Sherry was standing in the study by the opened door, her hand on the inside doorknob. The minute Jane followed Susan into the Study, Sherry abruptly closed the door and started in with her diatribe. "Those three canNOT go back into public education. It's killing their intellect, it's stifling them to the point they've almost completely given up trying to do their best. Those buffoons running those schools should be barred from every school in the world. They can't see their butts from a hole in the ground. They've got three students who aren't being challenged by a curriculum those three consider mundane. Toby's already admitted to doing only the bare minimum to get by in his classes, and you two have seen what he's capable of doing just by observing him in the library. What'd he score on the first section test, Susan? A 100, right? Think about what he'll do on the rest of the tests you're going to give him. In every subject you'll have them study. GAWD, I want to go to each of those schools and kick a few heads so far up their asses they'd be able to see what they're eating at the moment."

Sherry finally ran down, turned, and walked over to the study window, crossing her arms across her chest. Because of the deep friendship the two women shared, Jane knew if Sherry had her arms crossed across her chest, and she was tapping her foot, she was super pissed off. Susan could sense Jane was about to say something, and put her hand on Jane's right arm, causing Jane to look at her. She held up her left palm, signaling Jane to wait a moment. "Sherry," Susan said the woman's name, as she slowly walked toward Sherry. "You are in good company about public education, exceptional company. Many renowned educators have voiced their opinions of today's public education, and how it's wasting the time of those students attending public schools. They have reams of facts showing how public education is failing those attending the schools. Even though they have facts to back up their opinions, those running the schools don't care, can't care or they risk losing their jobs. School boards are dictating how the schools will be run, and have made it clear what will happen if those working at those schools don't toe the line. You have teachers who don't agree with the current policies but like the administrators, if they deviate from those policies, they risk losing their jobs. Many want to teach, but too many fear losing their jobs to revolt against the current garbage."

She reached Sherry, put her arms around her, and turned her to face her. "You aren't the only one who's blown up over the stupidity coming out of the school boards. But the public won't listen, or don't care. School board after school board has faced angry parents, only to have those 'disruptive' parents removed from the meeting. Those boards don't want to hear the truth, a truth that shows how badly they've screwed up the public school system." She pulled Sherry to her, held her, and finished with, "Until every member of a school board is removed through elections, nothing will change. We'll still have students like Toby, Charlotte, and Francis, sitting in classes they shouldn't be in. And we'll end up with what we have now, adults who aren't prepared for the world they're going to live in. Adults who make rocks look smart."

Susan's last statement was meant to make Sherry laugh, and it did. "Smart rocks, I like it," Sherry said, laughing despite the anger she was still feeling. "How do you do it, Susan? How do you associate with an entity that's full of morons too stupid to be dumb? I've seen some morons in my field, but they don't last long after they get called out. Are people that ignorant not to see how their kids or other kids are turning out? Or is it the 'they're not my kids' attitude keeping those without kids voting for the assholes over and over again? Maybe they're the ones who need the butts kicked up between their shoulders. Maybe they need to be the employers trying to hire people who aren't ready for the workforce."

Sherry let go of Susan, walked past her, and looked at Jane. "You've been quiet throughout this whole exchange. I know you have your opinions about all of this, so give."

Jane walked up to Sherry, put her arms around her, and pulled her close. She put her left cheek to Sherry's right cheek and softly said, "I've been told several times to concentrate on what I'm good at doing, and leave those events bothering me to those having the ability to deal with them. I agree with you about your assessment of the public education system, and with you about those three not returning to that cesspool. However, I lack the education and position to affect any meaningful changes where they need to be made. The only changes I can possibly make within that cesspool are at the ballot box, where I can vote out those who don't belong on the school boards or are trying to social engineer our school systems. Marie and I do what we can here at Seasons House, and we're damn good at what we do. If that is the only way I can help provide a boy with a quality education, then it will be my contribution toward fixing the problem." Jane lifted her head off Sherry's cheek, kissed her cheek, then looked Sherry directly in her eyes. "You are a damn fine psychologist, Sherry Daniels. Besides helping all of us here at Seasons House, I have no doubts you've helped others who are as grateful as we are for all the help you've given them. Continue doing that Sherry, be that wonderful, caring psychologist who steps in to help when it's needed. Help fix a problem outside your field where you can without going off the rails. Now. You got yourself all worked up only after those IQ tests, why?"

"Thanks for all of that, Janie. You could always be level-headed when you wanted to be." She kissed Jane on the cheek, then said, "Let me show you why I got all worked up." She let go of Jane, turned, and walked over to the table where her evaluation papers of the tests lay. She picked up the papers, then turned to face Jane and Susan. "Given what the two of you have seen of those three, which one would you expect to come out on top?"

It was Susan who spoke first by saying, "Well… given what I've seen of Toby, I'd have chosen him."

"So would I," Sherry responded. "Jane, who would you have expected to have the highest score?"

Jane gave Sherry a funny look before answering, "I have a feeling you're not talking about Charlotte, are you?"

"No, I'm not, Janie. Not by a long shot. That quiet young man you've had with you before Charlotte and Toby came scored a 139 on his IQ test. Charlotte and Toby each acquired a 138. Now you see why I was so angry, Janie. Those three can't be returned to a public education system not suited for them. They need a higher level of learning. I've no doubt Charles would do his best no matter what educational institution he attended, it's who he is. But if Frank and Toby go back to those dungeons, they'll only do enough to get by, and their grades will reflect it. Even though we know they can do better and want to do better. Look how Toby and Francis reacted when they learned Susan was going to be giving them AP lessons. Look how excited they both were to be given the opportunity. Hell, Susan, look at what Toby's done with that AP physics book you gave him. Those two want to learn, they need to learn, it's who they are deep down inside. And they aren't going to get that back at their respective high schools."

Susan walked over to Sherry, put both hands on Sherry's shoulders, and told her, "Welcome to the club. Jane, Marie, and I, have discussed this very topic, but knew it would have to wait until the other garbage was resolved. We agree with you one hundred percent, they can't go back into the public education system, a system that's stifling them intellectually. It was even suggested I could continue teaching them. There's only one problem with that suggestion, where they'll live after leaving Seasons House. Charles will go back to his parents. Frank will go back to the Willows, where he wanted to live before it went south for him. And Toby will go back to his dad, and a better life, we hope. I can't be in three different places at the same time, and they can't stay up here because there aren't any accommodations for those three teens. We hope to find a private school with a challenging curriculum where those three can thrive." Susan's chuckle drew a questioning look from Sherry. "Marie said if we wanted to truly challenge them, then teach them Latin and teach them in Latin, as was once done at major Universities." She sighed, then said, "But… until Toby is safe, and Charles' name is cleared, all our wants and wishes are just smoke in a room. Now if you want to get angry at something, get angry at that bastard Strom who put Charles here, and Toby's brother, who beat Toby into submission and forced him into shoplifting."

Susan felt a hand on her shoulder as her voice increased in anger. "Easy, Susan," Jane said. "We've gone this route before and it's done none of us any good. Sherry's been kind enough to point it out to us, among other things. So, Susan, what are you going to do now you know their IQ scores? Your knowledge evaluation gave you a starting point, which you've had to adjust. Will you have to adjust their coursework again because of what you've now learned?"

Susan dropped her hands from Sherry's shoulders and walked to the study window. She was silent for several minutes, before saying, "Toby and Charles have a lot of knowledge but still need the basics before moving on. I'll have to reexamine their knowledge evaluations to see what can be changed and where they lack basic knowledge. But I won't keep them from learning at their own pace, which could cause a problem if I don't emphasize their individual learning isn't a competition. And Francis, our seemly language savant? If he finds the current lessons that easy," and she threw her hands up in the air. "I'll have to go back over his knowledge evaluations to see if he has the basics or needs to work on them, though I doubt it."

Sherry chuckled before saying, "Excuse me for a moment. I need to speak with Francis." Susan and Jane looked at each other, before watching Sherry leave the study. She was gone only a few moments before returning and seeing the questions on Jane and Susan's faces. "I had to ask Francis for permission to tell you about his Aunt Agnus. The woman is a major bigot, big time. She hates to hear anyone speaking anything other than English."

"Frank had a Mexican friend from school over at his Aunt's house to do schoolwork. She said something in Spanish to Frank and his Aunt proceeded to ream her butt for speaking Spanish. In her sweetest voice, she told his Aunt, in Spanish, to go fuck herself with a broomstick. When the Aunt asked Frank what she said, Frank told his Aunt she had said she was sorry for upsetting her. And each time the girl was over at the Aunt's house, and spoke Spanish, and the Aunt blew her gasket, she'd use variations of her original insult. Of course, when the Aunt would ask Frank to interpret, he'd say something like she forgot not to speak Spanish or some other thing."

"He and his Aunt were at the grocery store one day and they walked by two Hindi women who were speaking Hindi, discussing what they needed for their evening meal. When his Aunt heard them speaking Hindi, she threw a fit, telling them to only speak English. Now here is where it gets strange. Frank doesn't speak Hindi, but when the older woman basically told his Aunt the same thing as Frank's Mexican friend had initially told her, Frank understood what she'd said. He even gave her a thumbs-up behind his Aunt's back. When I asked him how he knew what they'd said, his reply was rather interesting. He said he just knew what the woman had said to his Aunt. It's as though his mind can interpret other languages with ease, even though he may not be able to speak the language."

Sherry had to pause after telling Jane and Susan each of the stories Frank told her, due to their laughing hysterically. After telling both women the stories, Sherry asked Susan, "How do you deal with a mind like his, Susan? And with his thinking the AP courses you're giving him are easy?"

Jane added to Sherry's questions by saying, "One night at dinner, we discovered he spoke fluent Spanish. When I asked where he learned it, he said it came easy at school and a neighbor worked with him. At one point I asked him in German if he spoke German. His reply was to tell us he thought I was asking if he spoke German, even though he didn't speak German. I then asked him something in French, and because Charlotte had been teaching him French, he answered my question in flawless French, though his pronunciation of some words needed work. He has a gift for languages, something that can be quite useful in the world."

There was a knock on the study door before it opened. Marie stuck her head past the door and asked, "How many for our evening meal, the girls need to know how many places to set."

Jane looked at Sherry, then Susan, both nodding their heads. "There will be seven for dinner, Marie," Jane told her. "Have they behaved themselves in our absence, Marie?"

Marie laughed before saying, "Oh, oui, they have. Toby's almost read through the physics book. Charlotte is plowing her way through her book, and Francis is on their heels. Susan has given them an opportunity and they are taking advantage of it. Dinner will be ready in half an hour." With that said, Marie pulled her head out of the study and closed the door.

"Ladies," Jane addressed Sherry and Susan, "I have a fax needing to be read. If you two will pardon me I will read it before dinner." Jane walked over to her desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down. She picked up the printed fax lying on the desk and began reading.

From: Jeb Thorton, et al.

To: Jane Thompson

Re: Police surveillance paying off

Jane,

The undercover agents who've been following Strom's mistress have finally discovered where she's living. A debate took place on whether or not to infiltrate her home to see what could be found or discovered. I brought up the fact if that was done without a warrant, whatever case they built against her could be thrown out of court because of fruit of the poisonous tree, namely, entering her home without a warrant. Myself, the District Attorney, and the Chief of Police have a meeting scheduled with a judge we believe will side with us after we lay out all the evidence we have so far. We believe, after presenting our evidence, she will grant us a warrant we can then use to search her home.

Our problem stems from not wanting her to know we searched her home but not violate the law pertaining to search warrants. We want to find out if she has anything in her possession pertaining to the shoplifting spree both in our area and the other state, and the murders of those kids. Because the undercovers have seen her scouting out groups of kids, we think she may be the one killing the kids and is after any still on the streets who were involved with the shoplifting. The undercovers have taken pictures of the groups she's watched and are in the process of showing the pictures to the kids still in police custody. It's hoped they can identify any of the kids in those pictures who were involved with the shoplifting and if they can, then the police can get them off the streets for their safety. Because of what she's currently doing, the police discussed using a decoy to try and force her hand, if she is the one killing the kids.

That's all I have at the moment, I'll send you more information when it's available. Give our love to Charles.

Jeb

Sherry and Susan were standing at the study window, quietly talking to each other. Their conversation ended when they heard Jane say, "You sure Fred and Bill wouldn't like to make some fast money, Sherry?"

The two women turned to face Jane before Sherry asked, "What is it this time, Janie?" Holding out her hand, clutching the fax, in Sherry's direction, she was inviting Sherry to read the fax. Sherry walked over to the desk, took the offered fax from Jane's hand, and began reading. As Susan and Jane watched, Sherry shook her head every so often, mumbling to herself as she did so. After she finished reading the fax, Sherry let out a sigh, gave the fax back to Jane, then told Jane, "Yeah, after reading that," and she pointed to the fax in Jane's hand, "I can see why you'd ask after Fred and Bill. And if it was the right thing for us to do, hell, I'd pay them myself. I'd even supply the map, shovel, and flashlight. I share your exasperation, Janie, we all do. But let Jeb and the police deal with it. We need to stay out of it or we could foul up any plans they have in place. And… possibly screw up the court case against Strom and that woman. I'm hungry, let's go eat."

Jane barked out a laugh before asking Sherry, "What is it with you and your stomach when something like this arises?"

After Jane's question, Sherry had an expression on her face that caught Jane off guard. "Janie, I'd rather feed my stomach on this side of the bars, than do what I'd like to do and feed it behind bars."

She stared at Jane for a few moments, before shaking herself and walking toward the study doors. Jane quickly got up from her chair and almost ran to catch up with Sherry, grabbing her from behind and embracing the woman. "What have you been telling me about calming down, Sherry?" Jane asked Sherry, as she felt the woman relax in Jane's embrace.

Sherry gave out a soft chuckle before telling Jane, "What doctor ever follows their own advice, Janie? But thanks for the reminder." Squeezing Sherry once more, Jane released her and opened the study door, motioning for Susan to follow them out of the study.

During dinner, the women tried to compliment Marie on the excellent pot roast, carrots, potatoes, and gravy, but were rebuffed as Marie told them, "Vos éloges sont mal orientés. Ils devraient être adressés à notre jeune cuisinier (Your praise is misdirected. They should be addressed to our young cook.)."

When the four women looked at Charlotte, she was again trying to sniff the contents on her plate. "Charlotte, please sit up," Jane told her. After Charlotte sat up, Jane asked, "Why do you find it so hard to accept praise so rightfully deserved?"

Chalotte continued looking down at her dinner plate, feeling all eyes on her. Toby reached over and put his arm around Charlotte's shoulder, telling her, "There's nothing wrong with accepting praise if you deserve it and you've done your best. Any time you do something, I've only seen you do your best, you never take shortcuts of any kind. I've eaten pot roast before, but none as good as what I'm eating now. This pot roast is more tender than anything I've eaten. You deserve the offered praise; your Uncle would be proud of your culinary skills. You should think about passing on those skills."

Everyone had to strain their ears to hear Charlotte tell Toby barely above a whisper, "Thank you. It isn't hard to do with the right ingredients."

Sherry picked up Jane's initial topic with, "You haven't answered Jane's question, Charlotte. No one here will think anything less of you if you tell us why praise is so hard for you to accept. We are concerned about you, Charlotte."

The four women could see the argument Charlotte was having with herself, it was written on her face. She pursed her lips before sighing, then looking up at Sherry, said, "You remember my telling you what those two boys did to me in elementary school? When they dunked my head in the toilet? We had a contest at school and I entered it. It came down to me and one of those boys, and I won. He wasn't happy he lost and swore I'd regret winning. Everyone else was happy I won and said so for the rest of the day. I was in the boys' restroom when those same two boys came in as I was peeing." Charlotte suddenly became deathly quiet, again looking down at her plate.

Softly and with as much compassion she could put into her voice, Sherry asked, "And, what'd they do, Charlotte?"

Tears were sliding down Charlotte's face, a soft weeping sound escaping her lips. Francis got up out of her chair and walked around to Charlotte's right, while Toby put his arms around her shoulder from the left. "It's okay, Charlotte," Francis whispered, "We're here for you."

Looking up at Sherry, her eyes red and face wet with tears, she said, "Back then, the urinals were a long fixture that we peed in, unlike the single ones today." Charlotte started crying before saying in a distressed voice, "Both of them picked me up, one grabbed my feet, and the boy I beat in the contest grabbed my shoulders, and they put me into that urinal. Like the time they put my head in the toilet, with my crying and the noise they were making, laughing and calling me names, a teacher came into the restroom to investigate and discovered what they'd done. Because water is constantly flowing in those types of urinals, I was soaked worse than before. Our parents were called, and my parents were asked to bring me a change of clothing. I was taken to the nurse's office so I could take off my soaked clothes, and was given a smock to wear until my parents brought me a clean set of clothing."

Charlotte's crying had slowed but she was still upset. "After all of our parents had arrived in the principal's office, the principal told their parents what they'd done to me and that both boys had caused too much trouble before and she was expelling them from school. I remember the smile on the faces of both boys, until one of the fathers leaned down and asked his son if he remembered what he was told the last time he got into trouble. His face went white after what his father said. The father explained to the principal what they'd told their son after he got into trouble the last time. He was going to a military school, a girls military school. He was going to become just another girl at the school. The mother of the other boy leaned down and told her son not to laugh, he was going to a private girls school. He was going to become just another girl at the school. Both gave it one last try by acting brave and saying they'd run away from the schools. The same mother grabbed her son by his left ear and told him he wouldn't get the chance; she never let go of his ear and she marched him out of the principal's office. The father of the other boy did the same, only he pulled the boy's ear up harder, causing the boy to almost walk on his tiptoes as they left the principal's office. The parent staying behind filled out the required paperwork removing their sons from the school. Both of those parents apologized to me for what their sons did, though it didn't mean anything to me right then. So, ever since that day, I get upset anytime someone offers me praise or a compliment for something I've done. It brings back that unpleasant memory."

Charlotte became silent after her telling, looking down at her hands in her lap. Sherry got out of her chair and walked over to Charlotte. She pulled Charlotte's chair out from the table with Charlotte still sitting in it, then kneeled in front of her. "Sweetheart, why didn't you tell me about that horrible event? Were you ashamed of what happened to you?"

Still looking down at her hands in her lap, she nodded her head. "The whole school found out what they'd done to me and I started getting teased. Even when I went into the restroom and other boys were there, one of them would ask if I wanted to get into the urinal again. Mom had to start sending extra clothes with me because I ended up peeing my pants. I'd run out of the restroom after they'd say things like that and never got to pee."

Charlotte started crying in earnest, leaning forward and grabbing onto Sherry. Charlotte couldn't see the looks on all of the faces of those sitting at the dining room table. And none of those looks were kindly looks. Sherry held Charlotte as she cried, wondering why schools waited until a trauma took place before taking drastic action. She believed when such events happened, those causing the problem should be removed from the location immediately, taking them away from those who wanted to be in those schools. And yet, as she had told those around the table, she could only do what she could do in her corner of the world.

Sherry addressed Charlotte, but also meant for those around the table, "Sweetheart, don't let those memories rule your life. They have happened, they can't be changed or altered. Accept them as just the memories they are, and move on with your life. When you experience one, tell yourself it's just a memory as many times as necessary to let it wash over you and not control you. I know what I'm telling you is harder to do than it sounds, but you can do it. Anyone can with practice. Come on, let's get you upstairs so you can fix your face."

Saying that to Charlotte, Sherry helped Charlotte out of her chair and held her as they walked through the living room, up the stairs, and into her bedroom, where Sherry and Charlotte talked more before Charlotte cleaned her face before reapplying her makeup. The entire time Sherry and Charlotte were upstairs, the only noise being heard were forks attacking the food on the plates. Each person lost in thought to a time when in school at the age of Charlotte's trauma, though two more recent than the rest. Thirty minutes later Charlotte and Sherry returned to the dining room table. Before Charlotte sat down, Jane saw what Charlotte was about to do and told her, "Charlotte, you owe no one an apology for what took place. I for one am glad you felt secure enough to finally talk about the experience, tragic though it was. Never apologize to anyone around this table for talking about something bothering you from your past. We're all here to help you and each other."

Seeing the slight smile on Jane's face, Charlotte chuckled and answered, "I seem to apologize for a lot of things, don't I? I'm not yet that comfortable talking about my past, it all seems so fresh." She then looked at Sherry and added, "But I'll try." She pulled out her chair, sat down, and continued eating, feeling a bit lighter than she had in a long time.

Jane realized the teens would not be in any mood to continue working on their lessons, and maybe needed to be with Charlotte. That realized, she told the three teens, "After the kitchen is done, you three may have the rest of the evening before bed to yourselves. I think Charlotte could use the company for this time."

Charlotte looked up from her plate before telling Jane, "Thank you, Aunt Jane."