The Downside of Being Charlie by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Author:Jenny Torres Sanchez
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Published: 2012-04-11T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

It happens during my next class. The dean, Mr. Gouche (aka Mr. Douche), whom I’ve thankfully never had reason to speak to the whole three years I’ve been at Kennedy High, stands in the doorway and barks my name to the teacher. My body feels like I’ve just been jolted with a million bolts of electricity.

“Come with me,” he says as he leads me to his office. When we get there, he motions for me to sit down.

“So, Grisner,” he begins, managing to squeeze his enormous frame behind his tiny desk. The way he looks reminds me of a cartoon. “I heard some stuff. I’m gonna be straight with you as long as you’re straight with me. I checked your file, talked to some of your teachers, and you seem like a good kid, so I know you’ll be honest with me, right?”

I swallow hard and nod. He continues with his interrogation.

“You know a Tanya Bate?”

“I share a locker with her,” I tell him. My voice comes out shaky. I clear my throat. He makes a note on a yellow legal pad.

“What about Mark Delancey?”

“I’ve hung out with him a couple of times. He’s friends with my, uh . . .” What exactly was Charlotte? My girlfriend? Friend? Girl I know? Shit. I’m not even supposed to mention her name. “With some other people I know.”

He nods. “But you guys aren’t friends?”

“No, not at all.”

“Okay.” He makes another note. “Well, here’s the thing, Grisner, someone came to us and told us they heard Mark had cannabis in his possession.” He studies my face. I swallow hard.

“Cannabis, sir?”

“You know, weed, pot, marijuana . . . ,” he barks, like some drill sergeant. The way he’s talking and the fact that I’m nervous as hell makes me want to crack up because that’s the typical reaction when you’re up shit’s creek, right? To laugh? At least for me it is. So I bite the inside of my lip, hard.

“Right.” I nod.

“However, when we questioned him,” he says and then pauses for effect, “he mentioned your name in the conversation.”

“Me?” I ask, with what I hope is an appropriate amount of shock. I bite my lip harder. While I know this isn’t funny, I can’t help but want to laugh. And I’m terrified that if I do, I’ll never stop and will just be on the floor, roaring with crazy laughter from now until eternity.

He nods and waits.

“Sir, I would never . . . ,” I begin. “I don’t . . .” But I’m supposed to act like I don’t know what I’m being accused of and I don’t want to mention the pot brownie unless he brings it up. I take a deep breath and look down because I can still feel a Joker smile wanting to spring across my face.

“Well then, why would Mark single you out?” he asks.

I can’t tell Mr. Gouche that this is probably a monumental occasion when in fact Mark did actually tell him the truth

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