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What Is and What Should Never Be	By : OpenPage Category: 1 through F > 21 Jump Street Views: 1336 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own 21JS or the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. All characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is coincidental.

Chapter List
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Tom managed to remain invisible to his educators for the remainder of the school day. His teachers either ignored him or were unaware of his presence. As the final bell sounded, he picked up his bag and headed for Fuller’s classroom. He knocked softly on the door and receiving an invite, he walked in.
Adam Fuller rose from his desk and indicated for Tom to take a seat at the front of the room. Sitting down, Tom eyed Adam warily as he reached into a battered briefcase and pulled out what appeared to be a children’s book. Tom’s face immediately reddened and he stood up so violently, his chair crashed to the ground. “What the fuck is that?” he yelled, “Do you think I’m some kind of retard?”
Surprised at the ferocity of Tom’s anger, Adam put both hands up, his tone soothing, “Whoa Tom, calm down. I’m not here to embarrass you, I’m here to help you. Come on son, sit down and let’s talk about this.”
At the use of the word son, Tom’s eyes filled with tears. Horrified at displaying emotion to a teacher, Tom quickly pushed the heels of hands against his eyes to stem the flow. Shit! Shit! Shit! He thought, Doug’s gonna kill me. Pulling himself together, he dropped his hands and swiped at his nose with his shirtsleeve. Adam Fuller sat on the edge of his desk, patiently waiting for his young charge to gain his composure. Tom remained standing. “You think I can’t read,” he stated angrily.
“Can you?” Fuller asked, his tone gentle but persistent. He had known Tom less than an hour but in that short space of time he felt compelled to help the boy in whatever way possible. He suspected parental abuse, the blackened eye and dirty clothes were a telltale sign. He had questioned some of the teachers in the teacher’s lounge but most were either disinterested or having only seen Tom during one lesson, were unwilling to pass judgment. He had also approached the Principal but she refused to divulge any information in either Tom or Doug’s file. Frustrated and feeling ill equipped to deal with such a delicate matter, he had made an appointment to talk to the school counselor. Unfortunately, that appointment was not until the following day. Sensing the need to act quickly, he had made the decision to speak to Tom anyway. Now it appeared that his decision might have been the wrong one.
Tom’s eyes glared back defiantly. “Sure I can.”
“Then prove it,” Fuller replied softly as he handed the children’s book to Tom.
For a moment, Tom refused to take the book, but with a dutiful sigh, he snatched the paperback out of his teacher’s hand. Sitting down, he opened the pages and slowly began to read, his voice trembling slightly as he stumbled over the unfamiliar words, “Wh-where's Papa go… going with that a… a… ax? said Fern to her moth… moth… mother as they w-were set.. setting the ta…ta…table for br—“
Adam laid a hand on Tom’s arm, effectively cutting him off. Tom instinctively flinched away from the contact. Bowing his head with shame he mumbled, “You’re right, I am a retard.”
Fuller sat down at the desk next to Tom. “Being illiterate has nothing to do with intelligence Tom,” he replied, his tone gentle and kind. “All it means is that you’ve been left behind. I have no doubt that with extra lessons you will soon be up to speed with your classmates.”
Tom looked up shyly, his brown eyes peering through his long, unruly bangs. “Do you really think I could read good if I took extra lessons?” he asked disbelievingly.
Fuller smiled, “Read well and yes, I really do. Would you like me organize it for you?”
When Tom smiled back, his whole demeanor changed. No longer the sullen, streetwise bully he became a fresh faced fifteen year old. “Yeah, cool.”
“Okay then,” Fuller replied, pleased that Tom had accepted his offer. “We start tomorrow after school.”
Tom nodded his agreement and left the classroom. For the first time since he could remember, he felt truly happy.
**
Sitting cross-legged on a wooden picnic table, Tom waited patiently for Doug to meet him at the park. As the sun slowly began to disappear beneath the horizon, the air became unseasonably chilly. Climbing off the table, he began to anxiously pace up and down, each passing minute causing him to feel more concern for his missing brother. Not being of legal age to buy beer or having the required funds to do so, Tom knew that Doug was going to steal it. As night fell, panic squeezed at his chest. When a light drizzling rain began to fall, he climbed up the ladder to the top of the enclosed play tower. The drizzle soon turned into a drenching downpour and he huddled alone, his body shaking from the cold. As the hours passed, Tom desperately hoped that Doug was sheltering from the rain and not sitting in a police cell having been caught shoplifting. A tear silently trickled down his flawless skin as he brooded over how shit his life was. Closing his eyes, he allowed his imagination to take hold and he fantasized about how different his life would be had his mother remained alive. He pictured home cooked meals, where the four of them would sit around the dining table and talk about their day. He visualized his mother’s calm, peaceful face watching over him with pride as he did his homework. A sob caught in his throat and he broke down completely, allowing the tears to freely course down his cheeks as self-pity over whelmed him. Weariness slowly enveloped his aching body and using his school bag as a pillow, he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
**
A cacophony of bird sounds pulled Tom from a light slumber. Yawning loudly, he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. The rain from the previous night was a distant memory as the rising sun shone brightly from the east. His stomach growled from hunger and picking up his bag, he forced his cramped legs to descend the play tower ladder. After washing his face and hands in the fountain, he drank thirstily, allowing the water to fill the dull ache in his belly. He paused for a moment, deliberating on what would be the best course of action. If he went home there was a possibility his father would be there and that was something Tom did not feel able to deal with alone. Going to school was really his only option.
With a sigh, he threw his bag over his shoulder and left the park. He arrived at Riverdale High too early to start classes. He sat in the outdoor lunch area until students started drifting through from the car park. As the bell rang, he made his way through the thickening crowd, acutely aware of the finger pointing and comments regarding his disheveled appearance. As he stood at his locker, he heard a woman behind him clear her throat. Turning around, he saw Principal Hammond, her face pinched into a look of firm disapproval. “My office Mister McQuaid,” she instructed, through clenched teeth.
Perfect, Tom thought as he slammed his locker closed. Bowing his head, he followed the head teacher down the teeming hallway and into her office. He stopped abruptly when he saw his father sitting on a chair, his stubbled face as black as thunder.
“Take a seat Thomas,” Elizabeth Hammond barked, her tone officious. Shaking uncontrollably, Tom sat on the chair next to Aaron McQuaid. His body shrank into itself and he immediately appeared smaller and more vulnerable than previously. He could hear his father’s heavy breathing next to him but he kept his eyes downcast, too afraid to meet his father’s enraged glare.
“So,” Principal Hammond declared in a shrill voice, “It appears your brother Douglas was arrested last night for larceny. As I told you yesterday Thomas, I will not stand for any type of unruly behavior from a student at this school. Your father is here to take you home, you are expelled from Riverdale High School effective immediately.”
Standing, Aaron McQuaid reached over and shook the Principal’s hand. “Thank you for your hospitality this morning, I apologize on behalf of my sons.”
Taken in by Aaron’s good looks and false charm, Principal Hammond blushed like an over hormonal schoolgirl. “I’m sorry that I have to be so harsh on your children Mr. McQuaid but rules are rules. I suspect both boys would benefit from a little discipline.”
Placing a large, callused hand on the back of Tom’s slim neck, Aaron lifted him to his feet. “Believe me Ms. Hammond, I was thinking exactly the same thing.” With his hand still firmly placed, Aaron McQuaid roughly pushed his youngest son ahead of him as he exited the room.
As they left the school grounds, Tom found the courage to speak, “Where’s Doug?” he asked quietly, not wanting to irritate his father further by demanding answers in a loud tone.
“Exactly where he should be,” his father retorted smugly, “Juvenile detention.”
Tom inhaled loudly, as panic surged through his body. “For how long?” he dared to ask, expecting a clip around the ear at any moment for his insolence.
Tom’s father smiled evilly. “Six months. So from now on Tommy, it’s just you and me. There’s no more Doug to protect you so you’d better do as I say, understand?”
Choking back a sob, Tom nodded as tears filled his brown eyes. There was not a thing he could do, he was now completely alone and at the mercy of a monster.
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What Is and What Should Never Be