by R. J. Wolf
The building sat a few hundred yards from a cliff overlooking the Pacific. It was a 175 foot drop to the jagged rocks below. The front grounds were sprawling lawns and pristine brick walkways, that someone spent a great deal of money to keep up.
While it was a picturesque example of human architecture, it also gave off a haunting impression. The cavernous hallways looked like giant mouths waiting to swallow kids up. The windows looked like eyes, always sneering at the incoming class. While the sun seemed to beam overhead, it was always shady near the doors.
Some of the upperclassmen were out front tossing around a football while other kids chased the smaller students. Anthony almost tripped as Tommy McMullen darted past them. He leapt through the air and caught the ball with one hand.
“Hey guys! “ Tommy gasped before running back off.
He was a freshman as well, but his outstanding football skills earned him a spot on the varsity team. This meant he was accepted into the upper echelon at the school.
With a shrug, Anthony stepped through the arched doors into the gaping hallway of North Shore High School. Mikey trotted behind him, trying to high-five random kids as they passed by.
“Dude, this year is gonna freaking rock!” Mikey exclaimed.
Anthony gave him a half enthusiastic nod as he headed to the auditorium for new student orientation. The enormous dome was dimly lit like a performing arts theatre. Everything was dark except a spotlight that beamed down at the shiny, hardwood stage. Red and black banners lined the walls, each reading different years and accomplishments that the school had achieved.
Anthony stared at one that read “2006 California State Swim Championships.” This one stood out beyond the rest, mainly because of the stigma that came with it. The girl who took 1st place in the one hundred meter freestyle and catapulted the school into stardom, went missing on her bike ride home after the swim meet. Carol Belanovak, fifteen years old and never to be heard from again. Anthony was only eight at the time, but remembered her face and the grief of her parents when they couldn’t locate her.
Steve shuffled into the back row, licking icing off of his fingers. Totally oblivious to any North Shore history, he was much more concerned with matters of the present. He’d already worked his magic on a number of 9th grade girls and started chatting up the 10th graders as they sat down.
Principal Harris stood at the podium, better known as the helm in one of his old Navy uniforms. What was once a glowing, white symbol of honor had now grown yellow with time and bore the evidence of a sustained moth attack. His hands, clad in white gloves were crossed behind his back and he looked out into the crowd of noisy teens with a face full of anticipation.
Principal Harris had retired from a distinguished career in the Navy. He took with him a very no nonsense approach to his running of the school. After several years of a failed policy that all staff salute him in the hallways, he’d resigned himself to berating students and referring to places as parts of a ship.
On cue, the jubilant tune of “Reveille” blared through the PA system. Principal Harris tapped his dusty shoes and nodded his head to the beat of the trumpets. A greedy smile of joy stretched across his face. He hummed along almost in a trance, oblivious to anyone else in the room. The audience of students erupted in a sea of giggles and puzzled expressions.
As the music died down Principal Harris cleared his throat. He tapped his pen on the podium then dove into the most confusing twenty minute monologue Anthony had ever witnessed. Talk of pods, ports and starboard passages left the majority of students utterly bewildered. What was supposed to be a welcoming speech for the freshmen, turned out to be a naval vocabulary lesson. He spoke in riddles that made little to no sense and didn’t seem to notice when half of the faculty simply walked out.
“We expect of you what you expect of us and that’s expecting a lot,” the principal stammered on. “To be present is a present and I present you the presentation of presentment,” he suddenly paused; he’d managed to confuse himself with his last riddle. “Such sour grapes should be turned to wine and on that note I bid you farewell.”
With a wave of his hand the principal released the students, flooding the hallways with random chatter and jokes about his uniform. The empty corridors burst to life in a wave of confusion as Anthony tried to locate his friends. Steve slowly emerged from the crowd accompanied by a small contingent of girls.
“Anthony I want you to meet Suzy, Michelle, Lisa and Rachel, or was it Staci, Miranda, Lauren and Rebecca.” Steve looked momentarily puzzled, but then simply smiled at them and winked. “Rachel here, yeah Rachel, she’s a swimmer and captain of the girls softball team.”
“I’m going to class,” Anthony rolled his eyes then turned and walked the other way.
“Nickie doesn’t need to know,” Steve screamed after him. “You can’t wait on her forever.”
Anthony stopped and contemplated punching Steve in the face, but ultimately thought better of it. He immediately regretted coming clean to Steve over the summer about his crush on Nickie. Now he was certain Steve would bring it up every chance he got.
“Yeah you go to class, save me a seat though,” Steve yelled.
Fuming, Anthony headed off to homeroom. He nervously crept through the halls constantly checking over his shoulder. The return of school brought with it a very real threat that he had managed to avoid so far.
Anthony’s summer of fun washed away the thought of the two biggest bullies in all of California. The twin city totem poles as they were affectionately called, Dallas and Boston Bertzweiger were more than your average playground bully. With a combined age of 36 and the physical build of NFL linebackers, the twins were a force to reckon with.
The first day of school was no time to tangle with the angry duo. Anthony shuffled slowly down the hall, always checking behind him, always on the lookout. When he finally made it to the door he raced inside and found a desk at the back of the room.
He had the same homeroom as Steve, but Mikey and Mit were sent halfway across the school. This was the first time in five years that the quadruplets had been split up and it left them with an uneasy feeling.
Anthony was starting to nod off when Steve finally made it to class. He walked in and almost ran into another student, as he eyed the tall, fair skinned lady who stood in front of the class. Ms. Sniz, their homeroom teacher scribbled on the blackboard as the rest of the class poured in. She stood about six feet tall with flowing red hair and had a very annoying habit of smacking gum. Rumor was she’d been married to Principal Harris for three months before they split in a nasty divorce. This was the supposed catalyst for his declining state of mind.
“We’re going on a triple date,” Steve smiled as he slid into the desk next to Anthony. “And you’re not invited.”
Anthony cut his eyes and turned around.
“Welcome my young men and women,” Ms. Sniz’s high pitched voice sprung to life, bearing no trace of her southern upbringing.
From the look on Steve’s face Anthony could tell this was sure to be his favorite class. Steve whipped his head around and sat up tall in his chair. His eyes seemed to gloss over as a look of joy washed across his face.
“You’re quite smitten with her, eh?” Anthony chuckled.
Steve smirked and continued to stare straight ahead.
“Unfortunately, due to some staffing changes by your principal, I will no longer be your homeroom teacher after today.”
“No!” Steve blurted out uncontrollably.
Everyone turned around laughing as Steve slumped down into his seat.
“Well thank you for your passion young man, but it’s already been decided that I move to guidance.” Ms. Sniz said sarcastically, only fueling the rumors that she was still having a spat with the principal.
Steve sat up a bit looking distraught. He cleared his throat and with a sense of desperation spoke.
“Do you teach any other classes?”
Ms. Sniz smiled at him. “I’m flattere
d by your dedication to learning Mr. err.”
“Hanson, Stephen Hanson the third,” Steve interjected.
Anthony laughed to himself. Steve was really hooked. He hadn’t used his entire name since kindergarten.
“Mr. Hanson, your concern is very admirable, but unfortunately at this time guidance shall be my only charge.”
Steve’s head collapsed to the desk with a bang. Anthony looked at him pitifully and shook his head. The first day of school and Steve already had his first crush. Anthony turned back to the front at the sound of Ms. Sniz’s voice.
“That idiot thinks he can just shut me up in an office.”
He was staring right at her, but was sure her mouth hadn’t moved when she spoke. She smiled at him and he quickly glanced away. He looked at the rest of the class as they carried on like they hadn’t heard a thing.
Ms. Sniz continued to take role call and inform the class on how the first week would go. And then to Steve’s dismay she dismissed them. Steve stared long and hard at her trying to burn her image into his brain, and then with a heavy sigh he left the classroom and joined the others outside.
“Steve’s got a girlfriend,” Anthony heckled him.
“You’re one to talk.” Steve scowled at him.
“Who’s he crushing on now?” Mikey smiled.
“It’s Ms. Sniz, our homeroom teacher. He almost cried because she’s leaving.”
Mit and Mikey burst into laughter as Steve shoved Anthony into a locker.
“Now, now young men, off to class you go,” one of the teachers demanded as she ushered them down the hall.
Anthony rubbed his shoulder as they compared schedules. Music Appreciation was the next class for all of them. Anthony smiled because he was sure he’d finally be able to catch up on some sleep. If there was one thing he had no interest in learning it was music appreciation.
As they walked to class the hall suddenly erupted in a flood of voices. Anthony stopped and spun his head around in confusion.
“Dude what’s wrong with you?” Mikey paused and looked back.
Anthony knelt down and threw both hands over his ears. “You don’t hear that?”
“Hear what?” Steve raised his eyebrows.
All at once everything went quiet and Anthony nonchalantly stood back up.
“N…nothing. Nevermind.” He said, biting his lip.
“It’s just the first day dude, too early to start losing it.” Mikey grinned and then turned into the classroom.
“Take a seat and hush your mouths,” Mrs. Thunderspat, the music teacher instructed.
She pranced around the room in a sort of waltz movement, directing students to the open seats. Anthony and his friends quickly grabbed some chairs in the back and slid in before she could make her rounds.
Steve was still sulking as he hunkered down into his seat. He suddenly perked up when he noticed Maxey sitting a few rows ahead. Maxey was the former head cheerleader at their middle school and the one girl that seemed immune to Steve’s charming ways.
Steve inched his seat forward and cleared his throat.
“Shhh,” Mrs. Thunderspat quickly snapped her fingers at him.
“Maxey.” Steve whispered, with a sinister grin smeared across his face.
Maxey turned around and raised an eyebrow.
“Hey!” Steve smiled from ear to ear and waved excitedly.
Maxey gave a half-hearted hand twitch and then rolled her eyes. She whispered something to the boy sitting next to her and they both giggled.
“Loser.” The boy mouthed at Steve.
“I think I’m starting to wear on her Sticks.” Steve smiled back at him.
“Yeah you are.” He mumbled.
Sticks was a six foot four star basketball player that weighed less than most super models. He and Maxey were best friends and considered brother and sister by everyone that knew them.
“Good luck.” Sticks nodded.
With a clang the door slammed and Mrs. Thunderspat shimmied to the front of the room. Her jet-black hair and olive skin were a staple of the small Italian city she hailed from. She had once been a world renowned opera singer in Venice and the exact circumstances that brought her to North Shore were something of a mystery.
“Welcome to Music Appreciation,” she smiled from the front of the room. “Here you will learn the minute details beneath the music that will open your ears to the beauty and magic that you have yet to enjoy.”
She seemed to take great pride in her subject. She spoke about it like a new mother would brag about her baby. Unfortunately, her words fell on deaf ears as more than half the class fought admirably to keep their eyelids open.
The next hour and a half was spent reciting childhood songs like “Mary had a Little Lamb” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The students were supposed to search for the hidden meaning in the words which unlocked the magic, but they all stared blankly at each other in desperate confusion.
“Can someone tell me what makes these songs so special?” Mrs. Thunderspat tapped her shoe, eyeing the class skeptically. “Surely one of you can, come now.”
Anthony sunk down in his seat as the rest of the class made similar movements.
“Oh this simply won’t do, an answer now or… or detention for all of you,” she spat furiously.
Mit shot up out of his seat, “The modulation of the chords and the variances in its written key.”
Mrs. Thunderspat gasped, clapping her hands in front of her face. “Oh yes, yes my dear, grazie grazie,” she jumped up and down.
Mit blushed and sat back down to the jeers and heckling of the class. Mrs. Thuderspat shot them an angry glance and continued.
“If you all could share Mr….”
“O’Cleary.” Mit mumbled.
“Mr. O’Cleary’s passion for music, you may likely ace this class.” She sneered.
When the bell finally rung a stampeded of students headed for the door. They almost trampled one another in a rush to leave her classroom.
“Don’t forget to read pages one through two hundred for tomorrow’s class.” Mrs. Thunderspat yelled after them.
“Well you little baby Beethoven.” Anthony laughed as they stopped in the hall.
In all honesty none of them were surprised since Mit was the resident “know it all” of their group. If he hadn’t known an answer that would’ve been shocking.
“Dude, you’re taking all of our tests.” Mikey demanded on their way to lunch.
The cafeteria was an assortment of brightly colored chairs and tables accented by the sun beaming in from the glass dome that covered it. There was a courtyard attached that boasted little gazebos that the majority of students chose to eat at due to the almost perfect weather.
The normal array of indistinguishable “food items” was spread out in a buffet style. Anthony was the last to take a lunch tray. He bypassed the slop wall, as it was known and headed for the a la carte pizza instead. Making his way to the courtyard he found the rest of the gang and took a seat.
“You hear the news?” Mikey jolted as he bit into a cheesy slice of pizza.
Anthony looked at him confused and sat his tray on the table. “Did I hear what?”
“The twins, they’re gone.”
“Yep, gone to Switzerland,” Mit jumped in.
“No way, you guys are such liars.”
“No seriously, I heard this morning in homeroom. They were supposed to be in our class, but someone came in and handed the teacher a note. She said they’d been shipped to some boarding school over there.” Mikey explained.
Anthony’s smirk gradually turned to a smile and the burden he felt earlier suddenly lifted. A school free of the bullies, he could hardly believe it. High school might not completely suck after all.
With a giant grin he tipped his soda back and took a sip. Steve nodded at Mikey and bumped into Anthony’s elbow. Soda shot up his nose and spilled down his shirt.
“What the…?” Anthony gawked at him.
Steve laughed and pointed to the group of girls walking by that were now giggling in Anthony’s direction. Anthony looked up and immediately tried to hide his face as Nickie and her friends passed by.
“You jerk!” Anthony stammered.
The rest of the school day went by in a blur. Anthony tried to arrange another chance encounter with Nickie, but was unsuccessful. Before he knew it the bell rung and he was on his way home.
As Anthony walked through the front door, he found his dad standing on his head in the living room. He was upside down with his eyes closed facing the TV as still as a statue.
“How was your first day sport?” He said as he swiveled his head to face him.
“Um what are you doing?” Anthony asked with a puzzled look on his face.
“New workout, it’s all the rage in Guatemala, it’ll catch on soon.” His dad huffed while trying to remain balanced. His mother laughed from in the kitchen.
“Mr. Clark suggested I try it. Said it helped him with his back. Haven’t seem him to thank him though.”
Anthony gulped and quickly tried to change the subject.
“Oh, well my first day was good, I’m still alive. I’m hungry what’s for dinner?”
Anthony ran into the kitchen and found his mother making soup. He moaned and then disappeared upstairs.
He walked into his room and slid his nightstand over. He glanced behind him to make sure no one was coming and then pushed at a small piece of the wall. The plaster gave way and he stuck his hand into the hole and withdrew a Snickers bar. Smiling, he fixed the wall and moved his nightstand back.
He headed back downstairs twenty minutes later where his mom had joined his dad and now both were trying to remain still while balancing on their heads.
“Weirdoes! Am I the only one in this house that’s normal?” Anthony smirked and ran back up the stairs.
V
