Chapter 2

* * * *

The next few days were filled with adjustments, not only to the new school, but also to the new classes, which were at a high academic level. Dave was more than a match for them intellectually, but the expectations of the teachers were different from those at Hillsdale. He also had to make a couple of schedule changes, and he needed electives to fill out his class load.

Dave had a meeting with his counselor, Mr. Jerome, who looked over his school record with interest.

“You have a fine academic record, David. You should do well in all advanced placement classes, not just advanced algebra. That leaves you with two electives. Any ideas?”

“Not really,” Dave said.

Actually, there were things he was interested in, but those had led to his downfall at Hillsdale. He kept those interests to himself.

“Well, let’s see,” Mr. Jerome went on studying the records that had been sent from Hillsdale. “You’ve taken two music classes: freshman chorus and then symphony choir.”

He looked up at Dave, who was feeling uncomfortable and said, “You must have been pretty good to be put in a symphony choir as a sophomore. If it’s anything like it is here at East Leyden only the best get into that choral group.” He paused.

Dave shrugged. He loved music and singing, had loved it all his life. Participation in school music groups, singing in school productions, church choir, and just singin’ along had been on his résumé for a long time. But…well, that was in the past.

“Yeah, I was okay, I guess,” he said.

The counselor went on. “Your extracurricular record is nicely varied: Varsity Letterman’s Club with letters in basketball and baseball, student counsel, and you were also in Hillsdale Thespian Society. That gives me an idea.”

Dave tensed as Mr. Jerome looked at the computerized schedule of classes.

“Hmm, unfortunately drama three requires you to have had at least one year of drama classes. You didn’t take any at your last school.”

“No, they didn’t offer any classes in drama there. They just had plays and stuff,” Dave said.

“Well, freshman drama conflicts with your advanced algebra. Drama II is at the same time as your AP English III. Of course you’ll still be able to try out for the school productions without being in the classes if you’re interested. Let’s see…how about peer tutoring?”

“What’s that?” Dave said, relieved they seemed to be leaving the subject of music and drama behind.

“A student with strong academic skills takes on the tutoring of a student who is struggling with some area of his or her studies. It usually pairs an upper classman with a younger student. With your grades and mathematical talents, you should be able to offer some first rate help to someone, especially in math. What do you think?”

“I guess so.” Dave wasn’t sure he wanted to tutor anyone, but he was willing to try it.

Mr. Jerome said he would make the arrangements. “But that still leaves one more elective,” he said, looking over the available classes once again. “The only one that seems to fit your schedule is first year chorus.” Without consulting Dave further he said, “I’ll put you in that class even though you seem to be more suited for a higher level music class.”

Dave’s heart sank.

“There, that fills out your schedule quite nicely.”

* * * *

After school, Dave piled into Ralph’s Jeep Cherokee with Doug.

“So what electives did old man Jerry put you in?” Ralph asked as he made his way out of the crowded student lot after school.

“Uh…peer tutoring,” Dave said.

“Ooooh, Mr. Smarty Pants gets to work with some retard so they won’t flunk out,” Doug laughed.

Ralph laid on the horn. “Move it, you stupid bitch,” he yelled at a girl who seemed hesitant to pull her car out into traffic.

Dave felt uncomfortable. Since what he had been through the previous year, bullying had taken on a whole new meaning.

“Let’s hope you get some dumb hot chick that’ll be really grateful for your help…or should I say services?” Doug laughed again and this time Ralph joined in. “That’d keep it from bein’ a total waste of time.”

Dave didn’t respond.

As he pulled out of the parking lot, Ralph asked, “Didn’t you say you needed two electives? What else did he stick you in?”

Dave hesitated. He didn’t want to go there. He didn’t want anything to come out that might touch on the secret he was hiding. “Some dumb music class—chorus, I think,” he mumbled.

Ralph’s response caught him completely off guard. “Hey, that’s not so bad. In some schools they think of it as a fag thing, but not here. Lots of really cool kids are in it. I would be too, only I can’t sing.” He laughed at his own put down.