The Fraternity Files Part Four: The Summons

Chapter 9: Indecision

 

 

“Now what?” Mike finally broke the silence.

 

Kurt shrugged.  “I guess we have to go down there and give this to Mcarthy,” he answered hesitantly, “but I think we ought to at least put it in an envelope first.” He began to fish around in Mike’s desk for the desired item.

 

 

“I don’t like this, Man,” Mike responded uncomfortably.  “I mean it’s not like I have any real sympathy for Mcarthy, but he IS a senior.  I don’t know; the whole thing just doesn’t feel right.”

 

“Well, I don’t like it either,” Kurt returned, “but it’s what Steve asked us to do, and he is the president as well as our friend.”

 

“He’s playing with fire,” Mike persisted.

 

“Well, what do you suggest we do about it?”  Kurt snapped.  “He’s within his rights to summon Gregg. Lord knows that slime sucking sludge slurping bastard has it coming!”

 

“I know, Man, but Steve’s not thinking straight at all right now! This isn’t the kind of thing he’d do if he was; not this way! He is emotionally exhausted; his temper is short, and he is just not in his right mind! That could spell big trouble for him, Kurt!”

 

“So you think we should go against his request?? Not summon Mcarthy?” Kurt’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you think he’s been through enough without us second guessing him?”

 

“Well,” Mike replied hesitantly.  “I’m not saying we should go against him exactly . . . .”

 

“Then just what are you saying?” Kurt demanded, his guard fully up.  Steve had been his best friend since freshmen year.  They had been through a lot together and Kurt knew things that even Mike didn’t.  Protecting Steve was always at the forefront of Kurt’s mind.  This proposal of Mike’s smelled an awful lot like betrayal, and Kurt would not have that.

 

“Relax, Man!” Mike returned irritably.  “I’m not saying go against him.  I’m just thinking maybe we could make a couple of phone calls first . . . .”

 

“Phone calls to who?” Kurt inquired warily, but as Mike looked up and met his eyes, he knew what his friend was getting at.  He continued to hold Mike’s eyes, pressing his lips together thoughtfully as he mulled the suggestion over in his mind. “It’s risky . . .” he ventured quietly, at last.

 

“It’s risky if we don’t too,” Mike replied.

 

That was true; too true.   Kurt was silent for another moment.  “Ok, Man,” he said finally, “you might be on to something.”

 

“Can’t hurt to ask, right?” Mike intimated hopefully. 

 

“No,” Kurt replied softly.  “We’ll have to do this carefully, of course, but it definitely can’t hurt to ask.”

 

“Do you think Steve will be mad?”

 

Kurt hesitated.  “No, I don’t think so,” he replied.  “Not if we handle it right.” A gleam appeared in his eye.  With the right plan in place, the idea of being the bearer of Gregg Mcarthy’s bad tidings was anything but unappealing. Mike met Kurt’s now smirking expression with a simper of his own. “Come on,” Kurt suggested, “let’s go make those phone calls.”