Walking Wolf Road (Wolf Road Chronicles Book 1) by Brandon M. Herbert

came over Geri’s face. I asked him what was wrong, but he just waved me off and said it was nothing. “I dunno, I just thought things would be different once you came,” he muttered and left me at the Art room door. I felt sad he didn’t think he could talk to me. I tried the door but it was locked, so I knocked and a few seconds later Mrs. Ashcroft peeked around the door.
    “I’m glad you could come, you got permission then?” She stepped aside to let me in.
    I nodded, “Yeah, I knew I would. Mr. Spritari put the fear of suspension into my mom, so the grade card works both ways.”
    “Well, I’m sure your parents appreciate it regardless.” Mom, maybe, John… fat chance.
    “Hey, I um. I wanted to thank you; for giving me extra time and… for what you said earlier.”
    She smiled, showing the lines in her tan cheeks. “No problem, some of us just need a little more time.”
    “Um, I meant about the college thing,” I tried to clarify.
    “I know. So, what do you think would happen if someone didn’t go to college right away?”
    “Their parents would be disappointed, their friends would mock them, and they’d go nowhere in life.” I smiled without humor and she closed her eyes as she shook her head.
    “That’s what they want you to think; those schools, this entire culture,” she said, weary, and then looked at me again. “The colleges want your money as soon and as much as possible, and they don’t care if you waste it as long as they get it. So they encourage this…” She twirled her hand as she searched for the right words “’False Destiny’ that leads so many young minds to ruin.”
    Her less-than-shining endorsement of higher education shocked me. Every other teacher out there seemed completely committed to the cause, and now this woman had contradicted them all twice in a single day.
    I think she’d just become my favorite teacher ever .
    I sighed. “My parents have been tripping over themselves trying to get me to enroll or choose a career, any career. But I think they’ve finally realized the futility of it.”
    “Well, you have to ask them, and yourself; who are you going to school for? Are you going because you want to, or because your parents expect you to? Is it in your best interest to go right away, or should you wait and get a bit more experience under your belt? Do everyone a favor and put your parents on the spot; make sure both of you know that they can’t live vicariously through you. If they’re decent parents, they’ll encourage your happiness over their own ambition.”
    She glanced at her watch, “Shoot, I need to leave; and there are some things I need to tell you. First of all; the halls are closed after three-thirty, and there shouldn’t be any students wandering around. Second; the door opens from the inside, but it locks automatically; so once you leave the room, for the bathroom or whatever; you might as well just go home.”
    “Would I still get in trouble, even though you gave me permission to be here?” I asked puzzled.
    “Nothing serious, but I’d recommend just avoiding the whole fuss. I’d be reprimanded, you would have a mark put on your record, your parents would be called, Mr. Spritari would be pissed; just a big unnecessary mess, so it’s best if you just don’t get caught.” She winked, “I’ll see you tomorrow Jimmy.”
    “See ya,” I said as she walked out, her shoes clicked in the hall until the door closed behind her.
    I pulled my drawing out and there was a knock at the door. Nervous, I walked over and pulled it open, expecting to see Officer Jenson there to arrest me or something. Instead, Fen shoved past me without a word.
    “Jeezus Fen, what crawled up your ass and died?” I closed the door behind him and returned to my desk.
    “Nothing, it’s none of your business…” he snapped. I felt a coil of rage begin to unfurl and the hair rose on my neck.
    “Well, you’re snapping at me for it; so either it is my business, or