Bill's foster dad, Ken Thomas, was enjoying watching the hearing from the back row. He knew what Stewart Russell had planned, and it was working like clockwork. The lawyer had hoped the three accusers would go first followed by Principal Stanley. He wanted them to go on record telling their well-rehearsed lies, so he could catch them and show that they were the attackers.
School Board member Kevin Yeager spoke up after the vote. He told William he wanted the freshman to tell his story from the time he arrived at the school. The School Board member asked his colleagues to hold their questions until the teen was finished with his story.
After getting the nod, Billy began to speak.
"Well, the cheese, err, the school bus picked me up at around 8:04 as it does every day. I arrived at the school about forty minutes later and my friends, Kaden, Brett and Lonnie, as usual, were there waiting for me," began Billy, before he was interrupted by Patrick Browner.
"Mister Dirketson, who are these friends you just told us about? What are their names and are they here tonight that they can testify if need be?" demanded Patrick Browner.
"Sir, they were at the high school when I arrived," replied Billy.
"Mr. Browner," said Stewart Russell as he stood up, "I have here the three teen's sworn depositions of what happened that Thursday morning. On top of those, I have almost fifty, hand written statements and observations from the students who were also there that morning. I have copies for all of you when you are ready."
"So, I take it you paid these students to write what you wanted them to say, so as to support Mister Dirketson's story. How convenient!" sarcastically said School Board member Patrick Browner.
"You will find if you talk to any of the students who were there, and witnessed the attack, there was no coaching needed. Many of them were happy someone finally stood up to those three who've been tormenting and bullying many of the students for the past two years.
"That is in contrast to the coaching you've done with Timothy, Chance and Louis over the past few days. Also, let's include the outside help you recruited from a number of former School Board members who were found involved in doing the same thing that you are doing now," offered Lawyer Russell.
"I did no such thing!" loudly proclaimed Patrick Browner.
"Mr. Dirketson, please continue," announced Kevin Yeager. "We can get into researching those other issues later."
"My friends and I went over to the area where we usually waited for the first bell to ring. A few minutes later a large group of upperclassmen came towards us. Timothy made some sort of speech. It was then he made a fist and hit me in my stomach. He then told Chance and Louis to grab my arms and pull them behind me.
"Tim then made another fist ... and he came towards me and I figured he was going to beat up on me with his lackeys holding me still. But I was not going to let them do that to me. So ... well, I decided to use Chance and Louis's firm hold on me as a set point, in order to raise my legs and shoot them out towards Tim. None of them had the remotest idea that I would fight back. I think they figured I'd be docile and would take the beating.
"When Tim came at me, with his fist balled up, and he was close enough, I lifted up my legs and thrust them out at him. Tim wasn't expecting that. Then, when he fell back, he must have broken his arm trying to brace himself from the fall.
"As for Chance, I was lucky to wrestle my arm free from Louis, and I was then able to give him a roundhouse punch to the face. I hit his nose instead of his chin when he began to duck. When he let my arm go, Chance came after me. We exchanged a few blows before the Resource Officer came and broke us up. I was then taken to the principal's office.
"Mr. Ken's, oh my foster dad Ken Thomas that is, Estate Master, Wayne Mitchell, came to the office and he was ignored by the secretary. Mr. Wayne had to insist she look at my student folder that told her he had authority when Mr. Ken was out of town.
"Principal Stanley finally recognized who Mr. Wayne was and eventually showed him two videos that showed only part of the altercation. Mr. Wayne asked for copies of the videos from all four CCTV cameras out front, but the principal refused him access to them.
"There were some words as to why the school nurse hadn't looked at my injuries, so the principal called for her to come to his office. When she came there and was asked why she hadn't checked me over, she said there was nothing wrong with me.
"It was then that our Estate Master took me to see Doctor Richard Powers. The doctor wrote down my injuries and had me take some over the counter medicines for the pain," finished Billy.
"Well, well ... you had a full week to practice that little speech, didn't you? One that does not even come close to what the CCTV cameras videos show," spoke out School Board member Browner.
Mr. Ostrowski, told Mr. Browner to wait for his turn to say anything, or question the witness. It was then the School Board President Ostrowski asked the videos be shown, so they all were talking about the same thing.
He told his colleagues there were videos of the fight on YouTube and he'd seen those. He also wanted them and the members of the public to see all four of the real-time high school CCTV videos.
Even though Stewart Russell had his own copies of all four CCTV videos, Mr. Ostrowski handed him his copy of the videos to use to show the Board members and the public. But, before Mr. Russell loaded the DVD disk into the projection device, he asked the high schools IT Administrator to verify if that disk was the same one, she gave to the School Board President. She looked the DVD over and said it was.
Once the lawyer had the disk verified as being authentic, he loaded it into the portable projector. Once loaded, the DVD began to play the videos in the order they were burned to it. The first video started at the beginning of the school day and showed no students there. Mr. Russell asked if he could fast forward it until the students did arrive. Mr. Ostrowski gave him permission.
When the camera footage showed a few students in its field of view, Stewart pressed the PLAY button and the video now ran in 'real time.' As the video continued, it eventually showed a group of teenagers gathering together. The three teens, Timothy Simmons, Chance Jamesly and Louis Woodster, who accused Bill of attacking him, were in the center of that large group.
There was no audio so no one in the meeting room could hear what they were talking about. That video ended when the large group walked out of its field of view in the direction where Willian Dirketson and his friends were standing and talking.
The next CCTV video footage caught the large group forming and then the students walking towards Billy. In that footage, you could clearly see Timothy had a balled-up fist and as he approached his intended victim it appeared the junior said something to Billy and then he hit Billy squarely in the stomach. There was a gasp heard throughout the meeting room.
The camera footage continued and it showed exactly as to what William Dirketson had told the School Board. The video showed Timothy Simmons talking to his two cohorts and they immediately grabbed Bill's arms and held them behind his back. In the video, you could clearly see that Timothy Simmons had his fist balled up again and was coming directly at Billy.
As Tim approached Billy, the intended victim, the Cover reared up his legs and feet and thrust them out at Tim's chest. You could see the startled looks on both Chance and Louis' faces and the attacker fell down and immediately grabbed his arm. When the junior stood up you could tell he had broken the arm during his fall.
Even though the CCTV camera was stationary it caught what happened next. The people in the meeting room could see William Dirketson break free from Louis and swing at Chance. The video showed Billy was aiming at Chance's chin, but when the junior moved his head, he placed his nose directly in the path of the incoming fist. Something dark was seen to immediately flow out of the nose.
After Billy hit Chance, Louis went after the intended target. The sophomore threw a fist that hit Billy, who stammered some, and then Billy fought back. The two boys hit one another a few times, causing them to lose their balance and fall onto the ground. Some hits were to the rib cage, face and wherever they could find on their opponent's body. The resource officer broke the fight up, and you could see the man taking Billy into the school.
As that video was being shown, you could plainly see that many of the students, who were standing around, had their cell phone cameras out and were videoing the entire fight. Some of their videos were the ones later found on YouTube.
The third video was started, but the School Board President asked the lawyer to hold up. The Board's President then asked his colleagues if there was a need to watch the next two videos. The President said to the gathered audience and Board, to him, the videos tell the exact same story William Dirketson had just told them.
The School Board Members talked amongst themselves and it was Board Member Patrick Browner who asked how the video was changed to show the opposite of what the three accusers testified to. He demanded The DVD disk be sent to the State Police to have forensically tested to ascertain its authenticity.
Mr. Ostrowski asked the IT Administrator to come forward. The man asked the woman if she had ever seen the CCTV footage before she made copies for him and Lawyer Russell. The lady wasn't sure how she should answer. She had deliberately altered the footage at Principal Stanley's request, which he ultimately used to justify his suspension of William Dirketson.
As the woman stood there, School Board President Ostrowski became annoyed at the ITs quietness. The man then said, "Have YOU ever seen ... all the footage caught on all four CCTV cameras? Yes, or no?"
The woman looked up at the School Board and then around to Principal Stanley. After a few moments, she said, "Yes."
"Now, tell this Board ... if what was shown here tonight was authentic, or ... or was it altered in some way?" demanded the School Board President
The IT Administrator hesitated. She looked at Mark Stanley first, but eventually, she said that what was shown was authentic. That she saw that same footage on the day the altercation happened. But, she offered, that the footage Principal Stanley used to justify his suspension was altered. That revelation caused people to gasp at the revelation and then a lot of loud conversation was heard between the public attending the meeting.
"Ms. Paulley, are you telling this Board ... that you deliberately altered the CCTV footage of the fight from last Thursday, in order for Principal Stanley to justify his suspension of William Dirketson? And ... did you alter any other videos for this hearing, or at any other time during your tenure as IT Administrator?" directly asked Stella Paulley.
"Let's watch the other two videos," spoke up Gianna Rodriguez. "Let's see if they show what the first two have already shown us!" Kevin Yeager seconded Ms. Rodriquez's request.
The remaining two CCTV videos were then played. John Henry Ostrowski asked lawyer Stewart Russell to fast forward to when the students gathered. Once Stewart Russell was at that point, he let the video play. It showed the same fight the second video showed, but only from a different angle. The fourth video only showed a portion of the fight from the time Billy thrust his feet against Tim and then what he did to Chance and Louis.
Gianna Rodriguez and Kevin Yeager thanked the School Board President for showing the last two videos. The two School Board Members both agreed that what they saw mimicked what the second video showed, and they were convinced they saw the fight as it happened, not as the three students said it had.
"This is all hogwash," spoke up Mr. Browner, as he also stood up. "You would have us believe that ... that this was all what ... a hoax? You have three outstanding Honor Roll students, who will also be getting football scholarships when they graduate in a few years, who honestly testified before this Board.
"And, you had a Principal ... a Principal who has over 20 years of exceptional experience who was also an honest witness. What they had to say is more accurate than a video that now we heard was what ... altered? We should all vote now to put this issue to rest and go home!" demanded Patrick Browner.
"Ms. Paulley," began John Henry Ostrowski, "please answer my questions. Did you deliberately alter the CCTV footage of the fight from last Thursday? And, did you alter any other videos for this hearing, or at any other time during your tenure as IT Administrator?"
Stella Paulley looked down at first. It looked as if she was thinking. Then, the woman looked up to the Board and said, "Yes, I deliberately altered the video footage ... for Principal Stanley. He told me ... he told me he would support me in getting updated IT equipment at the next school budget meeting. And, no, I never altered any other video during my tenure as the high school's IT Administrator," finished Ms. Paulley.
"What does this have to do with the attack Mr. Dirketson perpetrated on Timothy Simmons, Chance Jamesly and Louis Woodster?" demanded Patrick Browner.
"The teenager broke an arm of one student and busted the nose of another student and more might have been done if the Resource Officer hadn't stopped the fight. I make a motion we finally vote on sending William Dirketson to the alternative school," offered Patrick Browner.
"What's your hurry, Mr. Browner?" asked Stewart Russell. "We now know that it was Principal Stanley who fabricated this issue ... which caused us to have this School Board Meeting tonight. But, maybe, Mr. Browner ... maybe you would like to entertain us with your reason for trying to derail this meeting before the truth actually came out.
"What say you, Mr. Browner? Care to enlighten us with the reason you've repeatedly tried to steer the meeting toward an early resolution ... even before all the witnesses were heard from? Care to tell us how and when you coached Timothy Simmons, Chance Jamesly and Louis Woodster with their testimony? Huh?
"Care to tell us how you ... how you met with Matthew Drucker and Tobias Jordan, formerly disgraced School Board Members to learn firsthand how to disrupt and steer an Open Meeting to the ending you desired? You ready to tell the public ... how you are working against Mr. Ken Thomas and why?" strongly asked lawyer Stewart Russell.
"I have done no such thing," angrily replied Patrick Browner. "As a School Board Member, I am above reproach and I take my School Board responsibilities seriously. I would never use my position to further an agenda such as this fight!"
"Oh, thank you for your stump speech for the upcoming elections next month. Maybe I should pull out another DVD video that shows you talking with Matthew Drucker and Tobias Jordan as the three of you disused how to move such a meeting to your own resolution.
"I also have a video of you talking with School Board member Julianna Lambert where you convinced her your position was the correct one, since you've done your research and knew the teen was guilty," revealed Stewart Russell.
"There is no video and you know it," snapped back School Board Member Patrick Browner. "And, as a member of the public, I can talk with anyone I want too, even Julianna Lambert. Sure, the two of us met and talked, but since there were not three of the School Board Members present, we didn't fall under the Open Meetings Act requirements."
"Then let me play the videos for your colleagues and the public who attended this meeting tonight. Let them all know what type of School Board Member you really are," replied Stewart Russell, as he brought out another DVD and placed it into the portable projection unit.
As the video played, School Board Member Browner was seen talking with Matthew Drucker and Tobias Jordan, two former School Board members. The conversation centered on how Browner could derail the meeting by constantly making motions, asking questions and demanding votes be taken.
The three talked about how they could get the three high school teens to coordinate their stories, blame William and also get back at Ken Thomas for what he'd done to them and the Hospital Board, more than three years ago. They had a good laugh over it.
Stewart Russell pulled that DVD and entered another one into the portable projector. This one began by showing Patrick Browner and Julianna Lambert talking. The audio was clear and the audience heard how Browner was trying to convince Lambert to vote along with him. Browner was clearly heard telling the other School Board Member how Billy had attacked the three other boys and caused one to have a broken arm and another a busted nose.
As the video played on, Browner continued to tell Julianna Lambert how he saw the CCTV camera videos which showed William Dirketson attacking the three other teenagers outside the high school last Thursday. Browner assured Lambert everything was on the up-and-up and he needed someone to support him when he made his motions to curtail the meeting and support Principal Stanley's suspension of the teen who attacked the three other boys.
"Enough!" cried out Julianna Lambert. "If I hadn't seen the real videos of the attack and saw and heard what Patrick was trying to do here tonight, I wouldn't have believed it. The way he talked to me as he asked me to support him was very convincing. But now, after seeing all this, I ... I feel like a fool for believing him," announced Julianna Lambert.
Lots of murmuring was heard coming from the public after Juliana Lambert's outburst. Some of the public began chanting that Browner should resign. Others yelled that Principal Stanley should be fired. John Henry Ostrowski had to gavel the meeting back into order. It took about three minutes for the crowd to settle down and the meeting could continue.
"Thank you for your undivided attention," said Board President Ostrowski. "It seems to us, that we now have a conundrum. Tonight's meeting started out as an appeal of a student's suspension. To my eyes, it has now transformed into something none of us anticipated.
"Tonight ... tonight we learned that the suspension of William Dirketson was ... fabricated, the accusers were actually ... the instigators, a high school principal had evidence tampered with, and an IT Administrator admitted she altered the CCTV video for Principal Stanley's benefit.
"We also discovered tonight ... that a School Board Member ... appeared to have helped coach the architects of the fight, and that same School Board member, who coached the instigators of the fight, seems to have collaborated with two former School Board members in order to steer this Board Meeting into a travesty of justice for one student, William Dirketson, and one man, Mr. Ken Thomas, the teen's foster dad.
"I will now ask the School Board to vote in order to go into Executive Session and discuss what happened here tonight, and come up with some resolution for all five matters. Is there any discussion from the Board?" asked School Board President John Henry Ostrowski.
Hearing there was no discussion coming from the School Board Members, President Ostrowski called for a vote. It was seconded by Kevin Yeager and the vote was 4 to 1 for the Board to go into Executive Session. As Patrick Browner walked to the backroom for the Executive Session, he tried to figure out how he could save himself from censure
By the time the School Board went into Executive Session it was close to 9 p.m. Mr. Ken decided he needed to take his 'boys', besides Bill, home. The five boys argued to stay for another half-hour and if the School Board hadn't come back with a decision they'd go home willingly. Mr. Ken had to inwardly laugh at the way his 'boys' had their 'dad' wrapped around their little fingers.
Thirty minutes later, the School Board came out of their Executive Session. They all took their seats and it was School Board President John Henry Ostrowski who spoke after the five Board Members were seated and settled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, since the initial reason for tonight's special meeting morphed into something much, much more ... we decided to go ahead and dispense with William Dirketson's appeal of his suspension. The Board voted 4 to 1 to negate Mr. Dirketson's suspension. He has been freed and cleared of all charges.
"The Board has decided to hold another meeting, open to the public, next week to discuss the other issues that have presented themselves here tonight. We hope a week will be all we'll need to research the issues and have an informed and productive meeting. The Agenda will be posted Monday morning on our website and the School Board has agreed to meet next Thursday evening at 7 p.m., here, at this same building and room.
"The Board wants to thank all of you who have attended this meeting tonight and for your patience through the process. We did resolve Mister Dirketson's situation and promise to handle the other issues next week. This meeting is now adjourned!" finished Mr. Ostrowski.
All five Cover boys ran to their big 'brother' and yelled, "You won! You won!"
Billy accepted their congratulations with a great big smile. He then said they should go out and celebrate. But 'dad' Ken said they all and school tomorrow and they would have to celebrate tomorrow.
Billy's friends waited until Mr. Ken, Wayne Mitchell and the boys got to talk to Billy before they went over to congratulate him, as well. The teens talked some before Mr. Ken reminded them they all had school in the morning and need to get their beauty sleep. The group broke up and headed in their separate directions.
The Cover van was lively inside as the Covers headed back to The Cove. All they could talk about was how Mr. Russell tore Mr. Browner a new-one and how he was able to get the truth out. Then, Robert asked what would happen to Mr. Stanley. Billy spoke up and said he hoped the man was fired. The Cover boys all agreed with their older 'brother'.
When the Covers returned to The Cove, Mr. Wayne told his employer he was going to head home and he'd see him in the morning. Billy stopped the Estate Master and went over and thanked him for his support throughout the entire nightmare. Billy then hugged Mr. Wayne.
"Well, thank you Bill for the hug," said Mr. Wayne. "I don't get them as often as Mr. Ken does, so getting one is like winning the game for me." Now laughed the young employee. Billy hugged Mr. Wayne once more. Then, all of the Cover boys did a group hug.
The Covers waved to Mr. Wayne as he drove out of the estate. The Covers then walked into the house through the garage. Mr. Ken told the boys to head up to their rooms and get ready for bed and he'd be up in a few minutes.
As the boys walked through the Foyer area, they all spotted a few boxes, many of which were labeled as a computer and monitor. Billy wondered if they were his birthday present, so he went looking for Mr. Ken.
"Mr. Ken, Mr. Ken ... are those boxes in the Foyer that look full of computer equipment ... are they for me?" asked the hopeful teen foster boy.
"Hmmm, I didn't think they would get here until tomorrow. But Mr. Chris said he'd try to get them here today. Let's go and see, shall we" replied the foster dad.
When the foster dad and foster teen arrived at the Foyer the other five Cover boys were looking over all of the boxes. They had them on edge so they could read what was in the boxes. They were reading the contents listed on the box out loud to their 'brothers.
"'Dad', 'dad' are these computer boxes for Billy?" asked Matthew.
"Let me see. Here's a packing list. Let me see what is supposed to be here," said 'dad' Ken.
After a few moments of reading through the Packing List and checking what the boxes indicated was inside them, Mr. Ken announced the computer boxes were indeed for Bill and this was the birthday present he asked for. Bill immediately hugged the man and then thanked him for his present. When the boy released the man, everyone saw tears running down the teenager's face.
"Boys, today is Bill's Birthday. Let's all sing Happy Birthday to him before we all go to bed," asked 'dad' Ken.
The boys sang an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday and all Billy could do was smile as his tears continue to flow. When the song was over, all the boys gave their oldest big 'brother' a hug. When all the hugs were given, Mr. Ken sent them all up to bed.
"Mr. Ken," began the still tearful teenager, "I've never ... in my entire life ... been treated like you have treated me. I never knew what it was like to have someone, a man, love me for who I was, NOT what I was. I don't ever want this dream to ever end!"
Billy then ran to Mr. Ken who hugged him tight. The foster dad let the boy continue to cry. He felt the teen needed to cry his hurt and disappointments out before he would begin to see he did have a future.
"Bill ... you've had a tough life. And now ... and now you are at the home that will support you, protect you and give you what you need. ... Bill ... what say we set that computer up when you get home from school tomorrow?" finished Mr. Ken.
Bill looked up at the man and said, "I'd ... I'd like that." The two hugged once more.
The other Cover boys didn't really go to their bedrooms when they went upstairs. They hung at the corner of the hallway at the top of the stairs, so they could hear what their older 'brother and their 'dad' were going to talk about. When they finally went to their rooms, they all had tears running down their faces.
'Dad' Ken didn't let too much time go by before he went up to the boys' bedroom to say goodnight. He started at Matthew's room. The boy asked the man about Billy and if he was going to be OK.
Mr. Ken was taken aback by the question and asked the youngest Cover what he meant. Matthew told him they all watched him and their older 'brother' talk and they all heard Billy cry really hard.
Mr. Ken told the youngster that Bill needed to cleanse his mind of all the hurt he's endured before he arrived at The Cove. 'Dad' Ken said, that with a few more talks' with Doctor Doug, his older 'brother' will get better and better. The man then kissed the young boy's forehead and then went to the twin's bedroom.
At the twin's bedroom, 'dad' Ken was asked almost the same question by each of the twins. The man assured the twins that Bill still had lots of hurt inside of him from where he used to live. 'Dad' Ken assured the twins all Bill needed was a loving home and family, and he would soon be like the rest of them, spoiled. They all laughed and then Mr. Ken kissed their foreheads and went to the next Cover lad's room.
Charles was sitting on the side of his bed waiting for his soon-to-be dad to stop by. 'Dad' Ken saw the pre-teen was a little down, so he asked him why he was that way. Charles told him he was concerned for Billy. The almost teenager wondered if Billy would ever settle down and not be so emotional.
Mr. Ken told the pre-teen what he told his three younger 'brothers'. That Billy came from a fractured family home and he's never felt the love and support he's received since he arrived at The Cove. Mr. Ken asked Charles to continue to be a 'brother' and a friend to the teenager. 'Dad' Ken then kissed the boy's forehead and said goodnight.
At Robert's room, the teen was happy to see his dad. They hugged and when they released, the teen asked his dad about Billy. Mr. Ken laughed and told his son, and thus Eric, his four other 'brothers' asked the same question. The man asked his son to be a 'brother' to Billy, but most of all to be a friend.
Robert's dad explained what he thought about Bill's tendency to cry and be emotional about things. The man further reminded his son that Bill has only been there for three weeks and to think how long it took him to settle down himself. The man kissed his son's forehead and then headed over to Bill's bedroom.
"Knock, knock, knock," said Mr. Ken, as he knocked on the boy's bedroom door.
"Oh, come in Mr. Ken," replied Billy.
"Your 'brothers' won't get the beauty sleep you'll get tonight, since you get up an hour later," laughed Mr. Ken.
"Bill ... I want you to know ... that each of your 'brothers' are concerned about you," began the foster dad. "They listened, from the top of the stairs, to our little talk. They do care about you, 'son', so know this ...they will help you, as best they can, if you ever want to just talk to them."
Bill sat there for a few moments thinking about what Mr. Ken just told him. Then, the teen looked up at the man from his desk chair and said, "Thank you for telling me that. Matthew and I ... we've talked more since we began having our snacks together. Never having brothers before makes it fun to sit and talk and joke around. I even did that the other day with all my 'brothers'. That was so much fun."
Mr. Ken kissed the teenager's forehead and told him 'Goodnight'. The man then walked out of the bedroom to head down to his own private retreat. Along the way, the man wondered what he could do to help Bill move forward.
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