Page 26 of I Will Ruin You

“So is that what happened?”

Bonnie said, “I think that whatever your mother’s situation is, it’s something your aunt would want to discuss with you.”

Allison considered that, then slowly shook her head from side to side. “You’re the principal, so it’s like you’re an official person.”

Bonnie leaned in closer. “You’re right, Allison. Your mom... you asked if she had died. I’m afraid she has. I’m so sorry.”

Allison looked away for a moment, unable to meet Bonnie’s eyes.

“Even though your mother had a lot of problems, she did something pretty remarkable. She brought up a wonderful, caring young girl. Anyone who could do that is pretty special. Just like you.”

Allison went very quiet. They sat there, knees almost touching, neither of them saying a word for several seconds.

“I wish there were something I could say or do to make it better,” Bonnie said.

“It’s okay,” Allison said. “It’s okay if you want to cry.”

God, this kid, Bonnie thought.

Twelve

Richard

“What do you mean, Billy? What did I do?”

We were still standing at the end of the driveway. He glanced at the bandages still on my neck and forehead. “Lucky you didn’t get your head blown clean off, huh?”

“Billy, what can I help you with?”

He took a few steps over to my car, propped himself up on the back end, and crossed his arms. “You’re saying you really don’t remember?”

“Sorry, I’m at a loss here. Did you have classes with me? Because, honestly, I don’t remember. I’m sorry. I see a lot of students over the years.”

And that was the truth. I was as sure as I could be I’d never had Billy Finster in my homeroom or any of my English classes.

“Gym class,” he said.

I shook my head, not understanding.

“I didn’t teach gym. Never have.”

“Oh yeah?” he said. “Then why’s your picture in my yearbook, doing just that?”

“What picture? What are you talking about?”

“There’s a picture of you and the wrestling team.”

I thought back. There was something in what he said that triggered a memory. A teacher had been on leave a while back when his wife became seriously ill. What the hell was his name?

Reynolds.

Right. Anson Reynolds. Taught physical education at Lodge. Was off for the better part of a month. Someone was hired part-time to cover his classes, but his extracurriculars were divvied out among existing staff. I’d been asked to be among those to oversee the wrestling team. I didn’t know a damn thing about wrestling, but I gave it my best shot. And I didn’t have to be an expert to oversee the team’s practices.

“I remember,” I said. “I didn’t teach phys ed, but yeah, I took on some part-time coaching of the wrestling team, after school, when another teacher was away.”

“Yeah, right, bingo,” he said, making a gun out of his fingers and firing a shot my way.

More memories started flooding back. I supervised a few matches when other schools came to Lodge for events. And when our team traveled to other schools, I would go along on the bus to keep everybody in line.