Morning all. The coffee is brewing and as the sun doesn’t seem likely to make an appearance to day I definitely need something to signal my brain that it is time to wake up and get moving. While it brews, let’s see if we can shake the gray matter with the morning writing prompt. Timers set and off we go.
Not where I thought this was going but I do love the idea of an ignored warning. Especially when someone knows they should heed it but doesn’t because it is easier not to. No idea what the catastrophe is going to be but I know there will be one.
Thursday, September 25th: I knew you would never believe me.
“I knew you would never believe me,” He said. There was no accusation in the tone, it was simple resignation.
Halloran smiled, trying not to wince. “It isn’t that I don’t believe you,” He told Tom. “It is just that there is no proof. And without proof…” Halloran let the thought drift off. He shrugged. “There isn’t much I can do.”
Tom sighed and nodded once. “Sure.” He said. He pushed up from the chair.
“I am glad you brought your concerns to my attention,” Halloran said.
Tom looked at him, something in his eyes seeming far older than his years. “Will you do anything anbout it?”
“Well,” Halloran said, resisting the urge to pick up a pencil so that he would have something to do with his hands. “Like I said, there is no proof. But I want you to feel free to come to me with any of your concerns in the future.” Halloran tried for a warm and welcoming smile but Tom was already turning away.
“Don’t worry Mr. Halloran, I won’t be troubling you again,” Tom replied as he headed towards the office door.
“It’s no trouble,” Halloran said, calling after him. Tom didn’t look back, he just kept walking.
Halloran tried not to frown. “Without proof,” he told himself as he gave in picked up the pencil and began twirling it between his fingers. It was what he always told himself. ‘Especially when the doners kids are involved,’ he thought. Halloran shook his head. ‘I don’t act without proof for any of the kids.’
He tried telling himself the same lie he always did, but somehow kept seeing the resigned look in Tom’s eyes. He knew the truth. When it came to the kids who’s parents donated large sums of money to the school, he tended not to look for proof or to overlook, minimize or even completely ignore any proof of wrong doing.
He knew Tom. He was quiet and generally stayed out of things. He brought the matter to his attention because he thought someone was going to get hurt. Halloran knew he wasn’t a snitch, the boy had seen quite a lot he never reported. Halloran was certain that if he ever went looking for proof of anything, Tom would be able to steer him in the right direction. From all reports Tom was the sort of person who seemed to see everything while saying little.
That he felt the need to bring this matter to Halloran’s attention didn’t bode well.
‘I’m sure it is just an over reaction,’ Halloran told himself. ‘Or he is fighting with one of the people involved.’ He nodded to himself, liking giving a reason for Tom trying to get some of the students from wealthier families in trouble. ‘There must be some sort of rivalry or something,’ he decided.
Tom’s family was wealthy enough that he could easily fit in with the elite of the school. He chose not to for some reason. “Obviously a personal grudge,” Halloran told himself. He felt his often soothed conscience settle with barely a twinge. He was confident nothing bad would ever really happen and if it did, it wouldn’t be on his school grounds. He tore the notes he made from his notebook, crumpled them and tossed the balled up paper in the trash. “Nothing for me to worry about,” he told himself.
Ten til Midnight 