Prompt:
"I'm an English teacher."
"He was the dean of students at my high school."
"I was in his office more than I should have."
Based on real characters and events.

—————

He parked his car in the lot outside the school. He sighed, knowing that he'd probably have to deal with some teenager doing something stupid today—like standing in the railroad tracks or smoking on school grounds. He checked his watch. It read 7:18. Forty-two more minutes until my first problem of the day, he thought. He took a deep breath before going inside. Patience, Theo. Patience. They're just immature teenagers, who don't know any better. He waved at a couple fellow faculty members on his way to his office, before sitting down with another sigh.

Sure enough, at 8:15, some sulky looking kid with a bowl cut walked in, his hands buried deep in his pockets. He smelled suspiciously of cigarette smoke. He slumped down in the chair opposite Theo's own. Theo folded his hands together.

"So," He checked his roster quickly. "Bernard. What brings you into my office today?" Theo asked, though he could already guess by the aroma clinging to this boy. The boy—Bernard—mumbled something before sticking his hands further into his pockets. Theo cleared his throat. "Sorry, what was that?"

Bernard muttered under his breath again, still not meeting Theo's eyes. Theo rolled his eyes a little. "You're going to have to speak there, son. These ears can't hear as well as they used to." He peered at the boy in front of him intensely.

"I said," began Bernard rather angrily, "I'm here 'cause a teacher saw me smoking across the street." He didn't offer anymore information, and Theo didn't press—immediately. Instead, he took a moment to collect himself—and a little bit of patience. My crown in heaven had better have a few jewels, God.

Out loud, however, he simply said, "Do you understand that you violated a school policy?" Bernard shrugged and mumbled again. Theo sighed. "What was that?"

"I said, Yeah, I understand, Mr. Portman." He stayed quiet a moment before bursting out, "But it was before school even started!" He went back to sulking with his hands in pockets, as though nothing had ever happened. Theo cleared his throat again.

"You were still on school property—"

"No I wasn't! I was across the street!" Bernard's face was a little purple with rage. Theo glanced down at his hands.

"And you were skipping class." He finished, his voice calmer than he felt inside. "I'm going to have to suspend you, son, since you've been in my office for this twice before. Suspension for the rest of this week, I'd say."

Bernard rolled his eyes so hard that Theo was surprised they didn't fall out. "Mr. Portman," he said, quieter than Theo would have liked. "That sounds perfect. How about you just punish me for skipping class by not letting me be in class?! Ah, yes, because that makes complete sense!!"

Theo tried hard to keep a straight face. There was a few minutes of Theo struggling not to laugh, before he finally replied.

"Mister Thompson, you would make a very good lawyer, you know that?"