Page 20
“Count on it,” Josh replied, then glanced at his watch. He didn’t have time to rinse before he swung by Carver’s office.
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.
In Hamilton High’s main office, the smell of stale coffee and fresh photocopies filled the air. He hesitated in the doorway, still toweling his face.
Why would Principal Carver summon him this early?
“Hey, hot stuff!” Vicky called out, cradling the phone between her shoulder and cheek. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she winked at him. “He’ll be just a sec.”
“Vick, you leave that nice boy alone.” This from Otis, the school’s janitor, who was wiping down the office windows.
Josh couldn’t help but smile at the flirty receptionist, wondering what wild theory she’d come up with about their imaginary romance this time.
“Can’t blame a girl for trying, though.” Vicky knew he was gay. The flirting had become a kind of friendly game she played to lighten the mood and let him know she had his back. She’d even set him up on a blind date with her cousin the bookkeeper three years ago.
Just then Myra Waxman poked her head in and frowned at the sight of him. “If you can spare me a moment, Mr. Ayres.” Why did she look so put out? “I wanted a word.”
Just in time, Vicky rescued him. “Head on through.” Glancing in Myra’s direction, she gave a comedic grimace. Every year Myra got another bee in her bonnet and wanted everyone involved.
Otis chuckled, scratching his graying beard. “Luck,” he said in a low voice, his eyes serious. Vicky flirting, Myra waiting to scold him, and now this? Something was up.
“Got a minute, Josh?” Principal Carver poked his head out of his office, his dark skin contrasting with the light blue door.
As Josh passed, Vicky offered a nervous, silent thumbs-up. Her encouragement did little to quell the rising anxiety within him. What was this meeting about?
Carver gestured to the chair across from his cluttered desk. “It’s bad news. Not athletics, but I want you to hear it from me first.”
Ominous. Swallowing again, he nodded and sank into the chair, his mind darting through every possible scenario.
“So….” Carver rubbed his temples wearily. “The library. The busybody brigade has gotten permission to shut it down entirely.”
“What?” Josh felt the blood drain from his face. “What now?”
Carver clicked and reclicked his pen. “You warned me. I should have taken these people more seriously.”
“A crusade.” Josh stiffened and felt like his heart had fallen through the floor. “I knew they’d try. When Mr. Dobbins first complained about Heartstopper, I knew.”
“Well, last night they got to Maus and Beloved. Pretty nasty.” The principal wiped his face.
“Oh. Jesus.” Josh scowled. He knew all too well how quickly “concerned” citizens and book-banning could snowball into something dangerous. “Revolution of the Stupids.”
“The board voted on a new list of titles. Boom. But then Suarez called an executive session and threw us out of the room.”
Josh rolled his eyes. “Passing the buck and caving to bullies, as usual.”
Carver held up a folded piece of paper. “I just got the memo. End of term, they’re closing the doors pending review.”
“Phil, kids have a right to access books and information.” Josh struggled to keep his indignation under control. “You got to be kidding me.”
“It kills me.” Carver looked utterly defeated. “We fought them hard on this, Josh. Assholes with too much time on their hands.”
“Well, my degree is in history. And let me tell you, it always starts with books….” He held Carver’s gaze long enough to make his meaning plain.
Carver’s eyes met his in unspoken understanding. Objections to undesirables would come next. “Any ugliness, I need to know pronto.”
“Students have a right to read.” Josh was stiff with rage. “You realize the kids will flip out. All the kids. Especially the ones whose parents did this.”
Carver frowned. “Then we all need to keep our eyes open. Any backlash from students, any attacks on faculty or staff, you come to me immediately. Intolerance has no place in education.”
