Merle Ratzenberg

My submission for Character-C.1 in the "Let's create a Story" contest
Name: Merle Ratzenberg
Birthday: February 6
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Height: 158cm (5'3)
Weight: 61k (134)
Build: Small framed with a pot belly
Blood Type: B
Relations: 3 Sisters, Brother
Likes: Authority over other
Dislikes: Insubordination, Being out classed
Education: Brown University Graduate
Career Aspirations: Ivy league administrator
Voice: I imagine him sounding like either Jack Taylor from "Now and Then, Here and There(King Hamdo)" or Steve Buscemi.

Background: Merle was born the first child of a lower middle class family. His upbringing was rather rough, his father worked several odd jobs and his mother was unemployed. His mother began to suffered from alcoholism when he was fourteen and was a constant source of shame for him. This naturally caused turmoil in his home, it often led to many fights between his siblings and parents. Merle would try to mend each conflict he could to no avail.

During this time he began to act out in school, he would often bully or manipulate people into submission in order to gain control. He often delighted in coercing other students into doing mundane tasks and favors for him by uncovering their secrets and threatening to release them. When these favors were completed he would often reveal them anyway. In addition to blackmail he would also regularly report misdeeds committed by other students to be in better favor with the school staff. He later became president of his student body in junior high and high school to further extend his control.

Wanting to be in a position of great authority and respect he studied to become a teacher. He swindled his way into brown in his early twenties and continued his trend of extortion and blackmail to further his standing in school. He earned his Bachelor's degree at twenty six and began teaching at twenty eight. As a teacher he knew he could not extort his students and have it directly benefit him lest parents would get involved. In place of this he cracked down with stiff inflexible rules and harsh punishments. He taught in public schools for fifteen years before becoming the dean of the Oakhaven Preparations School.

As the dean of such a prestigious school he regularly flaunted his position and power on and off campus. He regularly disciplined his students for the slightest infraction from wearing an item of clothing that only mildly stepped out side of the dress code to loitering. He further abused his power by hiring his nephew as the schools gym teacher this how ever would lead to his potential undoing.

Shortly after his nephews employment it was brought to his attention that he several girls had been victimized by his nephew. He coerced the girls into silence by threatening their enrollment but on girl reported the incident to her parents who quickly tried to file charges. Knowing this would easily destroy his career he frantically tried to quiet the situation. He turned to Silvio Antonucci for assistance and with his help he "persuaded" the family to remain quiet. Merle rejoiced in his success in avoiding criminal charges but would later be at the mercy of Silvio.

One year after the incident Silvio called in a favor in return for his assistance. He requested a full scholarship to be offered to his granddaughter, Cody Powell. Merle was hesitant to make such a generous offer but as Silvio began to through around the name of the victimized student Merle came to his senses and begrudgingly offered the scholarship. He wrote out the entire scholarship for Cody but in filling out the enrollment application mistakenly listed Cody as male due to her name.

Merle instantly hated his new student and became hellbent on expelling the perceived new boy. However he was under constant fear of Silvio and did not dare make any ill prepared moves. Eventually word of Silvio's arrest reached Merle's ears and he quickly seized the opportunity to attempt to exact his revenge on Silvio through his grandchild. Knowing he needed proper reason to expel Cody he began to put her daily life under a magnifying glass.

This man has set his sights on nothing less than the complete demolition of his students young life. Will his lust for power and revenge carry him to heights yet reached or will his path lead to a fall from grace.