Disclaimer:
This story will describe the life of Robert David Mathews from his time as a teenager, through prep school, and into military service. If stories involving sex between consenting teenagers, including both straight sex and gay sex, offends you, go back to the Archives and pick a different story for your reading pleasure. There has been minimal research for this story therefore, names, places, dates are mostly fictitious and similarities to real life are coincidental. Some companies and organizations mentioned actually exist, but references to the activities, policies, programs and procedures are fictitious. I was not a SEAL and have limited knowledge of the force. I am writing this story from imagination and a little research, not from personal experience.
My editor, Bill, is a dedicated friend. His improvements in my writing style are greatly appreciated.
Feedback is appreciated to Jacob_latson@hotmail.com
Washington Academy Chapter 9 Big Trouble
It was the middle of August when Robbie and Drew left the campus for a Friday evening in Traverse City. They planned on having supper at a restaurant and then going to the mall for some shopping. When "The Beast" left the front gate, the guards were jealous of the beautiful car and the sounds of the screaming tires and roaring engine. The woods of the George Washington Academy echoed with the unusual sounds and pungent aroma of burning rubber.
"I love this car!" Robbie exclaimed when Drew finally slowed the muscle car down. "I've been begging my uncle to buy me a car when I turn 16 next month. I passed Drivers Ed, but he's not budging."
"Maybe he's heard about that smart mouth of yours!" Drew teased.
"I didn't hear you complaining about my mouth when it was wrapped around your cock!" Robbie retorted.
"I need to feed 'The Beast' before we do anything," Drew said. He drove the powerful Firebird into a gas station and told Robbie to get them each a drink while he pumped the fuel.
Robbie walked into the convenience store and headed for the cooler filled with soft drinks. He grabbed a Mountain Dew for Drew and a Coke Classic for himself and walked up to the register to pay. He was surprised to see two really cute girls paying for their gas and he said "Hi" to them both.
"That's a killer car!" the first girl said to Robbie. "You're really cute and so is your friend. I bet you two are cadets from the Washington Academy."
"My name's Robbie Mathews and my buddy's Drew Anderson," Robbie replied with a big smile. "Yes, we're both cadets".
"I'm Melanie Johnson and this is Crystal Williams" Melanie replied. "What are you guys gonna do tonight?"
"We're gonna grab some food and then hit the mall," Robbie replied. He introduced Drew to the two cute girls when he came in to pay for the gas.
"Would you two like to join us for supper at Applebee's?" Drew asked. "I'm buying!"
The two girls were thrilled to have dates for the evening and quickly accepted the generous offer. Melanie wanted to ride with Drew in the Firebird so Robbie quickly followed Crystal to her Toyota Camry.
During the delicious supper, Robbie and Drew learned that both girls attended Traverse City West High School. The girls told them that they were cheerleaders and were happy to learn that both Robbie and Drew were on the Academy football team.
"We can be friends tonight, but on Labor Day Weekend we'll be on opposite sides of the field," Melanie said. "Last year your team beat us and finished first in our league. This year we're gonna win!"
"We went undefeated and won the State Championship!" Drew reminded the two girls. "We're gonna do it again this year!"
The four teens continued bragging about who would win the first game of the season, knowing that the two best teams in the State would meet. In the past four years, the winner of the important game went on to be champions of the Metro League and into the playoffs towards the State Championship. Drew told the two girls that the Academy always had Parents Weekend during the three days of the National Holiday and many events were planned.
"Do you guys wanna go to a party?" Melanie asked when the teens got outside the restaurant. "I think you'd have a good time," She said while gently stroking the front of Drew's Dockers.
"Count me in!" Drew replied. He looked at Robbie and saw the deep dimples show when Robbie grinned and gave him a "high five".
When they got to the neighborhood where the party was going strong, they had to park both cars far down the street. When they got inside it was obvious to Drew and Robbie that most, if not all, of the teenagers were students at Traverse City West High School. No adults were around and the beer was everywhere. Robbie and Drew saw that the guys all had long hair and were a mix of "Goth" freaks with all black clothes, dyed hair and multitudes of body piercing, and jocks wearing ripped jeans and T-shirts with nasty decorations. They thought about leaving, but Melanie and Crystal dragged them into the room where the rock music was blaring and bodies were gyrating around on the makeshift dance floor. They barely had room to try and dance, and that suited Robbie just fine because he wasn't a good dancer. They danced two dances before the girls said that they'd get the two cadets something to drink. Robbie asked for a Coke Classic and Drew wanted a Mountain Dew, but the girls had other beverages in mind.
Drew and Robbie stood out in the house full of high school teenagers, mainly because of their short hair and conservative clothing. If the party had been for the 'preppies" of Traverse City, their clothes would have been right in style.
"Maybe we should leave before we get our asses kicked," Robbie offered. "We're getting a lot of strange looks and we're outnumbered."
"I can smell her pussy juice!" Drew said. "I wanna suck her tits until her head caves in! Then I'm gonna fuck her pussy until it falls out!"
"Crystal has been rubbing the front of my pants ever since we got here," Robbie admitted. "Let's fuck and fly out of here!"
The two guys were thinking with their dicks when the two girls came back and handed them cans of Dr. Pepper.
"The Coke and Dew are all warm so we got you something cold to drink," Melanie said. "Let's see if we can find someplace private."
Drew and Robbie accepted the cold soft drinks and chugged them down. They were both thirsty from the big meal and dancing, and the drinks tasted different from their preferred brands, but refreshing. They followed the two girls into a dimly lit room that was filled with couches, easy chairs, and a large screen television. They were shocked to see two couples fucking on the floor and a cute girl sucking the dick of a Goth dude.
"Let's get comfortable over here," Crystal said to Robbie. She slid her fingers under the waistband at the front of his slacks and led him over to the couch. When they got to the couch, she gave Robbie a passionate French kiss and unzipped his pants.
Robbie was in heaven. A cute girl was kissing him and fondling his throbbing cock and not stopping him from sliding his hand inside her shirt to stroke her firm breasts. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Drew lifting Melanie's shirt and sucking on her left nipple. He was sure that both guys would get fucked tonight and then have something to brag about to the other cadets.
Crystal broke the kiss and pushed the Dr. Pepper can to Robbie's lips before saying, "Drink up, big boy! I don't like to fuck out in public like those sluts, but I'll see if one of the bedrooms is available. I'll bring you guys back another cold drink!"
The room was dimly lit, but Robbie could see well enough to know that four couples were naked and in a variety of sexual positions. The sweet smell of marijuana filled the room along with the aromas of cum, pussy juice and beer. His dick was so hard it was hurting because of the clinging pants. He thought about taking them off or removing his belt and releasing the clasp, but he really didn't want to fuck in a room filled with strangers. He drained the can of soda and was thrilled when Crystal came back with new cans for all four of them.
Drew was excited by sucking Melanie's nipples and wormed his hand inside the tight shorts she was wearing. He was pleased to find that she wasn't wearing panties, and his experienced fingers found the juicy slit of her pussy.
"OHHHH!" Melanie moaned when Drew's finger slid into her moist hole and then began rubbing back and forth over her clitoris. "Let's finish our drinks and go fuck!"
Robbie and Drew both chugged their cans of soda at the urging of the two horny girls and quickly followed them out of the room. They walked down a hallway and started through the dance area when five large guys who had just arrived at the party stopped them.
"What the fuck are these guys doing here?" a large black guy demanded. "Ain't you two ho's getting enough dick from my homies? I recognize this big puke! He's the fucking quarterback for those pussies over at that shithole academy!"
"Leave us alone, Damont!" Melanie ordered. "These guys are with us and we're not your whores!"
"I'm gonna fuck your white pussy and let my homies fuck both of you ho's!" Damont screamed at Melanie. He reached out and tore open the front of her T-shirt, while the other guys grabbed Crystal. It was a big mistake!
The two best martial arts fighters at the George Washington Academy sprang into action. The five big football players weighed over 250 pounds each, but they were no match for Drew and Robbie. Bodies were launched around the room with teenagers screaming and running to get away from the vicious fight. Robbie and Drew were outnumbered, but their fighting skills were now being used to save their lives. The room was filled with the screams of teenagers fighting and sounds of furniture and windows shattering.
Robbie's kick to Damont's face resulted in a sickening crunch and screams of agony. Jamahl was suffering a similar fate when Drew smashed his elbow into his nose. The two cadets teamed up to finish off the last attacker when they were hit in the face with pepper spray from several police officers. They stumbled around the room, virtually blinded by the toxic spray and were quickly knocked down and handcuffed. They were dragged out of the house and thrown into two police cruisers before their eyes cleared enough to see.
Vincent Brown had just finished supper with his wife and was watching television when she came into the room carrying the portable phone. He jumped out of his chair when he heard that Andrew Anderson and Robert Mathews had been arrested and were being held in the Traverse City Police Station. The details provided by Campus Security were incomplete, but Vince knew he had to get Barry Howell involved immediately.
"Barry, we've got big trouble!" Vincent Brown said to his good friend and attorney. He tried to give Barry what information he had about the two cadets, but only knew that the two cadets had been arrested. He begged his buddy to meet him at the police station, even though it was late at night.
It was almost midnight before Barry was able to talk to the arresting officers and then talk to Robbie and Drew. He was furious to find out about the pepper spray and how the police officers had punched both boys before arresting them.
"They didn't object to taking Breathalyzer Tests," Sgt. Malcolm Wilkins said to Barry Howell. "The smaller guy blew a 0.04 and the big one blew 0.03. According to their identification, they're both under age and will be charged with Minor in Possession along with Felonious Assault and Destruction of Private Property."
"You can't use any of that Breathalyzer evidence because they're minors and entitled to legal representation before any interrogation!" Barry yelled. "Even if a minor is read his rights and doesn't ask for an attorney, the law says you have to provide one before any questioning! Why didn't you arrest the five thugs who attacked them? I want to talk to Chief Adams! Get him on the phone, NOW!"
David and Marie Mathews had just finished making love and were sipping some vintage champagne when the telephone rang. Marie laughed when David told her to ignore the call and let their answering machine take a message. He was ready for "Round Two" of intimacy with his wife, but Marie insisted on answering the phone.
"OH MY GOD!!" Marie screamed when she learned that Robbie had been arrested and charged with drinking and felonious assault. She told David to get on the phone so they could both hear what Vincent Brown was saying.
David Mathews ran naked to the kitchen so he could hear what was scaring his wife so badly. He was shocked when he heard the charges and infuriated when he learned that Robbie and Drew had been sprayed with pepper spray and roughed up by the police. He told Vince that he would get their friend to fly them to the Traverse City Airport and then he was going to rip apart the police officers that had hurt his son.
Marie was terrified. She'd heard stories about her husband's time when he was an active Navy SEAL and she was afraid he would have a heart attack because of the way he was storming back and forth in the kitchen. She had never seen David lose his temper and she felt fear for the first time in their long marriage.
"You're not going anywhere until you calm down!" Marie ordered. She knew that her husband could break her in half without working up a sweat, but she had always been able to reason with him. "DAVID WILTON MATHEWS ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?" She screamed.
"THEY HURT OUR BOY AND THEY'RE GONNA PAY!" David yelled back.
Marie ran for her medical bag and demanded that her husband take a Valium pill. She knew she had to calm him down and get him to promise to control his temper or she would try and stop him from flying up north.
David loved his wife and knew that she was concerned about Robbie's situation just as much as he was. He let Marie take the Glock 9mm handgun from him and put it back in the dresser drawer. His rage was still boiling, but he tried to calm down to call Don Carter to beg him to fly them to Traverse City.
It was three hours later when David and Marie ran into the police station and demanded to see Robbie. Guy Stephens and Derrick Harmon had met them at the airport and Marie begged them to control David's rage.
Robbie was in a cell talking to Barry when his aunt and uncle came in. He had a cut over his left eye and his face was bruised and swollen.
"WHO DID THIS TO MY SON?" David demanded of Sgt. Wilkins. "I'M GONNA TEAR THEM APART!"
"GODDAMIT, DAVID, STAND DOWN! Guy Stephens yelled at David. He and Derrick Harmon were blocking David's path to Sgt. Wilkins, but they both knew their martial arts trainer could take them down in a matter of seconds along with half of the Traverse City Police Department.
"Big words for an old man!" Sgt. Wilkins mocked. "I arrested his honkie ass along with three other officers, and I'm gonna make sure he does some hard time. A little white mothafucker like him will be very popular in prison! If you want, we can take this outside right now and I'll teach you how to respect a black man and this police force!"
Guy and Derrick stood in front of David and begged Marie to help them calm him down.
"You're the dumbest nigger I've ever met!" Derrick yelled. "I've got black friends who I respect, but low life pieces of shit like you give all black people a bad reputation. This man is a master in the martial arts, and he could rip ten shit-skins like you into tiny pieces. Get the fuck out of here!"
Barry Howell was shocked at the altercation and didn't know how to diffuse the situation. He was relieved when he saw his friend Chief Trevor Adams push his way into the cell. His friend had heard the racial slurs towards Robbie and the challenge towards David Mathews to a fight outside.
"YOU'RE RELIEVED OF DUTY!" Trevor Adams yelled at Sgt. Wilkins. "YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO THIS POLICE FORCE, AND I'M GONNA FILE DISCIPLINARY CHARGES AGAINST YOU! I KNOW DAVID MATHEWS AND THESE OTHER TWO MEN, AND THEY'RE ALL NAVY SEAL's. BE THANKFUL THAT I GOT HERE WHEN I DID, OR YOUR ASS WOULD BE IN A BODY BAG! GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!"
Robbie was terrified. He'd never seen his uncle in a fight, and the SEAL look in his eyes was deadly. He thanked God that the two coaches had been there to hold his uncle back from killing the nasty black police officer. He was also shocked to hear Mr. Harmon make racial slurs towards a black man. He broke down sobbing and was having trouble breathing.
"David, let go of that macho crap and help Robbie!" Marie ordered. Normally she would be the one to comfort Robbie, but she hoped that David would forget about the terrible police officer and concentrate on Robbie's plight.
"I'm so sorry!" Robbie sobbed. "We shouldn't have gone to that party! Those assholes were gonna rape our dates, and we had to do something! Am I going to prison?"
"Relax son," David replied while hugging his troubled nephew. "Barry is the best lawyer in the country, and he'll sort this out. Why were you there and why were you drinking alcohol?"
"Melanie and Crystal invited us to that party," Robbie replied. "They must have put booze in the cans of Dr. Pepper. We never drink Dr. Pepper, so we didn't taste the booze."
Barry went to work and took a tape-recorded statement from Robbie. His partner, Kelly Evans, was doing the same thing with Andrew Anderson, who was in a cell at the other end of the jail. Marie was taking care of Robbie's cuts and scrapes during the interview and was concerned for the future of her nephew.
Three hours later, the two cadets were released from the jail to return to the campus. It was the first time that Robbie and Drew had been together since their arrest, and they hugged each other and shared their fear for what would happen.
The sun was coming up when the concerned group drove up the driveway of the Washington Academy and stopped at the Jefferson Dormitory. Several cadets were outside doing their stretching exercises when the caravan of cars arrived. When they saw the bruises and cuts on Robbie and Drew, the cadets were furious and wanted to know what happened. They were ready to go to town and kill whoever had assaulted their cadet buddies.
"You two will be in Room 224 until we sort this out," Vincent Brown said. "Mr. Harmon or Mr. Stephens will be rooming with you on a temporary basis. I want both of you to know that I believe your versions of this mess. The charges are very serious, but we need to let Barry Howell and his friends investigate before we take any actions. Please try and get some sleep."
Robbie and Drew were exhausted from their ordeal, and wanted to sleep in peace. They talked to Keith, Tracker and Trip before Guy Stephens closed the door and locked it.
"This four man room was empty," Guy said to the two exhausted cadets. "Mr. Harmon and I'll stay with you to make sure you don't do something stupid. Try to relax and let the lawyers sort things out. Let's all take a nap and then get something to eat."
It was 3:00 p.m. when Robbie and Drew walked with Derrick Harmon across the campus and into the Washington Administration Building. Drew's parents were vacationing in California when they were notified of the trouble, and had just arrived at the campus. Everyone went into the Chancellor's conference room to meet with Barry Howell and Kelly Evans.
"Things aren't going well," Barry began. "We did find out that Sgt. Wilkins brother, Damont, was involved in the fight. That might explain why the sergeant was so upset, but it doesn't excuse his actions. The police have taken statements from the five attackers and also found two witnesses who said you two guys started the fight. Two of the perps were treated at the Emergency Ward and released, but three of them are still hospitalized. The smallest attacker weighs over 250 pounds and Damont weighs close to 300. It's ridiculous for the police to think that Robbie would attack a guy who is double his weight, but that's the police position right now. I convinced the Prosecuting Attorney to hold off on your arraignments for a couple of days, but I have to be honest in saying we're in trouble. Another problem is that Traverse City West High School has no record of any girls named Melanie Johnson or Crystal Williams."
Robbie and Drew slumped in their chairs after hearing the bad news. The two girls had given them fictitious names and spiked their drinks, and both guys were afraid of what would happen.
"Here's what we have to do," Barry continued. "I'm filing charges of Police Brutality against the four arresting officers and will get the judge to throw out the Breathalyzer Test results. I'm also ready to file assault charges against Sgt. Wilkins for his racial slurs and threats towards David Mathews. Sgt. Wilkins was involved in a similar incident about six months ago with a white man who was stopped for a traffic violation. The city paid $2,000,000 to settle that case out of court, but it establishes a pattern of unlawful behavior. We'll plead 'Self Defense' against any assault and battery charges filed against you two guys. You two made some bad decisions last night, and may not get out of this without a juvenile record. Do you realize what you did wrong?"
"This is all my fault," Drew offered. "I don't want to offend any of the ladies present, but Robbie and I were 'thinking with the little head instead of the big one'. Two healthy guys with restricted contact with cute girls took the bait and went to the party hoping to have sex. I should have refused those opened cans of soda, but I was stupid. We weren't going to let those jerks rape Melanie and Crystal, or whatever their real names are. I know the witnesses are lying to protect the football players from their high school. We need to find those two girls and get them to tell the truth."
"The local papers and television stations are already reporting this mess," Michael Edwards, the Personnel Director, offered. "By law they can't release the names of any minors, but Traverse City West High School and the George Washington Academy have been identified. I have some friends in the media, and will make sure that the future reports are un-biased. The high school is on Summer Break, but the staff is still working. They're upset that five of their football players were injured and I know they'll try to pin the blame on us. All five of the attackers have juvenile records for petty theft, Minor in Possession, or assault. All of the cadets on campus are spreading rumors and threatening retaliation, and we need to get them to keep quiet and stay on our campus."
"I'll meet with the cadets when this meeting's over," Vincent Brown said. "We don't need any rumors leaked to the press or any more fights."
"Chief Adams is an honest man, and I'll work closely with him during the investigation," Barry said. "Trevor doesn't want another lawsuit for police brutality, but he has his hands full with the Police Officers' Union. The union is demanding that Sgt. Wilkins be re-instated and the other three officers exonerated. We've got our private investigators trying to find the two girls and any other witnesses to the fight. Right now it looks like the five football players are sticking to their story that they were attacked, and we suspect that they found friends to back up their lies. We have information from the Bay Medical staff that all five of them had alcohol on their breath, but no Breathalyzer Tests were taken. The arresting officers said that the five weren't driving and refused to take the tests."
The large meeting lasted almost two hours, and everyone was emotionally exhausted. Drew's parents and David and Marie Mathews were temporarily housed in the guest quarters attached to the Administration Building, and spent time together getting acquainted. They were all concerned about the fate of their two boys.
"Get your swimsuits and let's take a ride down to the lake," Guy Stephens said to Robbie and Drew. "Mr. Brown is calling a meeting of all of the other cadets, and even the guys with lake passes will be there. We'll have about an hour of privacy so we can burn off some of the tension with a run and swim."
"I'm afraid," Drew admitted to Robbie and Guy Stephens. "Even if we don't go to jail the Tribunal will fry our Asses. I'll be busted and you could be expelled. I'm the Big Brother and this is the kind of shit that I'm supposed to keep you out of. I'm a total failure!"
"Can that!" Guy ordered. "Barry will take care of the legal shit and the administration here won't let the Tribunal go crazy. Yes, you fucked up by taking those opened cans of soda, but that's all that you're guilty of. You acted like men of honor by protecting those girls. I'm proud of both of you and will stand beside you until this shit's over."
Both Robbie and Drew thanked the Athletic Director for his support and enjoyed the physical exercise that helped burn off the tension. They tried to stay positive, but they both were afraid of what the future held for them.
It was three days later when the large group met in the conference room again. Robbie and Drew had been arraigned, and were facing charges of Assault and Battery and Felonious Destruction of Property in the Traverse City District Court. Because of the injuries suffered by the football players, they were facing charges as adults, instead of being arraigned in the juvenile court system. Barry Howell was filing motions to get the cases referred to the Juvenile Court, but wasn't having any luck with the judge.
Vincent Brown had met with his entire staff and discussed the serious charges and the impact on the reputation of the Academy. Investigators had not been able to find the two girls and the outlook was bad for the two cadets. Police reports had been given to the Tribunal members, and he knew that the dedicated cadets would have to take action. He reluctantly agreed to mustering the Tribunal and feared that they would take aggressive actions against Robbie and Drew.
David Benson hesitated before knocking on the door to Room 224 in the Jefferson Dormitory. It was his duty as Chairman of The Tribunal to notify Drew and Robbie that they had to appear before the disciplinary group.
"Mr. Harmon, I need to speak to Cadet Anderson and Plebe Mathews in private," David said.
"Anything you have to say to them, you can say in front of me," Derrick stated emphatically. "We all know why you're here, so cut the crap and be honest!"
"This sucks!" David Benson admitted. "I'd rather resign from the Tribunal than be a part of a fucking lynch mob! I'm here to officially notify you guys that the Tribunal will muster at 1600 hours today. Dress whites are required."
"Sit down, Benson," Derrick said gently. "We know that you are just doing your duty, but this is a difficult situation for all of us. Mathews and Anderson are great guys who got caught in a bad situation. They need friends right now, not a 'Kangaroo Court'"!
David Benson had tears in his eyes when he looked at Drew and Robbie. He and Drew had been close friends for the past two years, and he really liked Robbie too. His formal request to resign from the Tribunal had been rejected by Chancellor Brown, and now he was faced with the difficult responsibility of sitting in judgment of his two buddies. He was the tailback on the football team and feared that the team would lose their starting quarterback from the Tribunal meeting.
Cadets across the campus stopped their free time activities when they saw Andrew Anderson and Robert Mathews walking silently across the Quad with Commander Guy Stephens. They didn't know what to say to their buddies, so they stood at attention and saluted.
Thomas and Carol Anderson were in the Chancellor's Office during the formal procedures of the Tribunal, and shared their concerns with David and Marie Mathews. David had explained the functions of the Tribunal and warned everyone that their two boys were in serious trouble and could be expelled.
"We're on the record!" David Benson announced. Robbie saw that the tape recorder had been started to document the proceedings. "Today is 18 August, 1994, and the time is 1600 hours. The recording secretary will voice the names and ranks of all present."
Robbie choked back his emotions. He had witnessed the Tribunal actions when Larry Cataline was expelled, and hoped that he didn't pass out or throw up again. His stomach boiled and he knew that others in the room could hear his stomach growl.
"The charges will now be read," David Benson announced.
"Michael Edwards, Personnel Director for the George Washington Academy reporting," Mr. Edwards began. He read the police reports and the statements that Robbie and Drew had made to the lawyers when they were in jail. Because of the extensive reports, the reading of the charges and statements took over 20 minutes. He summarized the findings by saying, "We present these facts to the Tribunal members along with charges of illegal consumption of alcohol, assault and battery, conduct unbecoming cadets at this academy, and causing irreparable damage to the reputation of our fine academy." Mike Edwards had refused to read the charges in front of the Tribunal, but relented when given a direct order by his boss, Vincent Brown.
"Cadet Second Class Andrew Thomas Anderson and Plebe Robert David Mathews, please stand up!" David Benson ordered. "How do you plead to these charges?"
Both Robbie and Drew replied "Not Guilty" but knew that there was very little they could say that wasn't already in their statements to the lawyers. Those statements were already part of the formal record, and they could only hope that the Tribunal would put them on detention until the civilian trials were completed.
Robbie and Drew joined their parents in Vincent Brown's office while they waited for the verdict from the Tribunal. Robbie had thrown up in the wastebasket and Drew was hugging his parents and quietly weeping. Both guys knew that life at the famous academy was taking a drastic turn for them. When Commander Guy Stephens came in, they knew that the Tribunal had made their decisions. They hugged their parents and went into the conference room to hear their fate.
"Andrew Thomas Anderson, stand up." David Benson said softly. His eyes were full of tears and he tried to compose himself and not break down in front of everyone. "It is the unanimous verdict of this Tribunal that you're guilty as charged. It is our recommendation that you be reduced in rank to Cadet Third Class, serve 30 days of detention and forfeit all athletic eligibility for the remainder of your time at this academy. You have 3 months to convince this Tribunal that you're worthy of remaining at this academy, but your athletic eligibility is permanently ended."
Drew felt lightheaded and was afraid he would pass out. Sports were his main motivation for attending the academy and his dreams of getting a college football scholarship had just been destroyed. He was sickened by the verdict and feared the worst for his Little Brother.
"Robert David Mathews, stand up." David Benson choked out. He sobbed before addressing Robbie. "It is the unanimous verdict of this Tribunal that you're guilty as charged. It is our recommendation that you be stripped of all uniforms and any other Washington Academy property and be immediately expelled. You have disgraced this fine institution and violated our Honor Code. You're both dismissed."
David and Marie Mathews were still in the Chancellor's Office when they heard the wails and sobs of their boy. They both realized that Robbie had been expelled, and they hugged and tried to figure out how to comfort their devastated son.
"This is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do as Chancellor of this fine Academy," General Vincent Brown said softly. "I never dreamed that I'd be presented with these verdicts against two young men that I consider to be fine cadets. I'm bound by the responsibilities of my office, and will sign these verdicts. These proceedings are final."
"Two young men need some comforting," Guy Stephens said to the four parents.
"Drew got busted and is prohibited from all sports, and Robbie was expelled. I'm so upset that I'm ready to resign!" He led the four parents into the conference room where they quickly hugged their sons and shared in their grief.
Robbie's world had just crashed on him. He was expelled!
Author's Note:
I could have ended this chapter here, but I hate it when authors leave the main characters hanging, and I don't want readers upset at me.
"Let me in!" Barry Howell demanded of Guy Stephens and Derrick Harmon.
"Mr. Howell, the Tribunal sessions are closed to the public!" Vincent Brown said to his friend. He wondered why his longtime friend was violating the rules that he completely understood from his own days at the Academy.
"I'm re-opening this session right now!" Barry argued. "I have information that the Tribunal needs to hear!"
"The Tribunal has already met and rendered their verdicts," Vince said. "I've signed the documents and the verdicts are final."
"BULLSHIT!" Barry Howell said in a very unusual and unprofessional outburst.
"I brought some visitors, and you're gonna listen to them and me or find a different law firm to represent this Academy!"
Vincent Brown wasn't used to having people challenge his authority, but he could see the determination in the eyes of his friend and frequent golf partner.
"I ask everyone to be seated," Barry Howell said. "You may have rendered verdicts against these two fine cadets, but according to Section 7, paragraph 3 in the Honor Code, verdicts can be set aside by the Chancellor if new information is presented. This is Martin Lubosky and his wife, Mary, along with their daughter, Michelle. Next I want you all to meet Fred and Judy Weigand and their daughter, Christine."
Robbie and Drew choked back their tears and looked at the group of visitors.
They were shocked to see the two girls that they knew as Melanie and Crystal standing in the conference room with their parents. They tried to compose themselves and prayed that the girls would tell the truth about what happened at the party.
"I'm Martin Lubosky, and I'm speaking for all of the parents here today," He began. "We've read the newspaper articles and watched the evening news about the fight at the Wood Street party, but we never dreamed that our daughters were involved. Both girls seemed scared when we asked them if they were there or knew the football players from their high school. We suspected that the girls knew something, but they refused to talk to us about the party and denied being there. I heard an answering machine message on my daughter's private line and was shocked. Damont Wilkins threatened that he would beat Michelle and Christine and slash their faces if they went to the police."
Vincent Brown was shocked at what this father was saying. He now knew why Barry Howell was so adamant that the Tribunal meeting be interrupted.
"I called the Weigands and we got the girls together along with all of us parents," Martin continued. "We're not thrilled that our girls are sexually active, but they certainly didn't deserve to be attacked and possibly raped.
We got the full story from the girls and came here today to thank the two young men who fought to protect our daughters. Mr. Howell's investigators had questioned all of the cheerleaders from our high school and one of the investigators was convinced that our daughters were hiding something. He called me and told me his suspicions, and that's why I invaded my daughter's privacy and listened to her answering machine. We've already been to the Police Station where we filed charges for Attempted Rape against all five football players and the girls told everything. The police are now interviewing other teenagers who were afraid to come forward with the truth.
I'm thankful that these two young men were there to protect my daughter, and I hope that you won't punish them."
"I'm really sorry for lying to you and putting vodka in your drinks," Michelle said to Drew. "Those assholes threatened us and we were scared. Can you forgive me?"
Drew got up and walked over to hug Michelle. She was sobbing and begging him to forgive her, while Christine was doing the same with Robbie. Everyone in the room was visibly disturbed for how the situation had gotten out of hand, but now the truth had been revealed.
"I want everyone to know that all charges against these two young men have been dropped by the Traverse City Police Department," Barry added. "After hearing from these two girls and several other reluctant witnesses, the Prosecuting Attorney contacted the judge to withdraw the charges and offers his sincere apologies. All five of the attackers have been arrested and are facing serious charges that include Attempted Rape, Assault and Battery, Destruction of Private Property, and filing false police reports. The arresting officers are also facing charges for excessive force and are currently suspended without pay. I'm proud to be a graduate of this fine academy, and I'm proud of these two young men for protecting the two young ladies."
"Visitors, please take seats while I reconvene the Academy disciplinary committee that we call The Tribunal," Vincent Brown said. "Normally the Tribunal sessions are closed to the public, but these are very unusual circumstances. Barry Howell provides legal services on a pro-bono basis for this fine institution, and he's just proven again how valuable his services are. After listening to the information presented, I'm ordering that the verdicts against Cadet Second Class Andrew Thomas Anderson and Plebe Robert David Mathews be set aside. These two cadets violated one of our unwritten rules by accepting beverages from anyone that were unsealed. These events are the reason for that rule, and I intend to revise the Honor Code Handbook to make the rule crystal clear for all cadets. I trust that Mr. Michael Edwards will salvage the reputation of the George Washington Academy with newspaper and television reports that correct the libelous reporting. I'm ordering these two cadets to serve one week of detention and perform 20 hours each of Community Service. Both cadets will also make presentations to the entire Academy so that this situation NEVER happens again. These proceedings are final and closed!"
Vincent Brown then tore up the Tribunal verdicts and threw the pieces of paper in the air. Everyone cheered and began celebrating. Drew and Robbie hugged each other and cried tears of joy. They hugged everyone in the room and shared their relief for being exonerated from the serious charges.
Robbie was hugging his uncle when he whispered in the ear of David Mathews, "you were right! Tits or Tires will cause a guy trouble!"
"Robert David Mathews, I heard that!" Marie Mathews said firmly. "David Wilton Mathews, you taught him that and will pay for it!"
David Mathews laughed along with Robbie. They both knew that Marie only used their middle names when she was very upset with them, but her comments broke the tension created by the Tribunal.
During the week of detention, Robbie and Drew mowed grass in a county park and helped paint the inside of a church to complete the Community Service requirements. They had made presentations in the Amphitheater to all of the cadets, and were relieved when their detentions ended.
Guy Stephens rewarded his football players with an afternoon trip to the campgrounds next to the lake. He was thrilled with the progress of the team, but he always pushed the players to realize their personal potential. He and Derrick Harmon decided that the cadets needed some relaxation after nearly losing their two teammates, Drew and Robbie, and a hard week of practice.
The cadets really appreciated the excursion to the lake after the morning football practice ended. They joined in a variety of activities before they were treated to grilled steaks and baked potatoes. When supper was finished, the coaches and players sat around the campfire, telling jokes and teasing each other about mistakes made during the football practice and games they had played at the lake.
"Mr. Stephens, do you know another name for 'coitus interruptus'?" Robbie asked.
Guy Stephens knew that the term was a form of birth control where the sexual activity is interrupted before the male ejaculates into the female. He knew that Robbie was telling a joke, so he played dumb and said "No".
"Drew calls it, Penis Yankus!" Robbie teased.
Everyone but Drew laughed. "My Little Brother has a smart mouth that's gonna get him in trouble!" Drew said when the laughter died down.
Robbie wasn't through tormenting his Big Brother, and asked his other coach, "Mr. Harmon, what's the difference between a porcupine and a 1992 Firebird?"
Derrick Harmon replied honestly, "I don't know. What's the difference between a porcupine and a 1992 Firebird?"
"With a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside!" Robbie laughed.
"THAT'S IT!" Drew yelled. He jumped up and chased after Robbie while everyone was laughing and teasing him about his powerful 1992 Firebird that he called, "The Beast".
Robbie streaked away from the campfire and raced around the campground. He turned the corner by the Shower Building and ran right into Keith Phillips, knocking them both to the ground.
"GOTCHA!" Drew exclaimed while grabbing Robbie. "Grab his legs!" He ordered his best friend, Keith.
The coaches and cadets around the campfire were still laughing, and roared when they saw Drew and Keith carry a struggling Robert Mathews out on the dock. The two big cadets swung Robbie back and forth and called out, "On three! One! Two! Three!"
Robbie screamed when he was launched through the air and landed in the lake.
He came up sputtering and cussing at both of the upperclassmen, while everyone else was laughing hysterically.
"Someone get Mathews a towel!" Derrick Harmon ordered. "It's time to head back to the campus anyway, but that was a great way to end a great afternoon!"
Robbie and Drew sat together on the bus and continued teasing each other about the jokes and the plunge in the cool water of the lake. Their bond of friendship was growing stronger with each day on the campus of the George Washington Academy.
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