The Managing Director

Marcus looked at the magazine eyes wide open, not wanting to believe what he had seen. It still did not sink well upon him that he was the Student of The Month. Students of the Month in Arabella Academy school magazine, The Lounge, were mostly chosen on their merit. However, it seemed that the month of May had suffered an exception.

"Is this a magazine or a leaflet?" Jeff complained. He was angry that May's issue had decided to remove all of his favourite segments in memorial of Sheila, and that feeling was equally shared by majority of the students.

"I can't believe I wasted my time to be interviewed for this…this piece of paper. They could have just not published the magazine. Would be better for everybody," he continued sulking.

"Except Sheila," Michelle said as she joined them. She had grown to like the boys' company and usually spent her time around them. These were her only friends, although she felt that she should have made more friends instead of always hanging out with Sheila only. She hugged them and they set off to class before the bell caught them in the wrong place.

"Hey, Marcus. Why did we lie about us investigating to Stevens?" Jeff asked.

"Honestly, I still don't trust him. He makes my hair rise whenever I'm around him," Marcus answered.

"Are you sure he isn't turning you on," Jeff joked.

"You think I'm like you and Luis? Some two lovebirds who obviously like each other but are afraid to tell each other," Marcus retorted.

"At least we know we like each other?" Luis appeared, astonishing the three and making Jeff lose his balance. "Have you seen you and Michelle? You're running a jealousy train that keeps on going even when the coal is over."

He started laughing and Jeff joined him. Marcus and Michelle looked away, each embarrassed but flushing deep shades of red on their cheeks.

"Do you believe Redhound's story?" Michelle changed the subject.

"We keep hearing different versions of each story until at this point I can't decide who is innocent and who is to blame, Jeff remarked.

"Are we even going to really find out who killed her?" Luis asked, his shoulders drooping. "Or whether her death is connected to this fucking necklace?"

"The way I see it, there are two things happening here. Either Sheila was killed because she was also trying to find that necklace or maybe knew about it, or she was killed because of an entirely different reason and in our silly little adventures we just happened to stumble upon these people searching for the necklace," said Marcus. He turned to Michelle and held her by the shoulders. "I promised you we would find Sheila's killer, and if that myth is going to give us an answer, then it better be because we are going to find it."

They were interrupted by the sound of the emergency bell. "Not again," Jeff ranted. They all sighed and dragged their way to the basketball court, which had become their new auditorium.

William waited for his students to settle. He was tired of having to interrupt the school program every now and then, but what was he to do? A new issue usually cropped up that would interfere with his plans, and this was just the first of them. After the students were finally quiet, he tapped on the microphone, a tool that was rarely used apart from the very special occasions they had.

"Good morning students," he began, his voice booming from the speakers across the hall. "I know that this must be very unusual, considering that things got back to normal, but today I called you here, not to give you bad news, but rather, introduce to you an important member of the Arabella faculty."

There were sudden murmurs among the students, each trying to guess whether it was a new teacher or William bringing in a replacement.

"I hope it's a new teacher replacing Ivanna, that teacher makes me sleep more than my bed makes me," Jeff wished. Marcus chuckled and took his eyes back to his principal.

William patiently waited for the noise to die down. He raised his hand, an indication that he wanted everyone to keep quiet. The whole school went back to pin-drop silence and he resumed.

"May I introduce the man behind everything here, our Managing Director, Mr Branwen Stewart."

They say some people like to wear expensive things, the man who came in was expensive himself. His loafers made a rhythmical noise against the floorboards, filling the silence that was formed by everyone staring at him. His suit reflected the scarce rays of light, screaming money as he walked. The perfume, well, it diffused into the air making its way into each and every one of the students' nostrils, denying them a chance to catch a breath of fresh air. His face was stern, yet calm and welcoming, and demanded attention. He went ahead to where William was and extended his hand in greeting. William took it and shook it much too vigorously. Everyone thought that maybe he was too excited, but Marcus could see that it was the greeting of a shaken man, one who was afraid of the face that, unfortunately, could not convey the exact emotions of the man it wore.

Stewart made his way to the mic stand. William adjusted it to suit his height and then went to sit down. Everyone automatically went quiet, ready to hear what this man was going to tell them.

"I must begin by saying if you can manage to have a student killed in here then William must be having some pretty badass kids. I was like, who the fuck could have done this?" He began, much to the shock of everyone in the gathering. The students kept quiet, flabbergasted.

Then they started cheering.

It was the loudest noise ever heard in the normally quiet school. They jumped and shouted as they lauded their Managing Director. Stewart just stood there, accepting their noise and encouraging them to continue. William and his teachers just sat there, dumbstruck, as if their worst fears had just unfolded. William's was, for sure. He glared at Steward murderously, wondering what kind of obscenity he was driving at. Maybe that was the reason he never showed his face, because he was a bad influence on the kids. William suddenly realised that this man was a disease, a contagious one that spread quickly through his students, and if not taken care of would obliterate all his efforts to make Arabella Academy a civilised community.

Stewart noticed that the teachers were not comfortable with his 'little party'. He glanced at William who was pouting and shrugged at him. He then turned to his students and hushed them.

"Okay now, we can keep quiet. I can sense that your teachers want to crucify me," he told the students, who sat down on seeing William's brooding face.

"William's such a killjoy," Jeff grumbled, who was already enjoying the show. Michelle looked at the two boys beside her. She sighed to herself and questioned why boys always had to prefer rowdy moments. She personally didn't like the man in front of her. She saw his action as disrespect to Sheila's murder. Marcus, on the other hand, was enjoying every bit of it. He was thrilled beyond words, this stranger had managed to do something William had never done; cheer up his students.

"Well," Stewart continued after the students calmed down. "I don't want you to take my statement as one which appreciates the killing of that girl. No, I condemn the action and whoever that may have done it. That is wrong and our God in heaven will punish you."

William rolled his eyes.

Cool, he knows there is a God.

"Anyway," Stewart continued. "I only called this meeting to lift your spirits and tell you that we can make our way back to the top and beat those motherfucking bitches Panterbaker, ain't that right bros?"

"Yes!" The students roared and burst into thunderous claps of jubilation. The assembly was dismissed and each went to their classes, discussing how cool their Managing Director was.

"That is the kind of energy we need here, you know what I'm saying," Marcus told Jeff, both elated at what just happened. "Not that boring voice of William and his fuckmate Ivanna,"

"I know," Jeff laughed. "Maybe even it was Ivanna's voice that killed Sheila," he commented and they both bellowed with laughter. They stopped abruptly when Michelle stood in front of them, hands across her chest and a frown upon her face.

"I can't actually believe how stupid you boys are!" She exploded. "You think Sheila's death is funny, that joking about it makes me feel good? What about her parents, huh? How would they feel if they were present at that forum? You just surprise me with the way you act without thinking about the consequences!" And with that, she turned and began walking away. She stopped after a few steps, turned back and returned to the two astonished boys.

"I am starting to think that Sheila's investigation is even a joke to you," she hissed and stomped off.

Marcus and Jeff looked at Michelle going away, a pang of sadness sweeping through their hearts.

"I always knew you were a bad influence on me," Marcus told Jeff.

"Arascuse me? If it is anyone it should be you. I am the son of a pastor my friend," Jeff retorted.

"Last to class then is the bad influence on the other," Marcus blurted and sped off, causing Jeff to run after him, cursing him for starting before him.

The rest of the day went well for Arabella; Stewart had already set the pace. It was soon evening and Marcus and Jeff were busy chatting on the bus on their way home. Michelle was also on the bus, sitting at her usual spot. She was sad and mad that her recent friends seemed not to care about her. She waited until the bus reached her spot, and walked out quietly; not that anyone noticed her. The bus continued until it stopped by Marcus' house. Marcus bid farewell to Jeff and alighted. He went home and found his mother busy washing the dishes. He greeted her and went to help her in wiping them clean.

"How was school, honey?" Jane inquired.

"It was awesome," Marcus exclaimed. "The Managing Director actually came today. He's a cool guy, he got jokes and cheered us up."

"Well, your father had that same kind of energy, and look where it got me," Jane sighed.

Marcus stopped wiping the dishes and faced his mother.

"Mom, you should really stop talking about that idiot all the time," Marcus said, facing his mother. "He really isn't worth the time."

"Yeah, you're right, I should really stop doing that," Jane sighed and went back to washing the dishes.

They were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Marcus put the cloth down and went to open the door.

"Must be Jeff," he said. "Maybe he's coming for the drawing pencils."

Marcus opened the door, only to be astounded by the sight of Stewart.

"Mr Stewart, what are you doing here?" Marcus asked, bewildered.

Stewart looked at him, the earlier face of fun now replaced with a serious but warm one. He moved closer to Marcus.

"Hey there Marcus," he began.

"How do you know my name?" Marcus interjected.

"It has been long since I last saw you. it's me, your father."

***

Arascuse me? - An expression used by Arabellans to mean Excuse me?