There was a six- foot fence around the school. I had some books to take to a teacher and knew the north gate would be unlocked at noon.
I entered the school yard and had turned toward the classroom when I heard the latch on the gate open. I heard someone call, “Lady, Lady, help me.” I looked back at a young man with a bruised, swollen face and what looked like horns on either side of his head. His clothes were torn and bloody and his feet were bare. I called, “Follow me,” and started running toward the main building as if the devil was chasing me.
I burst through the door. In one breath I told the secretary to call the police and asked where the principal was. Fortunately, he was in his office. I gave one sharp knock on his door. Without waiting for an answer, I opened the door and said, “Come quick.” He took one surprised look at me and followed me into the hallway.
By this time the young man had gotten to the door and entered the hallway.
We learned that the young man had been beaten by a gang, wrapped in duct tape and left for dead in a small vacant house adjacent to the school. The house was locked and the windows boarded.
Sometime during the morning, he had regained consciousness. He had finally managed to free his hands. There was one high window which was not boarded. He had somehow broken the glass. After several attempts and much effort, he squeezed through the window and fell to the ground just outside the fence. He had followed the fence around to the gate. The points I had seen on his head were duct tape stuck in his hair.
The police came and took him to a hospital in Harlingen,
The local TV station picked up the story. The reporter said an unidentified woman helped him get into the school. They interviewed his grandmother at the hospital. The visibly distraught lady said she didn’t know why anyone would do that to him. I still get upset because the station did not edit and omit her statement: “He is such a good boy. He helps the police.” They allowed her to tell the entire area that he was a police informer.