October 1st 1996

In the days following the incident in the lunchroom Mrs Briggs demeanor towards Mort changed,

she was grumpier then usual.
She often threatened to send him to detention for trivial things,
such as not having a pencil to write with, or forgetting his notebook.
Mort's attitude towards school had changed, originally class had been fun.
Now he despised Mrs. Briggs, and resented his classmates who had collectively decided to shun him.
Mort realized that what his classmates though was irrelevant.
He was going to school to learn; not make friends, if they wanted to shun him so be it.
Today I was October 1st, the first month of school was gone. It was a new month and a new day, he hoped that everyone could forgive him for his alleged transgressions.
It was a foggy, bleak day, blood red leaves fell listlessly from trees and drifted to the ground.
Pumpkins and fake cobwebbing festooned many of the front yards on his street.
Pretty soon it would be Halloween with its ghosts, monsters.....and candy.
The bus flew down the street.
Mort climbed aboard and found a seat.
The drive to school was unremarkable except for one small detail, the "For Sale," sign in front of Liam's house was gone.
It appeared that an elderly couple, both horses, had moved in, they were in the front yard raking leaves.
Mort sighed as they passed by.
He was thankful that he had his homework today, so he wouldn't have to endure another afternoon in detention. Although Recess was no longer enjoyable endeavor without Liam.

---

The bus pulled into the school and Mort scrambled down the steps and onto the sidewalk.
He met up with the rest of his class and they were lead inside.
They turned in their homework and took their seats. Mort quietly took notes and finished his English assignments quickly and was
astounded when he got a 100% on his math homework. He couldn't remember the last time he had received a 100%.

---

Lunch went quite smoothy.
He looked around as he ate, he was surprised when several of his classmates actually smiled at him, So everyone had moved on.
Mort was the only one who was still upset by everything and had a hunch that the others could sense it.

He smiled back, everything was going to be fine.
Hopefully something good would come out of all of this.
The bell rang for recess and Mort breathed a sigh of relief, he was free for the time being.

---

Mort ran to the swings. He quickly found himself
bored and decided to walk out to the wall where he and Liam used to play.
He sat down in the grass and enjoyed the cool breeze,

leaf that fluttered down and landed on his head, he laughed and brushed it off.
Suddenly there was a commotion on the playground, a small crowd was gathering around the swings

someone called his name.
by the tone of their voice, Mort could tell that that he was in trouble.
He stood up and walked to the playground, he realized that there were butterflies in his stomach again.
He froze in his tracks, It was Mrs. Briggs that was calling him.
"Come here," she snapped.
A cold chill ran down Mort's spine, suddenly he became aware of the fact that he was completely surrounded by teachers. It was then
that he noticed Mira Dane and the school nurse standing together. Mira was crying and the nurse was doing her best to comfort her.
"Did you do this?" Mrs Briggs snarled
"Do what?" Mort replied, his heart nearly skipped a beat when he noticed Mr. Droxner the school's principal, this was serious.
"This," she said taking Mira's hand and parted the golden fur on her arm.
Mort gasped there were several red marks that looked like tooth marks. Thankfully her skin hadn't been punctured and there was no
blood
"DID YOU BITE HER!" Mrs Briggs roared.
"I......." Mort stammered

"You sure it was him? the nurse asked. Mira nodded silently as hot tears cascaded down her face, she Buried her face in the nurse's
arms.
The bell rang marking the end of recess.

Mort's heart sank, he was forcefully lead to the principals office.

---

Mort realized that he had a case of the shakes, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
Mr, Droxner sat down at his desk , .
So talk to me Mort, I want to understand, why did you bite Mira?
"I don't think I did," Mort said, looking out the window
"You sure you didn't do it You know it is possible to get so angry that you can black out and forget things, you sure that you
didn't just block it out?"
"I don't know," Mort said, "anything is possible."

---

Mort left Mr. Droxner's office convinced that he had somehow subconsciously hurt Mira.
He was Returned to class, Mira was still in the nurses office. Once again there was an awkward silence when he entered the room.
Everyone stopped doing their English work and stared at him. Mort slowly returned to his desk and took his seat. Several of his
classmates glared at him. After English was over Mrs Briggs gave Mort an envelope
"Can you do me a favor and deliver this to the main office," she said.
"Yes," Mort said, the envelope had been sealed with a small sticker of a paw-print.
"Don't open it,"
"I won't" he replied, Mort was a scout and he din;t believe in snooping. It was probably some boring memo anyways.

---

Mort walked down to the office, gave the envelope to one of the secretaries and returned to class. English was over and it was time
for history class. Mort was about to take out his history textbook when there was a knock on the classroom door. It was the
secretary from the office,
"I'm here for Morton Fredricson," she said. Mort felt his fur prickle and his skin crawl.
What was this all about?
He grabbed his belongings, quietly stood up and walked to the door. She walked him back to the main office.

---

Mort silently gasped, the envelope he has just delivered lay open on the desk, the paw print sticker still clung to its flap. Next
to it was a pink sheet of paper attached to a clipboard.
"This is a notice of you suspension," she said giving the paper and clipboard to Mort.
Waves of fear, rage and confusion overcame him, he noticed that his hands shook as he held the pen she had given him.
"She made me deliver my own suspension notice..............................." Mort thought,

"How could she be so cruel?" he wiped the newly forming tears from his face.
The suspension notice basically contained an incident report he only glanced at it.
Reading it made him feel sick, this wasn't fair he hadn't hurt anyone.
He signed his name in big loopy cursive letters.
He looked at the paper and sighed, he was in serious trouble now.
He handed the clipboard back to the secretary.
Your parents have been notified and I am taking you home now.
Mort grabbed his backpack and silently walked out the main entrance with the secretary.
She opened her car door for him, Mort climbed in the back seat and buckled himself in, then hung his head. He could feel his ears
flop over, he then buried his face in his hands and blubbered like the terrified cub that he was.

---

They pulled into his driveway and he grabbed his belongings and climbed the front steps,
his mother was waiting for him.
"Go to your room," she glared at him.
He solemnly walked passed Allen's room, (where Allen was busy napping) and into his own bedroom. Mort sat down on his bed and waited
for his mom, she was clearly upset and he was going to be in trouble.
Some time went by, his mother stood in his room's doorway
"how could you do something like this?" She snapped
"I am very disappointed you, let me down,"
"stay in here and think about what you have done." She left and Mort shut his door.
He sprawled out on his bed, and cried again.
He couldn't get over the fact that Mrs. Briggs had made him deliver his own incident report.
The world was a cruel place, he had never noticed until now.
His father was gone,
Liam was gone,
and now this? He wanted nothing more then then to disappear.

Several tears rolled down his snout. Enough was enough, already, enough suffering
Mort crawled under his bed and hid in the darkness.
A calm wave over came him, he was safe down here.
Even though it was a tad bit uncomfortable, he quickly drifted off to a deep and dreamless sleep, he was completely drained.

---

He snapped awake,
"what are you doing under there?" his mother asked.
"Come sit with me," she said sitting on his bed.

Mort crawled out from under his bed and joined her.
"Are you going to ground me now?" he said sullenly
She put her hand on his shoulder,
"No you aren't going to be grounded, but you are in trouble. I
want to apologize for yelling at you, I am upset that this happened too," she said.
They hugged
"We both have been going through a lot lately,"
"I'm sorry mom,"
"I am sorry too, so tell me, what happened"
Mort did his best to recount the events that lead up to the order of his suspension.
"So your saying that you didn't do it?" his mother asked.
"No, what I am saying is I have no memory of it happening,"
"That really doesn't make any sense. Either you did or you didn't. It doesn't really matter, there is nothing that I can do about
your suspension, but if you didn't do it I will talk to the principal. I can't tonight, but I will talk to him in the morning if you
want.
Anyhow, stay in here and I will call you for dinner when it is ready.

---

The rest of the day passed by unceremoniously,
As they ate dinner his mother said
"You are home tomorrow and we are going to do some yard-work.
I am not going to ground you, but I am putting you to work.
You are going to help me rake the leaves, understand?"
"Yes," Mort said flatly.
" Also your father called,
he is quite upset over what happened, he misses you and wants to take you out to dinner tonight.
I suggest you take him up on the offer because I have no idea when the next time you will see him will be. By now I guess you have probably realized that he isn't coming back to live with us.
We are getting divorced, even though we won't be married anymore, he will always be your father, and I will always be your mother and we both love you dearly."
"Even though I bit Mira Dane?"
"Yes, you are in trouble, but that doesn't mean that we don't love you anymore."
"Thanks," Mort croaked
"No thanks are needed, I am your mother and that is what I do."

---

After Dinner Mort got ready for bed early and went to his room. He was not looking forwards to raking tomorrow, although it was a
heck of a lot better then being grounded. He sighed, at least he would be seeing his father again. .

---

The next morning Mort got up ate breakfast and went outside with his mom to rake leaves.

Twenty five bags later they had a huge wall of leaf bags lining the front yard for pickup, they went inside and ate a late lunch,
suddenly the phone rang,
"I will be right back," his mom said

Mort could hear her talking on the phone in her room.
"Hello"
"Yes I am Kerry Fredricson"
"Yes,"
"but what about........................."
"I see how it is then......................"
"what our options....................................."
"ok then,"
His mother hung up the phone, there was an awkward silence that followed.
"Mort, we have a problem," His mother returned to her seat at the kitchen table.
"It turns out that Mira Dane's mother is a member of the school board. She is outraged and demanding that you apologize. She and the
rest of the board have given us an ultimatum, we have two choices.
Either you can transfer to another class with an ever stricter teacher,
or we can check out this other school they recommended.
I personally think that we check this other school out.
Because even though you could be placed in another class,
it might not stop this from happening again."
"I think your right," Mort sighed, "so when do I start?"
"I have to make some more phone calls first, I have to have a long discussion with your father, then we need to schedule a tour. I
think we are done raking for today, you did good."
"Thanks mom," Mort beamed.

"Why don't you go play with your brother until I am done playing phone tag.

---

Mort joined Allen in the living room, Allen had just learned how to walk, he was still unsteady, he half walked and half stumbled across the living room.
He tripped over his tail and lost his balance Mort caught him before he could fall. Allen looked up with his
large turquoise eyes and giggled
"hi moor!" he beamed.
Allen had started talking right before their father had left, this is the first time he had tried to say Mort's name

"Hello to you too."
Allen laughed again.
They sat down on the floor together, Mort grabbed Allen's tail
"GOTCHA" he said
Allen grinned and grabbed Mort's tail
Mort froze could hear his mother talking on the phone, he could only hear her side of the conversation .

"That is my ex husbands name,"
His mother laughed
"Hello my name is Kerry Fredricson, and I was wondering...about setting up a tour I am thinking about enrolling my son in your
school."
"Thank you very much I will."
He heard his mother hand up the phone and dial another number
"David we have a problem, I am sure you have heard about what happened to Mort........"
She was talking to his dad
"But david this is serious I found him hiding under the bed.............................."
"They have given us a choice between that, and a different school that is entirely special ed,"
"Sayerton Lerning Center,"

"well he is your son too,"
"thank you too David,"
"10:00 Monday morning"
"ok......I will, see you there......................"
His mom hung up the phone a final time
"Hey Mort you want to hear something funny, the school we are going to tour, the principal's name is David Fredrikson with a "K"
instead of a "C"
"really? That is strange."
"Anyhow, we have a tour set up Monday and your father is coming with us."
She smiled
"As for school, you can't go back after what happened. They have set us up with a tutor until everything is finalized. Mrs Holtz, the school's social worker has volunteered. You start classes with her at tomorrow at 8:00."

---

Mort changed out of his work clothes, took a shower and got himself dressed for dinner. In a few short hours his father would be coming to pick him up.
Then he remembered his father had a bad reputation for being late for everything.
He was supposed to arrive at 5:00, it was already 5:15 his father would undoubtedly be late to his own funeral. He went to the living room, sat down and waited, 5:15 turned to 6:00, finaly at 6:30 his father's van pulled up in the driveway.
Mort said his goodbyes and ran to the van, his father was standing in the driveway.
They hugged,
"Good to see you again mort," he said.
"Glad to see you too dad," Mort replied. He climbed into the passenger seat.

---

They drove Bayside Hills. Bayside Hills was a large beach side park, there was a boardwalk, several restaurants and antique shops that bordered the beachfront

Mort had only ever been here twice, once for a birthday party and once during a school trip.
The sun was beginning to set and the beach was entirely empty.
His father parked the van, he sighed. Several seconds of tense and awkward silence followed.
He finally said
"Mort, I am very upset with you. How could you go and bite someone? Mo less the daughter of someone on the school board. You were taught better!" his father paused.
Mort could feel the hot tears beginning to blossom on his eyes and his throat began to burn.
"However I am more upset by the way the school handled things, this isn't entirely your fault.
Rest sure that we will fight for you. The fact that I am not living with your mother that doesn't change anything. I will always be your father and I will always love you.
"Thanks dad" Mort said, he was surprised at how hoarse his voice sounded.
"That being said lets go get some dinner,"
They climbed from the van and walked to the boardwalk. He felt himself begin to relax. It was a chilly night, they walked down the boardwalk together. Mort paused and looked across the bay to Fire Island and glanced over at the now abandoned playground and sighed. He hoped this new school he was going to tour would be better. He had a hunch that things would get better in due time. They continued on to one of the many eateries that studded the boardwalk.

---

They sat outside even though it was chilly, Mort devoured his fish and chips and solemnly looked at the full moon. It cast an eerie reflection on the bay.
"I am sorry that I snapped at you earlier," his father said.
"It's ok," Mort replied distantly.
"No it isn't. I promise I won't do it again. Can you promise me something?"
an odd moment of silence passed, the only sounds were the surf crashing ashore the harsh raspy wisper of the wind.
"Take care of your mother and Allen for me,"
"I promise," Mort said wiping the newly forming tears from his eyes .
"I want to give you something," his father said. He dug out his wallet and handed Mort an index card with a phone number written in red crayon.
"This is the number to where I live call me at any time. And remember I am still your father no matter what happens.
There was more silence.
Were those tears glistening in his fathers eyes?
Mort was never sure even years later.

---

Mrs. Holtz sat at her cluttered desk.

The sparrow was waiting for a student by the name of Morton Fredricson to arrive.
According to Mr Droxner Mort had a violent streak.
Mr. Holtz had met all of the students at least once,
Mort was one of the few that had left a lasting impression on her.
There was something different about him, he was friendly, and exceedingly bright for a 7 year old.
Yet he always appeared to be slightly overwhelmed.
She had seen him in the hallway a few days prior waved,
Mort had returned the gesture and grinned from ear to ear.
Her job as a social worker was to make sure incidents like this never happened in the first place.
Why did people always run to her looking for help when it was already too late?
The thought ruffled her feathers.
They should have notified her after the first incident on the playground.
She may have been able to prevent this mess from happening in the first place.
She had talked to Mira Dane and her parents. Something about the story she had told everyone had disturbed Mrs. Briggs. Mira had told her story, and had been consistent. There was only one problem, there was no physical evidence Mort had actually ever bitten her.
It was her word against Mort's.
The only evidence was a bite mark, that could have been caused by anyone, including Mira herself,
a confession that only Mr. Droxner had heard, and an order of suspension with Mort's signature.
The district was facing a growing number of bullies and bulling cases.
Mrs. Holtz realized that the school was looking for a scapegoat and Mort had fit the bill perfectly.
Now Mort's parents had willingly removed their son from district and enrolling him in special ed.

She had been selected as Mort's representative from district.

Now there was nothing that she could do but vow to attend all of Mort's IEP meetings and advocate for him.

---

Mrs. Holtz first session with Mort went really smoothly, he struggled through the math but excelled at everything else. She hated to admit it but she was sad after his mother returned to pick him up.
Her office was silent without his presence. She hoped that he would be happier in whatever program the enrolled him in. She could tell that even though Mort had seemed happy and upbeat, underneath the thin facade he was one miserable and terrified cub.