Mr. Morton's Problems Took On A Life Of Their Own.

Things went from bad to worse for Mr. Morton.

           Inez did not take readily to being rebuffed by Mr. Morton.  Little time elapsed before Inez's father, Willy Swicegood, accused Frank Morton of indecent behavior with one of his students. Less time passed before the whole community was up in arms.

            For all the turmoil leading to it,  Mr. Morton's hearing before the school board was attended by a small number of people.  They were seated around a long conference table.  On one side of the table sat the six board members and the superintendent.  To the left along the narrow side sat Frank Morton.  Across from the school board was the community delegation, Lester Alley and Woodrow Harrison, Inez Swicegood, the injured party, Willy Swicegood as father of the victim, and Opal and Jeannette as witnesses.

            There was no talking, no noise at all, only sly looks to the left and right, as they sat waiting for the superintendent to begin.  Some heads were lowered, others erect but with eyes straight ahead focused on the wall above the heads of the panel. Nobody looked at Mr. Morton. Opal tried without lifting and turning her head to see what Mr. Morton was doing.

            The superintendent looked at his watch.  He glanced sideways at his board members and cleared his throat. "Well, I see it's a few minutes early, but since we're all here we might as well get started. Unless someone objects."  He paused and hearing no objections continued, "We're here to examine complaints against Frank Morton, teacher at the Rock Hill School."  He glanced briefly at Frank Morton,  then turned to his audience. "Mr. Swicegood, I understand, is the spokesman for the community. Which of you is Willy Swicegood?"

            "I'm Willy Swicegood."  Willy sat erect.  "And I am the head deacon of the Church of God and the father of this here injured girl."  He motioned to Inez, who sat tall and proper. "We come here as God fearing men to see that this here man is got away from our youngens.  We ain't got nothing agin our youngens gitting some schooling.  Reckon we all want them to learn to read and write, so as they can read the Bible,  and to figure so as they can take care of their affairs.  But we can't rightly tolerate the kind of goins on we've been having."

            Woodrow Harrison and Lester Alley nodded.  Inez stifled a giggle.  Opal glanced sideways at Jeannette who looked as scared as she felt. Opal was not sure what Jeannette said when her father questioned her.  She could not even remember what she had said.  It was so long after the stories were on every lip, in every ear. She was not even exactly sure anymore what she saw and heard. She certainly was not sure what she was supposed to say.

            The superintendent's voice interrupted Opal's thought.  "Now let's get down to the facts.  Mr. Swicegood, why don't you tell us just exactly what are your specific complaints against Mr. Morton."

            Willy fumbled at his seldom worn tie.  He stared as the wall across the room behind the board.  The perfect picture of man gathering his thoughts, a man weighing his words.  Finally he said, "Well first off, he don't do much teachin'. My Inez tells me they have recess a long time every day.  I don't rightly remember it being like that when Miz Carmack was there.  For another he's been sayin' some indecent things to the youngens.  'Specially to the girls.  He followed my Inez when she went to the toilet.  It was nearly a half hour before they came back in. That's mighty worrisome to me.  You have to be on your guard with girls.  Does any of you have girls?  If you do you know there's so many worries you have to be on guard agin.  And havin' a teacher to go off in the woods alone with a girl-- Well as I see it,  it ain't decent. It ain't something we can tolerate."

            Faces of the board remained passive. Woodrow and Lester shook their heads in agreement.  Inez looked as if she would pop. Opal sighed deeply wishing the hearing would end.  Willy continued, "Havin' a teacher look with evil intent in his eyes on a young girl is bad enough, but actually takin' one into the woods -- and in broad daylight in front of the other youngens-- I can tell you that just ain't decent."