use of our Lord’s name in that way, but let’s forget that for a moment. Are you accusing me of something? If you are, I want to know what it is. If not, well, I have some work to do before dinner.” “Look, asshole. I know exactly what you are. I don’t call you Father, because you don’t deserve that title. I’M a father to my son and daughter! YOU are a sick perverted child molester! You know it, I know it, and just about all the kids know it. I guess you have a few of them fooled, which is possible. They’re just children, and you’re smarter and more experienced than they are. How the hell you managed to fool Karl Prszeczkopowski, that’s way beyond me. But you think I don’t know what’s going on? You think I don’t know what you’re planning to do to those kids once you get them in an isolated place where no one can hear them scream? I don’t know about Roger, maybe he’s like you, maybe not. But you are a pervert, you are a criminal, and you belong in prison for the rest of your fucking life!! I just pray that somehow, some way, that you aren’t successful and that whatever kids you’re trying to rape can get away. I’d love to be in court when you’re sentenced and led away forever. There. You wanted to know? Is that specific enough for you?” Hmmmm, Father thought, yeah, the guy was plenty specific, all right. Now let’s do the pretend-condescension act. That’ll get him worked up! “Jerry, I can’t possibly imagine where you picked up these ideas, where this hate comes from. Do you think that anyone who treats kids kindly and gives them attention is automatically some sort of evil person? Is that the message we want to convey to our students, that no good person could possibly enjoy spending time with them? Look, I have a friend, a priest who serves Ripton and surrounding towns. His name is Father George Rennard. Maybe you’d like to talk to him privately one day, work through these feelings of yours. If you’d like, I’ll call him for you.” Father then moved his hand toward’s the other man’s shoulder, knowing full well what would happen next. “GET YOUR DIRTY HANDS AWAY FROM ME!!” said Jerry, violently knocking Father Ray’s arm aside. “Oh, you’re a goddamn smooth one, aren’t you? Oh, you have that silver tongue in your mouth, you know just what to say, just how to con people. You must be so proud of yourself, getting Karl and maybe even Headmaster on your side, making them think you’re just some kindly teacher doing nice things for the kids. You must be standing there all smug, oh yeah. And you know Karl’s a higher authority here than me, you know there’s nothing I can do, you planned this so good, didn’t you?” Jerry was right in Father Ray’s face, pointing a rigid finger inches from his nose, and Father Ray thought maybe the guy was about to hit him. Cool, no problem. He’s no bigger or stronger than me, and if Jerry wants to start a fight, bring it on. His problem, his loss of control. I’m all cool. Can’t hurt me. Jerry continued. “All right, you freak, you win this time. But like I said, I want to see the day when you go away to prison forever. You will go there, make no mistake. And though I’m usually not in favor of the death penalty, well, for someone like you, maybe it fits. I’ll do one thing, though, and you and all your well-chosen words can’t stop me from this. When you’re not around, I’ll talk to these kids beforehand, give them some advice so there’s a better chance they’ll come back safe, or better yet, not go at all.” “Well, Jerry, I’m sorry you feel as you do, and I’ll pray for you. And of course it’s a free country, and you’re a professional, you certainly have every right to talk to any of the students you want to. I guess it’s almost dinnertime, I’ll have to prepare my lessons during study hall. And here’s Father Rennard’s card, just in case you change your mind. God be with you,” Father Ray concluded, and walked out of the office fast, down the stairs and into the warm glow of late afternoon. His heart was hammering and he was scared, but he knew he’d played it cool, and done what had to be done. Yeah, it was a win. Yeah. On the way to the dining hall, he saw Rob, who ran up to him smiling. The kid tried to jump on his back but Father dodged and the kid fell on the ground laughing. He got up and Father put his hand the back of the boy’s neck, feeling the delicious texture of the boy’s just-shampooed reddish-brown hair in his fingers. Soothing, it was. The simple love of a child. Calmed and slowed the priest’s pounding heart. |