I Woke Up 215 by M.P. Arsent
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On the outside I tried to look calm,on the inside I was going "what the hell now?"
I paid as much attention as I could to the rest of the class, and when it was done I hot footed it over to the admin building and the Deans office.
"Ah Mister Sawyer."
"Mrs Humboldt, I believe Dean Evans is expecting me."
"It will be a few moments as he is on the phone. Please have a seat."
Much as I didn't feel like sitting, I did. It was several minutes later when the inner office door opened.
"Do come in Mr Sawyer, and breathe easy."
I walked in and took an seat as indicated.
"What new catastrophy am I facing sir?"
"I thought you deserved a heads up Dennis. They think they have finally unraveled all of the computer code that fouled up the grades. As you thought there were some things in there that pointed to you, but when traced in both directions showed themselves to be red herrings. Now as you might expect there is going to be a press release. Your name has been kept out of it, but there were a good many eyes on all of this code. Somebody is certain to let it be known that your name was attached to this.
I've read the release and it states uncategorically that none of the students of this school were involved. We both know that once your name leaks they are going to be a your door once again."
"I appreciate the heads up sir. I'm assuming you'd like me to respond with no comment?"
"I'm not going to limit our response Dennis, though I will ask that you and be as diplomatic as possible."
"I'll give it my best effort sir. Was there anything else?"
"Not today Dennis. Just try and have a good evening."
"Thank you sir, you as well. Would it be possible to get a copy of the press release? I'd like to know just exactly what it says and what I can point to."
"I thought you might. Mrs Humboldt has a copy for you."
"Thank you again sir."
We shook hands and I was out the door to Mrs HUmboldt who gave me my copy of the release. I headed for the car and gave it quick once over. While I waited for Karl I sat and read the release.
It did name Larry Brown and stated that no students of the college had been involved as the Dean said.
It was early enough that I grabbed my cellphone and called the lawyers and was put right through to Mr Jacobs.
"Good afternoon Mr Sawyer, what can I do for you today?"
"Some advice. I'm sure you remember the grades snafu at state a few months ago?"
"Indeed."
"Well the final report is in and a press release is about to be issued if it hasn't already gone out. Larry Brown is named specifically in the release. My name is not mentioned in the release,but there were pointers in the programming to make people think I was responsible. Too many eyes have seen that report and the Dean of Men has advised me to be cautious. With Mr Browns trial coming up soon, what is safe to say,if indeed anything is?"
"Hmmmmmm yes I well see where are going with this. I would say as little of Mr Brown as possible. I can well see the father pressing a slander suit. Anything you can answer without saying anything of Larry Brown or for that matter Mr Brown or the whole family for that matter, I would answer as plainly as possible. I've no doubt that any reporter worth his salt won't go digging and find the pending suit and try an make something of that."
"That I can give a hard no comment to as it is a pending case, right?"
"Quite correct. Anything else today Mr Sawyer?"
"No I think that about covers it My Jacobs. Have a good evening."
"You too young man."
It was only a few minutes later that Karl showed up to the car.
"Shit I know that look Dennis. Now what?"
I just handed him the press release and let him read it.
"So I don't see your name on this anywhere?"
"Maybe not, but Dean Evans told me that there was stuff in the coding that pointed to me. There were a shitload of eyes on all of this. He thinks, and I have to agree, that it is just a matter of time before somebody lets something slip."
"And you're afraid it's going to turn into a media circus again like when the shooting information was revealed."
"You got it. Think we ought to go over to the dorms and make the rounds so nobodies caught off guard?"
"Yeah I would. You probably need to give the team a heads up as well."
I quickly dialed Dana and had to leave him a voice message. We then drove over to the dorms and I was upstairs to find Aiden, Gordon and Pete. Luckily they were all just coming in.
"Shit this can't be good."
"And not for public consumption at this point Pete."
Gordon just unlocked his door and we all filed in. I passed the copy of the release around and let hem all read it.
"So this doesn't implicate you Den."
I then proceeded to tell them what Dean Evans had told me.
"So you're expecting us to get hit in the morning?"
"Maybe not tomorrow morning Gordon, but before the week is out yeah."
"Is it no comment again?"
"As much as possible yeah, and I've been advised by the lawyers to say as little as posssible about Larry Brown. His dads trial in coming up soon,which once again the lawyers are sure will be dug up. Anything we say could possibly affect the outcome of the trial."
"This is going to be fun. I suppose squishing people is out of the question?"
"Yes Pete it is. We need to get across the quad and give Paul and Cam the heads up. They didn't go through it last year."
"Ok later then."
Karl and I made our way across the quad and up to the guys room, and went through the whole thing once again.
"I remember dad saying something about you guys getting swarmed by the press last year. You think that's going to happen again?"
"No way of knowing for sure but you guys deserve a heads up seeing as you jog with us in the morning. That's when they hit us before."
"So you wants us to just keep our mouths shut?"
"It would be appreciated Cam."
"Paul do me a favor and call you parents and give them the heads up just in case. I don't want to go interupting their routine tonight."
"Not a problem Den. I'll do it right now."
"Then I guess we'll leave you guys to it."
Karl and I were back to the car.
"It's a little late to go home and start cooking. Hit the food court?"
"Sounds like a plan to me Den."
We were soon off campus and to the mall and found a place to park. It was into the mall and to the food court and we both got what we wanted and found a table. Supper was interupted.
"Hey Dennis, what the hell man?"
"Hey Greg, Josh. How's the ankle doing?"
"I'm fine, but what's this shit Dana's peddling about saying nothing to the press?"
"Did you guys hear about the grades snafu this past spring?"
"Yeah everybody heard about that."
I had stuffed the release into my shirt pocket at some point and just let the guys read it. I then proceeded to go through all of what Dean Evans had said. Then I had to go through the whole of what had happened with the shooting last year and how the press had been all over us.
"So you're expecting to all happen again?"
"I wouldn't be surprised so it was just a heads up for the team and our friends,Greg."
"Yeah I can see where getting caught off guard might well get things said that could be taken wrong."
"You guys can well claim to nothing about any of it as you weren't here for any of it to begin with."
"So ignorance can indeed be bliss."
"That's one way to look at it Josh."
"Ok then we're outta here."
"Later guys."
Karl and I quickly finished our meals and took a bit of a walk around the mall;something we didn't do much of anymore now we had the apartment.
It was back to the car and a quick check over and then we headed home. Once there we hit the books for a couple of hours. I got my notes together for the practicum review tomorrow. and before long we were crashed out.
Tuesday and we hit the road for our jogging. I was somewhat relieved when we came around the corner of Cochran hall and there wasn't anybody there except Gordon and Aiden. I looked across the quad and only saw Paul and Cam headed in our direction.
"Maybe we lucked out Den."
"Maybe but I'm not holding my breath."
Cam and Paul joined us and we took off and did our laps unintereupted today. Karl and I headed back to eat and change. Because his car was still in the shop, I drove Karl into his class and then had hours to kill before my one class of the day. I didn't want to hit the rec center as I would need to be there this afternoon for a mandatory practice.
So I just found myself a place to sit and soak up the sun for a couple of hours. Every once in a while somebody I knew came by and had a few words with me. From the lack of being set upon, I guess the word hadn't leaked yet of my name being in the code. I knew that wasn't going to last to long.
It was finally time for my class and it was the usual 15 minute discussion and then I had to hang around until it was my turn for review.
"I see you haven't made any trades this week Dennis."
"No sir I'm quite happy with the performance of my portfolio."
"As well you should be. You've taken the long view, where as a good many of your classmates are playing the daytrader game."
"That might do well for the practicum, but in real life the brokerage fees would be eating them up,even with the online services."
"Quite right, but I didn't stipulate that they had to take the fees into account. I may well change that next year. Well you were the last and I need to be off."
I was headed to the rec center when I heard a voice.
"Mr Sawyer,could I have a moment?"