Chapter 2

Miss Stanovich was a new graduate. She had not yet learned how to control a class of bitchy girls wearing too much make up and of boys who were taller and broader than she was. She would certainly try and Bryan would watch in silence, trying to look as small and insignificant as possible because when Miss Stanovich began losing control she would pick on him. Why don’t you know the answer? How many times do I have to explain it? Were you paying attention at all when we went through this yesterday? And the boys would laugh because at that moment she was one of them, doing their job for them. The girls would be too busy swapping gossip and passing notes to care; only playing at paying attention for they had better things to do.

“Everyone take their homework out,” said Miss Stanovich, exhibiting her sternest expression.

Bryan opened his file and found the algebraic equations he’d muddled through the night before. He knew the answers were wrong. The only reason he’d even attempted the sums was to make it appear as though he’d made some effort to complete his homework. He just couldn’t seem to get his head around the concept of adding and subtracting numbers andletters of the alphabet. When would he ever need to do such a thing?

“Come on, boys down the back. Where’s your homework?” Miss Stanovich took a step forward.

“The dog ate it, Miss,” said Darren, the muscular jock who had earlier knocked into Bryan.

The entire back row laughed.

Bryan didn’t, though. He kept his eyes on his homework.

“That’s not good enough, Darren. What about the rest of you?”

“His dog ate my homework, too, Miss.”

Now even the girls were laughing.

“His cat ate mine, Miss.”

“Yeah, you should learn to feed ya pets,” said another of the back row boys.

Bryan glanced at Miss Stanovich and noticed the steady rise and fall of the joint where her two jaws connected.

“That’s not good enough, gentlemen.” There was a crack in her voice. “If this happens once more, I’ll get Principal Carruthers in here.”

“Ladies, what about you? Have you done your homework?”

“Yeah, Bryan,” said Darren. “Did you do your homework?”

Bryan inhaled deeply. His heart began beating a little harder. Still he kept his eyes on the paper in front of him, praying that Miss Stanovich didn’t ask him for answers he knew were incorrect

“That’s enough,” said Miss Stanovich. “Since only half the class have seen fit to do their homework, we’ll go on with today’s lesson. I expect yesterday’s homework, as well as today’s, to be done over the weekend.”

Only when Miss Stanovich walked up to the blackboard and began writing did Bryan relax. Now that she had begun the lesson there was no danger of her asking him for answers that would invite more ridicule.

When the siren went at the conclusion of the school day, everyone packed up their books and hurried out of the classroom. Bryan took his time. He wrote the date at the top of the page of notes he’d taken, filed it the algebra section of his file and then put his pens in his pencil case, slowly pulling the zipper closed.

“Come on, Bryan,” said Miss Stanovich. “I’m going to lock the door.”

“Yes, Miss,” said Bryan, gathering up his file, maths book and pencil case.

He hurried through the door slowing his pace immediately after. Strolling down the corridor, he kept his eyes on his feet. Nothing could encourage him to hurry. Only when he turned the corner into the veranda where the lockers were did he look up. He exhaled. Every muscle in his body relaxed when he saw no more than a dozen students remaining. Everyone else had gone, although there was still the school gate to navigate. Occasionally the boys would wait there, smoking, for their older friends to pick them up in pimped up cars whose twin exhausts would roar as they took off down the road.

Bryan packed his bag, leaving his locker empty but for a couple of text books he wouldn’t need, and the caricature of him sucking a cock.

His mind turned to the weekend. Two days respite from the constant stress of trying to remain sane in an insane situation. Yet now was not the time for smiles and daydreams. The sight of five boys sitting on the fence on either side of the gate meant he had one more hurdle to overcome before he could indulge himself in those. He had two options. He could turn around and walk the other way. There was another gate near the primary school, and also the entrance to the teacher’s car park. Or he could show them that he wasn’t a coward and walk right through the middle of their group.