School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Twenty One

ELLA  and HALORAN FAMILY THANKSGIVING

Seeing Marge Sherman and her daughters follow Danny into our house reminded me of my first time at Disneyland. I was four or five and full of wonder and fear at the same time. The only way Marge, Danny’s mom, could look more full of wonder and be more tentative would be for her to be walking on tiptoes. Danny, with his new confident stride, said he felt more relaxed and strong than at any time in his life, and he looked it as he led his family into our living room.  I think it was the first time I thought that our house was rather palatial. I remember Dad saying that we had over 3,000 square feet of space to live in. Danny said his Mississippi house was big but old and run-down.

Dad was a gracious host, and I was with him as we met the family at the front door. Dad said,  “Welcome to our home, all you Shermans from Mississippi. Ella told her mom and me a lot about you, and I’ve seen you at Two Thousand Smiles' song-and-dance morning celebrations. Isn’t that a wonderful way to begin a school day?”

Marge replied in her soft voice, “Yes, and all three children enjoy school much more than in Mississippi. We are enjoying California very much. And thank you for inviting us here for Thanksgiving.” Danny looked at his mom in amazement. He later told me that that was the longest speech he had ever heard his mom make. I was also glad to see Marge walking easily these days. It had taken over two months to heal from her beatings at the hands of Ratso, as Danny called his dad. I gave them a tour of our house and yard as mom and dad continued to prepare our dinner. Danny whispered to me that our house was the largest and the finest house the girls had ever been in, and I heard the girls murmur ‘ohs’, ‘ahs’, and ‘wows’.

Dad had put the extra dining table leaf into the table, and the seldom-used white tablecloth and matching napkins were all set very properly. As mom would say, it looked ‘grand’. Dad sat at the head of the table, and Mom, my little sister, and I sat on his right side. Danny’s mom sat at the other end of the table, and the three Sherman kids sat on the side opposite my family. The talk was all very polite and pleasant.  Danny’s mom kept looking around to make sure she was doing the correct thing or saying the right thing. After we enjoyed the almost traditional dinner – the ‘almost’ came from having ‘tofurkey’ instead of turkey - and the Sherman family seemed to enjoy the food, even that change in menu. Marge insisted that she and Susan must help with the dishes.  

After dinner, my dad asked Danny and me to join him in his office just off the living room. Dad sat behind the desk, and Danny and I sat in the captain’s chairs in front of him. Dad began, “Well, Danny, I want to thank you again for your courage and quickness in taking care of that bully on the bus. From what I can tell, and from what Ella tells me, you are an outstanding young man. I belong to a charitable faculty group at the university that awards monetary prizes to pre-college students who perform outstanding acts of kindness. I told the awards committee about your actions on the bus, and they agreed with me that you fit the bill as an outstanding student.“  I think I blushed as he went on to say, “Ella tells me that you would like to have played fastball and now basketball, but needed to work in order to have some money for school supplies and other personal  and family items. And that, if possible, you’d like to help your mom buy or rent a house rather than live in that old little apartment. Is that correct?” This was a surprise to me, and I was so glad that my dad said it in a way that sounded like it would be a gift to him if Danny agreed to take it.  

“Yes, sir. We are already living so much better than we ever did in Mississippi. So those things like playing ball and having a bigger place to live are just dreams. And I hope you know that Ella was also very strong, and I’d say heroic, too. Maybe she should get some kind of award, too.” Dad nodded and said he’d look into that too. Danny went on. “And Mr. Haloran, ah, er, Mark, I don’t think I should be awarded for being so vicious toward the Norse guy. I did need to stop him, but I think I went way too, ah, too far and was too vicious as Sam called it.” Dad said that maybe he was right, but that was a matter of opinion, and he would like to go ahead with the award if that was okay with Danny. Danny just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. 

Dad continued talking to Danny and me, “And I hope we can help to make some of your dreams come true. The award is large enough to at least give you time for after-school sports and to begin saving for better living quarters. Your social worker told me that you and the family are receiving a good monthly social security payment from your dad’s estate. I talked to Sam, your tutor, and he said you could start practicing basketball on Monday if you wanted to. And I understand that your family's social worker had set up a bank account for your mom to automatically receive Social Security payments each month. I believe you should use a different bank, don’t you?” Danny nodded, and Dad said he’d go with Danny tomorrow, and I could go along with them if I wished. Mom would put me to work if I stayed home, so I said I’d like to go with them. 

At the end of the day, I joined the Sherman family when Dad took them home. Marge kept telling Dad and me, “I can’t thank you enough for inviting us to your Thanksgiving dinner. It was the best we have ever had.” From what Danny had told me, I believed her. Later, I told Dad about their history with Ratso.

 

School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Twenty

SAM- With Danny on BEING A SEXUAL PERSON                                

On Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I asked Danny to meet with me after classes. I wanted to meet on Monday, but I couldn’t find the time before I saw Danny and Ella heading down the sidewalk. After all that had been happening, I was surprised to see Danny smiling and relaxing when he came into our cohort room. I said, “Well, Danny, tell me what brings that smile to your face?”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about. It’s kind of hard to talk about, but, ah, I have really strong feelings for Ella. I mean, uh, sex kind of feelings. I mean, when I’m near her, I get a, uh, a boner, uh, oh shit. This is so embarrassing.” He looked out the window, at the ceiling, and in every direction to avoid looking at me.  

I remembered my own embarrassment when talking or even thinking about sex and all that goes with it, so I just smiled and waited a moment or two, and then said,  “Well, Danny, my friend, welcome to the embarrassing world of teens and the lucky males all over the world.” I grinned and put my hand on his shoulder. “Well, my man, I am guessing that this is your first love. Am I right?” He gave me a delightful smile and nodded. I went on, “I remember my first girlfriend. I was a bit older and in high school.” Danny looked interested and curious, so I told him her name, “Ginny was her name, and I started hanging around with her between classes and I walked her home after school. I don’t think I ever told her I loved her, but we spent a lot of time together before we both went away to college. Have you told Ella that you love her?” He nodded, and I went on, “Danny, I believe that the warm, caring love between a boy and a girl is a beautiful and life-giving thing, and it also takes a lot of patience for both of you. Often feelings or emotions act like they are driving us to touch another in every way possible.” Danny seemed to blush, and I continued, “That is a beautiful thing but one needs to listen to their mind at these times and realize that this drive to have sex is a natural action but must be kept under control until each partner is ready, physically, relationally, and even financially to get married and be together for even a possible life-time. I’m sure you are not ready for that, but it is part of the natural, beautiful process. And, for now, enjoy your time with Ella and be patient with yourself – and with her. Okay? And you  said that you have told her that you love her, right?” He nodded and asked, “Did she tell you that she loves you, too?”

He nodded and looked like he wasn’t sure, and his confusion showed, but he continued talking at a fast pace as if the world would end if he stopped too quickly.  “Oh, and she told me that she loved me too. I didn’t tell my mom, and you are the only one. Ella’s family invited my family and me to Thanksgiving dinner, and I was surprised when my mom accepted. It will be the first time we’ve ever eaten with another family – like forever.” He took a deep breath and sighed.

 i picked up the conversation and said, "Danny I want to say a few more words on sexuality, Humans are sexual creatures just like all other animals. One of our big differences is that we can choose who nd when we can make sexual contacts. What I said earlier about a sexual relationship between you and Ella can be a beautiful thing - if you plan it in a life-giving way - a way that can be positive for both of you. Rape - when a guy forces himself on a girl when she has no choice in the matter - is not a positive thing for either of them, And when both have a thoughtless sex just because they feel like it, may not be a completely negative thing but it is not a life-giving and love enhancing thing either,"

There is a great deal more to say on the subject but I wanted it to rest for now. So I asked Danny, “Has our conversation about sex been helpful?” He nodded, and I said, “I want to change the subject, Danny, and talk about your ‘vicious’ attack on ‘poor’ Bruno Barnes. ' I was smiling, and that helped Danny smile too. “You indicated that you rather lost control and hurt him like you wanted to hurt Ratso back in Mississippi. Is that right?” He nodded. “I understand, and Bruno didn’t get more than he deserved, but now you need to learn how to let go of the anger that you have been carrying around over all your years of abuse from your stepdad. I would like you to see one of the other counselors here at Smiles. I’m thinking of Steve Jacobs, or would you prefer a woman?”

“I’m scared of whoever he or she is. Sam, do you think I’m, uh, crazy or something?” 

“No, Danny, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you have been deeply hurt, and you need to work to heal your wounds. When would you like to see Steve? And I’ll set it up, okay?  And I’m glad that your family will be joining the Halorans for Thanksgiving. Just enjoy the positive feelings you have for Ella. They are natural and normal, and you don’t need to do anything; just accept them. Ginny and I never did go ‘all the way’ as they said in those days. Do they still say that?"

Danny nodded and said, "Yeah, I think so. and, uh, Sam, thanks a lot, I don't think I ever could have brought this up to anyone else, so thank you for being, well, you" 

He put out his hand and I shook it and, again, patted him on the shoulder. +

 say, and I often really wanted to. But we weren’t ready. We’ll talk about it again. You won’t melt and you won’t explode,  so just ‘be’ and I know that that is often quite difficult. And I think you are up to it.” He nodded, and I patted him on the shoulder and said, “Now, let us both enjoy a nice and comfortable Thanksgiving and four days away from this place.” I hoped he would not spend all four days worrying about counseling. 

School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Nineteen

DANNY - DANNY, ELLA AND SAM MEET THE NORSES

Sam made a few copies of our ‘tram incident’ video and gave one to me, and encouraged me to keep it very private.  Thankfully, he didn’t copy the part showing Ella sitting on my lap, but he did give me a copy of the meeting with Bruno and his parents. I don’t know who I would show it to. I decided not to tell Mom and the girls about it because they were still fearful of the ‘big bad world’ out there. I didn’t want to add to their fear. I hadn’t yet told anyone except Sam about my ‘seeing’ Ratso in Bruno almost the minute he stood next to our seats on the tram. The lady lawyer gave me a good reason for trying to tear his arms off, but in truth, I was not looking for a reason; I just wanted to hurt him. I didn’t know whether to tell anyone else. After stewing about it all weekend, I decided to talk to Sam. 

On Monday morning, right before our jamboree, I asked Sam if I could have a private word with him. He saw how serious I was and ushered me into the teachers’ lounge. I began, “Sam, you are the only one I’ve told about seeing Ratso’s face on Bruno, and it’s bothering the hell out of me. The Norse’s lawyer’s comment made it sound like I was noble, but in truth, I really wanted to kill the Ratso in Bruno. What do you think?”

I was glad that Sam took me seriously. I don’t think I’ve ever been around an adult who really took me so seriously. After a couple of minutes that seemed like an hour, he said, “You know, Danny, I think that either way you choose would be honorable, but I’m thinking that you might feel better if you told a few people. What you have been feeling about Ratso has been with you your entire life. And anyone who has been through what you have with that bastard would be carrying around a ton of anger and even rage. So, here’s an idea: what about sharing this with our cohort and making it a learning experience for all of us? I mean, we all have negative or guilty feelings about someone or something we’ve done, or said, or even just thought. I’m not saying you should, but that it could be a cleansing kind of experience for you and for us. Why don’t you think about it and let me know? He put a hand on my shoulder and added, “How’s this: We’ll begin our session, and after a few minutes, you’ll nod or shake your head, and we’ll go from there. We could wait for another day, or, well.” I said OK, and we left to join the song-and-dance jamboree.

Everyone in our cohort had heard about our incident, and Ella was talking about it when Sam and I came in. I whispered to Sam. “I think this would be a good time, uh, soon.” 

Ella gave me a perfect opening, “Here’s Danny, and he’ll tell you about it as he saw it. I’ve never seen anyone move as fast as he did last Friday. Wow!” Everyone applauded her, and she patted the chair next to her, and I sat down and took a deep breath.

I looked around the group as we all had become accustomed to doing, and began, “Thanks, Ella, I can thank our aikido teacher for helping me to be able to take down that asshole.” I  took a second to be grateful for having a group with a leader-adult who didn’t correct or scold me for using ‘bad’ language. “And Ella said it like I was some kind of hero. I want you to know that she was quite a warrior, too.” I smiled at her and went on, “But I really was in some rage the moment that s.o.b. came on the bus, and my rage doubled when he grabbed Ella. You all heard a bit of my story and about how mean and abusive my dad was. Well, I now know that I have been carrying around a ton of anger and rage toward him almost my entire life.” I was nearly yelling, “And when I grabbed both of his arms and threw him down and jumped on him, I really wanted to kill him.” I paused and leaned back in my chair, took a deep breath, and looked at the ceiling.

Joe Jackson yelled, “Hoo Rah!” and began to clap, and the whole group joined him. Ella squeezed my hand and whispered, “Thank you.” That helped me relax and it felt so good, but I said, “I’m really feeling ashamed of feeling so, uh so, uh so mad I could kill, and I really felt it. Have any of you ever felt that way?”

Chris, the ‘brainy’ one, didn’t hesitate, “Danny, I bet we’ve all felt that way in our lives. Maybe not that strong, but really wanting to hurt someone who, maybe, only hurt our feelings with something they said or did. My aunt, who is a psychologist, says that when we are born, and a helpless baby is being pushed out of our mom’s uterus, we feel so much pain that it is really PTSD – you know, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. So, man, you’ve had tons of PTSD.” He walked across our circle and shook my hand. “Please don’t apologize, man.” 

I muttered, “Thanks, Chris. That means a lot.” Joe J. began clapping again, and I think most of the others joined him.

Maria said, “I agree with your aunt, Chris. I have heard that about newborns, too. And, Danny, thank you for sharing your honest feelings with us.” She looked around at everyone.

Gordo seemed a bit agitated and said, “Yeah, Danny, thank you. I think I come across as if everything is fine and dandy with me, and nothing bothers me.  But what bothers me a lot, maybe, most of the time, is being called or thought of as a ‘dumb Mexican’ or a ‘Beaner’ or some other put-down name, and hearing so many white adults saying that and then their kids saying it. Now, Danny, thank you for bringing up your own hidden feelings, and Sam, thank you for telling us. It is good to share our hidden hurts with understanding people.“ Gordo looked around at all of us and continued, “You know we Mexicans are part Native Americans, or as we here in the US call us, Indians, and part Spanish, and we lived here long before white gold seekers came in the mid l800’s and 1900s? And still we are treated like Blacks are treated in the South.” He looked over at me and at Joe and said, “Isn’t that right, guys?” He got a bit of applause but not as much as I did, so Gordo added, “Sam, I think that old and deep and hurtful feelings need to be said, too, don’t you?”

Sam stood and waved with his hands open to the ceiling, indicating that all of us should join him. We did and clapped for Gordo. And Gordo motioned toward Maria, and she blushed and smiled. I had to admit to myself that I had never thought of them having those kinds of hurt feelings. In Mississippi, my only contact with Mexicans was a glimpse of them working in the fields at harvest time. I went over to Gordo and took his right hand in both of mine. 

At the class break, Ella whispered, “Good morning, my knight in shining armor.” She smiled and added, “I’d like to talk to you after school about our Friday ‘incident’. She made the italics sign, and I smiled and whispered, “Okay.” Sam is right, it is helpful to talk to safe people about our feelings.

 The aikido teacher, Lance Pillar, asked if he could talk about my tram experience, and I said yes, and then he asked me to show the class exactly what happened. I asked Ella to join me, and we set up two folding chairs. With Lance playing Bruno, we re-enacted the incident. Lance was only a bit bigger than Bruno, and he even let me throw him down like I had Bruno, but he landed more lightly, and I didn’t jump on his back and twist his arms. When we were done, we got a lot of praise from our classmates. The rest of the day went well. My upperclassman ‘Big Brother’ kidded me about being such a tough guy – and then he smiled, and I did too.  

Both Ella and I were excused from our usual after-school activities, and we decided to walk slowly home and talk about our feelings. I had been thinking about Ella sitting on my lap and crying, and the thought stayed with me all weekend as well as on Monday. I was relieved to hear that she had done the same. I was glad that she started talking about it first, as she said, “You know, Danny, I am so glad that you were so willing to hold me after those goons attacked us and that you were really so protective of both of us. And now, I, uh, really feel so close to you.” She leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.

And again, I felt embarrassed by how my penis was acting up in my jeans. I was pretty sure Ella couldn’t tell I was aroused by her kissing me, even that little bit.  I managed to respond, “And, Ella, I’m happy that you asked me to hold you. I wanted you to hold me, too. You know, uh, I think I’ve really felt close to you ever since that first day when I acted like such a, uh, like such a jerk.” I took her hand, turned to her, and touched my lips to hers. I began to wonder if I was falling in love with her, as they say in the movies. I took a big chance and whispered, “I, uh, love you.” Oh, my god, I said it. 

“Danny, I love you too.” She turned pink, and  I was glad that she was embarrassed, too. I squeezed her hand and blushed. I needed to talk to someone about my feelings. I couldn’t talk to mom because, well, she’s mom, and I’m sure she wouldn’t understand. And I shut myself down when I thought about mom. I don’t think she ever felt the kind of feelings that Ella and I were feeling now. Mom’s love came from Susan, Jacque, and me. We continued walking, holding hands and feeling embarrassed. 

School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Eighteen

SAM - DECLARES DANNY A HERO

Anne, our friendly school cop, called to tell me about Ella and Danny’s fiasco. Anne asked me to meet them at the tram at the corner of Lewis and Clark, and that the two were huddled together and crying when she left them. She said she thought that they needed the comfort the other was providing, so she left them alone. Anne chuckled a little as she said this.  I felt that it was very kind of her. The school I had gone to didn’t have a single soul who would even think of that.  

I got to the designated corner just as the tram arrived. Ella and Danny quickly jumped off and ran to me. Both were laughing and greeted me with a hug. “Thank you for being able to pick us up." Ella looked around and said, “Where are we? We’re a long way from both our homes.” 

“Anne, our school cop, called and asked me to pick you up, and gave me the name of the corner where I could pick you up. She thought you two needed to have some time to help each other after what happened on the tram. I’d like to hear your version of it. Now, let’s get in the car.”

When Danny saw my car, he exclaimed, “Wow, an electric Chevy, I’ve never seen one before. How do you like it?”

“I like it, it’s five years old and no trouble. The state asks us to buy American cars whenever possible. I think their cars are almost as backwards as their schools.” 

Danny shook his head, and I asked him why. He replied, “Back in Ol’ Miss, everybody was ordered to get gas-powered American cars; that’s a law.” 

I told Danny, “Anne went to the hospital with the fellow who she says was bellowing that you had broken both his arms. She also said he was much bigger than you. How did you take him down?”

“He is a mean bastard, and he reminded me of Ratso, and he was viciously grabbing Ella’s face and groping her.  I guess I lost it. I used what I learned in aikido class, and it worked.” He looked down and added, “I guess I went too far in hurting him. Will I be kicked out of school?”

“I don’t think so, but we’ll have to talk about it,”

Ella looked startled and yelled, “That’s insane, Sam, that guy was twice as big as Danny, and he’s a bully and mean as a snake. Danny did good.” She reached over and took his hand. “I’ve seen him before, and everyone in our neighborhood hates him. And his dad is just like him. And here’s one for you: the family lives in the biggest house in all of Monte Vista. And lots of people cow-tow to them.”

I dropped Ella and Danny off at their respective homes, and just before I got back to school, Anne called to tell me that Bruno is the big kid’s name and that he’s a freshman in Monte Vista High School. She added that Danny had hurt himself so severely that he had to stay at the hospital and have some treatment. She said that Bruno’s father wanted a meeting with her and the school's administrator. So, I’m calling you. You are some administrator, aren’t you?” She didn’t give me time to respond and went on, “I told the big boastful bastard that we would meet with him and his wife and Bruno tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 am. And I’d like you to meet him and Bruno, and I hope you will bring Ella, Danny, and perhaps the bus driver. You okay with that?” I told her that I was, and she added, “Do you know if the trams have videos in them?” I told her I’d find out, and if they do, I’d get a copy for us.”

Just before 10:00 Saturday morning, Anne and I opened the only comfortable room in the school that we thought was appropriate for our meeting. We arranged the ten somewhat comfortable chairs in a circle. We watched the video that showed the entire incident from the moment Bruno and his companions got on the tram until Anne got on. It showed Bruno reaching over and hitting Danny on the head, pinching Ella’s face, and groping her chest. I couldn’t hear, but I could see that Ella screamed. And I could see that Danny swiftly grabbed both of Bruno’s wrists and literally threw him face down on the bus’s rough floor, and blood spurted from his nose. I stopped the tape and backed it to the time Danny grabbed Bruno’s arms. I timed it, and it took Danny only 6 seconds to throw the much bigger boy down. Anne shook her head and muttered, “How in hell did he manage to do that?”

“I once sat in on one of Lance Pillars' aikido classes, and one of the main things he insisted on was to use an opponent’s force against him. Danny evidently did exactly that.” We set the laptop on a desk and waited for the others to join us. The bus driver, Sal Jackson, a large black man, arrived first, followed by Danny, Ella, and her father, Mark Haloren. We had just sat down when Bruno Norse and his parents, Steve and Elizabeth Norse, arrived. All three were tall, blond, and handsome people.  I was amazed by how big Danny’s opponent was. Bruno was nearly as tall as me and heavier.  He sported both arms in white slings and looked a bit in pain. Both parents were also large and imposing figures who acted like royalty. An attractive, middle-aged brunette woman accompanied them. Bruno introduced his father, who introduced the two women. The non-blond woman, Catherine Withers, was the family attorney, we were told. All three of the adults looked around at our clean but plain room, and all had a rather snobbish expression on their faces. Anne invited everyone to take their seats in the circle.

I was impressed with the easy and professional authority Anne showed as she said, “Thank you, Mr. Norse, and the folks I have invited to join us here.” She gestured toward me, “Sam Collins, one of our school faculty members, Ella’s father, Mark Haloran, and those involved in the incident on the tram, Sol Jackson, the tram driver, Ella Haloran, and Danny Sherman. Now, please tell us why you wish to have this meeting. 

Elizabeth, Bruno’s mother, asked, “And where are your parents, young man?”

“My dad is dead, and my mother is home taking care of my two little sisters.” Danny sounded quite confident, and I was proud of him.

Anne said, “And Elizabeth, I did not think that we would need his mother, as you will see.”

Elizabeth imperiously corrected her, “The name you need to call me is Mrs. Norse. I reserve my first name for my family and intimate friends.” 

“I’m glad to hear that you may have some friends. I’m sure they are few in number.” Mrs. Norse turned up her nose even more and looked away.

Steve cleared his throat and imperiously announced, “You need only take one look at our severely injured son here to know what this is about. That little hoodlum attacked our son, and he was so severely injured that he had to be taken to the hospital emergency room. Both arms needed to be surgically taken care of.” I suppressed a smile as I saw that Danny, about three years younger, and although tall for his age, looked like a midget next to poor Bruno. Danny sat there, looking on, almost proud of himself, and I was proud of him. Steve Norse went on, “We believe that that little weasel there needs to be arrested for assault and battery.” Steve was nearly yelling. “That, little lady cop, is what this is all about!”

I could tell that Anne was seething inside but said, “I see. Now, in my defense of Danny Sherman, I would like to show you a film of what happened on the tram. Is that okay with everyone?” Everyone nodded. I focused on the attorney – the ‘little lady attorney’.  Anne turned the laptop so that everyone could see the screen.

I watched Bruno, his father, and the attorney most closely as we watched about seven minutes of the tape. I stopped the film when Anne entered the scene. Bruno kept shifting back and forth between the film and the floor. Bruno could not meet his dad’s glare even a little bit. The dad continued to stare at his son as if he were the ‘little weasel.’ I guessed that Elizabeth Norse believed that she needed to do something to defuse the situation before her husband exploded, “Well, son, this video tells a different story from the one you told us about when we were in the hospital.”

Before Bruno could answer, Daddy Steve Norse interrupted, “That film has been altered. Let us see it again and, this time in a slower – more truthful – speed.”

Sol Jackson spoke for the first time, “Sir, I was there, and I am sure that this film is accurate. And this pretty girl here… “ He nodded toward Ella, “…took down one of Bruno’s companions who was about to hit me for grabbing his other young companion who was headed for Danny, here,” Sol pointed at Danny, …” who was kneeling on Bruno..” 

Mr. Norse ignored Sol and muttered, “I still want to see the take-downs even if it is, as you say, not in slow motion.” Anne looked over at me, and I nodded. She rewound the video, and it started with Bruno hitting Danny and grabbing Ella. Then it looked like Danny rather leisurely took hold of Bruno’s wrists and shoved him down onto the floor. If anything, it made Danny look stronger and Bruno weaker.  Steve turned to Bruno and yelled, “Why in hell didn’t you fight back, son. What the hell is wrong with you? That little shit is half your size.” 

Bruno cowered in his chair and stuttered as he said, “Dad, uh, the first tape shows, uh, the true picture. Danny was just too damn fast for me. And, uh, every time I moved, he yanked my arms even more, so, I uh, I swear, I’ll get him for this.”

Steve slapped him hard enough to knock him off his chair. The boy screamed in pain. Sol Jackson, the tram driver, immediately bent down and said, “You’ll  be okay, son.” And, as gently as possible, he picked Bruno up and placed him on his chair as Steve Norse stood there and smirked. 

Catherine Withers, the ‘little lady lawyer’, looked at Bruno and then his dad and said, “And. Bruno, you just gave the reason for Danny to keep jerking your arms back. If he had let up on you just a little, you would have thrown him off. “ 

Steve Norse turned to the family lawyer, “Well, Catherine, I guess we won’t be needing your services here, after all.”

“No, you will not, and I will no longer serve you in any way as of now. I will file a report on what I just witnessed. You struck your injured son so severely that you knocked him off his chair. I will send a copy of my report to the district attorney and to you, Mr. Norse, along with my resignation as your attorney.” Catherine got up from her chair, picked up her briefcase, and with quiet dignity, left the room. 

The Norse family followed soon after without saying a word. The only sound in the room was Bruno’s crying. As soon as we were sure the Norse were out of earshot, we all shouted and clapped and even danced around. Ella was the first one to give me a hug. She also gave Sol a hug. I was very proud of ‘my’ kids. And I was worried about Bruno’s comment that he would ‘get’ Danny for what he had done to him. Bruno would try to hurt Danny for making him look weak in front of his daddy. Anne learned that I had not broken any of Bruno’s bones but had dislocated both shoulders and one elbow. It had taken some kind of treatment that was painful, and he did need the slings. I was glad that Danny did not seem to feel any kind of guilt for hurting him. 

School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Seventeen

DANNY - DEFENDS ELLA WITH SKILLFUL AIKIDO

It is the third month of the school year, and I can’t remember ever enjoying school so much or being as busy as I am now. Today, after regular hours, I had my fourth band practice, and I think I was almost as good with the guitar as Ella and a guy from the other 5^th-grade cohort. I worked at our school for 5 hours on Saturday, 1 day a week. Three other students worked with the regular gardeners and me. I think being amiable and liking kids is a job requirement, as the two men and one woman are fun to work with, and we get a lot done, and the place really looks good. 

I took the tram home. I could walk, but I’m a bit tired, and I liked the ride. At first, I thought I was the only student on the tram, and then I saw Ella toward the back. I headed for the seat next to her, and she seemed glad to see me. The tram stopped after a few blocks, and three guys who looked about two years older than me got on. They looked around, and when they saw us, they headed our way. One was as white as me, and the two others looked younger and were a bit darker. The very white one seemed to be the leader and had a mean look on his face, and reminded me of Ratso. I had never seen them before. The tram is electric and self-driving, but a driver is in the regular driver’s seat, keeping an eye on the trio. They stood near our seat - the last seat facing the front of the tram, other than the very back seat. There were five seats on each side of the tram facing each other, and no one was sitting on either side.

The mean-looking one said, “Hey, you’re one of the sissies from the sissy school, ain’t cha?”

I hadn’t heard that threatening talk since I‘d left Mississippi, and I must admit that I was afraid I might have to protect myself and Ella. I had a few fights back in Flowers, and I think I did well. Ratso had taught me how to handle myself in a fight, and I felt that the nine or so classes in aikido would be more useful if I needed to use them.  I never had to use what I had learned. I hoped I could talk this guy down and avoid a fight. I put on a smile and said, “I don’t know what you mean by ‘sissy,’ but I don’t want to fight anyone. And I do go to Two Thousand Smiles. I’m Danny Sheridan, and you are?”

“Two Thousand Smiles?  What a dumb-ass name. I hear everyone there is a sissy, and you sure look like one. Do all the kids there talk funny like you? And where’d ya learn ta talk like that?” I glanced at Ella, and she had put on a blank face, and I thought she was a bit afraid.

I worked to sound as calm and easy-going as I could, “No, they don’t talk like me. I moved here from Mississippi this past summer. Were you born here in California?” I looked at Meany’s companions, and they just kept their blank look. They didn’t look dangerous, but I think they would do whatever Meany told them to do. 

“What da you care?”

“I guess for the same reason you asked me my name. I think you’d like our school and everyone there. It’s a friendly and helpful place. Now I’m wondering why you don’t enroll there and give it a try. Does the name, Two Thousand Smiles, turn you off?”

 I guess he didn’t like the question because he ignored my question and bumped my head quite hard with his fist as he reached past me and grabbed Ella’s chin and turned her head toward himself with one hand and grabbed her breast with the other.

“Don’t touch me, asshole,” Ella yelled and managed to push one of his hands away.     

Everything about Meany reminded me of Ratso. I jumped up, grabbed both of the asshole’s wrists, even though he was about half a foot taller and twenty pounds heavier than me. The aikido coach taught us to use our opponents’ force against them, so I quickly tightened my hold on both of Meany’s wrists and literally threw him down to the floor. I followed him and rode him to the floor in the wide aisle between the side-facing seats.  I knelt on his back and bashed his face on the rough rubber floor, and blood poured out of his face. The driver saw what was happening and immediately stomped on the brakes, throwing the two companions forward; they stumbled down the aisle and landed on the bus floor. Kneeling on the back of Meany, I saw the driver talking on his cellphone. The braking force helped me put even more pressure on Meany’s back, blood or not. I grabbed his forearms and held them above his head. And then I slammed them back and down at an angle opposite to the way they were supposed to go. My big, awkward opponent screamed that I was breaking his arms, and I didn’t care whether I did or not.

 When I looked back, I saw Ella kneeling on the back of one of Meany’s lackeys, and the driver was kneeling on the other one. He and Ella had acted fast and kept the two down. The driver pushed on his cell, and a woman rushed into the tram and said, “I’m Anne Janklow from school.” She had something in her hand that looked like a gun and yelled, “What’s going on here?” She glanced at the driver and Ella and then back at me. The driver said, “I’m not sure, but that little fellow back there knocked the biggest guy down before he could hit him. These two fellows fell when I put on the brakes.” 

Anne put handcuffs on the two fellas on the floor and then came back to me as I was still kneeling on Meany’s back. Meany continued to scream that I was breaking his arms, and I continued to act like I was kneeling on Ratso’s back, which I would really like to do. The school’s lady cop told me to let Meany go, and I got off the asshole’s back but kept him down with my hands. He screamed in pain as he turned over and tried to straighten his arms. Anne called for an ambulance and some backup. She asked me to tell her what happened.

 I took a deep breath and stammered, “I’m really not sure, but these three guys got on a few stops back and came down the aisle and stopped here where we were sitting.” I pointed to my seat where Ella was now sitting. “Then this guy,” I motioned toward Meany, “He wanted to know my name. He said I must be a sissy student at the sissy school.  Then we talked a bit. I didn’t want to fight anybody, so I kept talking and even told him my name, but he didn’t tell me his. I told him I think he would like Two Thousand Smiles and asked him why he didn’t enroll there. I guess he didn’t like my question becuz he then leaned past me and pinched Ella’s nose and grabbed at her chest. She pushed one arm away, and he started to take another swing at me. I grabbed both of his wrists and threw him down and held him down.”

Meany blubbered, “Can I get up now, smartass?” I looked up at the policewoman, and she nodded. I got up, then asked the Smiles school cop if she was the plainclothes police officer at our school, and she said yes. I thanked her for her quick response, and she commended me for my quick reaction to taking down the young fellow. She had an earlier incident involving him and hoped this would be the last. The tram driver asked her, the two cops, and the ambulance paramedics to get off the tram so he could get back on schedule. They did, and I went back to my seat next to Ella.

The minute I sat down, Ella took my hand and started crying. Her eyes still seemed to reflect her fear, and she whimpered, “Danny, will you hold me?” I wasn’t sure what she meant, and before I could figure it out, she climbed on my lap and put her arms around me. The only girls I’d ever held were my sisters, but holding Ella was different. It took me a while to relax, and then I  realized I needed to be held, too. It really felt good, and I enjoyed it in a way I had never enjoyed anything in my life. I glanced around and saw that we had gone several blocks past both of our stops.