Suzie the Savior

As the class exited in one chaotic whole at the sound of the interval bell, Mrs, without lifting her head from the work on her desk, called for Suzie to join her.

Suzie waited by the desk as the last of the other students dissipated, fidgeting with her feet, kicking at the floor as she awaited the kickback from whatever it was she had done wrong.

After another minute of scribbling, Mrs put down her pencil, sighed, took off her glasses, and looked up at Suzie.

She replaced her glasses, the effects achieved, and shook her head sadly.

"Suzie, Suzie.  This has got to stop. "

Suzie said nothing. Just waited. She found this was the safer course of action when being admonished.

"Do you know to which I am referring?"

Suzie, eyes to the floor, resumed her one-foot shuffle, and shook her head, the least she could do and move the conversation towards a conclusion.

She knew that Mrs's Grammer could use some work, but she had learned not to point out flaws in adult's language, let alone logic.

"These suicide attempts have got to stop. It seems you cannot be in the cool set unless you have cried 'suicide' at least once. And this competitive cutting has got to stop. One girl almost died from an infection after cutting her nipples. It's just sick."

Suzie smirked at the nipple reference.

This piqued Mrs's anger.

*Here we go again*, Suzie thought.

"You think that is funny? She got septicemia and nearly died. *You* almost killed her Suzie."

Suzie looked up now, eyes fired up with resentment. "*I* nearly killed her? It was *her* choice. you can't blame me for *everything.*"

She looked away, out of the window at the students leaving for their lunches, out into the cold blustery day.

*Where I should be*, Suzie thought.

"They look up to you. It is you who gets to say who is in and who is out. That's what having a movie star Dad does in a small town school. You have power. And that power can kill."

And there it was. All wrapped up in one sentence. Her movie star Dad. She didn't want to be cool, but there it was. It was almost expected she be a screw up.

But she was screwing up everyone around her too.

A calm came over Suzie. In a blitzkrieg moment she realized what Mrs meant.

Her face calmed.

"You're right, Mrs. I'm sorry. It is sick. I'm going to call a meeting. This has got to stop. This is a sickness and it needs to stop now. I am so sorry. "

Mrs looked surprised, then smiled. Then felt disquietened by Suzie's quiet acceptance. Maybe, for once, she had actually made a difference with one of her little talks. She dismissed the thought. Sometimes, you do make a difference.

"I'm glad to hear it,  Suzie. I think things will change from here on. Maybe things will calm down once people stop this nonsense. "

Suzie nodded slowly. "Yes, Mrs. You are so right."

Mrs carried on with her marking.

"Goodbye,  Suzie," She said absently.

Suzie paused a moment, and then made her way from the classroom. "Goodbye Mrs. And thanks."

When Suzie was gone, Mrs put her pencil down and gazed after her, smiling. It was moments like these that made the job of teaching worthwhile. She savored the moment, picked up her pencil and carried on with her marking.

- * -

The following day, Mrs posted her resignation notice, written in barely legible handwriting, smudged in places by hastily wiped away droplets.

The school gates were closed that day, but for the cavalcade of ambulances that took away the bodies of the teenagers from the school hall, one-by-one.

Suzie's note had been short.

*Mrs.*

*We shouldn't be bothering you any more. You were right. The fish rots from the head. And the I felted shoal needed culling. I culled them for your Mrs. We can finally have peace, and so can you.*

*Thank you*.

*Suzie.*