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- 06/08/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Adam Blake - 58. Chapter 58
“Is the ceremony ready for Friday?”
“Yes, are you ready.”
That afternoon, I walked to the cafeteria for coffee but before I did, I stopped to check on Mr. Rusello. He was sketching and on a platform. “How's it coming?”
“Good, the light is right, I think this will be a mural of love for me.”
“It’ll be a great mural for me, something I’ll be proud to show visitors. I have a question for you. I want to put an oath on the wall between the windows in the cafeteria, do you think that young man who helped you could do that?”
“Probably, just tell him if he has problems to come and see me.”
“Thanks, I’ll get him started on that.”
I went to the kitchen, “Where’s this young man who wants to be a painter?”
I saw his mother push him forward, “Abel, I have a job for you, interested?”
“Is it painting?”
Now normally I’d have fun, but this time I decided I wouldn’t. “Yes, I have something I need to be painted on the wall between the cafeteria windows. It isn’t much, but It must be done neatly and correctly. What do you say?”
His mother is saying this is your chance. “Ok, I’ll do my best.”
“Good, that’s all I ask. Come with me.”
I showed him where I wanted the oath painted, he nodded, then I led him to my office and gave him the oath. “What I would like you to do is prepare a demo, of how you would paint it. You can do it on paper and bring it to me. Then we’ll go and see Mr. Rusello, and get his approval. Then you can buy the paint, with my money, and paint. Sound fair?”
“So I have some freedom on this.”
“Yes, but once I approve your proposal, then you no longer have any freedom. Do you understand?”
“I think I do, may I ask Mr. Rusello?”
“ Yes, he’s in the room across from the cafeteria.”
That Friday evening, we called a meeting of the Knights of the Square Table. When all of the Knights were at the table, I put on my robes. It got quiet, very quiet. James announced that tonight the Knights would take a solemn oath, the same oath taken by King Arthur’s Knight of the Round Table. “As you present yourself before our President, you must take the oath.” The first boy came up and read the oath, he walked in front of me, I took a medal placed it around his neck. “Knight Melvin, you are now a full member of the Knights of the Square Table, turn and look upon your brothers.” We did that for all of the boys, 60 boys joined the Knights of the Square Table that night. Then Jane wheeled out a cart with a big cake and tubs of ice cream.
I took off my robes, and sat with the kids, and had ice cream and cake. I noticed the boys looking at their medals, the younger boys eyes had tears, the older boys were smiling and I think everyone had their chests pumped out a little. I think I even caught James with glassy eyes, I know I had glassy eyes as well.
I drove to the cabin that night, I got in late because of the medal presentation. “Adam, are you hungry?”
“No thanks Mom, I don't think I’m over that trip yet. I’m going to go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I was in no hurry to get out of bed, I slept until noon. Showered, dressed, I headed to the kitchen for coffee.
“Adam, are you ok? You have never slept this long.”
“I’ve never been this tired before. A lot of stress this week and the trip to England ended ok but it started wrong and then dealing with the financial issues Dad found, and it isn’t over. Anyway, I’m here, I want to relax this weekend.”
“Do you want something to eat?”
“Yes, I think a couple of pieces of toast with peanut butter and coffee would be good. Where’s dad?”
“Probably at the dock, that is a nice dock they built.”
“Have the kids taken the boat out?”
“Oh yes, I still have fish.”
“Have you ever heard of fish and chips?”
“I think I heard of it, it’s some kind of English dish.”
“Yes, it is breaded fish that is deep-fried and the chips are french fries. I had them once in England they are ok but really heavy. I also had onion pie. It's made with leaks and cream, although I think it was thickened milk, and it had potatoes in it. They put a crust over it and bake it. It was good but I couldn't eat that every day.”
‘If you want I’ll make that for you.”
“Maybe in 10 years, it’s too heavy.”
“Here, your toast and coffee.”
“ Thanks”
I sat there and thought about all of the turmoil since I started at the Academy. I wonder if it was worth it. As I was thinking this, “How was the medal ceremony?”
“It went great, they were a few misty eyes and they all proudly displayed their medals. You know I should have had their name engraved on their medal. I think I can still do that.”
“A project for James”
“Yes, he got a good raise. Dad, how far down the payroll system did you look?”
“We only covered staff. Did you find more?”
“Yes, when I started to adjust non-staff I found quite a few. I have their names and account numbers. I sat there while my one clerk, deleted the names, but I have a copy of the files. I also have all of the nameplates for check signatures. I was wondering if I wrote a check against one of those accounts and used their signature if the bank would honor it.”
“They probably would. Are you going to try it?”
“No, in fact, I have them here. I thought the Feds might be able to use them to trace the money.”
“What are you going to do if the feds find the money and want to return it?”
“It’s the school's money so it goes to the school account. I need money for the computer lab.”
“I think we did a pretty good job, Mom.”
“I know we did Dad.”
“You know you are supposed to say that.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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