Scoop of the Year

         Scoop of the Year

Suzanne Marsh

Clay Freeman, needed a scoop for the University of Magnolia’s school paper, The Magnolia News. The question was where to find a really good scoop. He had investigated a tip that a professor was having an affair with a student, that turned out to be the professor’s youngest daughter, there visiting him in his office before she left for college. Once again Clay began to put out feelers for story leads. Nothing ever really happened at the University other than the Magnolia trees bloomed and the fragrance could be overpowering. The dean had already informed the editor of The Magnolia News, they had better find something newsworthy or the paper would be history. Clay knew from past experience that the dean threatened to shut the Magnolia News down at least twice a semester, and had been doing this since he began his tenure there.

While waiting to talk to the dean of academics, Clay noticed one of his classmates coming out of the dean’s office. Jenny Haverson was a tall willowy blond, with big blue eyes, those eyes were full of tears, as she slammed the door shut. She strode out without a side long glance of Clay gaping at her. He had several classes with Jenny, he hoped that whatever the problem was he might be able to help her. Clay, waited till after English Literature 101 to broach her on why she had been crying:

“Jenny, hi, I saw you come out of the dean’s office this morning, what is wrong?”

“Clay, he propositioned me, if I don’t have sex with, he’ll make sure my academic

record plummets down to below substandard. I don’t know what to do. I can’t

have sex with him he is old enough to be my grandfather.”

Clay, thought about what she had just said, a plan began to form in his mind:

“Jenny, I have an idea, I need a good scoop for The Magnolia News, and the dean needs to

leave.”

Jenny, gave thoughtful pause to her reply:

“Clay, how do you propose to do both? I mean the dean has a lot of clout here.”

“I know he does, but the one thing he doesn’t want is a sex scandal involving himself and

a beautiful student.”

Jenny was afraid, that if she made the wrong choice, it could get her expelled from college, or ruin her reputation or both. She thought of herself as a good girl, not one who uses sex to climb up the academic or corporate ladder. She also knew that the only way to stop the dean was what Clay had suggested:

“All right Clay, what do you propose to do?”

“Jenny, that is simple, you coerce him into thinking you are going to have sex with him.

We are going to need proof of him propositioning you, you are however going to have

to distract him while I set up a small video camera and feed. This is going to be

broadcast all over the campus.”

Jenny thought for several moments:

“Okay, how do I get him out of his office?” I can’t just say ‘hey dean, I changed my mind

let’s go have sex.’”

“No, but you can keep an eye out, when he leaves his office, I will have everything ready,

set up the camera and feed. It really is very simple.”

Jenny was not sure it was going to be that simple, there were to many variables to this idea, to many things that could go wrong. She also knew that if she did not aid Clay she would lose her academic standing, something she had worked hard for. Clay, had not mentioned to Jenny, he was afraid of the dean making a spectacle if he did get caught on camera. This could be a no win situation for them or it could be a win, win situation.

Jenny, told Clay, she wanted to think his plan over and would let him know by the end of the week. Something down deep within Jenny told her that Clay’s plan was a good one, and yes it would be good for them both. She would keep her academic standing and Clay would continue to edit and write for The Magnolia News. She decided to seek Clay out the following day, right after English Lit 101. She just hoped they did not get caught before they had all the proof they needed. No really liked the dean of academics, Professor James Crane, an old fuddy duddy who thought he could do whatever he chose to do, his career could not be destroyed, he was untouchable at Magnolia University. Clay, in the interim had gotten several of his fraternity brothers to help him setting up the camera and feed:

“Clay, where should we put the camera? We have to make sure it is on both the dean and

Jenny.”

Clark, it has to be well hidden, maybe up in a corner hidden by something.”

“Clay, it has to been where we can be sure it is going to capture Jenny and the dean.

We also have to make sure the feed goes to all the professors' offices. We have to get

this right the first time.”

“Clark, just pick a good place, oh and make sure the sound is turned up so everything

can be heard.”

They smiled at each other as they located the exact spot, for the camera and feed, their part was finished, now it was up to Jenny. Clay, found her sitting on a bench, just outside the dean's office:

“Jenny, everything is set, now remember the camera is off to the side, you have to make sure

when he makes his advances, that they are seen clearly.”

“Clay, do you think this will really work?”

“Yes Jenny I do, it has to.”

Clark and Clay disappeared around the corner of the dean’s office. Thins began to take shape, the dean arrived to find Jenny sitting on the bench:

“Ah, Miss Haverson, how nice to see you again. Have you had time to think about my

proposition?”

“Yes dean, I have, I want to keep my academic standing.”

“Very well my dear.” He hissed between his teeth, “shall we go into my office?”

Jenny slowly moved as the dean led the way into his inner office:

“You may remove your clothing now, Miss Haverson.” Jenny noted the camera, she was not exactly excited about removing her clothing but she knew she had to play this out. She began a striptease. Classrooms were receiving the feed, the assistant dean almost choked on his lunch as he stood up and headed toward the dean’s office. He trounced in the door:

“Dean Michael’s are you aware this is streaming all over campus? You are fired! You can’t

have sex with female students who are good academically. What in the hell are you thinking?”

The Magnolia News, had the entire story on tape from beginning to end, it was the scoop of the year. The television stations were beside themselves as they watched the tape.