The Lying Mirror

by alvinna edwards nwoko

Little wall shelves were place her and there and Lin placed her new mirror on a wall all by itself. The room was beautiful, 100% better that she had it, and she owe it all to her new friends.

  Thanks guys, the room looks beautiful and cheery.

  But don’t wait too long to find yourself a suitable roommate, then you could move into a larger room like ours and have all kind of space. I got to get to my studies girls, Pit lied, call me Cassy if you need me to come and get you.

  While Pit is gone put your pull shade back up to your window, you don’t want any one being able to see your shadow while you undress, do you?

  Of course not.

  Led me over to your window I want to check something out.

  Lin held out her left hand and let it touch Cassy slightly and Cassy put her hand on top of Lin’s and Lin led her to the window.

  Thank you Lin. Cassy started touching the sheet and said you see this ruffle at the bottom of the sheet? Maybe tomorrow I will make you a valance to accent your window. Lin is the print throughout the sheet or is it a plain blue sheet with a printed ruffle.

  It’s a plain blue sheet with a printed ruffle.

  Yes you valance will turn out beautiful.

  How do you know such things being blind? Lin ask.

  At the school for the blind, we had makeup artist, home decorators, seamstress and all kind of helpful people to come out and teach us different things. It will only take me thirty minutes to sew your valances tomorrow. I’ll call you when I’m ready to do it. Remember to give me your number before I leave.

  Now let me thank you, for what you have taught me in the short period of time I have known you Lin. I was prepared to watch you burn for what you did to me and Jack. But Jack, my blessed Jack open my heart to compassion. God has given Jack a seventh sense for knowing what a person need in their life. He made me understand that there was something else with you I wasn’t feeling, that only he felt. And that was your torment. I had forgotten what it was like to sit alone in class and at play because no one wanted to be bothered with me.

  I forgot how it felt when the kids would say don’t play with her she can’t see what you’re doing anyway. It hurt to be alone, and I want to thank you for reminding me that there are reason for every misunderstanding, for every foolish act. These past few months Jack brought that to my attention. Today was beautiful, a lot of things changed today, and I want to tell you personally I am one of those things.

  See you tomorrow, I also have to get ready for tomorrow’s classes.

  Jack I am so glad you are my friend.

  Why is that Ant?

  I would not want you plotting against me.

  Laughing with someone always made Jack feel accepted. While he and Ant were joking around, Jack remembered his solitude and the pain and anguish he went through after the shooting. He knows about the power of love. If it wasn’t for the love my parents and T.T. parents showed be I would have been just like Lin. Confused and alone. I want as many friends who want to be my friend.

  Ant I wouldn’t have to plot against you. Your life is an open book. The only offense you would commit is an issue with food. All I would have to say is he fought me for my hamburger and the board would believe me.

  No they wouldn’t because everybody knows I would fight you for a bacon cheeseburger. You would have been caught in a lie and I would have prevailed.

  And beside I’m on the Board of ethics, Jack told Ant.

  So am I.

  I never lie.

  Neither do I, Ant countered.

  I hate bacon cheeseburgers.

  I’d have to fight you on that one Ant laughed.

  Hey Ant why don’t you come in for a while we can sit around, watch sports or a movie and lie.

  Sounds good to me, Ant agreed.

  Gary watched as Jack and Ant approach Jack’s apartment and stood outside for a minute talking before they went inside. One hour later Gary watched Ant drive away and the lights in Jack apartment stayed on for another hour before they were all turned off for the night.

  I’ll wait for that cripple to get out of his chair, I’ll deal with him then. See you tomorrow, boy.

  Linda was on her way to becoming just like you and that cripple had to interfere. It would have been fun abusing her.

  I would have loved her if she had given me the chance.

  But she didn’t, did she?

  She said her friend told her not to date the guys on campus. That we’re not to be trusted. I can be trusted. My Father owns half of a pharmaceutical company, and I’m on the board of Student Ethics. I have a nice car and a good grade average.

  Well, we both know now who her friend is, now don’t we? And she trust that cripple instead of you. Who does she think she is?

  She is beautiful. I would love to take her on a date.

  Ask her tomorrow. All of this would be over and forgotten by then his bathroom mirror told him.

  Good morning I have a 7:30 appointment with the Dean.

  And you are sir? The Dean’s secretary asked.

  Gary Price, with a 7:30 appointment with Dean Becker he said as he showed his displeasure with annoyance.

  One moment please. The secretary went into the Dean’s office to announce Mr. Price is here to see you.

  Have him wait in the conference room with the others.

  Right this way Mr. Price.

  As Gary entered the conference room he saw all who the board’s President said would be there, including Ant and Jack.

  Good morning everyone, how long have you been waiting?

  Since about 7am, Won answered.

  My appointment was at 7:30, why are you here anyway.

  Janeta called me yesterday and advised me it was about the hearing yesterday, she said we need to discuss the behavior of one of our members. Won didn’t like lying, but he didn’t like the idea of Gary coming in acting as if he didn’t know why they were there. Janeta called and advised him in full detail the purpose of the meeting. And I know she spoke with him, because she told me she did, Lord Let this be the day we vote him out. Please?

  Dean Becker and Board President Janeta Rodriguez entered the conference room at 7:35. The morning was cool so the Dean had asked his secretary to turn on the heat in the conference room before the meeting. Now it was just a little too hot in the room so he had to excuse himself to go and ask his secretary to turn off the heat.

  Thank you Mrs. Pitts.

  Sir. Did you want me to turn the heat down or off?

  I think off will be fine, the heat from these guys should be sufficient.

  I apologize everyone, I had the heat on in here and notice it had gotten to hot, excuse me for leaving.

  Well, good morning.

  Madam President have you completed the meeting’s briefing?

  No Sir, I was waiting on you.

  Will you please start with the briefing?

  Yes Sir, thank you sir.

  As President of the Student Board of Ethics, I attended the hearing yesterday morning to exercise one of my duties, which was to evaluate the behavior of our members, making sure they are in compliance with the ethics board standards. Yesterday I witness and accused Gary Price of behavior unbecoming of a member of the Students Board of Ethics, I also found Gary Price to display aggressive attempts to depreciate the testimonies of Jackson Dillard, who is with us today and the defendant Linda Laakenworth. Based on the satisfactory evidence provided at the hearing, the proposal set forth by the defendant representative was fair and ingenious. If my assessment is incorrect I would like to allow the attending members who were present at the hearing to please express any concern and advise me if my assessment is incorrect.

  Dean Becker do you have anything to add before we start.

  So far so good. Please continue.

  Jim Able, do you have anything to advise, disagree or agree?

  Agree.

  Bright Cummings, do you have anything to advise, disagree or agree?

  Agree.

  John Daile, d
o you have anything to advise, disagree or agree?

  Disagree.

  Jackson Dillard, do you have anything to advise, disagree or agree?

  Madam President, I am not sure why what happen yesterday happened. But based on our standards for ethics I would have to agree.

  Annette Dyson, do you have anything to advise, disagree or agree?

  Agree.

  Bridgett Edwin, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Anthony Flynn, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Gary Price, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Disagree, and after the roll call I would like to explain myself.

  John Daile, seconded Gary Price motion all in favor,

  I, everyone agreed.

  Won Oui, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Thi Tou, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Jerome Davis, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Sarah Bennington, do you have anything to advise, agree or disagree?

  Agree.

  Members of the Board as of today we are formally charging Gary Price with behavior unbecoming of a member of the Student Board of Ethics, noncompliance of Board member standards and aggressive attempts to depreciate testimonies.

  The charges will be handed over to Dean Becker and the acting Mediator Judge Professor Crompton.

  Now we will hear from Gary Price. Gary will this be on or off the record.

  On the record please.

  All of you seem to think I acted inappropriately and I am sorry you feel that way. The truth still remains, Linda Laakenworth attacked Jack and Cassy. She stole from the lab and I still believe she should not be on this campus. If you see me as aggressive it is only because the truth must be told. All of you in this room one day soon will understand truth. I will hate to see my father pull his contributions from this university because of your poor treatment towards me. I believe that when my father’s lawyers investigate this travesty I’m sure he would find I acted in accordance to the board’s standards.

  Mr. Price, you have only used three minutes of the fifteen you are designated for your advice. Do you have anything further to add?

  I do not?

  Then we shall now turn this matter over to the Dean and Judge Professor Crompton.

  I have already spoken to Professor Crompton, the Dean advised the members. And he and I are in agreement that Gary Price should be removed as a member of the Student Board of Ethics. Although his behavior is within the university student standards, he will be allowed to continue his studies here at the university. Immediately Jerome Davis, a member in waiting will be transferred into Gary Price position as active member of the board.

  Janeta, Rodriguez focus her attention on John Daile and asked him, because you disagreed with my accusations do you have anything at this time to say?

  I do not Madam President.

  Gary jerked his focus to John and the fire in his eyes said it all, you too? All of you will know the truth soon enough.

  Madam President adjourned the meeting and watched Gary’s reaction as he left the conference room. It worried her because she had heard Gary had a revengeful heart and a mind that acted on his displeasure. Each of the members she had called advise her that if she follow through with her intention that Gary will be displeased and is sure to go after her and any supporter who might favor against him. All of the members in attendance of the meeting acted as if they were leaving the building and ten minutes later returned to the Dean’s conference room for a second meeting minus Gary Price.

  Gary was so angry and humiliated because of the result of the meeting he was unable to move so he sat across the street in front of the administration building where the Dean’s office is located. Talking to himself, he made himself a promise that everyone involved with his rejection will have to pay.

  What the hell is going on, why are they going inside the building again. Did we have another meeting scheduled today? No, they’re just acting like they were leaving the building and when they thought I had left they doubled back for a second meeting about me. Well let’s give them about ten minutes then I’ll see what the meeting is all about. It would worth it just to see the look on everybody’s faces.

  The dean looked around the room at the faces of all the promising futures he had before him. Ladies and gentlemen this is an informal meeting to discuss your fate with Gary Price.

  Before anyone say anything about Gary let me tell you I know Gary has been aggressively trying to change the opinions of the members with threats and bribes. I understand he has offered pharmaceuticals to a couple of our board members and you had enough integrity to refuse his advances. For that I thank you.

  John, I know you did not want to speak in front of Gary because of your association with Clyde and Price pharmaceuticals. Now that he is not in the room would you like to say something now?

  Yesterday at the hearing, Gary over stepped his boundaries by asking Jack if he was in love with Ms. Laakenworth. I believe the question was clearly personal and did not pertain to the hearing at all. I was advised by a student that he is giving gifts of pharmaceuticals to ensure his popularity on and off campus. I cannot say this is true but it will warrant an investigation of the allegation.

  What allegation John, Gary interrupted. I’m being investigated now. You people have not embarrassed me enough, now you have to sneak around behind my back and discuss my fate and life style.

  Mr. Price! How did you get in here? This is a private meeting of which you were not invited. The dean was worried now, Gary anger was now escalated by the secret meeting being held to discuss his fate.

  I think I told all of you at one time or another you will be sorry for your miss treatment of me. But don’t worry about today, I can wait.

  Gary looked in each member’s eyes and locked in on John’s and smiled and with a nod of his head he left the room. Outside of the building he was still smiling knowing he had one last task to fulfill and that was to ask Linda Laakenworth for a date. She is going to be rich one day and I might as well get in on the ground floor. The doctor said she needed friends, and I’m just the person who can show her true friendship.

  Later on that day Pit and Lin hooked up with Cassy after Classes to walk to the dorm together. Small talk was the topic for the walk home when Cassy stopped and sniffed the air.

  I smelled that cologne last night near the girl’s dorm, is there a man nearby?

  Only Gary, he walking towards us, Lin advised Cassy.

  That is very expensive cologne he’s wearing, I have not smelled that odor before last night, Cassy told Pit and Lin. Cassy was sure that the same odor was in front of the dorm this morning as well. Why all of a sudden would his smell be at the girl’s dorm?

  I don’t know, answered Pit.

  Good morning Ladies.

  Good morning Mr. Price, Lin greeted Gary.

  Please call me Gary.

  What can we do for you Mr. Price? Pit asked.

  First I wanted to congratulate Linda for a getting what she deserve yesterday. Everyone deserves a second chance, would you agree?

  Of course Mr. Price and thank you for thinking so.

  I was wondering Ms. Laakenworth if you would be so kind as to have an early dinner with me?

  I’m sorry Mr. Price, but we are on our way to the dorm to study. But thank you, you are so very kind to ask.

  Cassy, Pit and Lin continued their walk to the Dorm and waited inside Cassy and Pit’s room to see if they were followed by Gary. Sure enough as Cassy said, Gary showed up ten minutes later in the area she had smelled the cologne.

  Lin I think he might be stalking you, Pit said in a serious voice.

  Why?

  I don’t know Lin. You and Cassy stay here, I’ll pretend I going to the store and ask why he’s here.


  Lin was peeking through the curtains telling Cassy what was going on.

  She’s now going down the stairs.

  She not taking the side walk, she going in the direction Gary is hiding in the study park.

  She and Gary is talking, she waves and continue to the student store.

  Gary is still there. He didn’t leave when spotted by Pit. Okay maybe he’s just waiting on someone else. That makes me feel better.

  Fifteen minutes later Pit returned with a small bag, waved to Gary and now she’s coming in.

  Well what was his reason for being there Pit? Lin asked.

  He said he liked that park better because it’s prettier and quieter.

  But he lives on the other side of the campus.

  And, Cassy added, he if comes to this park he is going away from where he lives and not towards where he lives.

  I know Cassy that’s what’s bothering me, Pit replied peeking through the curtains.

  Now that Jerome Davis was given a permanent place on the board a new slot for Member in waiting was available. Sarah was next in line and she was feeling great about her possibility. She had a late class that let out at 7:30pm and needed books to take home with her after class. She went to her convenient locker at the cafeteria and open the locker doors. A spew of something hot fell on her face arm and chest, the intensity of the heat caused Sarah to stripe out of her blouse, but whatever liquid that was that spilled on her had already started to eat through her skin, she started to scream and other students in the cafeteria rushed to see what the problem was.

  I’m burning! Sarah screamed and a student ran and grabbed her 7up and plashed it over Sarah’s face arm and chest, call 911! The student yelled and every student reached for their cell phones and dialed emergency. A male student ran to the kitchen of the cafeteria and grabbed the first large bucket he could find filled it with water and ran back to Sarah and again started to splash water onto her body.

  The screams had ceased in Sarah for she was no longer conscious.

  It only took five minutes for the medics to arrive and apply emergency medical treatment. Sarah’s vitals were checked and she was still alive.

  What happen here? A medic asked as he was speedily treating Sarah.

  I saw her open her locker and something spilled out on to her. She started screaming and we came running.