Forever Young (2 page)

Dr. Tinesdale sighed and then stood up. Offering me his hand, he helped me from the floor. Once I was standing, he released me and turned to walk out the door. I followed him, knowing he expected me to. I'd been through this more times that I'm sure he cared to remember.

As we walked out of the bathroom, a few students had gathered around and were staring. I'm sure they were not surprised to find Charlie Wright at the center of things. I was used to it.

Oh, I'm sure some thought I fought for the attention. Quite the contrary. I hated the way people stared, but not enough to change my fighting ways.

As I passed by the young Hispanic girl, she gave me a shy smile. I tried to smile back but I couldn't. I was in big trouble and was probably facing expulsion from our school. Dr. Tinesdale had mentioned something about sending to me to juvie the next time I got into a fight so I was pretty sure that was where I was headed. But as I looked at the girl, with blood still trickling from her nose, I honestly couldn't have any regrets about my actions. I'm sure what I did was important to that girl.
That thought should keep me warm at night when I was running my tin cup back and forth across the cold, metal bars of my jail cell.

I walked a few paces behind Dr. Tinesdale, trying to come up with a good speech that would get me out of this mess. He and I had danced this dance before. He would ask me why, and I would tell him. Same question, same answer. He would gently chastise me, remind me of all the opportunities I could have if I just stayed on the straight and narrow. I would apologize, and tell him he was right, of course. Then I would solemnly swear to him to avoid further trouble.

We both always knew those were lies I was feeding him. I couldn't give up fighting the way I couldn't give up air to breathe. After all, fighting did more to help me cope with my anger and grief than all of my therapy sessions combined. So, remorse and guilt would not work here. My best bet was to go with the "righteous indignation" speech. How I was just completely affronted that our young students were not being protected by vicious thugs. Put him a bit on the defensive. Yes, that would be the tact I would take.

When we reached his office, I started to follow him in, but Dr. Tinesdale turned and held up his hand. "Just have a seat out here, Charlie."

Okay, this was new.
Confused, I plopped myself down in a plastic blue chair that was bolted into the drab tiled floor.
Like who would want to steal one of these?

Mr. Tinesdale turned to his secretary. "I'm expecting Sebastian Jennings any minute now. Please send him in when he arrives."

His secretary nodded in acknowledgement and Dr. Tinesdale went into his office, softly shutting the door behind him.

Hmmmm....who was Sebastian Jennings? A cop coming to arrest me? Even though I knew I had screwed up and as much as Dr. Tinesdale had warned me his patience was wearing thin, part of me refused to believe he would actually turn me over to the authorities. Oh, he blustered over my actions but I also knew he genuinely liked me. While he couldn't condone what I did, he did understand me. And that meant a lot. But maybe I had crossed the line one too many times.

I stared at the clock. Waiting. Waiting. Where in the hell was this Sebastian Jennings? A bit rude to make people wait.
Get a grip, Charlie. You don't even know if this Sebastian Jennings is coming for you.

True. I had no idea why I was sitting out here rather than getting chewed out by Dr. Tinesdale. And I am not a patient person. I had just about made up my mind to knock on Dr. Tinesdale's door when a tall man entered the outer office. He was about sixty years old and macked out in a double breasted suit. I may not have money but I recognized it.

His dark suit was cut perfectly to his frame. He had on a black wool overcoat with a dark blue cashmere scarf draped casually around his shoulders. In one hand, he held a black leather briefcase and I momentarily thought he could be a lawyer. Maybe I really was in deep trouble and Dr. Tinesdale had hired me an attorney before the cops even got here. Which was ridiculous. No way, Charlie Wright, ward of the State of New York, deserved a high priced legal shark.

The secretary looked up at the man and recognized him. Her face split into a huge smile which he returned. He looked very kindly, I suppose, with this snow white hair styled in a sleek pompadour and twinkling blue eyes. His face was lined with age but he looked spry and fit. He was actually very striking. Part grandfather, part metropolitan businessman. And this was no cop, I was most positive.

"Go right in, Mr. Jennings. He's expecting you."

"Thank you, Gloria. You’re looking as lovely as ever."

I almost gagged when I heard her giggle in response. I'm sorry, but sixty year old high school secretaries had no business giggling...about anything...ever!

I hurriedly wiped the disgusted look off my face when Sebastian Jennings turned his blue peepers my way, running them shrewdly over me from head to toe. I returned his stare and didn't flinch, but my heart was pounding hard. I had a feeling this man was going to seal my fate, one way or another. He gave me a curt nod and then disappeared inside Dr. Tinesdale's office.

Snick. Snick. Snick.
That was the stupid sound the damned clock made. It really wasn't a "tick tock" sort of sound. It was the same...
snick, snick, snick
. Maddening, really. I watched the second hand
snick
away the seconds, which turned into minutes, which turned into almost a full hour. What in the world could they be discussing? Surely if it was a matter of having me arrested, it would have been done by now.

My imagination, which had always been infinite, started running away. What if he headed up an organization of secret slavers and Dr. Tinesdale was selling me off? Or, what if he was a long, lost uncle that was coming to tell me I had inherited a fortune? I actually snorted to myself over that one.
Ridiculous, Charlie.

My rampant thoughts were brought to a screeching halt when the door to Dr. Tinesdale's office opened. I saw him stick his head out and look at me. "Come on in, Charlie."

I stood and found my knees were slightly shaking. I squared my shoulders and pushed my chin up. I might be quaking on the inside, but I couldn't show any fear on the outside. I entered the office and saw Sebastian Jennings standing at the window, looking outside. He turned when I entered and gave me a smile.

Dr. Tinesdale put his hand lightly on the middle of my back and steered me over to the other man. "Charlie. I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Sebastian Jennings."

He held his hand out for me to shake and I took it. I glanced down as our hands locked, noting he had age spots dotting the back of his hand. He pumped our digits firmly in greeting.

Dr. Tinesdale continued. "Sebastian. This is Charlotte Wright, but she goes by Charlie. She is one of our rising stars here."

I was startled by Dr. Tinesdale's voice. It was full of pride and something else I tried to put my finger on. Sadness? Regret? This did not bode well. My attention was brought back to Sebastian Jennings. He released my hand and indicated to a chair. "Please sit down, Charlie. We have a lot to talk about."

I took the chair he indicated, and he sat in an identical one angled beside it. Dr. Tinesdale walked back around his desk and sat down. He looked nervous, and that, in turn, made me nervous.

"What's going on Dr. Tinesdale?" I tried to make my voice sound vaguely interested but I'm sure it came off as pleading.

Dr. Tinesdale cleared his throat. "Charlie. You are an exceptionally bright young woman and I sincerely had high hopes for you..."

He sort of trailed off, not sure what to say. When Dr. Tinesdale could not come up with the right words, it was definitely time to be worried. I mean, the man had words upon words in his brilliant head. I should know. I'd sat through enough of his lecturing over the past few years.

I didn't wait around for the hatchet to fall. Springing out of my chair, and sparing no drama, I clasped my hands in supplication and launched into an impassioned plea not to send me away.

"Dr. Tinesdale, please let me apologize for my actions. I am so sorry. I was truly only trying to protect that girl. I see how stupid I was now, but please, you cannot turn me over to the authorities. I promise I can change."

My voice was rising with every word I uttered. If I got sent away as a juvenile offender, I could kiss any chance of college goodbye. College was my ticket out of dependency on a broken system.

I looked at Dr. Tinesdale but his head was hanging low, shaking back and forth, denying my words. "I'm so sorry. But I don't believe this is the place for you to be right now."

I seriously thought I might have a full blown anxiety attack. My chest started getting tight and my breathing shallow. I looked over at Mr. Jennings, who was watching me with curiosity. He must have taken note of the pallor of my skin or my uneven breathing, because he stood up and crossed over to me.

"We're scaring the girl, Steve."

He reached out and grasped my upper arms lightly in reassurance. "You have nothing to worry about, Charlie. You are not going to jail. In fact, I am actually going to make you a very nice offer that will secure you the brightest of futures." He had spread his arms wide, indicating the world was my oyster.

All I could say was..."Huh?"
Real intelligent, Charlie.

Mr. Jennings pointed back at the seat I had just vacated. "Sit back down. Let me explain."

After I took my seat, Mr. Jennings perched his hip on the edge of the desk, facing me. "Charlie...Dr. Tinesdale brought you to my attention a few weeks ago. He was concerned over the amount of fights that you were getting into and the dangerous situations you always seem to find. He has been very worried about you."

I glanced from Mr. Jennings over to Dr. Tinesdale, who was watching me with fondness. This is so not how I thought this meeting would be going. I was intrigued but wary.

"I really am very sorry about the fight a bit ago. I was only trying to help," I offered lamely.

"Exactly!" Mr. Jennings exclaimed loudly and I actually jumped in my seat. You’d think I had just answered the million dollar question.

"Your fights all seem to be born over a desire to help. Maybe you have a hero complex, or maybe it's just because you are the sole survivor of a brutal home invasion, but whatever the reasons, it's created a desire...no, I'd dare say it's a need...for you to help those that are weaker than you."

Whoa! Wait a minute. How dare this guy get all up in my psychiatric business? He didn't need to tell me that the reasons I courted danger and picked fights were because of the things that had happened to me in the past. I'd had plenty of therapy sessions about this issue. And why did he even know this personal stuff? I was about to open my mouth to object to his theories, or rather, his casual use of such personal theories, when he cut me off.

"Charlie...I recruit for an organization that develops people like you, so that you can continue to fight against all the wrongs that are in this world. We would like you to come train with us, so that you can continue to protect those that can't protect themselves."

I know my mouth was hanging open and that I looked pretty dumb just staring at him like that. But I was stunned speechless. I thought I was going to get arrested and apparently I was being offered a job? And a job that he made sound so....so...noble. Virtuous. Heroic. Could this get any weirder?

"I don't understand," was all I could manage to choke out. "Is this a government position?"

Mr. Jennings gave a soft chuckle. "No, we are not part of the government. Although, we do contract with various governmental agencies quite a bit. Our services are actually in high demand right now."

"And what type of services are we talking about? Who would I be fighting?"

This conversation still did not sound real to me. Maybe I was actually dreaming and would have a good laugh at myself when I woke up. If a unicorn with a rainbow shooting out its butt came running by, I would know it was definitely a dream.

A mischievous gleam appeared in Mr. Jennings' eyes. "Ahhhh... my dear, I bet if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. No. It is much better that I show you what we are about."

At this point, Dr. Tinesdale stood up from his desk and walked over to me. I automatically stood up to face him. He grabbed my hands in his, and stared earnestly into my eyes. "Charlie. I know this is weird, but I have been working with Mr. Jennings a long time. You can trust him. I think you should give him a chance."

"All I need is twenty-four hours of your time, Charlie. And I believe I can convince you that we are the perfect organization for you."

My head was spinning as I looked at Dr. Tinesdale. "If I don't want to stay with Mr. Jennings, will I be welcome back here?"

Smiling at me, Dr. Tinesdale nodded his head. "Of course. You are always welcome here. But I think your calling is somewhere else."

 He looked so wise. He clearly knew something I did not, and I was beginning to get very curious about this new opportunity being laid before me.

"Okay. I'll give it a shot." I attempted a confident smile. I know it failed miserably.

Mr. Jennings stood from his chair, obviously pleased with my decision. He headed for the door. I turned one more time to look at Dr. Tinesdale. I didn't know if this was goodbye forever, or if I would see him the next day. He seemed to sense my need for some type of reassurance and leaned over to give me a quick hug.

"No matter what you decide, Charlie, I know that you are destined for great things. So, whether this is goodbye, or see you later, you still control your own destiny, which will be great in my estimation."

Oh, how those words warmed me and infused me with confidence. Dr. Tinesdale had seen me at my worst. He knew all of my secrets. He understood my psychosis. And the fact that he held faith in my future told me all I needed to know.

I turned to Mr. Jennings at the door. "So, what's the name of your organization?"