Page 43 of For Your Own Good

THE DAY HASbeen splendid, just splendid. Teddy loves that word. It might even be in his top ten, although that changes. Sometimes, he comes across a word he hasn’t seen in a while, and then that word goes onto his mental list. Butsplendidis an all-time favorite.

His second-period class is largely done readingThe Outsiders, so now they have to write their papers. Fourth period is a bit slower, readingMoby Dick, but that’s to be expected.

By the time school is over, Teddy thinks about having a big glass of milk, even though he had one last night. Normally, he doesn’t drink milk two days in a row, but if he can’t celebrate the successes in life, then what’s the point?

On the way home, he stops at the corner store. One of the many downsides of being a teacher is not being able to shop at the nice grocery stores. On this matter, Teddy made his peace long ago. He’s even become friends with Hector, the owner and full-time cashier of Fourth Avenue Liquors.

They first met several years ago, when he discovered Hector’s store had cheaper prices for milk than the discount grocery stores. Hector was also amenable to special orders. That’s a good business owner, one who’s willing to cater to his customers. Teddy has been loyal to him ever since.

“More milk today?” Hector says.

Teddy smiles as he walks toward the back, nodding his head.

“Have to keep an eye on you,” Hector says. “That much milk can’t be good for the body.” He laughs at his own joke, drowning out the TV stationed above the register.

Teddy grabs his milk from the refrigerator. Hector carries the brand just for him. Teddy only drinks milk from a glass bottle. Not that plastic or carton nonsense.

“Now tell me,” Hector says. “What the hell is going on at your school?”

Teddy has to think for a minute. “Oh, yes. It’s just such a tragedy. That poor woman.”

“I’ll say.”

“No one really knows what happened. She just... collapsed.”

“You haven’t heard?” Hector says.

“Heard what?”

“Wow, I thought you guys would’ve known first.” Hector picks up the remote and changes the channel on the TV. It flips from a soccer game to the local news. “I saw it a little while ago.” Using the remote as a pointer, he gestures to the screen. “What the hell are you teaching those kids?”

The banner at the bottom of the screen doesn’t make sense. Teddy reads it over and over, trying to understand.

17-YEAR-OLD BELMONT STUDENT ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF KILLINGMOTHER

Part

Two

29

THE FIRST SNOWis always the most magical. It comes late this year—not until January. Blanketed in white, Belmont Academy looks like it belongs in a Dickens novel.

If not for the chain-link fence around the perimeter.

Two and a half months have passed since Courtney was arrested. Her trial is still a few weeks away, but the media has already set up camp outside the school. Their equipment is protected by tents, mini-heaters keep them warm, and a vendor sells hot coffee out of a van while someone else hands out flyers for a local business.

This is just the beginning, Sonia realizes.

The security guard waves her through, and she restrains herself from flipping off the reporters while passing by. She parks and gets out of her car, not bothering with her mantra. Even if she repeated it a thousand times, today would not be a good day.

Just inside the front door, the counseling room has been set up. Sonia walks past it and goes straight to the teachers’ lounge. Frank is the only one there, which is surprising. The parking lot is at least half-full.

“Oh,” Frank says. “Hey.”

“Good morning,” she says.

He sits in the corner, watching her as she puts her lunch in the refrigerator and makes a cup of coffee. He looks even worse than last week, if that’s possible. Pale skin, dark circles under his eyes. Even his muscles look like they’ve shrunk.