The Fraternity Files

by Stephanie Joeline Kerfoot

  “Why should you be so surprised?” Danny demanded, bursting with pride as Ryan and Steve tried to get over their shock. “He’s MY little brother.”

  “Oh, shit,” Steve laughed, rolling his eyes at Ryan as he closed the report and laid it carefully on the desk. “Here we go . . . didn’t I tell you?” Ryan just grinned.

  “So, can I have a beer or two tonight, Steve?” Kevin returned to the subject foremost on his mind at the time and all his brothers laughed once more.

  “How can I say no, after that, Bud?” Steve replied. “Let’s just make sure we get back on track on Monday, ok?”

  “Yes!” Kevin jumped out of Steve’s embrace and punched the air in victory, and Ryan and Danny smiled, enjoying their brother’s happiness.

  “Coach told Jesse and Sean they could use the gym,” Steve went on when Kevin was finally done dancing about the room. “I told them, we’d be over whenever we were through here. It’s almost ten now. I said I thought we’d certainly be done by ten-thirty. They’re probably going to jump out at you, Bud, so try to act surprised? Ok?” Steve grinned.

  “Ok,” Kevin grinned back.

  “All right, Bro, why don’t you go get in the shower?”

  “Ok,” Kevin agreed. “Thanks guys!” he hugged all his brothers again, giving an especially long hug to Danny, and then off he went. His mind was filled for the first time in weeks with nothing but eager anticipation of the night ahead. If only everyone’s thoughts could have been as wonderful.

  File Eleven

  The Portent

  “May the Gods avert the omen.”

  -Marcus Tullius Cicero

  The mood changed instantly as the door closed behind the youngest of the four brothers. Now, that all of the business with Kevin had been settled, they had no choice but to think of the other serious matter hanging over them. Danny hung his head again and Ryan bit his lip as Steve looked at them. Time had run out, they knew. Their big brother could not put off the inevitable much longer.

  Steve tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he looked at his two younger brothers. They avoided his eyes and he knew what they were thinking about. He wanted to say something comforting, but could think of nothing. He knew too, that the day was fast approaching when he could no longer stall. "I'm going to go get ready," he whispered huskily at last. Neither Danny nor Ryan looked up, but they both nodded to show they had heard, and without another word, Steve left the room, shutting the door gently behind him.

  "You ok?" Ryan asked softly when their older brother was gone. Danny shrugged. Ryan placed his arm around him, pulling him close, and Danny turned his face into his big brother's shoulder.

  "I can't stop thinking about it, Ryan," his voice quavered as all the mixed emotions of the night caught up with him.

  "I know," Ryan returned softly. "I can't either." Tears began to streak Danny’s cheeks and Ryan held him, pressing his cheek to his head, and rubbing his back soothingly. They sat like that, without talking, for another few minutes before they reluctantly began to get ready for the party. Neither of them really felt like going, but they would not abandon their brother. They would make this night special for him, and maybe, just maybe if they focused enough attention on Kevin, they would both forget the potent reprimand hidden in their older brother's comforting words.

  `It's only supposed to happen once for you, Bud.' Danny paused in front of the closet where he was trying to select a shirt and put his hand over his face. Those words kept pounding through his head. `Nothing but the most serious kind of infraction would induce me to summon you, now. Understand?' Danny took a deep bitter breath and felt his big brother's hand on his shoulder. Without a word, Ryan selected a shirt and handed it to him and, gratefully, Danny began to put it on. Ryan then selected a shirt of his own, and the two brothers finished getting dressed in silence. `It was only supposed to happen once.' The bitter thought kept going through their minds.

  Twenty minutes later, Kevin bounced into the room, looking squeaky clean and smelling strongly of cologne. He was wearing his jersey with a clean pair of jeans and his brothers smiled a little despite themselves. Kevin was too excited to notice the change in their mood, but Steve sensed it instantly when he stepped into the room. He sent Kevin on ahead of them, and as Ryan closed the door and locked it behind them, he put an arm around each of his other two brothers. "It's ok, guys," he whispered as they pressed close to him. "We'll get through it. I promise." They nodded, but Steve could tell they had doubts. Hell, didn't he have doubts too? `It's only supposed to happen once!' His own words still echoed in his mind as well and he squeezed his brothers' shoulders as Kevin bounced back to reclaim them.

  He watched Kevin drag Ryan and Danny each off by a hand and wished desperately that there was a way to make this whole business easier on them. He pressed his fingers to his eyes. `Just get through tonight, Steve,' he cautioned himself. Tonight was not the time to think about this. Tonight was a night for being with his brothers, enjoying their company, and strengthening their bond. `Tonight is a night for healing,' he thought warily to himself. `I will think about the summons tomorrow.'

  Folder Three

  The Summons

  File One: The Summons

  File Two: Rallying Support

  File Three: The Feud

  File Four: Anticipation

  File Five: Break Down

  File Six: The Reprimand

  File Seven: Damage Control

  File Eight: Stalling

  File Nine: Indecision

  File Ten: The Lecture

  File Eleven: Danny’s Penance

  File Twelve: The Revelation

  File Thirteen: The Storm Before the Calm

  File Fourteen: Reflections Prompted by a Proverb

  File One

  The Summons

  "Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts."

  -Charles Dickens (Great Expectations)

  The Championship was over. For the first time in ten years the South Bend University Bull Dogs were division champions. The celebration had been massive; the feeling euphoric, but that was three days ago. It was over, now.

  Danny sat on a rock high above the rushing creek deep in the woods behind the Saber Bend University campus. It was where he always came to be alone. Tears welled in his eyes and he swallowed hard as he looked down at the two slips of paper he was clutching in his hand. He had been dreading the pink one for weeks, but he had not expected the blue one to accompany it.

  “Hey,” the soft voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up, brushing at the tears that began to trickle slowly down his face.

  “Hey,” he responded dismally.

  “You got it?” Ryan asked.

  Danny nodded miserably as his brother sat quietly down beside him. “But why did he summon Kevin?” he choked, becoming fixated on the blue paper once more.

  Ryan was silent for a moment as he regarded his little brother, then he sighed. “It’s not Kevin,” he said finally, “it’s me.”

  “What?” Danny looked quickly at him, and Ryan shrugged, looking away as tears filled his eyes too.

  “I guess Steve figures since he can’t perform both roles at once, you’re the next best option.” Ryan bit his lip, and Danny hung his head, not really sure what to say. “I’m sure he won’t really make you do it,” Ryan’s voice cracked.

  “Do you want me to?” Danny asked softly, looking at his brother once more.

  Ryan swallowed as he finally met his little brother’s eyes. “I guess.

  I’d rather have you than anybody else,” he choked, and Danny hugged him. “I don’t think it’s going to be my call, though,” he continued, holding tightly to Danny. “I think the blue slip Steve sent you was more of a formality, for appearance’s sake, to keep from giving that rat, Mcarthy, any excuse to pry. On the low down, he told me he was going to try and have Matt there to ‘make things easi
er on all of us.’”

  Danny tightened his arms. “Are you ok with that?” he asked softly.

  Ryan hesitated. “I guess so,” he whispered again, at last. “It’s not as if anything is going to make this a pleasant experience, but Matt might be able to take some of the pressure off Steve at least, and off you.” The last of his words caught in his throat, his brave front collapsed, and Danny held tighter, feeling sick as his brother pressed his face against his shoulder. “Sean was with me when I checked my mail this morning,” Ryan sobbed after a minute. “I’m pretty sure he saw the slips.”

  “Oh, Jesus!” Danny clutched at him as he too began to sob. Words were no longer possible or necessary, now. The two brothers just held one another and cried.

  File Two

  Rallying Support

  "For a friend with an understanding heart is worth no less than a brother."

  - Homer (The Odyssey)

  Sean had been looking for Jesse all morning. He had asked everyone in the house it seemed, and no one had seen him. ‘Where the hell is he?’ Sean thought irritably. Finally, at around two o’clock, he saw Jesse’s roommate as he was crossing campus. “Hey Dave!” Sean called. “Have you seen Jess, today?”

  “Yeah,” Dave shouted back. “I think he’s at the bookstore, getting his books for next semester.”

  “What, are they having a sale or something?” Sean quipped.

  “No,” Dave grinned, “but I think the newest edition of ‘Growl’ is out.”

  “Oh, I see,” Sean smirked.

  “Yeah, I think it’s the special ‘Year in Perspective’ issue,” Dave simpered. “Grrr!” He assumed the customary stance of ferocity all the team players assumed when referring to the college sports periodical, and Sean couldn’t help laughing. His little brother was one of the few who took the magazine seriously.

  “Thanks for the information, Man!” he returned.

  “Not a problem,” Dave replied. “Tell Jess that we will not be coating our walls with the pictures this year.”

  “Ok,” Sean grinned, “I’ll tell him.” He switched directions and made his way towards the campus store, and as he walked the anxiety he had previously been feeling settled over him once more. Finally he stood in the doorway of the thronged shop, scanning it for signs of his little brother. ‘It

  had to be something special to bring Jess in here today,’ he thought grumpily as people pushed and shoved to get by him. He started in the direction of the stairs, greeting friends and acquaintances in a half-hearted manner as he went. He took the steps two at a time and at last the crowd became thinner as he neared the top. ‘He probably has the sports section to himself,’ Sean thought ironically. Sure enough, he found Jesse comfortably ensconced in an armchair by the window, surrounded by all the latest magazines, detailing the heroics of the Saber Bend University Bulldogs. The newest team sweatshirt was draped over his knees and his class book list sat idly on top of the magazines at his feet. He was completely absorbed in the article he was reading, and Sean grinned again despite himself. “Getting a jump on next semester, I see,” he cracked.

  Jesse looked up and smiled sheepishly at his big brother. “My intentions were good,” he returned. “Look at this!” He held up the magazine he’d been perusing. “Is that a great picture or what?” Sean came forward and took the magazine from his brother, and as he examined it closely and saw the picture Jesse was referring to, the smile faded from his face. It was a picture of Jess and Danny together right after Jesse had scored a much needed touch down. “What’s the matter?” Jesse asked. “You don’t think it’s good?”

  “It’s a great picture, Kid,” Sean replied, handing the magazine back to him.

  Jesse looked at him, dismayed. “What’s wrong?” he finally asked again.

  Sean sighed and sat down in the chair across from him, looking steadily into his little brother’s now worried eyes. “It’s going down today,” he said quietly, glancing around to make sure no one they knew was in hearing range. The blood drained from Jesse’s face.

  “Oh, no! He summoned them?”

  Sean nodded. “Five o’clock,” he said softly. “I was with Ryan when he checked his mail. He tried to hide the slips, but those things are so damn bright. I think he knows I saw them.”

  “Fuck!” Jesse exclaimed. “I guess I thought Steve would wait until next semester now, and to be honest, when we didn’t hear of a council meeting, I really started to hope that he had changed his mind.”

  “I know,” Sean replied softly. “Me too.” He sighed, “I think the council must have met. I can’t imagine that Steve made this decision on his own. Guess we weren’t invited,” he added somewhat bitterly.

  “Well, Steve already knows what we think,” Jesse mirrored his brother‘s sardonic tone. “So, who else knows?”

  Sean shrugged. “I haven’t seen Pat or Andy at all. I don’t know about anyone else. I haven’t heard anyone talking, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Mcarthy knows.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he does,” Jesse replied acidly. For a moment they were both silent. A summons was a sober and serious thing. The privacy of anyone who received one was protected by the ethics of The Code. Rumors, however, spread like wildfire in the Rho Beta Chi house, and Danny and Ryan’s status as Steve’s younger brothers wouldn’t help them. It wasn’t everyday that the president summoned his brothers. In fact, no one could remember the last time it had happened, and ever since the fight three weeks ago, there had been speculation as to whether Steve would even go through with it. As serious as the transgression was, Steve’s affection for his brothers was well known. Many people had doubted his conviction in this matter, and some had even placed bets. At last, Jesse spoke again. “What about Kevin?”

  “I don’t know,” Sean returned worriedly.

  “Well, I guess we better find him one way or another,” Jesse replied glumly. “Him hanging on their coat tails is just about the last thing Danny and Ryan need right now.”

  “That’s for damn sure!” Sean spat. “I just can’t believe Steve’s going to do this less than a week before the semester ends!”

  “Yeah,” Jesse chewed his lip resentfully. “I wonder if he told them.”

  For a moment Sean was quiet. “I think he probably told Ryan,” he admitted finally in a soft voice. “Ry didn’t seem too surprised this morning, and Steve never really has played by the rules where his little brother is concerned. I’m sure this is killing him, and if it weren’t for Mcarthy, he’d undoubtedly let the whole thing slide.”

  “It does always seem to come down to that slime ball doesn’t it?” Jesse agreed. Sean was quiet again, and after a moment Jesse got to his feet. “Come on,” he said, “we better find Kevin.” He bent to pick up his sweatshirt, booklist, and the issue of ‘Growl,’ he’d just been looking at.

  “Aren’t you going to put the rest of this stuff away?” Sean asked, as he too got to his feet.

  Jesse shrugged and looked around, unconcerned, at the mess he was leaving. “That’s what these people get paid for,” he responded.

  “Jeeesss,” Sean reprimanded.

  “What?” Jesse looked at his big brother. “Oh, all right!” he retorted as Sean raised his eyebrows. “Here, hold these.” He shoved his sweatshirt, magazine, and booklist at Sean and bent to pick up the remaining piles of magazines, carting them away one on top of another. Sean’s lip twitched as he tried to hide his amusement. The kid was incorrigible. A moment later Jesse came back and took his stuff from Sean, and they headed down the stairs to the front of the store. The line was huge and Jesse stared at it in dismay.

  “Come on, Jess, we’ve got to go,” Sean prompted impatiently.

  “I’m just going to have them hold these,” Jesse replied and Sean looked at him in exasperation.

  “What?”

  “Jesse, there’s a million copies of that magazine and twice as many sweatshirts. They’re not going anywhere. You don’t need the store to hold th
em.”

  “But these are mine,” Jesse protested. “Back in a jiffy!”

  “Jess!” Sean called after his brother, but Jesse was already gone, and Sean shook his head in disbelief. He glanced around the store while he was waiting to see who else he might recognize, but there was no one. ‘That’s strange,’ he thought. Ten minutes ago, it had seemed like everyone he knew was here. He looked uneasily at his watch, and then peered into the crowd at the front again in an effort to catch a glimpse of his brother. As he did, his heart froze. To the right of the register, in the corner, was a whole pack of his fraternity brothers. They were all looking at him, some sympathetically, and some with maniacal mirth. Gregg Mcarthy stood at the center.

  Two seconds later, Jesse was back and pulling at his arm. “Come on, we’ve got to go,” he said, following his brother’s horror struck gaze. “I don’t know how that bastard found out, but he’s telling everybody he knows. We’ve got to find Kevin.” Absently, Sean allowed his brother to pull him towards the door.

  “Hey, Mcnally, Kinkaid!” Gregg called just as they were leaving. Jesse and Sean glared back at him. “You better hope you find him before I do,” Gregg leered.

  Sean clenched his fist, and started in Gregg’s direction, but Jesse pulled him back. “He’s not worth it,” he cautioned quietly, scowling once more in Gregg’s direction. “Come on, let’s just go.” Jesse pulled on his brother’s arm once again, and with one more scathing glance at their rival, Sean followed.

  File Three

  The Feud

  "There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate."