The class is worried.

As am I.

There is a meeting tonight to discuss their fate 

and they know

full well

they have been behaving like clowns

because I have un-candied-candidly told them.

One is rightly contrite,

ah,

but he only admits so

when well out of mates' hearing

and happens upon me crossing the quad.

I am leery

of why he is approaching me

so sideways-slinking,

his bright eyes, wet and ever-alert.

Still, even a private admission is progress, isn't it?).

He asks me why a certain other student might be frightened of him

for that is the accusation (one of them, anyway)

for which the class is under investigation

and he cannot understand,

since he is one of the smaller boys,

not nearly so large as some of the six to six-foot-four, beefy boyos

what could possibly be so scary?

But you are the one with the raptor-rapier tongue,

(I reel back in)

but I cannot help think: You are He

whose quips, though frankly clichéd (to me),

dull, rank failures in wit,

do not appear so to smooth-cheeked, wide-eyed 'special needs' kids

who have little experience in devastating

with language.

(And you lie, unconscionably) I add under breath -

long-toothed walrus whoppers

give reassurances you have no intention

of keeping - why

is that?

You have the ability to look one in the eye,

all bright-eyed, sparrow-charming to disarmingly argue for crumbs.

What has been done

to you? I shudder to guess.

Well, well, you assure me there is to be a change of behaviour.

We shall see

if you have learned the meaning of integrity

which I seriously doubt (I am not so jade as that)

but before I can begin

to forgive your deliberate undermining,

I must suffer the consequences of your inconsequential wit.

How ironic that your name makes me recollect

that infamous correctional

centre, my lad.

...