School of Two Thousand Smiles–Chapter Sixteen

SAM

It had been two weeks since the Sherman family moved into the one-story apartment. Fortunately, it is only one story, as Marge is still struggling to walk on crutches. She had suggested and even demanded that the ‘Lee’ part of their last name be deleted, and Jan Hastings helped her navigate the paperwork to make it legal. Marge is still suffering a bit with Stockholm syndrome, in which the captive becomes dependent on the captor.

The only positive outcome of her marriage to Ratso was that it helped both Danny and Susie become somewhat healthier and more independent. Jacqui was still very dependent on her two siblings and her mom.

Betty, the Mississippi FBI agent whom Helen encouraged to keep in touch, had contacted the state social services department and ordered DNA tests for Marge, Robert E. Lee, and Danny. She had a hunch that Lee was not Danny's biological father. She was puzzled that there was no mention or evidence that Ratso had ever laid a hand on either girl. His violence was directly aimed at Marge and Danny. She called back to tell me that she was right, Danny had a different sperm donor. I called Danny to tell him this, and he almost yelled, “Great! I’m glad to know that I don’t have that bastard’s genes!” He then added a bit solemnly, “I wonder whose genes I do have?” I told him to wait a year or so before he asked his mom, as she was still suffering from PTSD.

He asked me what that meant, and I said, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I explained that it was first a diagnosis used for military personnel who had been injured or traumatized in combat. He asked, “Do ya suppose that’s why I get furious when I see somebody, any somebody, hurting someone – even in the movies or on TV?” I said yes and talked to him a bit about how he was handling it. Again, I was happy that he somehow landed in our school, and his sisters had joined us. 

Yesterday, I went to their apartment and visited with Marge and Jan. I was happy to see Marge smiling much more these days. Jan mentioned that Marge was a bit worried she would not be able to attend Ratso’s funeral. Jan had called Betty, and Betty had attended the Southern Baptist church's funeral. The church, the largest in Flower County, was full. The preacher went on and on about what a God-fearing man, Ratso, had been. Betty said she almost vomited. I did too when I heard her report. 

A few days later, Ella Halran’s grandpa, Mark Haloran, visited our cohort, and Ella rushed over to the door, greeted him with a hug, and introduced me to him. I hugged grandpa Mark, and he hugged me back, patted me on the back, and, still holding Ella's hand, said. “And how’s my favorite granddaughter’s new tator?” He looked over the class and waved at everybody. Danny and I were the only ones Mark didn’t know, and he sounded very much at home as he said, “Good morning, all you fellow dummies! It is so good to be back with you all. Sam tells me that you are even more curious about the world we live in than you were last year, and I’m glad to hear it. Your fair city has added another school, Two Thousand Smiles, which will open in January. A few of your fellow students who live closer to that one than to this one may be transferring, and your spirit will go with them and still stay here, too. After all, we are all one with everyone and everything, are we not?” Some nodded, and some looked a bit puzzled, like Danny. Grandpa looked googly-eyed around the assembled fifth graders and asked, “That would be good, wouldn’t it?” He acted like it was a serious question, and everyone laughed. Sam told me that you have a new cohort member from the state of Mississippi. Where is he?” Danny raised his hand, and Grandpa said, “And your name is Danny, right?” Danny smiled and nodded. “So, Danny, is Smiles just like your former school in Mississippi?”

“Oh, sure, just like a pig’s pen is like a king’s mansion.” Danny shook his head and chuckled.

“I’ve corresponded with the Mississippi State School Superintendent about setting up an experimental school there. The Super there sent me a rather condemning letter saying I must be from Hades. I think Hades is a nice word for hell, isn’t it?” Several students nodded. “But I’m happy to tell you that we have started eight more schools in four more states. And you know, there have been no arrests of any students anywhere in our country who were students or graduates of ours? So, we are getting noticed all over the world. The main problem is financial. It takes more money to run our schools than the traditional schools.” 

Chris asked, “Mark, doesn’t the crime reduction save some money for the towns and states?

“Yes, it does, but not enough yet to allow the various governmental agencies to cut down on the police forces and jails. Also, we need more schools in other countries, especially in Latin America and Asia, so that those countries can become more prosperous and less violent. So, keep up studying your Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian language skills so that we can staff other countries.” The question-and-answer period lasted about an hour, and when he left, about half the cohort said they would love to have a grandpa like Mark.