Page 48 of Hello Forever
“It might be.” Boz spun his chair, ruining my view. “Suzie didn’t leave my apartment until Sunday. And I’m seeing her again nextweekend.”
Well. At least one of us was having sex. “Can I show you something I’ve been working on? It’s not as much fun as Suzie. But it’sprettyfun.”
“Sure. I’m getting dizzy anyway.” He stopped thechair.
At first, Boz didn’t really understand my idea. But I knew it was solid, so I kept up my explanation. “On Family Night any kid fourteen or under who wears a basketball jersey or any kind of Barmuth spirit wear will getinfree.”
“Um,” Boz said, scratching his chin. “But kids’ tickets are only four bucks. And a movie ticket is eight. I don’t think the price tag is keepingpeopleaway.”
“You’re right—it isn’t. But that’s not the point. There are local families who don’t know how much they’d enjoy attending a live game, right? Plus, people love to think they’re getting something for free. They’ll get that four-buck ticket for free and then spend the money at the concession stand. Either way it will sound as if Barmuth was giving a gift to the Henning community. Meanwhile, adult tickets cost eight bucks, and we fill the place up. People will have a good time, and then they’ll come back. I’m trying to create a positivefeedbackloop.”
Boz laughed. “Listen to the marketing major throw the buzzwordsaround.”
“Admit it. Youlikeit.”
“I do. I just wish I’d thought of it myself.” He rotated his chair again as our boss approached. “Arnie! Listen to this idea that Axel has. It’sgenius.”
Arnie’s face was grim, and he didn’t respond to Boz. “Axel, would you come with me, please? I needaword.”
I knew something was wrong just by the tone of his voice. Following him into his office, I closed the door before taking a seat. And when he opened his mouth and told me the problem, I wasflabbergasted.
“Axel, I’ve just been notified by our compliance office that they’ve received a complaint of sexual harassmentagainstyou.”
For several seconds I just sat there replaying the words in my head. “What?Fromwho?”
He folded his hands in his lap. “An employee of the college has made a complaint that you sexually harassed a graduatestudent.”
Something about that statement sounded off. “A graduate student is accusing me ofharassment?”
“Well…” He hesitated. “It’s most unusual. The complainant isn’t the graduate student. A third party has made theaccusation.”
Seriously?“Do I even know any graduate students? This makes no sense.” My stomach lurched as I reached the only feasible conclusion. “Oh. Hang on. Is the person I’ve supposedly harassed named Henry CaxtonWilliams?”
Arnie noddedslowly.
I blew out an angry breath. “That’s insane, but now I understand why this is happening. The complaint is completely baseless—Cax and I are friends from way back. We used to go to the same church diocese retreats starting in the third grade. His father doesn’t like the fact that I’m gay. And a few days ago he figured out that I’d moved here to Henning. He wasn’thappy.”
Arnie was silent for a long minute. “Axel, you need alawyer.”
“Why?” I nearly gagged on the word. “I haven’t done anything wrong. If Cax’s dad is the guy who filed the complaint, Cax would never support it. No matter how much of an asshole his father was trying to be.”Shit. That was true, right? I felt sick wondering what Cax might do to hang on to his lie. Tendrils of doubt began to curl around myheart.
Maybe Ididneed alawyer.
My boss massaged his temples. “Kid, I think I get what you’re saying. But this Williams guy has worked at the college for years. He understands that sexual harassment claims go into an employee’s file, and he wants you to have this stain against you. Do yourself a favor and talk to a lawyer before you respond to this claim. Don’t even tell your friend about it. Any communication you have with him right now couldcompromiseyou.”
How depressing. Cax and I were already avoiding each other, anyway. “Okay,” I heard myself say. “Where can I find a lawyer who understands thisissue?”
Arnie studied me with watery blue eyes. “I’ll help you. But please tell me you never badgeredthiskid.”
I gave my head a violent shake. “Never. He and I are very close. And that’s the problem. It’s he and his father who barely speak to eachother.”
He sighed. “What a fucked-up world this is. Lemme talk to my friend at the law school and we’ll find you someone whocanhelp.”
When I went back to my desk I picked up my notes for Family Night. My hands wereshaking.
* * *
Arnie wastrue to his word. Not forty-eight hours later, I sat down with a young lawyer who had agreed to help me at a reduced rate. And thank God. I didn’t have much money. Mr. Williams probably knew that, too. He was trying to scaremeaway.
