LUCIA'S POV

"Good morning Principal Lucia, the board chairman called a few minutes ago." Moira Henderson, my secretary, announced as soon as I got into my office that morning. She was a dark skinned, gangly brunette who wore large rimmed glasses that augmented her slim face. Her black hair was knotted into a messy bun and her pink blouse was tucked out of her creased grey skirt.

"Tell me Moira, how much does an electric iron box cost?" I inquired, scrutinizing the poorly groomed woman.

"Ranges from 10-99 Dollars..." She replied, fixing her large rimmed glasses nervously.

"And how much is your salary?" I pried, my gaze shifting to the pile of papers and files sprawled on my desk.

"15,000 dollars." She rejoined, unsure where this conversation was headed.

"I will talk to the board to have your salary reduced since clearly you don't have use for it. I mean if you can't buy an iron box then why do you get paid so much money?" I suggested, trailing my index on the surface of my wooden desk. Just as I had expected, dust gathered on the pad of my finger. I puffed the dust off my digit.

"Lucia I..." She started.

"It's Principal Lucia." I cut her off, shooting an annoyed glare her way.

"Forgive me, principal Lucia." She threw an apology, fixing her oversized glasses which always managed to make her look like a clown.

"Where is my coffee? And why is my office untidy and dusty?" I fired the questions at her, like bullets from a loaded gun.

"I'm sorry I was too busy that I forgot... "

"Enough with the excuses Moira. Because frankly, I am tired of hearing them. You can't even do your job right. I don't know why the school hired you in the first place." I hurled the words at her, causing her to shake in fear. Then, she burst into tears.

"I'm sorry for disappointing you principal Lucia...it's just that I have a lot going on right now." She sobbed, her shoulders convulsing as sniffles left her thick lips.

"I don't remember being your therapist, Moira." I cut her off, irritation surging through me.

"I'm sorry..." She apologized, taking off her glasses and desiccating her tears using a handkerchief.

"You are not some child to cry in my office. You are an adult so act like it. If you have problems go to a therapist or better yet, the Lord. Because only he can take away your burdens. Got it?" I lectured.

"Yes principal Lucia." She nodded.

"Now go get me coffee then have my office cleaned up. Can't work in this untidy space." I issued commands.

"Right away ma'am."

"One more thing." She was on her way out when I halted her. "Next time you come to work looking like a homeless criminal, I'll make certain you are fired." I issued a promise which I had every intention of going through with.

"Noted, Principal Lucia." She retorted then exited my office, shutting the door gently behind her.

A sigh exited my lips as I leaned back in the leather swivel chair. Reaching for one of the files, I flipped through it, reading its contents. I was signing an important document in the file when the office phone on my desk started ringing.

"Hello, Principal Lucia speaking." I introduced myself to the caller. A bored demeanor taking over me.

"Good morning Principal. You are a hard woman to get in touch with." I recognized the masculine voice immediately.

"Mr. Yen." I sat up straight, the boredom in my voice melting away. Mr. Nathaniel Yen was Chairman of the school board. He was the father of Natasha Yen, the journalism club captain.

"I called earlier but your secretary informed me that you were unavailable. Lucia, you know how much I hate incompetence."

"Forgive me, Mr. Yen. It won't happen again." I assured.

"Good. I wanted to discuss with you about my daughter, Natasha. Someone is bullying her. They have been sending her disturbing messages. I want you to find out who it is and have them expelled." Just as he completed his sentence, Moira my secretary strolled into the office with a steaming mug of coffee. She placed the beverage on my desk.

"I will do everything in my power to uncover her bully." I stated, reaching for the mug and taking a sip of the coffee. The cream and sugar was balanced, just the way I like it.

"Have a nice day, Lucia." He hang up before I could reply.

"Is the coffee to your liking, Principal Lucia?" Moira, who was arranging files on my desk inquired.

"It is." I replied taking another sip of the beverage.

"I'm glad, you like it." A smile graced her lips.

"Tell me Moira, do you have any kids?" I started a random topic.

"No. But Pete and I are planning on having one soon. I would love to be a mom." She dreamily narrated.

"Being a mom is a curse. Especially when your kid turns out to be a disappointment. Raising a kid is not easy, Moira. You'll find out soon." I narrated, my mind drifting off to the boy who was once my son. I loved him with everything I had. Taught him right from wrong. I raised him in the ways of the bible. He was my perfect little son. That is until the demons took over him and turned him into a homosexual.

A homosexual. That's what he is now. He proudly calls it being gay. It's been three weeks since I walked in on him having sex with a boy. The image of him moaning while having coitus with a boy has plagued my mind, haunting my dreams every night.

"Principal Lucia, are you okay?" Moira's voice streamed through my desert of thoughts.

"No. I am not okay. I haven't been in a while." I sighed, placing the almost empty mug of coffee on my office desk.

"What's wrong?" Concern filled her voice as she addressed me.

"It's my son. I can't bring myself to forgive him after what I witnessed. I fear that the demons have taken over his soul."

"Is it because he is...queer?" She inquired, taking a seat across from me.

"No amount of fancy names can erase the fact that my son has lost his way. He thinks it's normal to like a boy but it's not. It goes against every teaching in the bible. It's sinful, disgusting, abnormal and just wrong. I feel sick just looking at him. Moira, I raised him right so I don't know how he ended up contacting this despicable disease." I vented, anger and disappointment surging through me.

"Principal Lucia, I don't think he is sick. Your son is perfectly normal. I think you should try to understand and support him instead of judging and pushing him away." She had the audacity to say that to me. I shouldn't have asked for advice in the first place.

"Moira, thank you for the completely useless advice. You can leave now." I spat, irritation seeping from my words.

"I just wanted to help principal Lucia." She stated, getting up from the chair.

"I don't need your help." I concluded, grabbing a file from my desk and perusing through it. As soon as she left, I switched on my desktop. I started monitoring the students through the cameras installed at different points of the school. Zooming in on the hallway camera, I watched the students. Then I saw my son. He was strolling on the hallway with his boyfriend. They seemed to be engaged in a light hearted conversation, judging by the gleeful looks on their faces.

Contempt paralyzed my senses when I witnessed my son place a kiss on the boy's lips. He seemed so normal and unashamed. He didn't feel an ounce of guilt by committing such a heinous sin. My Carl would never behave in such a manner. I was right, demons have taken over his soul and if I don't do something, it will be too late.

My Carl is not a homosexual. He never has been. He has been possessed by demons. Only the power of God can save my son from this demonic bondage.

Fishing my mobile phone from my Louis Vuitton hand bag, I dialed a number and placed the device against my ear and waited for her to pick up.

"Praise God Sister Charity. My name is Lucia Mendez. I was referred to you by a friend." I introduced myself to her. Getting up from my swivel chair, my new pair Christian Louboutin's Pigalle pumps, clicked noisily against the tiled surface as I strolled to the window.

"Praise the Almighty Lucia. It's a pleasure to meet you." She replied on the other end of the line.

"I needed your help on something." I stated, leaning on a wall next to the open window.

"Go on, ask my dear." She urged.

"Demons have taken over my son and I am afraid if I don't do something, I will lose him forever. Sister Charity, I have heard that you know how to handle these kinds of things. It's why I need your help to exorcise the demons from my son." I opened up to the sister, hoping that she could be of help. Monica had referred her to me a few days ago. She told me of the gift of exorcism that Sister Charity possessed.

"Lucia, I am really sorry to hear that. Tell me, what has your son done to show that he is indeed possessed by demons?" She questioned.

"He...umm...is in love with a boy." I spilled, viewing the vast football field from my office window. 

"Oh. Then that is more serious than I thought." She confessed, her voice an octave lower.

"It's why I am desperate for your help, Sister. I will do anything for you to help me cast these demons that have trapped my son, back to hell. Anything..." Despondency swam through me.

"Worry not, Lucia. I will help."

"Thank you. I trust that you will rid my son of the demons that have plagued him." I stated, my eyes spotting two students smoking cigars at the bleachers. They were completely unaware that I was watching. Sometimes I feel like these students are intentionally asking for an expulsion.

"Yes. I will save your son. He will be cured, I promise you." The assurance in her voice butchered the traces of doubt lingering in my mind.

"How much will the process cost?" I asked, my gaze shifting to my manicured finger nails. Elodie had done an impeccable job with my nails that too at an affordable price.

"Can we discuss the details in person?" She sought my avowal.

"Good idea. Will tomorrow be okay? You can come over to my house for dinner. I'll send the address." I proposed.

"Yes tomorrow is perfect. I will be there." She responded.

"Thank you Sister and have a blessed day." I concluded then hang up.

I resumed my seat then made an announcement through the intercoms. "Natasha Yen, report to my office immediately!"