Khadim shrugs.

DANIELSON: We try to keep a distance between administrator and student, teacher and student. But these distances break down sometimes, especially when we get to know each other.

KHADIM: (quietly) Yeah, no shit.

DANIELSON: What? What did you say?

KHADIM: Nothing.

DANIELSON: No, you said something. You said, “Yeah, no shit.” Is that what you said?

Khadim shrugs.

DANIELSON: What does that mean?

KHADIM: Nothing.

DANIELSON: No, it means something. You just said, “Yeah, no shit,” so you obviously have some sort of opinion about something. And maybe you feel that since I cursed, you can too, which is a faulty assumption, but anyhow.

You’ve obviously heard something worth mentioning.

What have you heard?

KHADIM: Nothing, I’m sorry.

Beat. Danielson stares at him.

DANIELSON: You got something you want to say to me?

Khadim shrugs.

DANIELSON: What? What was that?

Khadim shrugs again.

DANIELSON: Speak up.

Huh?

You got something you want to say to me?

Khadim fixes Danielson with a stare.

KHADIM: Have.

DANIELSON: What?

KHADIM: Have. Do you have something you want to say to me.

(beat) It’s English.

DANIELSON: English, huh?

KHADIM: Proper.

DANIELSON: They teach you that lip at Eagleton?

KHADIM: They taught me English.

DANIELSON: They taught you English but you don’t know what a prom is.

KHADIM: I do now.

DANIELSON: Yeah, you do now. Education is an ongoing process.

KHADIM: I like to learn things.

DANIELSON: Aren’t you a smart guy.

Danielson presses his palms over his eyes, like he has a headache.

And then abruptly pulls out the Advil bottle again.

He eats a few more Advil.

DANIELSON: They say here two pills every four to six hours. Two pills. That’s five hundred milligrams of ibuprofen. Which is not enough. I take five or six of these bad boys when my head gets like this. Shock and Awe, you know. Take the pain by storm.

KHADIM: Shock and Awe.

DANIELSON: Yeah. Like the war.

KHADIM: Right . . .

DANIELSON: What do you think about that war, Khadim?

KHADIM: The war?

DANIELSON: What are your thoughts?

KHADIM: It’s war. What can you do?

DANIELSON: You’re not afraid for your family?

KHADIM: My family?

DANIELSON: Mom and dad. They’re back there right now.

KHADIM: They’re in Riyadh.

DANIELSON: What are they doing there?

KHADIM: Family business.

DANIELSON: Which is shipping.

KHADIM: Yes.

DANIELSON: And so they’re back there for what?

KHADIM: None of your business, Dr. Danielson.

DANIELSON: Excuse me?

KHADIM: My parents’ business is none of your business.

DANIELSON: Your parents’ business is none of my business. Okay. Hoo. Okay.

Are you awake? Is anyone home?

KHADIM: Yes.

DANIELSON: Good. You’re in detention. Everyone else has left for spring break. It’s me and you and detention and your parents are in Saudi Arabia so they’re gone. I mean, who am I supposed to call if you need someone? You don’t have a legal guardian?

KHADIM: I’m eighteen.

DANIELSON: You’re eighteen! So Khadim can take care of himself!

KHADIM: Yeah. I can.