“I wish Twon would defuse his odor. I’m trying to do a public service,” Rodrigo says.

That did it. Twon knocks over a desk and charges Rodrigo. Like I said, Twon is a gentle dude. He’s always been big and the last person anyone would think to mess with. But he’s also a little simple. One time he wore a pair of 3D glasses for sunglasses. Prone to daydreaming, he lives in his own world. He’s real sensitive to folks making fun of him, especially if he thinks they are insinuating that he’s not smart. Mr. Blackmon had given him a tennis ball to squeeze when he begins to get worked up or bounce when he got anxious. That ball was probably long thrown at Rodrigo by now.

Mr. Blackmon steps between the boys with the smooth glide of a soccer goalie blocking a kick. He looks a little too small to deal with Twon since they are about the same height. Twon knocks over another chair like Superman casually tossing a tank. He’s pretty intent on smashing Rodrigo. Mr. Blackmon grabs him by his collar and drives him across the room before pinning him against the wall. The suddenness of his physicality puts the whole room on pause.

Pierce barely looks up from his desk. He keeps on snacking on Teddy Grahams while doodling on a piece of paper.

“Daaaaang!” Rodrigo applauds while jumping up and down. “That was tight. Mr. Blackmon had to use his grown-man strength on him.”

“Rodrigo, enough. One more word and you’re walking the line for all your recess. For a week. Now, Twon, you need to calm down right now.” Mr. Blackmon neither raises his voice nor uses any more force beyond enough to restrain him. Twon still needs a moment to catch his breath. “The whole reason you’re in here and not with your class is due to the safety issue. You’re too big to not be able to control your temper. You become a danger to others. Or, more important, yourself.”

“Mr. Blackmon, there’s not compliance with the instructions.” Mrs. Horner stands up and sets her pen on her stack of papers. She’s flexing her authority over him for our benefit. “His behavior warrants consequences.”

“I understand that.” Mr. Blackmon half glares back at her. You can tell he is starting to get irritated, but not at Twon.

“You have to start the process,” she says.

Mr. Blackmon ignores her and continues to gently talk. “Twon, you need to calm down.”

“Mr. Blackmon.” Mrs. Horner pushes her chair back as she points at the Scream Room. “You have to have compliance first.”

“You’re the one who wants him in there. Go ahead and put him in.” Mr. Blackmon whispers but not loud enough for her to hear.

“Now, Mr. Blackmon,” she says with steel in her voice. It occurs to me that she might still be heated over Nehemiah’s stunt and her impending trip to Mrs. Fitzgerald’s office and she’s taking it out on Mr. Blackmon. And the rest of us.