Shameless AF: Dad of the Damn Multiverse

Chapter 56: A Rocky Path

"He likes school? More like he enjoys bullying other kids there. Honestly, I think Carl needs medication or even a frontal lobotomy to protect other children from living in fear of his bullying. It might even save a few lives down the road," Mr. Monroe, the teacher, remarked.

"That's a bit extreme, don't you think?" Frank frowned. No parent would be pleased to hear such criticism of their child.

"Sorry, I went too far," Mr. Monroe admitted. "But Carl has caused so much trouble. Have you seen his report card? It has seven 'U's on it."

"U?" Fiona asked, puzzled.

In Western schools, grades are usually represented by letters like 'A' or 'A+', with 'F' being the lowest—essentially a failing grade. 'U' was unheard of.

"To put it simply, 'U' is worse than 'F'. It's beyond failing—it's downright abysmal. I'm not a religious man, but sometimes a kid like Carl makes me believe in the existence of Satan," Mr. Monroe said, pulling out a stack of documents from his drawer.

The documents detailed Carl's "pranks" at school—bullying, extorting money, you name it. He had caused countless students trauma, leading several to drop out.

Frank skimmed through the documents, frowning and feeling a headache coming on.

"As parents, you need to take action. If he continues down this path, he's destined to become a criminal. We can't handle him."

"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if one day he walked into school with a gun and went on a rampage. The sooner he ends up in jail, the safer the world will be," Mr. Monroe said.

"Boys go through phases where they like to cause trouble. It's annoying but normal," Frank replied.

"But Carl's behavior goes beyond mischief," Mr. Monroe insisted, tapping the desk.

"Let's step outside and talk this over calmly, without discussing Carl for a moment," Frank suggested.

"Fiona, stay here and keep an eye on Carl. We need some privacy," Frank said, stopping Fiona from following him.

Outside Mr. Monroe's office, Officer Eddie, wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a cap, waited nearby. Frank signaled him to wait a bit longer.

"Want a smoke?" Frank asked, leading Mr. Monroe to a secluded corner of the school. He pulled out a small sealed bag, offering two marijuana joints.

Mr. Monroe hesitated but eventually took one after Frank lit up, exhaling a cloud of smoke. Mr. Monroe's eyes brightened as he inhaled.

"Teaching at a public school is tough, huh? So many problem students, endless issues," Frank sympathized.

"If it weren't for the pension, I wouldn't stick around this dump. In my youth, I never imagined I'd be a teacher. But I'm close to the end of the tunnel," Mr. Monroe replied.

"Everyone has a past. I heard you were quite wild back in the day, even part of a band," Frank said.

"Yeah, the Grateful Dead. No one remembers them now. Ah, the summer of '79 was the best time of my life, traveling the Midwest with the band, selling cheese sandwiches at parking lots to get by," Mr. Monroe reminisced.

"Yeah, the Grateful Dead! I've heard their music. It always gets the crowd going," Frank nodded.

"The music was loud, but the female fans were just looking for a new thrill with some big guys," Mr. Monroe laughed.

"Honestly, I never enjoyed being chased so much. There was this one girl from Skidmore who made me feel like I had an ocean inside me," Mr. Monroe said, sharing a knowing smile.

Maybe it was the weed, or the privacy of the moment, but Mr. Monroe opened up about his wild youth. Frank listened, encouraging the lively conversation.

"This stuff is really good," Mr. Monroe said, taking a deep drag.

"Don't worry, we'll straighten Carl out. He won't be a problem for you," Frank promised, seeing Mr. Monroe in a better mood.

"Thanks for the smoke, but I don't want to lose my pension over some punk. It's my only reason for staying here," Mr. Monroe reminded.

"Don't worry. I've got connections for high-quality stuff. I can set you up with a good deal—only for you," Frank said, patting Mr. Monroe's shoulder.

"You mean a teacher's discount?" Mr. Monroe raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly. Teachers are hardworking gardeners, after all," Frank replied.

They both laughed heartily.

"Let's forget about this for now, but remember, it won't happen again," Mr. Monroe said as they returned to the office, ruffling Carl's hair more kindly.

"Let's go," Frank said, leading Fiona and Carl out.

"Dad, how did you do that?" Fiona asked, astonished.

"Simple. I told you, I can handle these little matters," Frank chuckled.

As Frank and Fiona chatted, Officer Eddie approached.

"Who is that?" Fiona asked, wary of the stranger.

"He's a friend. I have other matters to attend to. Karen's parent-teacher meeting," Frank explained.

"You're attending as Karen's parent?" Fiona frowned.

"You know Karen's situation at home," Frank said.

"Right, with what happened to Officer Eddie," Fiona recalled.

Hearing people talk about his "death" made Officer Eddie, hidden behind his mask, feel conflicted.

Frank arrived early for the meeting before other parents.

"Frank!" Karen greeted him with excitement but paused when she saw Fiona and the others.