Page 14 - Save the Last Dance for Me

That was his third mistake. The boys shut the

door, put a chair under the doorknob so he couldn't
get out, and they were off to play basketball. It

makes a person wonder what would have happened

if I hadn’t wandered down to the scout room.
As Harry told the story, his anger increased.

When he finished, he headed down to round the

boys up and bring them back to the scout room and
shut down that “. . . ridiculous basketball playing

once and for all so they could get to important

scouting training.”

“Harry,” I said, “perhaps it would be a good
idea to join the boys in a basketball game. Get to

know them and be their friend.”

He glared at me. “These boys don’t need a
friend. They need someone they can look up to.

You don’t become such a person by being their

friend. You’ve got to be on higher ground to lift

them.”
I had to admit that sounded good in theory,

but there had to be a balance between being the

leader figure and being their friend. Harry would
have none of it. Being tied up in the closet had

frosted his attitude, and I was glad he didn’t have a

bullwhip. He soon had the reluctant boys rounded
up and back in the scout room.

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