chinaroses | FE 2024 Prompt Table 2 Fill #29- Office (Reply)

To say the silence in the headmaster's office of Brierton Academy was intense would be an understatement. Ethan was usually a model student so he had never set foot in the Headmaster's office outside of being welcomed to the school again — this is until today. Now he was in the most inter office, seated before Headmaster Reynolds' large oak desk with his stomach tied in nervous knots.

Reynolds peered at Ethan from over his glasses, "Do you know why you are here, Mr. Stark, instead of being in your afternoon French class?"

Ethan swallowed hard and nodded, "Yes sir. It's about what happened during the algebra test today."

The Headmaster crossed his arms, "Yes, it is. Would you care to explain what exactly transpired in your class? As I understand, from what I've been told, it seems as if you allowed another student to copy your test and thereby was helping him to cheat."

Ethan's cheeks burned with shame as it was true. His best friend Daniel had been struggling with the advanced algebra class they were both in, and he'd begged Ethan to help him pass this test. Ethan had agreed to let him do so on the condition that this would be a one time only thing, and that Daniel would let Ethan tutor him afterwards until he grasped the mechanics. He'd made sure Daniel could see and be able to copy his answers.

"I am very, very disappointed in you, Ethan," Reynolds said, "Cheating is a violation of the core values we try to instill here at Brierton Academy: integrity, honor excellence. I expected far better from a student such as yourself."

Ethan dropped his gaze, "I know, sir. I made a mistake and I have no excuse. Daniel was panicking about failing and..." He trailed off as he realized that he had, in fact, been making an excuse just then.

Reynolds shook his head, "You know helping a friend to cheat is as dishonorable as doing the cheating yourself."

Ethan sighed, "I know, sir."

"I'm afraid there will have to be consequences."

Ethan felt his heart sink. He thought about his parents' reactions when they found out about this. They would be so disappointed in him.

It was like Reynolds was reading his mind when he said, "I will need to call your parents. They have to come in as we don't take incidents like this lightly."

"Please, Headmaster, I am willing to accept any punishment, but don't call my parents yet," Ethan pleaded, "Let me tell them myself."

Reynolds gave his request some consideration, and then nodded once, "Very well, Mr. Stark. You'll report to detention every day after school for the next month. You will also be failed on the test you allowed Mr. Goldman to copy from. I will give you until to tomorrow morning to inform your mother and father about this infraction before I call them myself."

"That's more than fair, sir," Ethan said with a breath of relief, "Thank you, sir. I promise this won't ever happen again."

"See that it doesn't, Mr. Stark. You're dismissed to return to class."

Ethan nodded and left the office, already dreading facing his parents — especially his Dad. Tony had been like a superhero to Ethan when he was growing up and not just because he'd been Iron Man. He hated the fact he was going to disappoint him like this. He just hoped that his parents would understand that this was a one time mistake, and he would be able to regain their trust.

By the time he got home, Ethan had enough nerve worked up to confess. He found his parents in the living room. Pepper had her feet on his Dad's lap with a laptop on hers reading emails while his Dad was giving her a foot massage.

"Hey, sport, how was school today?" Tony asked looked up with a bright smile that quickly faded when he saw Ethan wasn't smiling back, "What's wrong? Did something happen at school today?"

Ethan nodded, and took a deep breath, "Mom, Dad... I got caught trying to help someone cheat today on my algebra test."

Pepper sat up, closing her laptop while Tony leaned forward.

"Start from the beginning," Pepper said gently, "Tell us everything."

Several minutes passed as Ethan explained how Daniel had been having a hard time algebra lately, and how he'd begged Ethan to let him copy his answers just this one time. When he got to the part about being sent to the headmaster's office, Tony's frown deepened/

"So Mr. Reynolds knows about this too, and not only your teacher?" Tony sighed when Ethan nodded, "Oh Ethan... I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am that you'd do something like this."

For the third time today, Ethan's heart sunk at how clear the disappointment in his Dad's voice was, "I know that I screwed up big time agreeing to this. I don't even know what I was thinking, letting Daniel copy me like that. It was wrong and like I told Headmaster Reynolds, I am willing to accept any punishment from school.... and from you guys."

Tony ran both hands over his face as he tried to organize his thoughts. This was a tough one for him as Ethan's Dad. One one hand, he really was disappointed in his son's lapse of judgment. Cheating went against everything they'd ever tried to instill in Ethan and his sister.

But on the other hand, Tony also remembered being a teenager, and the desire to fit in and help his friends. Sometimes accomplishing those things meant he'd made poor choices. His own father would have come down on Ethan like a ton of bricks for something like this. Tony didn't know how to handle it just yet but he knew he wouldn't be like his father.

"Oh, you can bet there will be consequences, Ethan," Tony finally voiced, "But first, let's talk about why did you do this? Did Daniel pressure you into helping him?"

"No, Dad," Ethan said, shaking his head, "Daniel didn't really pressure me into helping him. It's just that he was freaking out about the possibility failing and maybe being held back a grade. He begged me and I mean begged me to help him. I knew it was wrong but I told I would if he'd let me tutor him afterwards. I just couldn't take seeing my best friend having such a hard time, you know?"

Pepper have her son a look of sympathy, "Oh honey, I know you wanted to and were just trying to help Daniel, but cheating wasn't nor ever is the answer. And although you offered to tutor Daniel , was still only a temporary solution, and look at all the trouble it's caused."

"Yeah, Mom, I know. Believe me, I regret it with every fiber of my being," Ethan said in a miserable tone, "Mr. Reynolds gave me a month's worth of detention but what was worse was seeing the disappointment in his eyes. I hope I never inspire him to look at me that way again!"

"I bet he was," Tony said, leaning back sighing, "Cheating is a very big deal, especially at a prestigious school like Brierton." He scratched the back of his neck, "Then there's the fact there will be a permanent mark on your academic record."

Ethan's eyes widened with alarm at that, "You don't think...they'd expel me too, do you?"

"I don't know, champ. I honestly don't know," Tony said. "That'll be up to the school's administrators to decide. You need to understand that your actions have consequences that can sometimes be really big ones."

Pepper nodded, and chimed in, "Your Dad's right. The headmaster could consider this a major violation of the student honor code you agreed to abide by. You're serving detention, but he might also decide to suspend you, or expel you from school if he decides it's merited and wants to make an example for the rest of the students."

Ethan's eyes welled up with tears at the thought of being expelled, "But but Brierton is my dream school! I worked so hard to get in on my school records alone and not just because I'm a Stark! Please, you have to help me explain to Mr. Reynolds that I will never, ever let something like this happen again! I will accept any punishment he deems necessary! He can even paddle me if he wants to!"

"They don't use corporal punishment at Brierton," Tony said, "Which is probably a fortunate thing for you, because I am sure a paddling would be one of the disciplinary actions Reynolds would insist upon!"

Pepper sighed, and said, "Of course we'll talk with Headmaster Reynolds. But Ethan, this really is serious. You have to completely understand that."

"I do, Mom, I swear! I am so very sorry that you have no idea how sorry I am. I've never felt worse in my entire life about something like this!"

As Tony watched his son breaking down, he felt a pang in his heart. As much as he was angry and felt let down by Ethan's cheating, he found it hard to stay that way when Ethan was so genuine in his remorse. He needed to remember that he'd done stupid things too and worse when he was Ethan's age."

He pushed aside his disappointment for right then, and Tony got up to wrap Ethan in a hug, "Hey, relax, son. This is not the end of the world here. We just want and need you to truly learn from this."

Clinging to his Dad, Ethan tried to get his feelings under control, "I will, Dad. I promise that I will. I will do whatever I have to to make this right."

Tony let go of him and looked him in the eye, "Okay, here's what we are going to do, Ethan. First of all, you are going to accept whatever disciplinary actions Mr. Reynolds decides on. You are not going to argue or try to get out of it. You broke a really big rule, so you are going to have to, thankfully, take your metaphorical licks."

"Yes, sir," Ethan agreed."

Tony went on, "Second, you are grounded for one month. That means no video games, TV, seeing your friends outside of school, internet, or talking to JARVIS except for what's related to your school work. You're going to be staying in your room during this time, thinking about what happened. This is too serious."

Ethan opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself and just nodded, "You're right. I deserve all of that."

"And third," Pepper cut in "You have to go to Daniel and explain to him, face-to-face, why you won't be helping him cheat anymore. He needs to learn the lesson too."

"Oh boy, that's going to be fun and awkward," Ethan said with a grimace, "But I will do it. I mean whatever it takes to make this right, huh?"

Tony squeezed his shoulder, "Exactly what I wanted to hear. We won't let this one mistake define you, Ethan, but you will have to show us, Mr, Reynolds, your teacher, that you'be learned from this."

Looking his Dad in the eye, determined, Ethan said, "I will, Dad. Tihs was a first-class screw-up, but I am going to make sure it's one I don't ever repeat. No more cheating, even to help my best friend, and no more letting you or Mom down like this. What you guys think of me means too much to me!"

Tony hugged him again, smiling faintly. His son had a big heart, he didn't doubt that. But kids make mistakes as Tony knew better than anyone. The important thing was that Ethan learned, truly learned from this blip in his character.

"I know you will, kid," Tony said gruffly, "I know you will. And don't you worry, we still and always will think the world of you."