Chapter 14
by Samantha Jenkins

I turned to open the door as Dr. Franklin walked into the office, followed by someone I didn’t recognize.

“Hello Morgan,” The stranger said. “I’m Doctor Phillips, I’m going to help you out, as well as consult on some stuff.” Dr. Phillips offered his hand, which I shook. He looked like he was making notes in his head. I turned and opened the dark oak door that led to Mrs. Paskly’s office. Mrs. Paskly had not moved from where she was sitting at her desk. On top of the folder were two out of school suspension forms that had yet to be filled in. I had a feeling those were for Katie and I.

“Mrs. Paskly,” Susan was saying “You have no reason for the suspensions, and you also are subjecting the school district to another law suit.” Susan was leaning on the front of Mrs. Paskly’s desk. “I would encourage you to just drop this.”

“As would I,” Dr. Franklin said. “You are going to cause Morgan psychological trauma if she has to continue attending school as Josh, and at the moment, I would encourage the girls to get to class.” Mrs. Paskly scowled at Dr. Franklin.

“I don’t want Morgan to go anywhere in my school dressed like that.” Mrs. Paskly stood, her chair sliding toward the windows behind her desk. “And I’m going to suspend her for causing a disturbance.” I looked around the office.

“For starters,” Susan began, “You have to prove that she is causing a disturbance, and I haven’t seen one yet. I also doubt that she would get called any names, or cause a disturbance. The only person that is disturbed by this is you. You have her psychologist stating that it would cause trauma for her to continue to attend school as a boy. How would you feel if she committed suicide because of your actions?” Mrs. Paskly picked up the stack of paper on her desk, stood and then slammed it down on the floor.

“That wouldn’t be my problem! That would be Jackie’s problem because she let some half rate doctor tell her that her son should be a girl!” Mrs. Paskly just about shouted, I was sure that the people in the classroom above us could hear the whole thing. “I don’t wan-” Susan cut her off mid sentence.

“First of all, it would become your problem very fast, mainly because I’m acting legal counsel for Jackie, Second of all Dr. Franklin is not some half rate doctor that got her Ph.D. out of a box of Frosted Flakes; she is one of the top minds in her field, which happens to be transgender issues, and furthermore, you are about to have a suit filed against you as we speak. You think you know what you are doing, but Joyce, you are out of your league on this one. It doesn’t matter what you want or don’t want in this school. You answer to the tax payers, My daughter has already told you what would happen when Morgan walked out and into the school population dressed as she is right now. She is no different than any other girl in this school.” Susan paused to catch her breath.

“You’re not an attorney, and I control what happens in this building. If I say that Morgan can’t attend, Then she doesn’t come to school, and then she fail-”

“US Supreme court number 387498, Look me up. I’ve been doing what I do for longer than you have, and I’m better at it. I will win, I’ll make Morgan win. I’ll make my daughter win. This is a fight that you don’t want to even start, but you have chosen to.” Susan paused for breath as there was a knock on the door. I watched as Dr. Phillips reached over to open it. It was Mrs. Johnson, one of the administrative assistants.

“Every thing alright, Joyce?” She asked, seeing the 8 of us in the tiny ten foot by ten foot office.

“Yes, but would you get the SRO for me, please?” Joyce said, crouching to pick up the stack of stuff she threw on the floor. Jennifer and I looked at each other, we both knew Officer Mullin very well since dad had worked with him. He was always watching out for Jennifer and I. “Also get me whoever Joshua Smith’s Guidance counselor is and have them come to my office.”

“Will do.” Mrs. Johnson said, and turned, letting the door close behind her. Mrs. Paskly didn’t know that we knew Officer Mullin, nor that he knew us as well as he did.

“May I ask, why you are calling the School Resource Officer into this?” Dr. Franklin asked. She also knew that Officer Mullin was kind of like a father to Jennifer and I.

“Because I’m going to have the two girls and the boy arrested for truancy. They should be in class.” Katie, Jen and I looked at each other. Mom and Susan let out exasperated sighs.

“But you won’t let them go because of the way Morgan is dressed, or so you claim.” Dr. Franklin said, “So therefore you are going to have your self placed under arrest for causing the truancy, or how is this going to work?” Joyce Paskly turned red and looked like she was about to blow a gasket. There was a knock on the door, and Dr. Phillips opened it and let Officer Mullin in.

“I was summoned?” He said, glancing at mom, and then Katie and Jen. His eyes finally stopping on me, and giving me a once over. “You look familiar, young lady”

“That would be because that is Joshua Smith hiding under those clothes. I would like the three juveniles arrested for truancy, and causing a disturbance.” Mrs. Paskly said. Officer Mullin looked from her to me, back at her, then at mom, and then back at me.

“I’m assuming that this young lady is not going by Josh.” Officer Mullin said. “What is your name, sweetheart” This was not uncommon for him to refer to Jennifer this way, so it didn’t phase me when when he did the same to me.

“Morgan, Sir.” I gave a slight smile, and then looked at the worn maroon carpet on the floor.

“Morgan, Jennifer, and Katie.” Officer Mullin said. “I want the three of you to go to my office and wait for me, I’m going to give you passes to get to class.” The three of us nodded and left the room. “Joyce, they are not truant if they are in the school. I watched them walk in, I knew they were here before you did. I suggest you guys work out what ever it is that you have going on, I can tell that it affects all three of these children that I do care very much about. I’ll be back after I escort the kids to class.”

“I don’t want Morgan attending classes dressed like she is!” Joyce shouted. “If you take her to class, I will have your job, Officer.”

“Somehow I doubt that, Joyce.” Officer Mullin shot back. “I don’t know what is in your coffee but the Johnson ruling states clearly that you don’t have a choice. You have to let this happen. I would imagine that your actions so far have probably already cost you your job.” Joyce stood there, open mouthed as Officer David Mullin turned and left the office.