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The Superintendent pinched the bridge of her nose just north of the bridge of her spectacles. The motion shifted, moving her fingers beneath the nose pads to relieve the plum-colored pressure marks there. “We have the statements here from the local department, as well as a few affidavits from Bronson & Bronson associates regarding the trial. What we don’t have, other than the official paperwork, is your side of the story, Mr. Guildson.”

He could feel Annbjørg tense next to him, her knuckles were white on the top of her little handbag. It was awkward standing behind the little folding table, a little folding meeting chair unused but there behind his calves. It was like sitting at a plastic, girl’s tea table. He hated how so many American schools equated cheap and functional with professional or authoritative. The school board meeting room felt like a manila envelope turned into a town hall. It smelled like a filing cabinet too, which didn’t help. “Do you want the whole story? Everyone else only asks what matters in court. ”

Anna interrupted from his side, defending him, “He has answered many questions already to the police. It is there on the paper.”

His hand dwarfed her shoulder, but stood pale against the black of her suit blazer. He felt a little pale. He wanted to graduate school and make her proud, even if it wasn’t really necessary to get into a trades guild.

“We do. It is true, in many ways, that this is all a formality. But I’d like to try to help you, Mr. Guildson. If your side of the events corroborates with those of the students who came forward to support you in the hall, maybe something can be done.”

Something? Something like what? He and Mama had sat down over the student handbook and Code of Conduct, puzzling out the ramifications of what had happened. He was going to be expelled, no matter the circumstances, so what else could be done that would be helpful? “Do you mind if I’m not behind this table? It is …small.”

Superintendent Haynes mouth softened to a smile, her hand lifted and waved that he could come forward into the no-man’s-land that gulfed between the Board of Directors and the seating provided for the community.

“I was at my locker, eating a snack. It was after 10:15, because class had let out. The warning bell hadn’t rung yet. It was probably 10:18, then. There’s some boys not far down from my locker. They are part of the marching band. I have class with David Styers fourth period, for Chemistry. He and I tease that ‘C is for chemistry’, but he’s nice and helps me try to understand how to balance the chemicals. He hasn’t gotten along with Tyler since 6th grade, but I don’t know why. I think they just don’t like each other as people. Tyler has strong friends; they’re all on the track team. He’s been bullying David more and more since the first of this month. I told David to report it to the councilor, and he did. The school has done nothing. Mrs. Earnesly just told David to ‘avoid Tyler and avoid the situation’. How are you supposed to avoid someone in the halls? When they come looking for you? He was pushing David into his locker, and no one was doing anything. I think some people ran to get a teacher, but David’s nose had hit the side of the locker by then, it was bleeding. They were trying to stuff him in. If no one else was going to stop them, if they didn’t know to stop themselves, then I could. So I picked Tyler and Mark Gran up by their shirts. They aren’t too heavy for playing track.”

“Practicing track, or participating on the track team, Mr. Guildson.”

“Ah, practicing track. “ He ducked his head sheepishly a moment, and waited for her to clear her throat for him to continue, “Mark was yelling some, nothing polite. Tyler said if I didn’t mind my own business, I would be sorry. He can still kick held off the ground, but it didn’t hurt too badly. I dropped them both, since they were paying attention to me and not David. But I was wrong. Tyler stood up and threw the locker door closed on David I think it was just to make some point. He was mostly out, but it made a bad sound, and David’s hand was caught in it. There was no reason for that, except being mean. I got angry, he was just not giving up on hurting David. So I grabbed him and put him against the wall. I really just meant to knock the air out of him, to hold him still so that he couldn’t get away before the teacher got there. “

“Mr. Gatter’s report said he arrived with you holding Tyler against the wall above the lockers, Tyler was crying. “

“The lawyers that brought us papers last week said he had lots of broken bones.”

“Nine broken ribs and a punctured lung is a lot for just hitting a cement wall. And a fractured scapula.”

“The Judge Magistrate ordered me to talk with the School Nurse. She said chest bones are really easy to break, like in CPR. She said I threw him too hard, and held him too hard against the wall. She said I shouldn’t give anyone CPR. “

“That is probably sound advice, Mr. Guildson. “ She sighed, “The accounts from students in the hall support your being a defender to David Styers. Regardless, you’re a powerful young man and in gross need of learning the limits of that strength in relation to your peers. I believe the charges of unnecessary force still stand, as well as charges of Level III violations of the Code of Conduct: Disorderly Conduct, Fighting and the civilian misdemeanor of simple battery. You will be expelled from North Hills School District as of Monday, and may not apply to the district to attend until at least one year from the termination of this school year. “

He could hear his mother’s knuckles creak on her bag.

“That being the case, “Dr. Haynes shuffled the papers in front of her into a single, neat stack. “I’d still like to extend a letter of recommendation to you. It may not be much, but it could prove useful in applying to another school with this on your record. Battery charges especially act as a red letter, but explanations as to the nature of the offense, and your role as ….white knight…could be helpful. You need to realize, Mr. Guildson, your own strength and that fighting is never the answer. If you want to help in the future, I suggest just interposing yourself between the aggressor and victim, and then nothing further. Let the authorities take care of the rest. “

Björn nodded mutely, taking the cue to return to his seat. There was little more to the meeting, some papers he and mama had to sign. There was nothing else worth paying attention to until they passed out through the double doors to the municipal hallway. David was standing there, his older sister not too far off with the car keys. His poor hand was wrapped with gauze, stiffened with an air brace. “Björn…”

“Hallo, David. You’re going to need a new lab partner.”

The maimed hand moved forward, and caught his own monstrous paw, “No, It’s too close to summer to bother. But…thank you. I can’t play the trumpet for a few months, but I’ll be okay. Whatever s**t they tell you, thank you, Björn. No one else was doing a thing. “

“Maybe you can write with your other hand. I have to apply to some other school. “

Mama patted his back, “There may be a private school somewhere that will accept someone with a record. We’ll have to look. There’s a few military prep schools, maybe some correctional schools. Nothing near here, so I think we’ll have to move. “

“You still have my email, don’t you?” David looked doubtful. Björn had never used the email, even when they exchanged them at the start of the year as lab partners.

“Ja. If there’s a lab where I end up, I’ll write you. “

“Yeah…hey, really do that, okay?”

“You’ll be the only friend I’ll have at some new place. “ But if we have to move, you’ll be miles and miles away.

“I’ll write you. Get to a library or something occasionally this summer and read them. Let me know where you end up.”

When it comes to shopping for clothes/school uniforms... how does he get them adjusted? Have them tailor made, or just altered to fit/match the dress code? You mention (and we can SEE) that he is MASSIVE - it's not easy to shop for several reasons...

(which leads me to my next question) how does he cope with the world not meant for someone so braw and bonny? Like, if he needs shaving cream or a pack of gum or whatever - does he suffer himself to go scaring the DC locals (I'm thinking yes) or would he ask a friend to perhaps pick up a few things for him -- or a combo? (likely).

Virtues:
Accepting –
He’s gentle, and not generally critical of those around him. Björn figures everyone has a reason for what they’re doing, it’s a matter of whether or not it infringes on someone else’s basic freedoms. He’ll forgive others basic transgressions of dickery, preferring everyone move on without the need for drama.

Reliable –
Björn would rather be exercising or eating instead of the ego-jockeying and self-interest adventures most teens get up to. He's a simple guy with simple tastes, and because of his life goals (read: world competitions and Olympian sports) is a reliable person. He carries a day planner to write down things necessary to remember, and follows a regimen strictly for daily life(5 am - wakeup, 5:15 gym, 7:45 - showers, 8:15 homeroom....)

Prepared –
Since he’s used to keeping his own schedule, performing for people and small competitions, Björn has some spare savings at his age and a fair collection of random knowledge and objects to access at a moment’s notice. He collects practical, life knowledge. If you hang out with contractors at a dive and chat them up, you'll probably learn how to best change oil on a car, how to best paint a house interior, and how using a five gallon bucket of boiling water will clear a clogged toilet. He likes simple reading like magazines and almanacs, from which he's learned the proper way to set a table (Martha Stewart Living), or how to choose a barber (GQ magazine, Hint: Trust a man with scissors, not clippers). Magazines and short news clips, conversations with people at a burger joint...these are all things that don't take a lot of time or heavy focus to engage in. Like schoolwork, half-an-hour or less!

Between his duffel and his messenger bag, if you need money or something useful, or someone to do it, he’s a good guy to ask. Nail clippers? Done. A lighter? Done.

Flaws:
Dumb
He’s not the brightest bulb in the pack. He doesn’t assign effort towards schoolwork. A solid C student, he’s attentive in class but won’t do assignments that take any longer than a half hour. He believes in worldly, practical knowledge for himself. He appreciates those with wits and high learning, but he isn’t going to be convinced he should be joining their ranks. Other than powerlifting and strongman competitions, Björn aims to become a tradesman of some sort, like a carpenter or steelworker.

And Knows It
Bjorn ‘s mother and his family have never sugar-coated anything. He knows that he isn’t the smartest cookie. To try to make up for it, he tries never to make impulsive decisions and always looks to find second, or even third opinions. Or fourth…seventh… This isn’t just indecisiveness, Bjorn does *not* trust his own judgment. He’s either painfully slow about decisions, or he’ll defer to someone he has come to respect. Defending friends and family are the only exception to this, as response in ‘war’ has to be immediate. He’ll just expect that he’s going to have made a mistake somewhere in it and have to pay for it.

Obeisance
It’s medieval, but it works for him. It probably won’t work for others. When meeting and interacting with others, Bjorn actively makes assumptions based on ability and intelligence, and assigns people places in the kingdom in his head. Once a person has caste, it is hard to fall from grace or rise from mud. He thinks of himself as a warhorse or a sword, not even person, everyone else gets to be the knights, nobility, and peasantry. He will take orders from a noble if he has come to think of them as a friend and as his own lord or lady. As long as they take steps to never appear blackly evil, he won’t question it and will serve faithfully, as their judgment is better than his. It is not the horse or sword that chooses how it is best wielded.
Insofar as life in this state, he isn't innovative (and won't), he doesn't take the initiative to do more then is explicitly given in directions, and there is no 'give 110%'. He isn't smart enough and he expects he'd just mess something up.