“Mr. Bridge, the Board’s time is valuable. If you’ll please answer as to the nature of your contact with the student in question.”
The student, the student. Why did she insist on saying that when everyone knew it was me? I felt someone staring at me, and caught my mother’s eye across the room. Her face was full of sympathy and worry.
Mr. Bridge fought himself then said very carefully, “I can’t answer that.” A ripple of confusion spread out in the auditorium.
“Then I’ll proceed,” said Mrs. Blakely and she picked up a clicker to run her presentation.
“Wait,” said Mr. Bridge. “I wanted to qualify that I’m refusing to speak out of respect for the student. To protect him.”
The crowd wavered, murmurs of confusion rising and falling: Protect?
“His protection…” Mrs. Blakely drew it out like
