“So that concludes this portion of the meeting.” Wireman finished up the assessment of the damage and repair costs to the school, brought on by Bill’s rampage.
I had listened to his whole speech, which had been cold, clinical and business-like, though I found myself looking at one of the school board members who had kept his eyes on me throughout the meeting. Apparently, Mr Wireman had noticed this as well, and, perhaps sensing an opportunity to restore some lost pride, saw fit to take advantage of it.
“Something you’d like to share with us Patten?”
“Yes, there is.” He responded, not looking away from me. “But it doesn’t concern the meeting.”
“But it does concern me.” I growled.
“So you figured it out then? You overgrown bully.” This drew audible gasps from the other members, and even Mr Wireman looked surprised.
“And what the hell is that supposed to mean?” I could feel the frustrations building up in me.
“Well how would you like it? Polite? Or straight up?”
“Suit yourself.” He responded softly, before making his way over until he was just two steps away from me. “I hate you. I hate your style, I despise your behaviour. Your attitude stinks. And, I personally tarnish you with the same brush I use on Beauregard.” This brought confused mutterings of “What did he just say?” and “What…?” from the others.
“The reason being this!” He called out, preventing anyone from entering his monologue. “Since you came here, over a year ago, you have consistently shown an aggressive and sometimes violent nature to others! You’ve picked fights for the slightest of reasons! And when someone offends you.” He lowered his voice right down at this point. “You immediately compare, and declare them akin to Nazi-Era Germany, a disgusting act which you committed, not only less than an hour ago, but even to your own Uncle-In-Law, Frank Rhoer.” The venom clear in his acidic tone. “You’ve used and abused that cowardly tactic on him, his daughters, the city council and perhaps half the parents in this town. For the first and final examples, their only ‘crimes’ were to place their own, immediate families above anything else, to put their welfare first, and foremost. For this, you painted them as monsters, whose only purpose was to be your enemy. Those who failed to agree with you on your own petty, narrow-minded ideology, you treated as an enemy. None more apparently, than when you forced Frank Rhoer to choose between his own daughters and your wife. Only a truly self-centred, hated-filled individual would even consider such a vile tactic. Individuals such as Beauregard.” His voice had fallen down to just a whisper, and the others were now looking at him, me, and each other in fear. “Personally, I don’t know how anyone like you could have secured a job in the police. But then again, Howard did hire a certified alcoholic only a couple years back, so I suppose it shouldn’t really surprise me.” He finally stopped staring at me and looked to Molly, his face and body visibly relaxing. With a resumption of normal volume speech.
“Sorry you had to suffer through that Mrs Wayne. Since it’s way outside the remit of the meeting, and especially since you have long since proven yourself to be one of this school’s greatest assets. But sometimes, you have to stand up for what you know to be the right thing.” A single second after he finished, Patten turned for the door and exited the room, leaving everyone else left inside in a state of total shock and confusion. Without exception.