At the start of the new semester, my homeroom teacher mandated that every single parent had to come to the school for "Classroom Beautification Day" to clean and prep the rooms. I went to him privately and explained, "Mr. Harrison, my parents have a highly classified work situation. They can't make it." Mr. Harrison slammed his lesson planner onto his desk, his eyes flashing with anger. "Everyone else’s parents can make it, but yours can’t? On your emergency contact form, their occupations are listed as 'Classified,' and now they can’t even show up? It seems to me you just have zero respect for my authority!" "If your parents don't show up, you don't need to show up either. My class doesn't accept students like you!" I stood there, stunned. But a classified federal agency isn't exactly a place you can just clock out of whenever you want! Little did he know, when my parents did finally show up, Mr. Harrison wouldn't be able to stay in his seat. Mr. Harrison marched into the classroom, his face as dark as a thundercloud, and slammed his books onto the podium. "For the new semester, I asked all parents to come and help clean the classroom. Only one student's parents failed to show. What, is pushing a broom beneath you? Or do you think getting good grades means your family is too good for manual labor?" His voice rose sharply. "Let me make one thing clear. In my classroom, the attitude your parents show me dictates exactly how I will treat you." Parent participation for Beautification Day was supposed to be strictly strictly voluntary. But Mr. Harrison was a narcissist who cared entirely about optics. To him, the more parents he commanded, the better he looked to the administration. "Leo Carter," he barked, calling me out directly. I stood up. "What exactly do your parents do for a living? Are they street sweepers? Do they guard a parking lot? They must have a shift that ends eventually, right?" He crossed his arms, mocking me. A few students snickered. "They..." I paused. "Their agency is highly secure. They can't just leave." "What agency? Let's hear it." "I can't say." The classroom fell dead silent for a second. Mr. Harrison turned red with fury. "You can't say? Or are you too ashamed to say it?!" "Playing passive-aggressive games with your teacher on the first week of school? You think I can't handle a kid like you?" "Mr. Harrison, I'm not," I quickly explained. "It's genuinely classified..." His face turned a furious shade of purple. He slammed his hand on the desk. "I've been teaching for years, you think I haven't seen every type of parent? I'm calling them right now! I'll ask them myself! And if they don't give me a good reason, you will stand at the back of this classroom for the rest of the year!" Without hesitating, he pulled out his cell phone, dialed the emergency number I had provided, and deliberately put it on speakerphone. A sterile, automated voice echoed through the classroom: "We're sorry. The number you have dialed is an unallocated federal line. Please check the number and try again." The entire classroom erupted into roaring laughter. Mr. Harrison hung up the phone, his chest heaving. He felt like he had been played and publicly humiliated. "Leo Carter," he gritted out through his teeth. "You think this is a game?" "No, sir, they really are—" "Shut your mouth!" He pointed a finger right at my nose. "Do you think I'm an idiot? You've been lying from the start! There is no classified agency! You just didn't want your parents to come, and you're intentionally defying me!" The more he spoke, the angrier he got. "Since your parents won't come to my school, you don't need to attend my class. Get out. Now!" I tried one last time. "Mr. Harrison, I told you, their line is secure. Not just anyone can dial in." He was trembling with rage. "Get the hell out of my classroom!" I sighed, accepted my fate, and walked out into the hallway. Mr. Harrison was notoriously petty. Once, a student accidentally brought the wrong textbook to class, and Harrison publicly berated him for a full forty-five minutes. If I didn't get this sorted out, he would make the rest of my high school life a living hell. I pulled out my encrypted phone and sent a message to the group chat with my parents: [My homeroom teacher, Mr. Harrison, has a misunderstanding because you guys couldn't make it to the classroom cleanup. Could you possibly explain it to him?] A moment later, my mom replied: [Understood. The situation has been flagged to our superiors. Personnel will be dispatched to handle it.] I stood in the hallway for the entire class period, my legs aching. When the bell finally rang, I headed to the teachers' lounge to try and explain myself again. But right outside the door, I heard Mr. Harrison's voice. "That Leo Carter is a cancer in my classroom! His parents skip the cleanup, their jobs are 'classified,' and their phone number is disconnected! What does that tell you? He's openly defrauding the school! He comes from a family of trash!" My heart sank. Another teacher spoke up: "Come on, maybe there's a real reason. He's usually a very well-behaved kid." Harrison scoffed, his voice rising. "Well-behaved? I've seen a million kids like him. Who cares if his grades are good? His character is rotten, and he'll end up being the scum of society! His parents are probably fugitives on the run, that's why he's covering for them!" I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved the door open. Failing to explain my situation was on me, but as a teacher, what right did he have to slander my family? Every teacher in the room turned to look at me. I stared straight at him. "Mr. Harrison, you can question me all you want, but you have no right to insult my parents! You have zero proof. How dare you call them fugitives!" Mr. Harrison pointed at me, his face livid. "Excuse me?! Eavesdropping on teachers and barging in to talk back? Did I say something wrong? You have zero respect or upbringing!" "My upbringing taught me to seek the truth and follow the rules!" I stepped forward, holding his gaze. "I'm telling you the truth. As for my parents' exact jobs, you don't have the clearance to know!" "You little punk!" Harrison trembled with rage. He grabbed a heavy grading binder from his desk and hurled it right at my head. I dodged it just in time. He roared, "Get out! You are permanently banned from my class! Get out!" I pressed my lips together and turned away. Behind me, he bellowed, "Look at that attitude! He's a lost cause! I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget!" Back at my desk in the classroom, a few students were grouped together, whispering and shooting me dirty looks. "Mr. Harrison said his parents are literal fugitives!" "We better stay away from him." My hand froze on the page of my book. The class president stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright everyone, pass up your winter break assignments." I reached into my backpack and pulled out my completed packet, ready to pass it forward. Suddenly, Mr. Harrison marched straight down the aisle toward me. In front of the entire class, he snatched the stack of assignments out of my hand, turned around, and dumped them straight into the trash can. The room went dead silent. The blood rushed to my head. "Mr. Harrison!" "What?" He turned back to look at me. "You keep challenging my authority. Since I clearly can't manage you, I won't be accepting any more of your assignments." He walked to the podium, grabbed a stack of practice exams, and handed them to the class president. "These are the weekly exams. Hand them out." He shot me a venomous look. "Oh, and skip Leo Carter. He doesn't get one." "In fact, I've already spoken to all your other teachers. From now on, Leo doesn't need to turn in any homework. Even if he does, it goes straight to the trash. We will not be grading his work." I felt ice cold. Just because my parents couldn't come to mop a floor? I was being treated like a pariah? The bell for the next period rang. Harrison pointed to the door. "My class is starting. Get out." I gritted my teeth, turned on my heel, and marched straight to the Vice Principal's office. I told Vice Principal Davis everything. "Because my parents couldn't come to clean, Mr. Harrison told the other teachers my parents were fugitives, and now the whole class thinks so. He threw my homework in the trash, refused to give me my exams, and told the other teachers to fail me. I need you to step in." Vice Principal Davis listened, tapping her pen, and fell silent for a moment. "Leo," she said, her voice stern but measured. "I hear what you're saying. I know Mr. Harrison well. He can be a bit hot-headed, but his heart is in the right place." She offered me a warm, reassuring smile. "Tell you what. I'll get on the PA system in a few minutes. I'll make an announcement to clear up your parents' situation so the teachers and students don't misunderstand. How does that sound?" My eyes instantly welled up with tears of relief. "Thank you, Vice Principal Davis! Thank you so much!" "Go on, head back," she waved me off gently. I bowed slightly out of respect and left the office. Standing in the hallway, I let out a massive sigh of relief. The PA system was going to chime any second. Once she cleared this up, I could go back to learning like a normal student. I stood in the corridor outside my classroom. Inside, Mr. Harrison was teaching. The speakers crackled to life. I stood up straight. "Attention all students and staff," Vice Principal Davis's voice echoed through the halls. "Please listen to the following disciplinary announcement." I took a deep breath. "Regarding the disciplinary action for sophomore Leo Carter." "Following an investigation, this student has been found guilty of falsifying parental information, defying his homeroom teacher, and refusing to participate in class activities. Despite multiple warnings from his teacher, he showed no remorse, and today, he skipped class without permission, disrupting the educational environment. His behavior is a severe violation of the school's code of conduct." "The administration has decided to place Leo Carter on final disciplinary probation. Let this be a warning to all students to respect your teachers. That is all." I stood there, feeling like I had been struck by lightning. My mind went entirely blank. Through the classroom window, I saw Mr. Harrison looking right at me, a smug, mocking smirk plastered across his face. I turned and sprinted down the hall, kicking the door to the Vice Principal's office wide open. Davis was calmly sipping her coffee. She frowned deeply. "What is wrong with you? Do you not know how to knock?" "Why did you lie to me?!" I panted, my voice shaking. "You promised you would clear my name! Why did you put me on probation?!" She stood up, slamming her mug down. "Listen to me, Leo Carter! Stop throwing a tantrum in my office. Your punishment is final!" Right then, Mr. Harrison stormed into the office, his eyes blazing with fury. "You've got some nerve, Leo! Coming to harass the Vice Principal!" He crossed the room in three massive strides, raised his hand, and slapped me hard across the face. My cheek exploded in burning pain, and I stumbled backward, my ears ringing. "You little punk!" Harrison pointed right at my nose. "Going to the Principal won't save you! I run that classroom! You messed with the wrong guy today!" "Calm down, cousin," Vice Principal Davis said casually from her desk. I held my burning cheek, staring at them in pure disbelief. No wonder Harrison was so untouchable. The Vice Principal was his cousin. She had his back the whole time. My phone vibrated in my pocket. A text from my mom: [Son, we are pulling up to your school in ten minutes.] Harrison's face darkened. He lunged forward and smacked the phone out of my hand. "Trying to call the cops? Dream on! I'm going to educate you on behalf of your fugitive parents right now!" I clenched my fists. The blood rushed to my head. The burning on my cheek, the heat in my eyes—it all mixed into an indescribable rage. But my parents were almost here. I wanted to see how arrogant he would be when they arrived. I let out a cold laugh. "Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Harrison?" Harrison scoffed loudly. "Security! Get in here!" Two campus security guards rushed into the office. Harrison pointed at me, feigning outrage. "This student violated school rules and physically attacked me!" "Look at the red mark on my face! He's completely out of control. Restrain him!" I looked at Harrison's perfectly smooth, unblemished face and almost laughed out of pure anger. The gaslighting was unbelievable. The guards rushed me. One grabbed my left arm, the other my right, pinning me in place so I couldn't move. I struggled with everything I had, but I couldn't break free from two grown men. Mr. Harrison stood right in front of me, looking down at me like I was dirt. "Since your parents won't discipline you, I'll do it for them. I'll teach you what it means to respect your superiors!" "Get on your knees right now and beg for forgiveness!" "I didn't do anything wrong!" I yelled, fighting against the guards' grip. "I'm not kneeling!" The guards pressed down hard on my shoulders, making my joints scream in pain. I twisted my body, planting my feet firmly. "Hold him down!" Vice Principal Davis barked, stepping up behind me and kicking me hard in the back of the knees. My legs gave out, and my knees slammed onto the hard floor. Harrison crouched in front of me, pulling out his phone and aiming the camera right at my face. "Look up. Let everyone see the face of the kid who attacks teachers." "Say it. Say your parents are fugitives." I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, refusing to speak. He stood up, shoving his phone into the hands of one of the guards. "Hold this. Make sure it's in focus." The guard took the phone, keeping the lens locked on me. Harrison walked behind me and kicked me squarely in the back. I pitched forward, catching myself on my hands. My palms scraped painfully against the floor. "Not going to talk?" His voice echoed from above me. "Fine. Let's see how tough you really are." He leaned down, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and yanked my head back violently. My scalp burned like it was tearing apart. "Look at the camera. Admit your parents are criminals. Say it," Harrison commanded. Tears of pain rolled down my cheeks, but I clenched my jaw shut. My silence pushed him over the edge. He reached out and snatched the stun gun off the security guard's utility belt. My blood ran cold. "Harrison!" I screamed. "That's illegal! You have no right to be a teacher!" He pressed the metal prongs of the stun gun against my shoulder. I flinched in terror. "Now you're scared? Are you going to say it?" "In your dreams! My parents aren't criminals," my voice shook, but I enunciated every word clearly. "They protect this country. A piece of trash like you isn't even worthy of speaking about them." His face contorted with rage. "Let's see if your mouth stays that tough!" His thumb moved to press the trigger. BANG! The office door was kicked violently open. Several figures filled the doorway. I broke down and cried out: "Mom! Dad!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "399243", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel