Just Some Stuff I Wrote

by William Bell

  — I saw a crowd at the top of the stairs. Then I heard someone yell, then some girl screamed. That’s all.

  — Were you near that staircase at any time during the lunch period?

  — No.

  — What about your friend Bo?

  — Nope. We were together the whole time.

  — All right.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #2

  — Just let me get this thing working. All right, I think that’s it. Now, you’re—

  — Jason Popham.

  — You’re class president. Mrs. Carlucci’s homeroom.

  — Correct. Look, I’m sorry I was late. Rugby practice went on and on. Coach Dow was mad at everybody today. Had us doing push-ups, laps, you name it.

  — We’re trying to get to the bottom of the incident that took place on May 3.

  — I’ll be glad to help in any way I can.

  — I’m trying to learn what I can about Akmed Khan. I thought, since you’re a class leader, you’d be able to help me with that.

  — I’ll try. But I don’t know him very well. Nobody does.

  — Would you describe him as a loner?

  — Yes. He keeps to himself most of the time. He doesn’t hang out with anyone. That I know of, anyway.

  — I understand he’s new to the school.

  — He started here in September. Moved from Brain, or somewhere. One of those Arab places. Geography isn’t my best subject.

  — Bahrain.

  — If you say so.

  — As class president, did you make any attempt to help him assimilate?

  — I tried. Once. You know, tried to strike up a conversation. He made it pretty clear he preferred to be on his own.

  — So, you would say it wasn’t a language problem.

  — No, he speaks English okay. He has an accent, a pretty thick one. But you can understand him.

  — A cultural thing, then?

  — I guess so. I don’t know what his problem is. He isn’t a joiner.

  — Not part of the in-crowd.

  — That’s for sure.

  — Were you in the vicinity of the staircase by the library lobby when the incident took place on May 3?

  — No. I was outside with my friends. It was a nice day.

  — Is there anything else you can think of that would help in this investigation?

  — No, not really.

  — All right.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #3

  — … State your name.

  — Julian.

  — Last name?

  — Williams.

  — Address?

  — 41 North Street, Unit 2.

  — You’re in Mrs. Carlucci’s homeroom?

  — Yeah. Look, I don’t have to answer any of your questions if I don’t want to.

  — Where did you get that idea?

  — You can’t question me without an adult present.

  — Quite the lawyer, aren’t you?

  — I know my rights. And why are you taping this? What’s this all about?

  — You know about the incident at the library staircase on May 3?

  — The day before yesterday. That’s what this is about. Uh, no, I don’t know about no incident.

  I … wait a minute! I wasn’t even here that day.

  — Where were you?

  — At home.

  — Were you sick?

  — No, I slept in, then I figured, might as well stay home.

  — So you were in all day?

  — Yeah, watching videos and that.

  — Were you with anyone?

  — No.

  — Phone anyone? Call out for a pizza?

  — Yeah, I called a friend.

  — Name?

  — I don’t have to tell you. I don’t have to tell you nothin’. I’m leavin’.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #4

  — For the record, it is May 5, I am Sergeant Carl Poole, badge number 1875. This interview is being conducted in the principal’s office of Hillcrest High School. Please state your name and address.

  — Gina Tattaglia. 90 Barlow Crescent. Is this going to take very long?

  — It depends.

  — On what?

  — Obviously, on your cooperation. Now, can we start?

  — Sure. It’s just that I have a meeting, and it can’t start without me. The prom committee. I’m the chairperson.

  — I’ll try not to hold you up, then. As you know, we’re looking into the incident involving Akmed Khan. I’m trying to get some background on his relations with his classmates and so on. Do you know him well?

  — No. Not at all.

  — Ever talk to him, walk with him when classes changed? Anything like that?

  — Absolutely not.

  — Why absolutely?

  — I mean, well, I just don’t know him, that’s all.

  — I’ve been told he keeps to himself a lot.

  — I guess that’s true.

  — By choice, do you think?

  — I wouldn’t know.

  — So you can’t help me at all in this respect.

  — No.

  — All right. Let’s talk about the episode in the cafeteria on May 3.

  — What day was that?

  — Wednesday.

  — Oh, okay.

  — You were at school.

  — Of course. I never miss a day.

  — Were you present in the cafeteria when the scuffle took place?

  — I don’t remember any scuffle.

  — Miss Tattaglia, I’m told that there is some kind of incident in the cafeteria almost daily. Do you want to reconsider your answer?

  — Well, I mean, I guess I was there, but I don’t remember any—

  — We have several witnesses who say you were not only there but part of the incident.

  — Who told you that? Who?

  — I’ll ask you again, do you want to reconsider your answer?

  — Okay, okay, I remember something went on. It was no big deal. It happens all the time, like you said.

  — What was your part in it?

  — I didn’t have a part. What are you trying to say?

  — I prefer you to tell me.

  — Well, I don’t have anything to tell you. Yes, I was there that day. No, I don’t remember anything. Now can I go?

  — For the time being, yes.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #5

  — … All right, so much for the formalities. Now, Mr. Sedgewick, you were supervising the cafeteria at lunchtime on May 3?

  — Yes.

  — For the whole period?

  — That’s right.

  — And the lunch break is—what? An hour?

  — Give or take.

  — What are your duties when you’re monitoring?

  — Basically, to keep order. Make sure the kids clean up after themselves, things like that.

  — Prevent the dreaded food fights?

  — For sure.

  — Did anything out of the ordinary occur on May 3?

  — Not that I recall, no.

  — It was only a couple of days ago.

  — One day is pretty much like another.

  — Were you in the cafeteria the whole time?

  — Of course. We’re expected to remain until the bell goes.

  — So you don’t recall any kind of disturbance?

  — No.

  — How do you supervise? I mean, do you walk up and down the rows of tables and so on?

  — That’s basically it. Stroll around. Talk to some of the kids.

  — Ever take a break?

  — What do you mean?

  — Well, like, nip out for a smoke? Make a phone call? Whatever.

  — I don’t smoke.

  — So, tell me why you don’t remember the altercation that witnesses say occurred on May 3.

  — I … perhaps I sat down for a moment.

  — Where?


  — In the cafeteria. I didn’t leave. But there’s a quiet table near the door.

  — How long were you sitting at the table?

  — Oh for heaven’s sake! I don’t know! I had some papers to grade. Reports are due Monday.

  — Were you occupied with your papers for the whole period?

  — I could have been. Look, you have no idea of the workload.

  — All I’m trying to establish, Mr. Sedgewick, is whether or not you witnessed the scuffle in the cafeteria.

  — Okay, I heard something. I went over to see what was going on. But by then it was over. It was nothing. [tape ends]

  TAPE #6

  — You are JoLynn Taylor?

  — Yes.

  — And I have your address correct?

  — Yes.

  — And you are in Mrs. Carlucci’s homeroom?

  — That’s right.

  — How well do you know Akmed Khan?

  — Not well at all.

  — Ever have a conversation with him?

  — Maybe once or twice.

  — What about? Do you remember?

  — A couple of times, at the beginning of the year, I tried to, you know, just pass the time. Talk about our classes, assignments, like that. But he just blew me off.

  — Does anyone else in the class have any kind of relationship with him?

  — None that I know of. He’s, well, pretty unpopular.

  — Why?

  — Well, the thing is, at first I kind of felt sorry for him, you know? By himself all the time. It’s hard to break in to a new school. Believe me, I know. You never saw him talking with anyone. Not in the halls, or on the way to school, or in the caf. He seemed very lonely. At first.

  — At first?

  — Then I realized that he wanted to be. He doesn’t care about being part of the class, or any of the clubs or teams.

  — And that makes him unpopular.

  — I don’t think it’s that. It’s his attitude.

  — Opinions, you mean?

  — Yeah, sometimes in discussions—Mrs. Carlucci never lets you away with it if you say “I don’t know” or “I don’t have an opinion.” She makes you participate. Anyway, he said some things that put me off. That’s why I gave up trying to be friendly and left him alone.

  — What did he say?

  — For instance, it was pretty clear that he has a lot of contempt for us.

  — Your classmates?

  — No, not just us. Everybody. Society. He seems to think we’re all, I don’t know, immoral or something.

  — Does he give any indication why he feels that way?

  — I think it’s his religion. He’s against drinking, for example—there’s nothing wrong with that, but with him it’s such a big thing—and he thinks us girls act like prostitutes, walking around with our skin exposed and all. He sure doesn’t have any respect for us. Even Mrs. Carlucci.

  — You mentioned his religion. He’s Moslem?

  — Yeah. But it’s more than that. I got a couple of friends who are Moslems, and they’re not like that. See, it really bugs people if you let them know you think you’re better than them. And it bugs them even more if you show you don’t care what their opinion of you is. Most new kids try hard to fit in, be part of a group. He doesn’t care.

  — Were you present during the incident at the staircase on May 3?

  — No, I was working on a late essay in the library. I didn’t even have lunch. I heard the noise, though.

  — Anyone you know see anything?

  — Way I heard it, the clique was there. Only them.

  — The clique?

  — Yeah. You know, the class president and his crowd.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #7

  — Thanks for agreeing to meet with me again. I just have a few more questions, Miss Tattaglia. But first, for the record, the date is May 7, I’m Sergeant Carl Poole, badge number 1875, and the place is the guidance office of Hillcrest High School. There, now we can start.

  — I thought we’d been over everything.

  — You said that you weren’t there at the staircase when the incident took place.

  — That’s right.

  — We have witnesses who saw you.

  — But, I meant, I wasn’t there when he fell.

  — I think it’s time you came clean with me. I should remind you this is a very serious matter.

  — You think somebody pushed him, don’t you? Is that what you’re trying to say?

  — Did you push him?

  — Nobody did.

  — How do you know, if you weren’t there?

  — All right. I was there. Fine. But nobody pushed him.

  — Let’s go back to the commotion in the cafeteria that day. You said you didn’t remember.

  — That’s right.

  — We have witnesses who put you right in the middle of it.

  — Who? Who said that?

  — One of the clique.

  — The what? I don’t believe you. Who?

  — It doesn’t matter who. Now, I’m asking you one more time. Were you or were you not part of the disturbance?

  — Okay, I was close by. But I had nothing to do with it.

  — All right, Miss Tattaglia, I’m going to have to—

  — Look, what’s the big deal? A guy fell down the stairs. It was an accident. I don’t see why—

  — The big deal is, Miss Tattaglia, that Akmed Khan died thirty minutes ago, and it looks like you are right in the middle of a murder investigation.

  — Oh my—

  — Now you will wait in the other room until I call you.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #8

  — Mr. Popham, state your age.

  — I’m eighteen.

  — You understand that this has become a murder investigation?

  — Yes.

  — And that you are entitled to have a lawyer with you? Do you wish to call a lawyer?

  — Am I under suspicion?

  — You must answer my question.

  — No, I don’t need a lawyer.

  — Fine. Now, let’s go back over your answers. You said the other day that you were not there when Akmed Khan fell, or was pushed, down the staircase by the library.

  — He wasn’t pushed.

  — So you were there.

  — Yes, but nobody pushed him. I swear. He fell.

  — He was surrounded by members of the clique.

  — It’s not a—It’s not like it sounds. We’re just friends. We hang out together.

  — What did you all have against Akmed?

  — Nothing. That’s just it. You’re making this sound like we were out to get him. That’s crazy. We just happened to be near him when he fell.

  — Well, that’s not what Miss Tattaglia says.

  — What? What do you mean? What did she say?

  — I want to ask you again about the incident in the cafeteria the day Akmed fell and—He broke his neck, by the way. Did you know that?

  — Er, no.

  — You didn’t ask about his injuries? Your own classmate?

  — No. Why should I?

  — In the cafeteria, what was your role in the disturbance?

  — I had no role. I happened to be nearby, that’s all.

  — And what did you see and hear?

  — I wasn’t really paying attention. Akmed was in the middle of a group of kids and there was some pushing and yelling. That’s all I remember.

  — Well, Miss Tattaglia has told us that there was more to it.

  — Whatever she told you, she was lying. Ask her about what she said to Akmed.

  — What did she say?

  — She was taunting him.

  — Taunting him how?

  — I don’t know, I didn’t hear. She … she leaned down and said something to him, then walked away.

  — Then what happened?

  — I’m not sure. I wasn’t paying attention. I was trying to ca
tch up on some homework and I looked up and I saw her go over to him. She said something to him, and I turned away.

  — That’s all you saw?

  — Yes.

  — You weren’t curious that your friend, who purported to have no interest in this boy, was suddenly talking to him?

  — You make it sound like we treated him like an outcast. It wasn’t like that. People talked to him all the time.

  — But you suggested she leaned over and whispered something. Something that made him react. You said she taunted him. Did she tease him often?

  — No. It wasn’t like that.

  — What about you? Did you hassle him, too?

  — No. Certainly not. Look, the guy was a bore, a snob, he didn’t want to have anything to do with us. Why would we bother with him?

  — Maybe because he wanted nothing to do with you. Because he didn’t acknowledge the primacy of your little clique. All the other kids envied you. You liked that. But he didn’t. He thought you were a bunch of losers.

  — That’s crazy.

  — At the staircase, where were you exactly when Akmed fell?

  — I don’t really remember. We were all there, or most of us. In a bunch, like. Akmed was ahead of us. He just sort of fell. Nobody was near him. It was an accident.

  [tape ends]

  TAPE #9

  — … because things have changed, Julian. You said you were home all day.

  — Yeah, so?

  — We have two statements from students who saw you in the cafeteria. Well? Anything to say?

  — You said the guy died?

  — Broke his neck on the staircase.

  — Jesus. I didn’t think they’d go that far.

  — Who?

  — Nobody. I was just thinking out loud.

  — Look, Julian, I need for you to drop the attitude you came in with last time we talked. This is about murder now. We think someone intentionally killed Akmed Khan.

  — Last time I thought … you wanted to talk about … something else.

  — All right. Let’s start over. You were at the school on May 3, at lunchtime.

  — Yeah.

  — In the cafeteria.

  — I stayed home all morning. Slept in, like I told you. I came to school at lunch to meet up with someone. I was there.

  — And you saw a fight in the cafeteria.

  — I wouldn’t call it a fight. But they were hassling Khan.