Burdens - Chapter 74: Problems
#74 of Burdens
Bit busy lately.
Chapter 74: Problems
Roger had arrived to school a little later than usual, but still early. He was tired from the night before. The lack of sleep was catching up to him, but he was just as focused and aware. Was it a permanent effect, or had it merely failed to subside yet?
He watched the wolf's progress in their class. It was as if he could see all of the intricate processes in his mind, the problem solving and the way he was now absorbing information and reacting to it. It was interesting to the fox, if nothing else.
After the class was over, the teacher called him over. He wondered what it was for, but he accepted that it was like last time: just to chat about the class. They exchanged their normal greetings, which had now evolved into a dialogue that lacked names or titles, though sometimes the skunk liked to say them from time to time.
"As you know, your colleague, Hunter... he, hm... is running into a bit of a... how should I say, problem? His test score from his other class, as I've, uh, gathered, was not very... well, it was not adequate. Now, now, I don't believe that, uh... I don't really know, actually, if it will hinder his ability to ... hm, participate in intramural sports, but..." the skunk trailed off.
Roger nodded. He had predicted that it was very possible that Hunter would get dropped from the team for his performance, though he did not know what the results of the test were. He assumed the worst, prepared mentally, and now it seemed that the event was much more likely. "Could you say anything to the coach? Maybe let him know how much progress he's made, and what would happen if he could no longer play...."
The skunk shrugged. For the first time since Roger had known him, his teacher expressed a gesture indicating that he was lost in the matter. The fox frowned.
The teacher said, "I've done all that I can, uh... Mr. Colton. My paws are tied, as it were. However, you're his, uh... tutor, so perhaps you could have a word with his coach, and perhaps his... other, hm, teacher. Ms. Grant, I believe her name was? A sort of... aging raccoon. Don't tell her I said that, though." He smiled toward the end.
The fox agreed. "I guess I'll try during lunch. Do you know where she'll be?"
The skunk shook his head, so Roger continued, "I guess I'll just ask around. Thanks for all of your help."
Roger took his leave and sat through the grueling next few hours wondering just what he could do to convince the teaching team or the coach that Hunter deserved to continue playing. Did the wolf even know of the predicament? He had concluded before that it was best he did not know, and he maintained such a belief; it would only cause undue worry.
During lunch, he asked around to see if anyone had that teacher. Eventually he managed to find one that did, asked where she usually was, and found out that she resided in her office on the other side of school.
He gave her door a knock when he arrived. It took a second but she eventually gave him permission to enter. When he did, she gave him a confused look. The skunk was right: she was definitely an elderly raccoon. Her fur was turning grey seemingly rapidly as if a mink in the winter. Her paws looked weak and rickety and they trembled when she fixated her glasses into a correct position.
"Are you one of my students?" she asked him. "You'll have to forgive me if I forget."
Roger shook his head. "No, ma'am. I'm a friend of one of your students, though. Hunter Wright, if you know him?"
Understanding spread across her eyes. "Ah, yes, Mr. Wright. He's a nice boy."
The fox nodded. "Well, I hear he did not do so well on his last test? If that's so, he might not be able to play-"
"-Football, yes. I know this," the raccoon said. She gave him a sympathetic look. "I can see he's made progress, but the grades are the grades."
"Could you perhaps... pass on a good word as to his progress to his coach? Keeping Hunter away from football is only going to be detrimental to his learning, and..." Roger began, but stopped when the raccoon held up her paw.
"I've tried, believe me, Mr. Fox, but that coach only sees results, not progress. He would not listen. Mr. Levy has spoken to me extensively about the situation, and we've tried, but to no avail. You could speak with him, if you wish. He should be in his office at the end of the building." She gestured to the side, giving him a direction of where to go.
Roger nodded and backed away. "Thank you so much, I'll go try that."
She nodded and gave him a smile as he left. It was refreshing when others were so kind, he thought.
He ran off to the coach's office. Its location was just as described, though in order to really identify it, Roger had to read the plaque that hung outside the window. It read "Coach Winters".
By the looks of it the office was occupied. He gave the window pane a gentle but quick rap, and when given permission, he walked in.
There sat a somewhat middle-aged hyena. Roger had seen him before and had known he was the coach, but it was always difficult to read him. Even now he seemed somewhat docile, but the opinions of him varied. According to some reports, his mood tended to swing when any negative event occurred.
If there was ever a chance to defend the wolf, this would be it. He would have to somehow convince the coach that the best course of action would be to let the wolf continue playing, so that all may benefit. After all, the evidence was conclusive: he was improving, all he needed was more time, and punishing him for an improvement was absurd. Roger figured he would play on that.
The coach looked at him. "May I help you?"