Theodore Boone: The Scandal by John Grisham Page B

get stuck in Remedial in high school. So that’s how it all started, Mrs. Boone. We did it. We’re guilty. We’re about to get fired, and our careers as teachers will be over. But we did it to help our kids and to save our school.”
    She finally paused and wiped her cheeks.
    Mrs. Boone asked, “When did you first start changing the test scores?”
    “Last year was my first year, and we didn’t change that many. The school was facing probation after last year’s results, so this year we changed a lot more. It’s really weird because I think we knew we would eventually get caught, but we just did it anyway. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
    “No, it doesn’t. It’s important, at least for the next few days, to stay away from the other teachers. I’ll contact the principal in a few moments and get the terms of your suspension.”
    “You sound like my lawyer.”
    “I am. We’ll get through this.”
    “Thanks.”

Chapter 16
    O n Tuesday morning, Theo (and Judge) lay in bed listening to the rain. He didn’t want to start the day. The rain didn’t bother him; there were more important things on his mind, primarily April. She was freaking out over the cheating scandal and terrified she would somehow get caught and exposed and sent to jail, all because of her anonymous letter. They had talked for almost an hour on the phone late the night before, with Theo trying to assure her she was not in trouble, she would not be caught, and so on. As the scandal was unfolding, it seemed pretty clear that the test scores from East were already raising suspicions before the arrival of the mysterious letter. Theo repeatedly told April that an investigation was likely without her involvement. He wasn’t sure he really believed this (and who really knew?), but he had to say something to calm her. She was talking about running away, catching the bus at the downtown station, and riding it all the way to San Francisco. Theo reminded her that she had disappeared before, and he and Ike were lucky to find her. Things are going to be fine, he kept telling her. Just let the authorities finish their investigation.
    But April was upset and would not listen to reason, or at least to Theo’s version of it. She blamed herself for getting the teachers in trouble. What if they got fired? Their careers and lives would be ruined. But, Theo reminded her again and again, they were involved in a conspiracy to change scores, and if they are proven guilty they deserve to be punished.
    Back and forth it went until Theo was exhausted. He did not look forward to another day of holding her hand and consoling her at school. And so he listened to the rain and skipped his shower. If he wet his hair and brushed his teeth his mother would never suspect that he had not bothered to properly bathe. He did this occasionally, and no one other than Judge ever knew about it. He turned the shower on, let the water run for a few minutes, got dressed, and finally went downstairs. His mother was in her spot in the den, reading and sipping coffee. Theo made breakfast for Judge and himself. He noticed the morning newspaper lying on the kitchen table, a clear sign that there was something important one or both of his parents wanted him to read. He took a bite of Cheerios and slowly pulled the newspaper closer. The front page headline read: “Five East Middle Teachers Suspended.”
    Oh boy. He chewed slowly but didn’t taste anything. There were five photos in a row just above the fold. He zeroed in on Geneva Hull, the one who worked with Binky, who was Janelle’s sister. Last night April had said she wished she’d never met Janelle. The girl talked too much, and now April had done something stupid.
    According to the reporter, the five were suspected of working together to change test scores at the school, and so on. There was really nothing new, nothing Theo and April did not already know.
    Mrs. Boone walked into the kitchen and sat across from Theo. She had that look,