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Post by bretf on Oct 26, 2019 13:16:18 GMT
I recently completed another round of editing in the Smoke Saga – Ashen Horse series. To try to clear my mind of it and have a fresh perspective when I pick it up again, I started something new. Here is the first chapter.
I’ve had a tough time fitting writing into my schedule but I’ll try hard to do regular posts.
WHAT I DID OVER THE SUMMER
Chapter 1
Brian Anderson stepped slowly down the school bus steps, pausing on the final step. He was nervous and excited at the same time. The first day in middle school! He wasn’t a little grade school kid anymore. He’d made it to the semi-big league and hoped to make the most of it. But looking at all the other kids standing around gave him an uneasy feeling. It was a sea of strangers.
Four elementary schools fed his middle school so he wouldn’t know three out of four kids. Did they already have opinions, good or bad, of kids from his school? Also, he was back at the bottom, the lowest of the low.
The past year, he’d been at the pinnacle, The Kings of the Mountain. Some of the boys had claimed they ruled the school but he knew different. The teachers still ruled, even though they let a few get away with more than they should have. But it was in the past and he was at the bottom looking up.
He was nudged from behind and stumbled out of the bus right into Jennifer Dotson. Several kids laughed and his face turned red. It wasn’t exactly the grand entrance he’d wanted to make on his first day. Mumbling an apology to Jennifer, he stepped several feet away as fast as he could.
The school bus behind the one he’d ridden was spewing out its load of kids and he heard a familiar voice in the throng. “Hey Bri-man, making a move on Jennifer, huh? You need to work on your technique, dude. That wasn’t very subtle.”
More kids turned to look at Brian and his face got redder if it was possible. The first day, and he was already getting looked and laughed at for the wrong reasons. So much for his aspirations as a middle schooler.
Jackson White sauntered over, a huge smile plastered on his face. He was a perpetual goof and made a lot out of his name. “Jack White, you know, the albino Jack Black.” He was also one of Brian’s best friends.
“Bri-man, geez, you’re here,” Jack said. “I wasn’t sure if you would be since you haven’t answered a phone or text all summer. I didn’t know if you’d died or were pissed at me, or what. Your parents wouldn’t tell me anything, only that you were unavailable.”
“Uh, yeah, sorry about that,” Brian said quietly, looking all around. “I was, uh, out of town and just got back last night.”
“Yeah, where were you? Somewhere cool?” Jackson asked.
“No, man, in neither definition of the word. It was totally uncool, hot, and humid,” Brian said. “But anyway, I can’t talk about it.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Jackson asked. “It sounds like you’re embarrassed or something. Geez, dude, it wasn’t that camp for math nerds was it?”
“No, and just because I’m good at math doesn’t mean I’m a nerd. But really, I CAN’T talk about it,” Brian said, again looking around nervously.
“Wow, dude. And I thought we were buds. I’ll tell you anything,” Jackson said
“We are buds, but really, I can’t say a word,” Brian whined.
Jackson stared at him and was opening his mouth to speak when two more boys joined them. “Jackson Brown,” Tommy Murphy said, slugging Jackson on the upper arm.
“Brian, the Lost,” the other, Mike Larson said, popping Brian in his arm.
“It’s White, not Brown, you imbecile, you know, the albino J—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Tommy said interrupting. “But you just aren’t that funny. If you’re going to copy someone, you’re more like Jackson Brown.”
“Dude, his music is so lame and tame,” Jackson said.
“Yeah, but your dad loves it.”
“See, you just made my point.”
“So,” Mike said, changing the subject, “do you think the eighth graders will shake us down for our lunch money?”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “we went over to your house, Brian, when you’d never respond on the phone and Billy told us all about it.”
Brian grimaced and said, “My brother was probably the worst of the bunch. I don’t doubt for a minute he took money for the younger kids. He always seems to have money for the latest Xbox games.”
“Maybe it’ll happen to him now that he’s in high school,” Jackson said.
“I don’t know,” Brian said. “But if it does happen, he’ll just try to get all of my money to make up for it.”
Tommy grinned and said, “Ya know, with a brother like Billy, I’m glad I only have sisters.”
Mike said, “So anyway, Billy wouldn’t tell us where you were or what you were up to. Where were you all summer, man?”
“Uh, well, I’m not allowed to say,” Brian said.
“Oh, come on, man, we’re your friends. You can tell us. If it’s such a secret, we won’t tell anybody else,” Tommy said.
He looked all around nervously. “Well, I was—”
Brian had never been so relieved to hear the first school bell ring, signaling the students to proceed to their homerooms. “Sorry, guys. Gotta go to class.” He hurried towards the school’s entrance, leaving his friends looking at him, confused.
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Post by cccindy on Oct 26, 2019 21:30:53 GMT
Good to see you posting. Looking forward to more.
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Post by joebill on Oct 27, 2019 12:58:52 GMT
9th paragraph from the bottom typo.....FROM the other kids, not FOR.....Good start and looking forwards to the full story.
I always appreciated getting a tip off about a typo after I got close, but if it gets on your nerves, please say so.….Joe
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Post by bretf on Oct 27, 2019 13:57:03 GMT
Thanks ccindy. I'll get them as fast as I can.
I appreciate it Joe. Keep them coming. You know, it seems no matter how many times I read it, my brain will see what it wants instead of what is actually there.
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Post by joebill on Oct 27, 2019 16:04:35 GMT
It's Janet who corrects what MY lyin' eyes tells me is perfect most of the time.....Joe
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2019 13:31:13 GMT
Waiting.... C'mon, bretf!
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Post by bretf on Oct 30, 2019 10:56:46 GMT
Chapter 2
Brian got inside the crowded foyer and looked all around. He had no idea which way to go. The class schedule he’d been emailed didn’t help. It told him the room number and the class title, ‘Room 116 – Homeroom - English’ but had no indication of where it was. Do I have to go past one hundred-fifteen rooms to find my class? This building doesn’t look that big, he thought as he studied the foyer and halls leading away from it. He saw a man in a dress shirt and tie and threaded his way through the throng to him.
“Can you help me find this classroom?” Brian asked, thrusting the paper out to him.
“That’s why I’m here, young man,” Tie-Man said. He looked at the paper and said, “Okay, take the hall on the right,” and pointed to make sure Brian knew which one. All too often, kids didn’t know right from left. Or right from wrong for that matter. “The offices and restrooms are the first rooms. The classrooms are beyond them. Room 116 is the third classroom on the left.”
“Thank you, sir,” Brian said and worked through the throng to reach the right hall. Whew, they must’ve started numbering at one hundred. That’s goofy. I hope I don’t get the teacher who dreamed that up.
An ancient woman was standing at the appropriate door. Brian was sure his grandmother was younger. It was a good thing she wasn’t the history teacher. She would probably go on and on just covering her life span. She had to be at least sixty.
“Find your name on the seating chart,” she said pointing at the paper taped on the door, “and take your seat.”
Brian did as instructed and looked around. Strangers. He was surrounded by strangers. A few kids he knew were in the room and more came in, including Jennifer Dotson. He looked down at his class schedule as if it was the most interesting paper in the world. There was no way he could look Jennifer in the face, not after the incident at the bus.
The tardy bell rang and the teacher pulled the door closed. She walked to the front of the class and said, “Good morning children. Please check your schedules and confirm you are in the right class. This is room 116, Homeroom and English. My name is Mrs. Bird.” She turned and wrote the same information on the whiteboard.
Cursive? The old Bird uses cursive? Brian thought silently as he did as he was instructed, even though he was already sure he was in the right place. My name is on the seating chart, DUH. He looked up as the door opened and a kid entered, located the teacher and said, “Sorry I’m late. I went to the wrong room. You know, they should change the font they use on these things.” He waved his class schedule. “The six looks like a nine on mine.”
“I see,” Mrs. Bird said. “Well, find your name on the seating chart on the door. Thankfully, there are neither sixes nor nines.”
The comment would’ve had Brian cringing or turning red. Late-Kid just smiled.
As Late-Kid settled into his seat, right beside Brian’s, static burst from a speaker mounted in the wall. “Good morning, and welcome to the first day at Roosevelt Middle School. We will begin by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand and face the flag. I pledge allegiance . . .”
Late-Kid glanced at Brian and said, “My name’s Sam. And you are?”
Brian didn’t answer. The Pledge was more important than ever. He would do all he could to show he was a good citizen.
“Psst,” Late-Kid-Sam said much too loud, gaining the attention of Mrs. Bird.
Brian was aghast when she included him in the look she shot Late-Kid-Sam. He faltered on the pledge before Mrs. Bird’s gaze returned to the flag.
When the pledge ended, he shot his own cross look. “Brian,” he snapped.
“Good to meet you,” Late-Kid-Sam said as the morning announcements began spewing from the speaker.
He didn’t seem to know how to talk in a soft voice. His comment drew the stink-eye from Mrs. Bird. Wow, I stumble into Jennifer and now I’m branded as trouble by Mrs. Bird. Maybe I’d of been better off not showing up. If this keeps up, they might ship me back, he thought and shuddered. He didn’t want to go back there ever again.
The day had hardly begun and it was all bad; not at all how he wanted to begin the sixth grade. And to think he’d anticipated getting back to school after the lost summer.
The announcements finished and Brian couldn’t have told what any of them were. He cringed when Mrs. Bird stood up and looked at the class, pausing on him and Late-Kid-Sam. “All right, children. As I said prior to announcements, this is Sixth Grade English and I am Mrs. Bird. We are going to start the term with each of you writing a paper titled “What I Did Over the Summer.”
There were groans around the classroom and Late-Kid-Sam said, “Wait, the term ‘children’ and that assignment is so grade school.”
Geez, this kid doesn’t have volume control or a filter for his mouth, Brian thought, even though he’d had the same thoughts. I wonder if I can get another seat.
Mrs. Bird shot Unfiltered-Late-Kid-Sam the stink-eye, giving a shot of it at Brian as well. What, can she read minds? he wondered.
Mrs. Bird looked at the seating chart and addressed U-L-K-S. “I am not asking for your approval, Samuel,” she said.
“Just Sam, Ma’am,” he said. “Samuel is too formal.”
“You have to earn privileges in my classroom, Samuel,” she said stressing his name. “And you are not off to a good start. What about you, Brian Anderson?” she asked, stressing his last name. “Do you have something to add?”
“Uh, uhm, no Ma’am,” he stammered.
“Good,” she stated. “Now, as I was saying, you are each to write a paper, and to address Samuel’s concern,” again the stress on his name, “I will be looking for something different than your elementary teachers did. I will use the paper to ascertain how well each of you grasps the use of the English language in writing. You will have the rest of the period today to work on your paper. I expect silence while you are writing.” Again, the stink-eye landed on U-L-K-S and Brian. “However, I am open to questions and assistance if you have the need. I will not write your paper for you, but I will advise you if you have difficulty. If so, please raise your hand, and when I point to you, you may approach my desk. We can talk there with less disruption to your neighbors.” Again, the stink-eye to U-L-K-S and Brian.
Brian shrank lower in his seat. This is a disaster! He thought.
“We will begin oral presentations of your paper next Monday. That will give you time to finish your paper and edit it before turning it in. Does anyone have questions?” she asked.
Brian didn’t hear any of the questions or Mrs. Bird’s answers. His mind was spinning like Mom’s wash machine drum. What am I gonna do, what can I do? ran through his mind on spin cycle.
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Post by cccindy on Oct 30, 2019 14:34:37 GMT
Good start!
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Post by bretf on Nov 1, 2019 20:30:42 GMT
Chapter 3
The only sounds around Brian were pens and pencils scratching over paper. He stared at the blank page in front of him, unable to touch his pen to it. In elementary school, he’d often thought going to school each day was like going to prison. Boy was I a dumb kid, he thought. School is nothing like prison.
Feeling a presence beside him, he looked up. Mrs. Bird was perched over his shoulder looking at his blank page. She motioned him to follow to her desk.
Sighing, Brian stood up. With his head down and slumped shoulders, he shuffled after her.
“I haven’t seen you writing anything. Is there a problem?” Mrs. Bird asked. “Are you embarrassed; afraid your experiences won’t match up with your classmates?”
“Uh, no, Ma’am. It’s uh, nothing like that,” Brian stammered.
“So, what is it, Mr. Anderson?”
Again, the stress on his last name. He didn’t respond.
“I recall another student I had with the last name of Anderson. You bear a striking resemblance to him.”
Brian blanched. No, not Billy! So that’s why she doesn’t like me. I’m not like him, I swear!
“What happened over the summer is a secret. I’m not supposed to tell a soul,” he said.
“I see,” Mrs. Bird said shaking her head.
Man, she really does look like a bird, Brian thought. And I’m the worm.
She continued speaking, “As I remember, Billy, and I’m making the assumption he is your brother, displayed an incredible lack of motivation. I believe the term ‘slacker’ is applied to people like him nowadays. So, tell me, Mr. Anderson, if you aren’t embarrassed about your summer, is there another reason you aren’t working on the assignment? I didn’t receive any notice that you need special assistance with writing and reading.” She stared over the horn-rimmed spectacles perched on her beak of a nose and spoke slowly. “Or are you just like your brother, a slacker?”
Brian shrank under the stare. For years, he’d been trying to prove he wasn’t anything like Billy. He turned away from Mrs. Bird’s predatory gaze. Jennifer had stopped writing and was watching the exchange. The finest looking girl in school, and nice too, and she was going to think he was a slacker or worse depending on what he did next. He could be ‘just like his loser brother’ or locked away for life. It was definitely not the way he’d wanted to start middle school.
“I’m not a slacker! I’m nothing like Billy,” Brian stated, his mind made up.
He turned and headed back to his desk, imagining the sound as the cell door closed behind him.
Agent Roberts’ parting words echoed in his head. “You may have pulled the wool over the eyes of those naïve fools in Washington but not mine. You’re bad and I know it. But they’re in charge and I have to follow orders. However, I will be watching you, waiting for you to step out of line.
“Since the entire event has been deemed ‘Classified’, I’ll be listening as well. If either of you breathe a word, one single word, I’ll have you thrown back in that God-forsaken hole so fast it’ll make you head spin. Take one step out of line, whisper a single word, and you’ll be a memory. You’ll vanish so fast people will wonder if you ever existed. Mark my words, I’ll know!”
He sighed heavily and shook the voice from his head. Picking up his pen, he poised it over the blank paper. A quick glance showed Jennifer was still watching. Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, then opened them and started writing.
“What I Did Over the Summer, by Brian Anderson.”
He looked around the room, trying to imprint it in his mind. How many days did he have before he’d never see it again?
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Post by bretf on Nov 2, 2019 0:11:45 GMT
Chapter 4
“Hey man, what was the conference with the Birdwoman from Alcatraz all about?” U-L-K-S asked the moment the boys cleared the doorway when class was dismissed.
“Uh, nothing, really. She was just giving me pointers on getting started,” Brian said.
“Huh. So, what’s your next class? I’ve got math in room 134,” U-L-K-S said.
Brian groaned and said, “Math . . . in room 134.”
“Cool, man. Maybe we can sit beside each other again.”
Brian didn’t think it was cool. It was only time to start second period and he needed to form an escape plan.
The math teacher, Mr. Snider was much younger than Mrs. Bird. He didn’t have a seating chart, allowing the students to pick their own seats. It was a new experience for Brain and he looked for an isolated desk where U-L-K-S couldn’t sit beside him. He was out of luck. His new ‘friend’ followed and sat in the seat beside his.
“Let’s compare our schedules and see if we get any more classes together,” U-L-K-S said.
Brian hoped they didn’t. He wished he’d had time to compare with Jackson, Tommy, and Mike. Well, as long as they didn’t ask more questions about summer, he’d prefer sharing a class with them instead of U-L-K-S.
“Cool, man,” U-L-K-S said, breaking Brian out of his thoughts. “We have P.E. together right after lunch. But that’s the only one.”
“Great,” Brian said, not indicating which statement he considered great.
Math class was an improvement over English. Mr. Snider was quite engaging. It also helped that math was Brian’s favorite subject. The class seemed to fly and then the bell was ringing for them to leave for third period.
“Hey, man, maybe we can meet up for lunch,” U-L-K-S, said.
“Uh, yeah, maybe,” Brain said.
Social studies was his next class and he was pleased Mike and Jackson were both in it. However, the seating chart kept them apart. Maybe it was for the best, Brian thought, so they couldn’t grill him more.
Science was the last class before lunch and Tommy was in it. When the class was over, the boys started for the cafeteria.
“Maybe if we stick together, we won’t get our lunch money jacked,” Tommy said.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that,” Brian said He’d had more pressing matters on his mind than a pre-cafeteria mugging. “But you know what, I say let them try. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Uh, they beat us up,” Tommy said. “and still take our money.”
“Ya know, I’ve been beat up enough by Billy, I’ve learned something. When I finally got tired of it and hit him back, he ran to Mom and told on me. So, do you think the eighth graders are going to run and tell on me for hitting them, a mere sixth grader?” Brian said.
“Probably,” Tommy said. “Then you’d get suspended from school.”
“Oh wow, suspended. I’m scared,” Brian said. Whoa, wait just a minute. Tommy, you’re a genius! A plan began to form in his mind. If he got suspended, he might not have to write the dumb paper that would get him removed from school. A week of suspension at home would beat the alternative, hands down. “Bring it on. I’m not taking their crap,” Brian said.
“Hey, Brian, wait up,” a kid called from behind.
Tommy stopped and turned. “I don’t know that guy, do you?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Brian said, silently adding, unfortunately. He’s in my English and math classes.”
“All right Brian,” U-L-K-S said as he caught Brian and Tommy. “Looks like our timing was perfect. Who’s your other friend?”
OTHER friend? Brian asked silently before saying, “This is Tommy. Tommy, this is U-L, err, I mean, uh, this is, uh, Sam.” In his mind, he’d been referring to Sam by the initials since pegging them on him and it took a bit to recall with the ‘S’ stood for.
Sam held his fist up to knuckle-bump Tommy and asked, “So, how do you know Brian?”
“We were in grade school together. So, you guys share the first two classes?”
“Yep, Homeroom, which is also English, and math. Now though do you have any idea what’s for lunch today?”
“It probably won’t matter,” Tommy said. “Look at the cafeteria doors. Those eighth graders are going to shake us down for our lunch money.”
Sam and Brian looked at the door and it appeared Tommy was spot-on. Sam slowed but Brian held his head up and said, “Let ‘em try.” Confronting them head-on and getting suspended seemed like a win to him. He’d get to avoid the dreadful assignment, avoid prison, and show those stooges he wouldn’t take their crap. He had nothing to lose if he fought back.
“Dude, are you nuts?” he heard Tommy ask.
“Those guys are big,” Sam added.
Brian took two steps before looking back. “They might be big but there’re only three of them.” He pointed as he counted off himself, Tommy, and Sam. “And there are three of us. Other than size, that makes it all even. So, are you coming?” he asked, turned and stalked toward the cafeteria. He hoped they were holding back.
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Post by cccindy on Nov 2, 2019 4:49:19 GMT
Thanks and keep 'em coming!
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Post by bretf on Nov 5, 2019 14:08:14 GMT
Chapter 5
Brian held his head high and approached the three gorillas as if he didn’t have a care in the world. The adage ‘looks can be deceiving’ was never truer. He didn’t look back but would have been glad to see Tommy and Sam were moving much slower. He didn’t want them to get in trouble with him but felt he’d had to say what he did. Otherwise, they’d probably run to the counselor and say their friend was trying to commit suicide.
One of the gorillas saw him and said, “Hey guys, fresh meat.”
Another one, red hair sticking out in every which direction, grinned and said, “Hold it right there, kid.”
Brian amended his assessment. That one’s not a gorilla. With that hairdo, he’s an orangutan. He stopped and assessed them calmly. “Are you talking to me?” He hoped he appeared calm because he sure wasn’t on the inside.
“Yeah, I was,” Orangutan said, rising up so his knuckles no longer brushed the floor. He squeezed one fist full of hairy fingers, popping the walnut-sized knuckles for emphasis. “Ya see, you’ve gotta pay the toll to pass.”
Brian smiled at him and said “How about instead of me paying a toll to pass, you bend over and kiss my—”
“Brian, are you nuts, man?” Tommy asked.
“Dude!” Sam said in awe.
Orangutan and Brian stared at each other as more kids bunched around them due to the blocked doors. Brian was unaware of the audience.
“Well, what’s it going to be?” Brian demanded. He stepped forward and would have been nose to nose with the ape if he hadn’t straightened out of his slouch. Instead, Brian was nose to shirt collar and looking at the kid’s stubble-covered Adam’s apple. Wow, this guy shaves, Brian thought. I sure hope this is worth it. And it works. “Well?” he demanded again, expecting to land on his butt at any moment.
The other two gorillas had been carrying on some kind of grunting conversation. Orangutan raised a huge fist and one of the other apes grabbed it. “Dude, stop. Do you know who this is?”
“Yeah,” Orangutan said. “He’s the kid that’s gonna fork over his lunch money before he has to spend it at the E.R.”
“No, dude. He’s Billy Anderson’s brother,” the gorilla grunted.
Orangutan’s pasty face turned even whiter, at least where it wasn’t red with zits. “Are you sure? This little dude?” he asked, taking two steps back.
“Yeah, man. I’m certain.”
Brian hated his brother more than ever at that moment. It’d seem like such a fool-proof plan, hand-delivered with three fools. It was fast, simple, and direct. He’d always heard the simplest plans were the best; less moving parts to mess up. And his idiot brother hadn’t even needed to be present to foul it up for him. Man, I hate Billy. Too bad he doesn’t go here anymore. It’d be a breeze to get in a fight with him.
But all was not lost. The three apes were still within reach. However, he’d have to initiate the fight which would be certain to end with a longer suspension. Oh well, it had to be done.
Brian glared at Orangutan and then shifted his gaze to the other gorillas. His fist balled up and he was poised to swing when one of the gorillas looked in shock behind him.
“Uh, hi, Mr. Hartley,” he said.
The other two echoed it and stepped out of Brian’s reach.
“Is there a problem here, boys?” a man asked.
Brian turned to see Tie-Man from the morning behind him.
“No, Mr. Hartley, no problem at all. We were just talking to this little dude about his brother.”
“There is too a problem,” Unfiltered Sam said. “Those three goons weren’t going to let us in the cafeteria unless we paid them. Now, why would we even want to go in there after they took all our money? I think you should haul their sorry butt’s off to the Vice Principal’s office and let him deal with them.”
“I think you mean ‘my office’,” Tie-Man said. “I’m Mr. Hartley, the Vice Principal.”
“Well, there you go then. Haul away,” Unfiltered Sam said.
Mr. Hartley appeared to suppress a grin and looked at the three gorillas. “All right, guys. You know the way.”
Orangutan grunted to Brian as he passed about getting even. Brian was still incensed his fool-proof plan had run into such incompetent fools. “Bring it on,” he hissed. “I guarantee you’ll regret it. Get Billy to tell you how I spent my summer.” The goon wouldn’t know it but Billy was clueless about his summer. However, it was a seed to plant in Orangutan’s pea-brain. Maybe it’d be enough to keep him from harassing them in the future.
“Dude!” Tommy said. “That was so, so, I don’t know what. I don’t know if you were crazy or brave, or what you were. So, what DID you do this summer?”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat,” Brian said, turning his back and entering the cafeteria with his week’s lunch money intact. And a writing assignment still looming. He got inside the room and looked around getting his bearings.
One of the students who’d been held up by the confrontation peeled away from the group and approached Brian. “Wow, Brian. That was so brave,” Jennifer said with a shy smile. She walked away as fast as she’d arrived.
Brian watched her until Tommy punched him on the arm. Huh, I guess it wasn’t a total waste, he thought.
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Post by cccindy on Nov 5, 2019 19:37:42 GMT
Thank you!
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Post by bretf on Nov 9, 2019 0:33:56 GMT
Chapter 6
“Hey, there’s Mike and Jackson,” Tommy said.
The boys threaded their way past tables and other kids to their friends.
“Dudes, you should’ve—”
Brian cut in on Tommy. He was irritated his plan hadn’t worked and didn’t need it rehashed for everyone within earshot. “Hey, guys, where’re your lunches? Didn’t you see anything good?” Brian asked. The moment the words left his mouth he knew he’d said the wrong thing. He’d opened the door and had no way to close it.
Jackson turned a glum face to him and said, “Yeah, it looks good, but those eighth graders at the doors took our money.”
Brian said, “Then I’ll treat. Come on, I’m hungry.” Maybe he could still avoid the story. Besides, he knew he wouldn’t be around long so he’d be the best friend possible in the little time he had left.
“How do you have money? Weren’t the three stooges there? Why’d they let you pass?” Mike asked in rapid-fire delivery.
“Dude, you should’ve seen it. Yeah, they were there, but Brian got right in their faces. He was about to rip into them when the Vice showed up, weren’t you Brian,” Tommy said.
Brian shrugged.
Sam piped up and asked, “What was that you told the red-headed idiot about summer?”
“Yeah Brian, what was that about? You won’t tell us a thing and then you were all ready to go ninja on those goons. Where were you, at some secret fight camp?” Tommy asked.
“Bri-man, were you off learning to be a cage fighter or something?” Jackson asked.
Brian cringed at the word ‘cage’.
“So, do you want to eat or not?” he asked, turned, and headed for the line.
The boys watched his back for a moment then looked at each other in puzzlement. Mike shrugged and got a quizzical look as if noticing Sam for the first time. “Who’re you?” he asked.
“I’m Sam. I’m in the first two classes with Brian. And I was right with Tommy when Brian got in those guys’ faces. Come on, we can tell you about it in the line.
The story of Brian facing down the three stooges spread like wildfire. When he stepped out of the serving line with his tray, heads turned towards him and voices lowered as he passed.
“You should have seen him,” he heard one boy telling his table mates. “That guy was a foot taller than him and he . . .
Brian walked on, doing his best to ignore the stares and comments. He sat and began to eat as his friends, including Sam, sat around him.
“Well, are you going to tell us?” Jackson asked.
Brian had his hamburger poised near his mouth, ready to take a bite. He sighed and lowered it. “I tell you what,” he said, “let me eat in peace. Let’s talk about the first day of school stuff. Then, on Monday morning, I’ll tell you all about my summer.”
Once he gave his oral presentation, there’d be no need not to tell them. The secret would be out and he’d be whisked away. At least no one would remember him as a slacker like Billy.
“But why so secretive?” Mike asked.
“Hey, if you don’t want to eat that lunch I bought you, I’ll eat it,” Brian said.
“Oh, all right, school stuff,” Mike said. “So, I had P.E. first thing. Can you believe it? P.E. for homeroom? It seemed weird. The teacher or coach or drill instructor, whatever the guy is made us run a mile for time. We barely caught our breaths when he had us do all the push-ups we could in one minute. After that, we had to do crunches, and then . . .”
Brian tried to focus on the conversation but it was hard. His mind was still in a fog and he couldn’t figure a way out of his problem. Maybe he should’ve asked Mr. Wilson if he could go with him when they’d gotten back. Wilson said he was hitting the road and it would take more cerebral power than Roberts had to find him. Mr. Wilson didn’t have a very high opinion of Agent Roberts and after what the man had done to them, Brian was inclined to agree.
But he hadn’t gone with Mr. W. He’d gone home, gone to school, and because of that, he was certain he wouldn’t find a way out of his predicament. It was a lost cause if he couldn’t even get three gorillas to fight him. The hamburger may have been good, but he couldn’t tell.
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Post by cccindy on Nov 9, 2019 15:39:58 GMT
Thank you!
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