Chapter 56

Asher

The school boardroom is big enough to pass for a small courtroom. Present today is: Principal Watson, Morris Beckhart, who is the school district Superintendent, and his administrator Sally Varga. Also present is a woman, whose name badge says Genevieve Flock, President: Moms in Action for Iowa. Deliah and Gerald are also here.

The person currently sitting at the head of the table is a man with a head full of gray hair, lanky in his body, and a sour expression. He doesn't look at me when I enter.

Deliah, however, gives me a tentative smile, which I don't return. And Gerald, who's sitting next to her, tries to catch my eye several times. I ignore him like I would an annoying stomach bug.

Everyone takes their seats, a yellow file in front of them, as do I. Susan, who just entered the room, turns on the screen on the left wall. It lights up with the heading: In the matter between LINKSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL and ASHER CAMERON.

Susan announces that the session is now being recorded. Introductions are made. Chairperson Ferdi Castil will be presiding. Mr. Castil is a respected member of the greater Linksfield community, who has presided over tens of similar disciplinary proceedings in schools and corporate environments alike. He has a law degree and currently holds a position at InvestX, one of the country's most prestigious private wealth banks.

I make a mental note that if Ferdi is conservative in his personal and political views, I'm basically fucked already.

Deliah and Gerald are introduced as witnesses for the district and Genevieve Flock, who gives me several disdainful looks, is introduced as the community speaker.

Ferdi begins.

"We're here today in the matter between Asher Cameron and Linksfield High School and the Iowa school district. The purpose of this meeting is to unpack the outcome of the investigation of moral indiscretions allegedly committed by Mr. Cameron, which has brought Linksfield High School's reputation under scrutiny. And for such breach, refer to Addendum one, section seven of Linksfield High School's Code of Conduct. Any questions?"

He looks around the table. There's a murmur of no's , including mine.

"Mr. Cameron, we'll go in the following order: I'll explain the process that was followed up until this point. This is to place on record that due process has been followed. This will be followed by Principal Watson, who will state for the record the steps taken by the school. Morris Beckhart will follow, and Genevieve Flock will then read a statement on behalf of the community. Lastly, there will be statements given by Deliah Smith and Gerald Duncan, representing Linksfield High School. Do you have any witnesses or representation, Mr. Cameron?"

"I do not."

"Okay. Stating for the record that Mr. Cameron has chosen to represent himself in this matter. Any questions?"

Another round of no's.

"Right, let's kick off." He shuffles through his stack of documents as if they are not all already in order. I open my file.

"Mr. Cameron, as you are aware, Superintendent Morris Beckhart, on September twenty-first, received an email stating a possible breach of Linksfield's Code of Conduct, stating that you have entered into a personal relationship with a man, while you remain married to someone else. That your legal partner is aware of this relationship and is also a participant in it. This complaint was referred to Principal Watson, who provided you with the details of the complaint. Combined with statements supporting such a charge, we are now here to hear your response to the complaint and gather information in order to determine an appropriate outcome. Do you have any questions?"

"I do not."

"Right. Principal Watson, we'll start with you."

Watson doesn't look at me as he pages through his documents. "Uh. Well. Yes," he starts. "I, uh, received the complaint from the school district's office stating such as Mr. Castil has just explained. I checked the school's Code of Conduct and found that the complaint refers to section seven, which states that if a teacher is found to have conducted himself in a way that may be construed as morally abhorrent or has committed moral indiscretions, then he is in breach of the morality clause of section seven and is subject to disciplinary action."

Principal Watson takes a deep breath and wipes his hair – which appears to be damp – and continues. "I informed Ca—I mean, Mr. Cameron of the charges, issued the necessary paperwork and placed him on administrative leave."

"Did Mr. Cameron deny the charge, Principal Watson?" Genevieve asks.

"Uh, no, he did not."

"Okay, any other questions?" Ferdi asks.

No all-round.

Next is Morris Beckhart. He's a serious-looking man with a bald spot at the back of his head, and when he speaks it makes me think of an old-school preacher. In other words, not someone who's likely to take pity on me.

"Yes," he says. "We received the complaint from the father of one of the participants in this relationship, who expressed his concern about the moral and ethical implications of a teacher's conduct of his personal life, especially when the teacher is held in high regard by impressionable students."

I wish I could tell these assholes that my ability to sleep with two men at the same time is none of their business, and that the children don't care about it, one way or another.

"In light of the current climate in our country, as we deal with the issue of immorality as an epidemic, we felt it necessary to request that an investigation be conducted. As required by the governing bodies, we followed the necessary protocols. Thank you."

Genevieve goes next, and it is her statement that is going to hurt the most. She speaks for the people.

"We, the people of Iowa, and citizens of the United States of America," she says, "take pride in calling this land our home, and this community our extended family. We are a nation founded on the principles and laws given to us by God himself. And it is our honorable duty as citizens to never stand back and watch the despicable behaviors of those who choose to live their lives outside of these principles and laws."

Something stings inside my chest, and I realize it's the fucking audacity of that statement.

She continues. "The nuclear family is all this nation has left. The natural family structure. We have to preserve it at all costs. Our country has already made several compromises to accommodate those who believe they were not created in the image of God, those who insist that they are not what they were created to be."

I think I might have a heart attack.

"The issue under discussion today came to our attention shortly after the complaint against Mr. Cameron reached the school district's office. To Mr. Buddy Carter, we are thankful for exposing the moral indiscretions committed by Mr. Asher Cameron. We do not – we vehemently do not – condone such behavior, and our reasoning is that it is not morally acceptable to be in a relationship with more than one partner. Our official stance is that we do not support polyamory and we believe such behavior is an act of rebellion against God and his instructions regarding the institution of family and marriage."

Susan clicks away on her laptop, moving through the slides and displaying Genevieve's despicable words on the TV screen as they spew out of her mouth.

"However, while we as Moms in Action do not subscribe to or support such behaviors, we understand that we live in a country that also prides itself in freedom. This means that, in and of itself, we do not judge Mr. Cameron's moral choices, nor do we wish to prescribe how he lives his life. Our one and only concern in this matter is the impact Mr. Cameron's choice may have on the children whose lives he influences every day."

She stops for a breath and a sip of water, and looks me dead in the eye, as if she's going to single-handedly destroy my life, and it will be her greatest pleasure to do so.

"In regard to Mr. Cameron's influence over the students of Linksfield High School, I would also like to bring to the attention of those present, the current situation taking place on the lawns outside. Mr. Cameron's influence runs so deep that we have sixty students currently in a silent protest in support of his lifestyle. If it had been any other teacher, would the students have taken such a stance?"

She pauses, letting it all sink in. Deliah is nodding and Gerald is picking at his cuticles.

"Mr. Cameron's influence over the children has reached dangerous levels. I would go so far as to say that we're dealing with a Pied Piper situation here. Mr. Cameron will lead these children straight into a life of debauchery and sin and they will follow him blindly. We can't let it go on. We need to put a stop to it. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I'd like to pose a question. How far is too far? This country has already made liberal allowances for—"

She pauses.

—"For alternate lifestyles. And we do so gladly because we believe in liberty. But we have to ask ourselves: when will we stop moving the goalpost when it comes to morality? We already allow, support and celebrate homosexual relationships and marriages. We accept and understand gender dysphoria as very real for those going through it. We accept and understand these alternate lifestyles, but there must come a time when we decide where the line in the sand is. If we continue to allow people to bend and reshape the fabric of important societal elements, such as exclusive romantic relationships, what's next? Child marriages? Familial marriages?" She pauses and ends with an impassioned, "Thank you."

"Alright," Ferdi says. "Let's pause it there. Let's take a break and we'll reconvene in twenty minutes."

We disperse. Principal Watson is too stressed to talk and, frankly, I don't feel like talking to anyone. I've avoided Abdul's texts asking to let him know when I have a break so he can come over to talk. Instead, I text Reece and Sawyer while I smoke a cigarette at the back of the building.

They tell me they're at work but will try to leave early to meet me at home. I tell them not to worry because I probably need the alone time. The reality that I may lose the job I love so much settles deeper and deeper in my stomach, and along with it, such a deep fucking rage that I'm here right now because of Buddy Carter's big fucking mouth.

I finish my cigarette, tossing the butt into the trash can. Then, I walk over to Principal Watson, who has returned from his office.

"Principal Watson," I say, when he tries to walk past me.

He shoves his hands into his pockets. "Look, Cameron. I'm really sorry for all of this." He hardly makes eye contact.

"You're just doing your job."

He sighs. "It's not right, Cameron, and I'll give that recommendation when the time comes. I'm going to ask for you to stay, but that Genevieve Flock? She's got a track record for getting what she wants."

"I still need to give my statement. Things can still go in my favor."

"Yeah. I hope so. Hate this shit."

"I called you over to ask about the kids."

"Yeah. We had to call the parents. Cops came. They've been escorted out. Parents are picking them up now."

"I'm sorry for all the trouble, sir," I say, genuinely regretful for the situation with the children.

"Yeah, Cameron. I don't know what's worse. Choosing to have, not just one lover, but two, or having an entire institution coming out here and saying you can't."

"I'm worried about Sam," I say, ignoring his statement.

"Yeah. Me too. That boy belongs in the NFL. I'm not gonna just let it go if the school board gives us trouble."

Susan pokes her head around the corner. "Time, gentlemen. Let's go back inside."

Inside, I take my seat, getting ready to give my statement. I'm not afraid. I didn't survive Buddy Carter just to come before a school district board and cower.

Ferdi reconvenes and I'm given the floor.

"Stating for the record: I'm Coach Asher Cameron, and I'm currently Linksfield High School's Physical Education teacher and football coach. I've been at Linksfield High School for four years and, under my leadership, we have retained the title of three-time championship holders. Today I'll address the concerns raised by the school district and certain members of the community."

Inhaling deeply, I turn the pages in my file, wondering how it's possible I'm actually sitting in a boardroom, trying to convince grown adults to let me keep my job while they try to fire me for being in love with two people at the same time.

"I am legally married to Sawyer Reed and have been for the past two years. Prior to that, we were in a monogamous relationship for four years. Earlier this year, my husband—"

I make sure to let that word come out clearly.

"—My husband and I decided to introduce a third person into our relationship. The decision was made consensually, among the three of us. The relationship is still new, and we are developing as what is commonly referred to as a throuple. Despite the short amount of time we have been together, we have already established a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. We care deeply for each other, and we have confidence that we will have a long and lasting romantic relationship."

Genevieve looks like she's suddenly sitting on fire ants, and Gerald looks more interested than he should for being such a fucking traitor. Honestly, I think he secretly gets off on these ‘alternate lifestyles'.

I continue: "My relationship with my husband and now, boyfriend—"

Deliah gasps, and if my job wasn't on the line I would've laughed at how scandalized she looks.

"My relationships with my husband and boyfriend are private and conducted in the same way any healthy, committed relationship would be. It has not, in any way, hampered my ability to perform my duties as a teacher."

I turn my attention to Genevieve Flock. Because she's going to fucking look at me while I explain my whole fucking private life to this panel.

"Ms. Flock raised concerns about my influence over the kids at Linksfield High. I'd like to address that, particularly the events of this morning concerning the silent protest by the students. I don't deny the influence I've had on them. I have, in fact, taught them far more than the importance of physical well-being or how to bring home championship wins. My influence over these kids have taught them to be more of who they are, not more of who I am. I taught them to believe in themselves, to always do what's right even if it's hard, and to never stand back and allow injustice, especially injustice against themselves. To see the world for all its goodness and ugliness and know that their voices can make a difference."

I need to slow down or I'm going to join in their silent protest. I'm so angry, suddenly.

"The kids have learned that it isn't just strategy and tactical game plays that win championships. They know it all starts inside their hearts and in their minds. What you saw out there this morning are kids standing up for what they believe in. They have a sense of justice. They're thinking critically. We shouldn't be tamping down their voices. We should be proud of their acceptance of alternative lifestyles . It shows their tolerance, acceptance and understanding that they live in a diverse world."

Genevieve glares at me from across the table. "Proud, Mr. Cameron? Sixty children were escorted by the police out of this school this morning. They will miss important learning. I believe the student at the forefront of this silent protest is the captain of the football team you have been responsible for coaching. Are you saying we should be proud of students – student leaders – who defy authority figures so blatantly?"

"They're peacefully expressing their views, as is their right."

"They are children , Mr. Cameron," she spits out.

"They still have the right to stand up for what they believe in."

Ferdi interjects. "Thank you, Ms. Flock. Mr. Cameron, continue."

Genevieve leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, her face red with fury.

"Thank you," I say. "In regard to the morality clause as detailed in section seven of the Code of Conduct, I believe morality is a highly subjective concept, and can mean different things to different people. To infer that I've brought the school into disrepute over my relationships is totally subjective, and, more importantly, it is discriminatory. Lastly, I must add that none of what has been discussed today provides any evidence of how my private life has negatively impacted my professional life. I'm a good teacher. I'm a good coach. I have good relationships with colleagues and students alike. My private life doesn't take away or otherwise infringe upon the rights of any person – child or adult. It's preposterous that my private life has been placed on trial in this manner. I believe the steps taken are too harsh and unnecessary. If any, I would like to see evidence of poor performance in my role at Linksfield. If there is none, I request that the allegations of moral indiscretion and bringing the school into disrepute be dismissed."

There. I have nothing else.

Gerald's statement consists of confirming that he had, in fact, spoken to me about my partner possibly cheating on me, and the fact that I did not come clean about the exact nature of my relationship indicates an intent to be deceptive. I tell him with my eyes to fuck off.

Deliah does nothing but relay secondhand information. Her ramblings become so frustrating that Ferdi has to cut her off and bring the meeting to a close.

Deliberations will take place over the next week and a decision will be reached within two weeks.