The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian

Author:Abdi Nazemian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

Beth Kramer

There are tears in Beth’s eyes when Ramin finishes reading his story. Tears of empathy, sure, but also of anger. She knows what it’s like to feel scared and singled out. She quickly wipes them away when she catches Brunson watching her. She glances at Spence, then at Freddy. They’re both quiet. No one dares speak before the professor.

“I think the group is speechless,” Douglas says, stating the obvious. “And so am I.”

Ramin says nothing.

“I’m not speechless,” Brunson says urgently.

“Oh good.” Douglas nods, giving Brunson permission to speak.

“I think this story is incredible.” Brunson stands up. She cracks her knuckles. “I think it’s powerful. And brave.”

“I don’t know about that,” Ramin says. “It’s just—”

“Just?” Douglas says the word like a warning.

“It’s not just anything,” Brunson says, pacing the room now. “This kind of thing has probably been happening at schools like this forever. Boys being subjected to disgusting behavior in the name of what, some backward tradition and social order that believes people should be broken down in order to make them tough or something.”

Watching Brunson rail against the inhumanity of hazing makes Beth want to stand up and rail against Brunson’s hypocrisy. Who is Brunson to say any of this when she’s the one who robbed Beth of her freshman year by constantly shutting her out, and then by cutting her down so mercilessly with that hairnet? Brunson doesn’t get to be all high and mighty when she’s just the girl version of the same thing.

“Thanks, Brunson,” Ramin says shyly. He seemed so empowered by the end of his story. But now he’s suddenly self-conscious again.

“Ramin,” Freddy says. “I—I didn’t recognize any of the names in your story, but, well, the characters sounded a whole lot like—well, did this happen to you? Did my friends do this to you?”

At this, Ramin looks up and says, “I thought they weren’t your friends.”

And Freddy says, “Fuck.”

Beth knew it had to be real. It was written like a fictional short story, but she could tell from the details that even though he changed the name of the school, he was writing about Chandler. He may have changed the name of the dorm, but it was the Wilton Blue Basement.

“I’m so sorry,” Freddy says.

“You didn’t do it,” Ramin says.

“I know, but . . .” Freddy doesn’t continue.

Beth feels her throat tighten with rage as she replays all the cruelty in Ramin’s story. Physical aggression. Sexual aggression. A kid almost killed. “That was Hiro, right?” she asks. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah,” Ramin says. “He was rushed to the nurse and they injected him with one of those pens. He’s fine. Well, physically. I hope he’s fine emotionally. He seems unaffected, but no one could be, right?”

Douglas speaks deliberately. “Everyone responds to trauma differently.”

“I’ve always wondered what goes on in boys’ dorms,” Spence says. “It’s worse than I thought.”

“It’s not just boys.” There’s a sad resignation in Douglas’s voice. “This kind of behavior can and does happen everywhere. And I’m so sorry it happened to you, Ramin.

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