CHAPTER I: School

James Bernard Peternelli sat in the chair quietly.  Just as his mother instructed him to do.  Of course, everything James Bernard did was donequietly.  That is why he was sitting outside the junior high school’s principal’s office.  He could hear his mother’s raised voice as she spoke with the principal and guidance counselor.  Did he understand the meeting concerned his fate at the school?  The school officials didn’t think so but his mother certainly did.  That was why the two of them were at the school.  His mother was determined to prove he had every right to be taught in the public school.

He sat on the rather uncomfortable chair and stared at the olive-green carpet.  The secretary asked if he wanted some candy from a candy dish but he only looked at her and blinked.  Then went back to studying the pattern of the carpet.  Undeterred, the kind secretary took a piece of candy out of the dish and put it on the chair beside him.  By the time she sat back down in her own chair behind the desk she noticed the candy was gone.  She smiled and turned up the radio.  James Bernard started rocking slowly back and forth in his seat.  The secretary couldn’t be sure but it looked like he might be dancing.  That seemed unlikely but she turned up the radio a little more even though she knew she would be in trouble when her boss emerged from the office.

Meanwhile, his mother could have used some friendly support in her battle in the principal’s office.

“We understand your request,” Principal Jones began again the statement he had been repeating for almost an hour, “but it is not reasonable.”

“Your son is not like the other students,” the guidance counselor spoke slowly so that the mother could understand.  “He does not have the capacity to keep up with children his age.  If we allowed him in class, he would be a hinderance to the teacher and disrupt the other students’ learning.  It wouldn’t be fair to them.”

Principal Jones picked up the thread.  “As principal, I have to do what is right for all the students at this school.  We cannot allow a dumb mute to slow down the education for other students.  What kind of principal would I be if I allowed this to happen?”

Lucy Peternelli took a deep breath.  “My son is not dumb.”

The guidance counselor smiled what Lucy considered his patronizing smile.  She had seen it often during this meeting.  “Mrs. Peternelli that is an official term.  I assure you, everyone who has looked as your son’s case are professionals.  As enlightened men of the 70’s, I assure you we use the term correctly. As difficult as it is for you to understand, your son is what we call a dumb mute.  He will always be a dumb mute.  From the studies that we have looked at, a person with his particular condition will never amount to much.  He doesn’t even realize it.  He will never progress in life.  The best you can do for him is to put him in an institution where his physical needs can be met.  Any hopes or dreams you have for your son should be given up.  This is as good as he will ever get.”

Lucy Peternelli’s face was already red but the shade grew brighter.  “I understand perfectly what you are telling me.  But your words do not apply to my son.  He has every right to be taught at this school.”

The principal and guidance counselor exchanged looks.  This woman was stubborn and obviously lacked the education to understand what they were saying.  Neither one wanted to continue this discussion any further.  The matter was closed.  But how to get the mother out of the office without causing a scene?

The guidance counselor had an idea and nodded at the principal.  Principal Jones recognized the counselor was going in for the kill and sat back in his chair.  This matter should be drawing to a close soon.

“Mrs. Peternelli,” the guidance counselor said in his most calming voice.  During the course of the meeting, Lucy realized the only thing she hated more than his patronizing smile was his calming voice.  She knew he was about to say some gibberish that he thought was brilliant.  “I tell you what, if you can prove your son can actually communicate, he can stay in the school.”

Principal Jones’s smile disappeared.  He looked at the counselor who winked back. 

Lucy sat for a moment.  She had never actually heard her son speak in his whole life.  He had never made any gesture that he understood what she was saying.  Her whole theory that there was more going on behind those little blue eyes was from spending every day with him.  Sometimes there would be a quick glance or even a blink.  It wasn’t something she could prove but as a mother she just knew.  She knew something was going on inside that mind of his.

Principal Jones took note of her silence and started to smile again.  Genuis!  This meeting was done. 

The three of them stood up and walked out of the door to where James Bernard sat in his chair.  The boy was still rocking back and forth.

His mother sat in the chair beside him.  “Jimmy, Jimmy my boy, I need you to do something for your mother.”  She looked at the principal and guidance counselor and her brow furrowed.  What she needed was some kind of miracle.

James Bernard didn’t look at his mother.  His body continued to rock back and forth.

She swallowed and sucked her lips in.  “Jimmy, can you hear me?”

The principal, guidance counselor, and secretary all leaned in closer.  Lucy held her breath. The DJ on the radio announced the new Stevie Wonder song was up next.   Superstition started to play.

“Doris,” Principal Jones complained to the secretary, “turn that infernal music off!” 

She complied quickly with apologies.

But then Lucy got her miracle.  James Bernard started to sing.  He sang the rest of the song.  He sang in perfect pitch without missing a word.  When he finished, everyone in the room looked at him.

His mother started to cry because her mother’s intuition was true.  There was so much more going on behind her son’s eyes than anyone realized.  All this time he was absorbing and gathering.  And now, now he was sharing.

“That was beautiful,” Principal Jones conceded. 

“Just because the boy can sing does not mean he can communicate,” the guidance counselor said.

Principal Jones knelt down so that he could look at the boy.  James Bernard looked away.  The principal looked around and then back at James.  “Son, do you know what your name is?”

Lucy held her breath.

“My name is James Bernard Peternelli, but my mom calls me Jimmy.”

Lucy sobbed and wiped the tears that freely flowed down her cheeks. 

The principal nodded slowly and stood up.  He looked at the guidance counselor and then at Lucy.  “Your boy can stay in school.”  He turned toward his office.  “Best get that songbird in choir.” 

Lucy watched as Principal Jones closed his office door.  She didn’t look at the guidance counselor who slipped out and disappeared down the hallway. But she did look at Doris who smiled at her.  “We are going to need a class schedule,” she said.

Chapter II coming March 9