Touched by Angels (Angels Everywhere #3)(5)

Without thinking, Brynn positioned herself between the two boys. Her head was spinning and she felt lightheaded with fear. “Stop,” she ordered in her most authoritative voice, but the request sounded hollow even to her own ears.

The sound of footsteps running toward her was so welcome, Brynn nearly collapsed with relief. A male teacher and a janitor exploded onto the scene, and the knives disappeared as if by magic. Emilio and the other youth looked as if they were the best of friends. Emilio wrapped his arm around the black youth.

“What’s happening, bro?”

“What’s going on here?” Doug Keast, the teacher, demanded, looking to Brynn.

“Emilio and this young man were involved in an exchange of words. Everything’s under control now. Thanks for your help.”

“Knives?”

Brynn hesitated, not wanting to rat on Emilio but at the same time unwilling to lie. “They both drew out knives, but—”

“I don’t need to know anything more than that,” Doug barked, escorting both youths to the principal’s office. “I’ll need you to make a statement.”

“What’s going to happen?” Brynn asked, scurrying behind Doug and Emilio. A second male teacher appeared to escort the other boy.

“I’m gonna be suspended,” Emilio said, glaring at her as if she’d turned traitor on him. “I thought you were different,” he spat out. “You ain’t no different than any of the other teachers.” His dark eyes, leveled at her, were filled with animosity.

“Listen here, Emilio, it wasn’t me who got involved in an altercation.”

“A what? You know, if you’re going to teach English, the least you could do is learn to speak it first.”

“A fight,” she said, losing her patience. She was half trotting in order to keep up with Doug’s long-legged stride. Her fellow teacher was making haste for Mr. Whalen’s office.

“You know the rules about knives on school property,” Doug told Emilio.

“What knife?” the youth demanded. “She was seeing things. I didn’t have any knife, and neither did Grover, ain’t that right, bro?”

“The new teach needs glasses,” Grover claimed, sounding as if they’d been strolling through a bed of wildflowers.

“Tell him, Miss Cassidy,” Emilio said, staring at her. “There wasn’t any sign of knives, now, was there?”

“If you expect me to lie on your behalf, I won’t do it,” Brynn told him in no uncertain terms. “And if you’re both expelled, then—”

“They’ll be suspended for three days,” Doug interrupted.

“Then you have no one to blame but yourselves,” she finished.

“I ain’t coming back,” Grover announced in chilling tones. “School ain’t gonna help me or my homies. I’m outta here, understand?” He jerked his elbow free from the teacher and strolled out the door, letting it slam in his wake.

“Good riddance,” the man murmured.

“I’ll talk to him,” Brynn said, going after Grover.

She hadn’t taken two steps when Doug Keast stopped her. “Let him go.”

“But—”

“He’s right. Grover’s nothing but bad news.” Doug looked to Emilio as if to suggest the Hispanic boy fell into the same category.

“Emilio’s different,” Brynn insisted. “Grover’s choosing to give up, to fail. Emilio’s got a future.”

“Yeah,” Emilio muttered, pulling himself free of Doug’s hold. “Some future. First you tell me what a great leader I am and then you get me kicked out of school.” Having made that little speech, he slumped down on the worn vinyl sofa outside Mr. Whalen’s office.

“Did you see the knives?” Gabriel asked Shirley gently. “They were real, and the risk to Brynn is equally grave. She could have been seriously hurt.”

“The woman’s in profound need of heavenly intervention,” Shirley said forcefully. “In other words, this teacher needs me.”

“Ah . . .” Gabriel hated to be the one to break the news, but Shirley was out of her league. He’d hoped the prayer ambassador would see it for herself, but now he wasn’t so sure.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Shirley said, eager to prove herself. “You think I’m in way over my head.”

“My thoughts were running along those lines,” Gabriel admitted.

“I believe I could help Brynn,” Shirley insisted, and then stiffened her shoulders. “You’re the one in charge of handling the prayer assignments, and I have no option but to accept your decision, but I want to help Brynn Cassidy teach her students to dream. I want to stand at her side when their eyes light up with discovery, and I especially long to be there when she tells them about faith in God.”

“There are other teachers who need you,” Gabriel assured her. “And they aren’t trapped in a poor neighborhood school.”

“I see,” Shirley whispered, hanging her head in defeat.

“Perhaps another year,” Gabriel suggested.

“Perhaps.” The word was so low, it dragged against the floor.

Gently patting the discouraged angel on her shoulder, Gabriel escorted her back to heaven, where Goodness and Mercy awaited their return.