Ok....so my life is in utter turmoil. I am jobless - have been since August 5th. The long and the short of that story is I am not a company suck up. It's not in my chemical makeup. I can't do it. I am one of these people that if you tell me that the sky is orange, and it's not, I'm not going to do the corporate head nod and agree with you. I can't. My Daddy is a Leo & a Brooklyn boy to boot - very gruff, shoots from the hip, doesn't mind telling you what he thought at any given time. I guess "Daddy's Girl" is an appropriate phrase to use here. I am one that understands and accepts 'constructive criticism'. I am not above admitting when I am wrong. I am fully capable of knowing right from wrong. But I have a very hard time trying to eat bullshit without something to wash it down with. On top of losing my job, Joe is going through a very hard time with his ex. This is long winded (so what else is new right?) so bear with me if you want the whole story. I'll probably only get you through step one - the prelude - today. I know that reliving this makes me mental but maybe purging my system will let the abscess heal. There are no meds strong enough for this one baby.
Joe was in the Navy for many years. On the Dwight D. He is a Blue Nose. Been to the Poles, the Equator, everywhere. Been to the wildest places on Earth. Let me put it to you this way. We were talking about going to a strip club (don't remember why but...) and he said to me that he wouldn't go to clubs state side. When I asked him why not, he told me that there was nothing that could amuse him like the clubs in other countries did. Chicks shooting ping pong balls out of their hootches to hit cups off of the heads of sailors in the audience. Smoking cigarettes and blowing smoke rings (and NOT with their mouths) Picking up stacks of change off of tables - that sometimes the guys had either heated up or put on ice for a long time. Juggling hard boiled eggs - and NOT with their hands...OK! Glad to see our tax money is hard at work!! Never mind that old adage of going to exotic places and killing people. He was a part of the going to exotic places and watching what the local female population could do for entertainment purposes. The stories he has told me. Shit that was on a need to know basis and that was shit I REALLY DIDN'T need to know. That was enough for me!!! He enlisted when he was in his early twenties. He was born city county state NY, NY, NY. He had watched enough of his friends get killed to know that it was time to go. It was the early 70's and the times they were a-changin'. So he left. He was finally stationed in Hawaii - yeah - life was tough. He had a great job, BEAUTIFUL location. Life was good. But he was far from home. There was a woman that was stationed with him who was from MA. She had that close to home accent...closer than Hawaii. I was told that, in her prime, she was something to look at. They became fast friends but she was involved with someone else. Over time, they got closer. She ended up pregnant - and not with Joe's kid. She went to Joe, asking him if he would take her to an abortion clinic. Whomever the father was obviously wasn't interested in keeping this child and she didn't want to lose her career in the Navy to have to be a single mother. The long and the short of it is while they were in the clinic, Joe said he would marry her, take on the child as his own. No one would have to know. It would be their secret. That would be the beginning of the end of his first marriage. The only stipulation was that he wanted a child of HIS own. He wanted a little girl - not like you can pick and choose the sex of your child (YET) but that was what he was hoping for. They had a son(Gabe)in March of 90. She became pregnant again (with Joe's child) and they had a daughter born Oct of 92. Joe swears that the minute Sabrina came out, he was at that end of the table, she smiled at him. They bonded that instant. The marriage was slowly dissolving. Gabe was a Momma's boy - the Golden Child - could do nothing wrong. Joe couldn't reprimand him without getting the wrath of hell brought upon him by Erica (Funny side note: Joe's ex wife's name is Erica. My ex hubby's name is Eric...just one of those things that make you go hhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm) The beginning of the real end was near. Joe left his career in the Navy in order to allow Erica to continue her career and he could be home with the babies. He worked as an MP on the base - more civilian job - more civilian like hours. They ended up moving back stateside to MA where her family is. Her mother is a ROYAL See (C) You Next Tuesday if you get my meaning and the apple sure as shit didn't fall far from the tree. They moved in to her mother's triple decker, living just above the mother's apartment. Well that didn't bode well for the relationship. The mother was very demanding, controlling and had the upper hand over everything. She would call during supper and Erica would have to run out of the house, downstairs during the meal, to deal with whatever nonsense her mother wanted her for. What was the line from Parenthood - you need a license to have a dog, a license to fish but any butt reaming asshole can be a father - well its true for her too. She didn't want children - she wanted toys to play with, dress up and have do her bidding. Joe finally left the marriage. He moved only 2 miles away, over the border from Blackstone, MA to Woonsocket, RI. Shit he could have moved to the moon. You would think that was how far away they lived from each other from the level of contact her was allowed by that bitch. He figured by divorcing her, the marriage was over, his commitment to HER was over and now he could concentrate on getting his life together and being a Dad.
Ok - now that you are caught up on the background behind that fiasco of a relationship, let's go forward. Sabrina and her mother have never gotten along. Like I said, she bonded with Dad. She was and still is a Daddy's Girl. She was depressed living with her mother. Like I said, we only live 2 miles from her mother's house but the children were only allowed to see their father every other weekend. She wasn't allowed to just come over whenever she wanted. Her mother would not allow it. Joe was referred to as 'your old man'. NIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCEEEEE. My disdain for my ex is HUGE but I have never and will never speak poorly of him in front of the kids. That's not right. Kids grow up into adults and they figure out the truth behind their parents as they grow older. They ain't stupid. Sabrina was told just to hang in there. When she would turn 12, she would be able to tell the courts that she didn't like living with her mother and could ask if she could move in with her Dad. The courts allow the child to speak once they become 12 and they tend to listen to what the child is saying and take it in to consideration. Sabrina's 12th birthday was 10/10/04. The day she turned 12, she told her mother she wanted to live with her father. You can imagine how well THAT went over. Sabrina came to Joe, asking if he would go to court and make it possible for her to move in here. Going to court meant getting a lawyer which meant having money of which we didn't have. We would try and make life easy for her here. We would talk to her during the week, seeing how her life was going. It was in rapid decline. She wasn't happy. Life is tough enough at 12. To be dealing with a mother like hers, that wasn't going to make life easier. Her Meme (Grandmother - Erica's mother) was mean to the child. She would call her a whore. Tell her that she was stupid. She was going to amount to nothing. When Sabrina would tell her mother what Meme was saying, her mother would agree. She was nothing but a little slut. (Uh, excuse my stupidity here but if you are 12, a VIRGIN, never even KISSED a boy - how the hell are you a slut???) She had 'slashed' her wrists in defiance at her mother. She talked about how miserable she was. How Gabe could 'do no wrong' in mother's eyes. How he would set her up and blame her for things that she didn't do. Life was not going well for her. Her grades were slipping. Her personality was contorting into something that no one liked - including Sabrina herself. We could see it here but her mother was still oblivious to the child's cries for help...or just plain out didn't care. I opt for the latter and you will soon see why.
It was the weekend of April 8th, 2005. Sabrina told her mother yet again, that she was moving out and going to her father's house. Her mother went and got black trash bags, told her to pack her shit and just go. WOOOOOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Sabrina was PSYKED! She packed her most prized possessions in to trash bags, waited for Dad to show up and pick her and Gabe up, loaded up the car and off they came home. Imagine my surprise when she walked in. I didn't ask right away. I let her go and put her things away and then I caught Joe in a private moment. "What's going on Joe?" I wasn't upset about her coming here. I was more worried about the legal ramifications. Erica is a cunt - HATE the word but if the body part fits....She's the type that would set you up to get you arrested. Joe said that Erica told her to take her shit and go...so she did. Well ok then. I told him that he was now going to HAVE to find a lawyer and get in to court to make sure that this didn't turn in to a HUGE mess. I know what pissed off women are capable of. They are vindictive, cruel and malicious when they have to be. And I knew she would be.
Sunday night Joe brought Gabe home. Erica wasn't there. He dropped Gabe off and came home. I was on my way back from Boston with Sabrina when my cell phone rang. I answered it. "Hello?" Reply "Joe there?" (It was Erica) "Nope he's probably at home. Call there" *click* I called the house and warned him of the impending doom eeerrr....phone call. The line beeped "thats her honey" he says "gotta go fight the war." I told him I would be home shortly and talk to him then. Upon our arrival home, Sabrina went off to bed and Joe and I retired to our room (the basement). He told me that Erica blew a gasket. Wanted to know why Sabrina wasn't home. Joe said that you told her to pack her shit and get out, so she did. Erica was under the impression that Daddy would talk her out of it and make her come home. That is what makes this woman so delusional. That she would think for ONE SECOND that Joe would make that little girl go home to that life of misery when (as far as her knew) she was finally cleared to go from that hell. Dumb bitch. I asked him what we were going to do now. He said he would take her to her old bus stop over by her mother's every morning and she could go to her friend's house after school until one of us got home to pick her up and bring her home. Like I said, we live I think less than 2 miles from Erica's house so it wasn't a huge stretch or inconvenience. If this is going to make Sabrina's life better then we were all for it. Joe would bring Sabrina over to the bus stop in the morning, wait for her to get on the bus and then go off to work. Her mother's house was within eye sight of the bus stop and Erica would make herself visible (if she was home) every time Joe would drop Sabrina off. Sabrina's friend Sarah lived right up the street and after Joe explained the situation to Sarah's parents, they were fine with Sabrina going over after school every day for a couple of hours until one of us got home from work to get her. Everything seemed like it was going ok.
The the floor fell out from beneath us.
Two plus weeks later when Sabrina was getting off the bus, her mother and Aunt Kelly were there. Her aunt is a BEAST! She'd take out most men that I know in a fight. When Sabrina got off the bus with her friends, her aunt grabbed her, trying to push her in to her mother's car. Sabrina started screaming. "I DON'T WANT TO GO WITH YOU!! I DON'T LIVE WITH YOU!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!" All of her friends stopped in the street. They knew that it was Sabrina's mother but they also knew the situation. "LEAVE ME ALONE! HELPPPPP!!!!" My understanding is that the aunt was very derogatory in her conversation with Sabrina, telling her how wrong it was to live with her father, that he was a piece of shit, that her mother loved her and wanted her home. After a few minutes of struggle and seeing the crowd at the top of the street, Kelly let her go upon Erica's request. "Don't you worry Sabrina. I'll get your Dad." Sabrina ran for her friends and called her father from Sarah's house and let him in on the situation. He, in turn, called me at work. I was appalled, disgusted, hurt, and FUCKING BENT! I was all set and ready to leave work, go find Auntie Kelly and see what her fucking issue was. Joe told me that Sabrina was fine. That he was talking to a lawyer and court was coming soon. I think the mother side of me was more horrified than anything. I couldn't IMAGINE being Erica. How the hell could you put your child through something like this. It was obvious that Sabrina didn't want to be with her. That she was happier with her Dad. She had HER SON - the Golden Boy. Just leave it alone. But she wouldn't. And it continued.
The next night, the phone rang. It was the Chief Of Police in Woonsocket - where we live. He was calling because he had received a call from (supposedly) Erica saying that Joe had kidnapped Sabrina. Now it was funny that Kelly had dated a few Woonsocket cops and now this phone call was being made almost 3 weeks later but not too long after Auntie Kelly's attempt at kidnapping. The cop (THANK GOD) was very empathetic, listening to Joe's plight and the situations that had transpired - Erica telling her to pack her bags; the attempted snatch off the bus; the slanderous statements. The cop asked Joe for Erica's address and Joe, in turn, asked Sabrina. The cop said "Is she there? Sabrina?" and Joe replied of course. The cop wanted to talk to her. Joe said fine. She was put on speaker phone with the Chief and the head of the Juvenile Department. They asked her if she was happy and safe. "Yes" They asked her if she was being treated properly. "Yes" They asked her if she had been taken or kept away from her mother's house with out her permission. "No. I don't want to live with her. I want to live with my Daddy." The cop asked to speak to Joe again. The Chief was a divorced Dad too. He knew Joe's pain and suffering. He asked if Joe had a lawyer and Joe said yes. The cop said he would make all the necessary documentation to this situation and advised Joe to get a temporary order for Sabrina to live there. Joe wasn't going to be arrested, this time. Joe thanked the officer, apologized for this big fiasco and hung up. We dodged that bullet.
This time.
Another day went by. It was a Thursday. Sabrina came home from school with a letter from her principal. It was to inform us that since Sabrina was no longer living in Blackstone, she could no longer go to school there and Friday was to be her last day. I was STUNNED!!!!! The only person that would tell the school that she no longer lived with her mother in Blackstone was HER MOTHER! You have got to be kidding me! The woman is having her daughter kicked out of school because she doesn't live with her anymore, doesn't want to EVER live with her anymore, ever again. (CUNT) Sorry - there's that word again. When I got home from work, I read the letter over and over and over again. It was CCed to the Superintendent of Schools - the guy's last name was Campbell. I asked Joe what we were going to do now. He said that we would just have to get her enrolled in Woonsocket Schools ASAP. I told him that I was going to take the next day off from work and fix this mess. It was almost the beginning of May - school was out in a month or so. How the hell could that "C" do that to Sabrina. That's not being a parent. That's just being a vindictive C. As a parent, you are obligated to do what's BEST for the child. What is in the CHILD'S best interest. Not what you as a manipulative douche bag want. Because all this had behind it was malice - plain and simple. No betterment for anyone. Just pain and suffering for Sabrina.
Joe called the Blackstone schools on Friday morning, requesting Sabrina's transcripts so we could get her enrolled in Woonsocket quickly. The school refused to give him the transcripts. He was not the 'appointed parent'. Now what the fuck does THAT mean?? Appointed parent??? She was living with us - as the school knew. Who was her appointed parent? The C was and she refused to sign the paper to allow us the transcripts. She was back dooring this situation. She didn't want Sabrina with us. She knew the child HAD to be in school by law. By not letting us access to the paperwork, Sabrina would have to come back to her. OH HELL NO! I wasn't going to let her win. This wasn't about a dog, or a toy, or a car. This was about a CHILD - HER CHILD. I could see right through this plot. Like I said, I know what goes through the mind of a pissed off, vengeful bitch - been there, done that - but not at the expense of my children EVER! I was IMing Joe back and forth from the house. He told me what the school said. He told me that he was at a loss of what to do now. We couldn't enroll her. She would have to go back to Blackstone. OVER MY DEAD BODY I wrote back. I was calling the school Superintendent. Joe started to sweat - I know it. He was worried that my emotions were going to get the best of me and I was going to start shit. His line to me was always 'don't write checks with your mouth that your ass can't cash'. I wasn't worried. I was on it. There had to be something that we could do.
I called and got his secretary. I asked if Mr Campbell was available and she indicated that he was not. I told her that it was IMPERATIVE that he call me back before the end of school that day. "And what is this in regards to MA'AM?" It was regarding Sabrina Zecher and her mental well being I told her. The woman said she would give him the message. It was 10am. School was out at 2pm. Four hours. "He better call me by 1p" I thought to myself. If I didn't hear from him by then, I was going over to the school, and I would wait to speak to him IN PERSON. I let Joe know what had just happened and that I was waiting by the phone. Joe wished me good luck. "I don't know what you think you can accomplish honey but I wish you the best! and so does Sabrina - I know it". I told him just to wait and keep his finger's crossed.
Mr. Campbell called me back around 11a. I thanked him for returning the call. I told him that I was Sabrina's step mother and........"I just came from a meeting regarding this situation" he told me. "Really? Well I'm glad that there are some other level headed adults there that understand that this is not in Sabrina's best interest. There is only a little over a month left of school. It is tough enough dealing with 12 year old issues, your parents being divorced, moving in with your father. Why should she have to leave the school she has been in with all her friends for the sake of a month and aa half or so?" "Well...unfortunately, Sabrina does NOT live in the district anymore." (OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! The voices in my head were SCREAMING obscenities but I knew I had to keep my cool.) "So what are you saying Mr. Campbell?" My voice was becoming louder, more strained. "Joseph has been told that he can not have access to Sabrina's records to get her enrolled in our district and it is NOT in Sabrina's best interest to go back to her mother's house. You and I both know it would be detrimental to her mental well being" (Keep your cool Jen.) I had remembered something being said about being able to pay the school...I don't remember from what conversation, but I IMed Joe about it while I was waiting for Mr. Campbell's response. "Yes Jen. You're right!! Back when we first started talking about Sabrina moving in before she turned 12, I found out that she could attend that school as we are a border town. We would have to pay for her to go. And you know it ain't going to be cheap." "Mr. Campbell" not waiting for his reply..."I remember being told at another time that as a border town to you, we could pay for Sabrina to go to your school. Is that still a possibility?" I heard the dollar signs; the slot machine registering 7s all across the board. "Well" his WHOLE tone changed now. We were talkin' money now. "Each school day is calculated at $24.83 a day. There are 47 amount of days left. The total would be 1167.01" I could hear the contempt in his voice. I could 'hear' the smirk on his face. I was sure that Erica had already made her phone calls, poisoning all the minds at that school. "Cash or check?" I answered him...cool as the other side of the pillow. Silence. You know that 6 seconds of silence when the other party doesn't know what to say or how to react? DEAFENING silence. "Mr. Campbell are you still there?" "Uh, yes ma'am I am. Either or would be acceptable. We would need it here no later than the close of school on Monday." "Mr. Campbell, what time do you get in on Monday morning?" I asked. I was going TO HIM. No one else. If this was some sort of legal extortion, I was going to pay 'da man' himself. "Someone is here as early as 8am ma'am." was his reply. "No sir" I countered. "I asked you what time YOU were going to be in on Monday morning." Now he was stammering. "Uh, yes, uh, I will be here about 8am on Monday morning yes." "I will see you then Mr. Campbell. 8am on Monday morning. Thank you for your time sir and seeing that this is the best resolution to this issue. It is, of course, all about the child's well being." "Yes, yes you are right ma'am. I'm glad we could be of assistance. Good day." *click* Well, I got the answer I needed. We could keep her in school...but at a hefty price. I IMed back Joe the good news to which I got "thats GREAT Jen, but where are we going to get 1167.01 by Monday morning?" "Leave that to me baby. I'll get the money. That little girl is staying in school. Her mother will NOT win this one. She don't know who she's fucking with this time."
I made phone calls. I 'called in cards' that were owed to me. I went to every person I had EVER lent money to and explained my scenario. I am not the type to 'call in cards' on things that aren't important. I don't make relationships with people in order to get from them later in life. But I do remember - LIKE AN ELEPHANT!! And I have no issue 'refreshing people's memories' of times past when I need to. Desperate times call for desperate measures. By the time Friday was over, I had the money. Cash. All $1167.01. Joe didn't ask. I don't think he really wanted to know. He was just overwhelmed at the hoops I must have had to jump through to pull this off. I'm a stubborn bitch - just like my Daddy. Don't fuck with me, my family or my friends. That's the WORST mistake you will ever make. And you will pay, three fold.
I told Sabrina on Saturday that she would be able to go to school on Monday. She kept going back to that letter. "I can't Jen. They kicked me out remember??" "Don't worry honey. I gotcha back. You can go to school." I explained the conversation with the Super (to some degree). I explained that I had raised the money (not HOW but that I did). I told her that her mother wasn't going to win this fight. We won this one baby. "Now go do your friggin' homework." Evil step-monster has to keep up that front ya know!
Monday morning arrived. I told Joe to just drop her off at the bus...business as usual. I told her that if her mother came out to talk to her, just to ignore her, say nothing, get on the bus and go to school. If there was a problem, call Daddy. He'll call my cell. Everyone went off for their day. It was just me in the house. I called my District Manager and briefly explained to her the last few days of hell. I said I would be in as soon as I paid off 'da man'. She told me to take the day and start drinking early and she'd see me in the morning. Very cool chick Deb was. She understood my plight. "Jen, she's not even your kid!" I remember her saying. "Not by birth maybe. But she's stuck with me like I'm stuck with her. You gotta do what's right by the kid, right Deb?" She knew it was what was right. And just. And fair....for Sabrina.
I got out my best grey slack suit. I had just bought it for a regional meeting I had had the prior week. I found my white mock turtleneck, donned the suit, the black 4 inch heels, the briefcase, and a white envelope filled with exactly $1167.01. I won't forget that amount for the rest of my life. I made out a receipt on my computer for Mr. Campbell to sign. I didn't want to give a check, albeit I guess it would have been easier. But the cash was better. This was extortion in my eyes. And you pay extortionists with cash right? Or at least that's how they do it in the movies. I put the cash in the envelope in my inside breast pocket, grabbed my shit and out the door I went. I was pissed. I was heated that I had to pay $1167.01 because that CUNT (sorry AGAIN) was out to play fuck-fuck with me and my family. It wasn't about Sabrina anymore with Erica. It was revenge against Joe. (I still don't understand how the woman could really hate him that much...hell, he saved The Golden Boy from death. Did she forget that??) It was hate and contempt towards her daughter. There was no love. No thought for Sabrina. It was malice. And I wasn't going to let her win. I don't quit. I don't give up. But I was going to pay the price - $1167.01
I walked in to the school Superintendent's building. Nice plush carpeting. Very modern. Blackstone is the epitome of white suburb America around here. Not rich. Just exclusive if you know what I mean. No minorities in the schools. None. All white, christian America and their ideals. Don't get me wrong - to each their own. But that's not my shtick. I was raised Roman Catholic by a 100% Irish mother and a 100% Italian father. The only black kids that went to my school when I was Sabrina's age were bussed in from Boston - the METCO kids. But I was never taught racism. Or exclusiveness. People were people (GREAT Depeche Mode song btw) and that was it. No one was right or wrong for they way they thought - just different. I walked down this long hall to the Office Of The Superintendent. I knocked on the door and opened it. There was a woman sitting behind a desk, a few chairs, and an open door behind her. I could hear a man's voice. It was 8am on the button. "I'm here to see Mr. Campbell please." "Is he expecting you?" This was the same 'pleasant' woman that I had spoken to on Friday. "Yes he is." I replied thinking 'he doesn't WANT to see me - just my money' "You're name MA'AM" emphasizing that MA'AM word (I hate that word. 30 something is NOT ma'am - unless there is a wedding ring which there is NOT YET!) "My name is Jennifer Pacelli" "Have a seat" as she pointed to her left. She got up and went through the door behind her (Whats behind Door Number 1 Monty????) I could hear the man's voice. "Who?" mumble mumble "I'm not expecting anyone." mumble mumble "Oh NO. Is IT?" mumble mumble "DO you THINK she has the money?" mumble mumble. "Let her in"....She returned from her conversation to find me standing, heading towards the door. "I heard" I replied as I smiled at her. "Thank you"
Mr. Campbell was a standing behind his desk, quite a nice one too. Rich mahogany. Lots of photos, accolades donned his walls, pictures that kids had drawn, thank you notes from people in the community. On his desk were, I can only assume, photos of his family in front of this magnificent home. "Wonder how much cake you're making in this job" I pondered to myself. All the teachers I knew didn't have offices like this, a house like that. Well it is Blackstone. And I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had to pay 'da man'. I reached out my hand to him. "Thank you for time in this matter Mr. Campbell." He had a soft handshake. Flabby I guess is the good way to describe it. In my years at the limo company, I learned that a firm handshake is almost mandatory. It is empowering to take someone's hand and exchange greetings. Shows some of you prowess I guess. That's the way I looked at it. Flabby handshake = flabby person. No spine. Gutless I guess. He looked like a whipped dog, choosing most of the time to not look me straight in the eye. THAT pisses me off. When I talk to you, you look at me. Common courtesy. My eyes were focused on him...every second. He offered me a seat and I declined. I had come in with nothing but me, myself and I and that white envelope. His office door was still open. I know I have a loud voice, so I made sure I projected it towards it. "Let's cut to the chase here sir. You told me that it was $24.83 per day for 47 days which came to a total of..." I pulled the envelope out of my inside pocket, took out the cash and said "$1167 (all laid out in big bills) and (into my hand) .01. Am I correct?" He stood there, just stood there, looking at this money on his desk, the penny shiny face up on the top. He finally looked me in the eyes. "Uh yes. Yes, that's what I HAD said." I heard his inflection change "however..." Oh shit - don't you DARE pull a fast one on me mother fucker. I'll rip off your head and shit down your throat. My head is spinning...waiting....."there was one more day of school that we didn't calculate. So you owe us another $24.83." "Will you take a check for that sir?" I sternly replied. I had left my briefcase in the car. SHIT! "I will have to go out to my vehicle to retrieve my checkbook. I do have a receipt for you to sign as well that you received this payment. I will leave that here with you as I go retrieve my checkbook. I'll be back in a moment." Keep your cool Jen. Just walk out to the car, get your fucking wallet and get this the fuck over with. I crossed the parking lot. In front of me is this HUGE NO SMOKING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY SIGN. Fuck you! The minute I was done here I was firin' up one! Wish I had something else to smoke right about now. My blood pressure was through the roof, head pounding with the sounds of my own heart beat. I HATE this shit. I got my wallet, put my Marlboro Light 100s into my (now empty) inside pocket, and walked back in to the school. I walked back in to his office to find the money and receipt in the same place on his desk. "Who do I make this payable to?" I asked. He told me the Blacksone Millville Regional Schools. "For $24.83, correct?" I wanted to make sure that the number hadn't inflated since I left the building. "That is correct." Fucker's not looking me in the eye again. I wrote out the check and I wrote in the memo - final extortion pymnt Sabrina School pd $1167.01 cash. I handed him the check which he put in the pile of everything else. He walked me, the receipt, the wad o' cake and the check out of his office, past the nosy bitch at the desk and around the corner to another secretary. "This is Miss X (don't remember her name but I remember she had that fake painted on sadistic OVER SMILE on). She will sign the receipt for you and give you one from us as well." She stands, forces her hand out and puts up that smile. "HI! NICE TO MEET YOU!" firm handshake but way to overdone. I just wanted my receipt and to get the fuck outta there. "Pleasure" Mr. Campbell was making a fast exit past me when I stopped him. I extended my hand to him again. "Thank you Mr. Campbell for understanding that this is truly all about Sabrina and what is best for her." He stopped. I picked up the receipt from Ms. Smiley Face, tucked it in my pocket, and turned back around. "Extortion is a wonderful thing isn't it? Money DOES make the world go around. $1167.01 plus $24.83? I guess that's a small price to pay for saving the sanity of a 12 year old innocent girl." And I left before he could say a word. REALLY flabby handshake that time. More like FLAB bergasted.
I walked past Nosy Bitch who looked as if someone had just farted in her face. The look of contempt in her eyes for me. I smiled. "Have a GREAT day! Hey have the boss by you lunch. He's got cash" and I was gone.
The MINUTE I got out the front door, I grabbed my butts, and fired one up on the steps of the building. Mr. Security Guard pointed to the sign in front of my car. "MA'AM NO SMOKING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY MA'AM" I turned around. "Fuck you pal. I just paid $1167.01 cash and another $24.83 in check to this building. Right now, I OWN this stair and the path to my car."
$1191.84.
(End of Part 1)
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depressed
pissed off
disappointed
content
hopeful
thankful