The Education of Hailey Kendrick - Eileen Cook [77]
The drama teacher picked up where she’d left off. The school would book rooms at the Library Hotel for three nights. I could hear a few people whispering. Weekends in New York were always popular. I wondered if the drama teacher believed that everyone who signed up was really interested in the plays. She must have thought Evesham was full of theater geeks.
Dean Winston got up as soon as she sat down. “For those of you considering the trip, be aware you’ll be expected to sign the code of conduct agreement before you go. This means you will be held to the expectations of an Evesham student.” His eyes swept the room as if he could tell already that people were planning to sneak out of the hotel and try to get into the clubs. “Evesham students should always demonstrate the highest standards of quality.”
Kelsie poked me in the side with her elbow, and I pressed my mouth down to avoid giggling. I went to poke her back and accidentally hit my crutch, which fell into the aisle with a loud clang. Kelsie snorted, and I bit my lip to stop smiling.
Dean Winston stopped mid-word and froze me in place with his stare. “Is there something you find funny about this, Ms. Kendrick?”
Everyone turned around to look at me. “No, sir.” I made a vague gesture with my hand to the crutch. “It just fell.”
“Ms. Kendrick, will you please step forward?”
“Oh, shit,” Kelsie whispered under her breath.
I picked up my fallen crutch and went up the aisle until I was standing just in front of the lectern.
“This school is founded on principles, Ms. Kendrick.”
“Yes, sir.” I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. My face was burning hot.
“You’ve been doing some research on the history of the school, haven’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then, perhaps you’d like to share with the group what you’ve learned thus far about the principles that are the cornerstones of this institution?”
The last thing I wanted to do was share, but I had the sense that he wasn’t really asking it as a question. He twirled his finger, indicating that I should turn around to face the audience.
I turned to face everyone and cleared my throat. “Evesham is named after one of the two main battles in thirteenth-century England. It was part of the Barons’ War. The school’s founder, Simon Kenilworth, started the school in 1911 with the idea that it would provide an opportunity for privileged young men to complete their education, with a focus on also developing their character. He’d attended boarding school in England and felt that there should be a school of equal caliber here in the United States. The school started admitting girls in the 1960s.”
“Thank God,” someone in the crowd said. Winston searched the crowd to see if he could tell where the comment had come from.
“And do you believe in the principles this school was founded upon?” Winston asked me.
“Yes and no,” I answered honestly.
Winston’s nostrils flared in annoyance.
“I’ve come to realize that the school is only a collection of buildings. History teaches us that nothing is permanent, but I do believe in this place, if by ‘school’ you mean the people who have gone here.”
“If this school is so important to you, Ms. Kendrick, perhaps now you would be willing to share the name of who you were with the night you destroyed the statue that represents the principles you say you hold so dear.”
I opened my mouth to tell him again that I wasn’t going to tell. Not now, not even if he dragged me up in front of a million assemblies.
“I was the one with her,” a voice called out.
I looked up. Drew was standing in the back. He walked down the center of the aisle until he was standing by my side.
“I was with Hailey that night. It was my idea to destroy the statue,” he said.
“I hope you realize this means you’re fired,” Dean Winston said.
“What are you doing?” I whispered to Drew.
“It doesn’t matter that I wasn’t there. I wish I had been,” Drew whispered back. He smiled, and I felt my heart