HEAVY

School has always been the most exciting part of the day, there are so many things to do and things to see. Best part of my school is the uniform. No need to spend hours in front of the closet, trying to figure out what to wear. School uniform is straight forward, grey trousers, white button up shirt, and then the blue blazer, worn with or without the navy blue woollen pull over. Oh, and the tie! Predominantly blue with the white stripes across it, the school emblem sitting proudly at the bottom of the tie.

Simple and easy.

That is the mornings. Half way through the day I would normally put a finger between the knot and the top button and loosen the choke hold ever so slightly. In the science lab my blazer would hang casually across the back end of my chair or sometimes, forgotten in the smokers area during break.

What a laugh. I always keep my head down, try to stay as invisible as I could.

I live in my own two bedroom flat in my parents’ back yard, after they kicked me out just after my eighteenth birthday. Apparently living off your parents after 18 is a no go and they thought it would teach me some responsibility. With the money I make from the gigs with my band and the bartending job I have enough to get by since they are still paying my school fees. I get to live my life as an adult, own car, own bills, and everything in between but still have the student life including homework.

I am ten months from graduating and entering the real adult world. I thought about going to college to study journalism, but sometimes studying for another four years seems too complicated. I yawned out loud. It was Thursday and it had been a long night. The patrons from the previous night had stayed until well after three am, and I had been unable to get into bed until well after four.

“Long night?” someone whispered to my right. I glanced under my hair at my classmate who was giving me a sympathetic smile.

“Very.” I replied numbly.

The girl grinned and said,

“We are in subs next class. Mr Kilderman called in sick.”

I snorted and said

“Hung-over more likely.”

I felt a pen jab me in the back and turned to look at a close friend. I say closer because the guy behind me is usually the one I pair up with for group work.

I really don’t have time for friends in my life at the moment. I am always running, as soon as school’s out it’s homework, band practice, work. Sometimes I combine band practice with work, I suppose that is why our bar is so popular. The guys would come in with their guitars and if it’s quiet I would pick up my own and we would just have a jam in the bar.

“Was he there last night?” Tommy asked softly.

“Yeah. Left early but he was fairly hard on the shots.” I replied and rolled my eyes.

“When is the band playing at the bar again?” Tommy asked with adoring eyes.

“Don’t know. You are too young to get in anyway.” I said with a grin.

“Didn’t stop me the last time.” He replied and grinned.

“Andy! Could you and your gossip club please pay attention.” Mr Epstein called us out from the front of the class.

I rolled my eyes again and turned to face him, trying, but failing miserably, to stifle the yawn that threatened to break my jaws apart.

“You should get more sleep.” Mr Epstein’s tone softened a notch before he turned around to the blackboard and continued teaching.

“The Rock God has spoken.” Tommy hissed behind me that sent me and anyone within hearing shot into fits of laughter.

“Nothing wrong with a great taste in music.” I muttered just before Mr Epstein turned around and called me out.

I stood up and dragged my tired feet to the front where he was scribbling a note on his notepad. He folded the paper up and said

“Please take your bag and take this to the headmaster.”

I sighed and returned to my desk, giving Tommy a foul look.

“Sorry.” He muttered and turned his face away.

To say I was furious was an understatement. It was more of the vein popping killer kind of anger. I was already starting to fail this class and now I get sent to the principles’ office.

I slung my book bag over my shoulder, marched to the teacher’s desk and took the note. I gave the teacher a curt nod before I left the classroom.

I walked sullenly to the office, wondering what punishment I was going to get this time. It was, in my opinion, a good enough reason not to have any friends in school.

“What did you do this time Andy?” my English teacher asked as I walked in.

“Yawned.” I replied and turned to look at her as I continued walking. I felt my bag bump into someone. With some fancy footwork I managed to prevent myself from falling but the person I hit with my bag wasn’t so lucky. I heard the books drop then the sound of a falling body. I turned around and stared in dismay at the woman that lay sprawled on the floor.

“Oh Gods, I am so sorry.” I apologised profusely as I bent down to help her pick up her books.

“It’s alright. I really should’ve looked where I was going.”

I flashed my most charming smile at her and held out my hand to help her up.

“Andy.” I introduced myself.

“Gweneviere.” She said to me and smiled in return.

“It’s Miss Sheldon to you Andy.” The headmaster’s voice boomed behind me.

I dropped the woman’s hand immediately, I turned on my heel and dropped my head.

“Of course sir.”

“Why are you not in class?” the principle asked in a slightly softer tone.

I handed him the note and dared a glance at the woman standing next to me. She was sort of run down, as if she has had a very difficult time behind her, her clothes were not new but very tidy. She wore faded jeans tucked into her ankle high boots, a funky shirt that read old school and a black leather jacket.

She had blue boots on, that made me smile.

“If you will please follow me Andy.” The headmaster spoke sternly as he glanced curiously between Miss Sheldon and me.

“Mrs Ward, would you please see to Miss Sheldon?” he said gently to the other woman.

“Of course Headmaster.” My English teacher replied and took Miss Sheldon by the elbow.

The headmaster placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me down the corridor deeper into the admin building.

“I hope there isn’t anything in your head about a certain teacher?” he said suggestive.

“No sir. Of course not. I was being polite. I had no idea she was a teacher. I hit her with my bag and she fell over. Just being polite sir.” I stammered confused.

“Good. Now, the note said you were sleeping in class. Is that true?” he asked softly as we entered the guidance councillor’s office.

My heart sank to my chest. Not this again!!

“No sir. I yawned, that’s all. I joined a conversation with a couple of classmates, Mr Epstein called us out, I turned my attention back to him, Tommy called him the Rock God and I thought it was funny, as did half a dozen of my classmates. I was the only one called out.” I replied sullenly.

The headmaster sat in one of the soft chairs in front of the desk and waved to the other chair.

“Please sit Andy.” He said and sighed.

I copied his sigh but sat down anyway.

“Look, I admire your determination to support yourself and going to school. But you are burning yourself out! Your teachers are very concerned for you as am I.” he started saying.

“Sir, please, if this is going to be a habit I might just as well drop out now. I can’t yawn in class and get suspended for a week just because you think I need some rest. I will figure this out. But please, don’t send me home again.” I argued with him.

The headmaster studied me for a minute or two before he said thoughtfully.

“Don’t you think I should call your parents? Slow down your pace slightly?”

I shook my head vehemently.

“I got this. Can I go back to class now?” I answered with certainty.

He pursed his lips and said suggestively

“Why don’t you go lie down in the sick bay?”

I shook my head.

“No thank you. I’ll dash to the gym, poke my head under the shower and go back to class. I’ll be all right, I promise.” I argued.

“No tricks?” he asked suspiciously.

“No sir.” I replied.

He slowly inclined his head, as if thinking that perhaps his next decision was going to be a mistake.

“Very well. Remember, I’ll be looking out for you the rest of the day.”

“I’d expect no less Sir.” I replied quickly, grateful that I managed to talk my way out of a second suspension in three months.

“Go on then.” He said with a smile.

“Thank you Sir.” I replied and stood up.

The day dragged on. I kept thinking of my talk with the headmaster. My classmates seemed genuinely surprised to see me as I walked back into Mr Epstein’s class. The teacher spared me a glance and nodded as I gave him a questioning look, silently asking permission to take my seat.

He resumed teaching and I carefully made my way back to my chair, ignoring the curious looks from the class.

“Glad to see everything turned out all right.” Tommy whispered as I sat down.

“No thanks to you.” I retorted furiously.

By the time the bell rang at the end of the day I was literally dragging my feet to my car in the parking lot. Next to my Renault stood a battered Nissan, evidence of days long gone.

The hood was popped and a woman in blue jeans and blue boots was fidgeting with the engine.

“Good to see you again Miss Sheldon.” I greeted her and pressed the button on my remote.

The woman nearly bumped her head on the hood as she jumped in fright.

“Andy right?” she asked carefully.

“Yes Ma’am.” I responded and took a step closer to peer at the engine. “Car problems?”

“Kind of. Darn thing takes ages to warm up to start.” She muttered and walked around to the driver’s side.

She got in and the engine turned slowly.

“Sounds like a battery to me.” I commented and put my bag down.

I leaned under the hood and banged the battery cable with my hand before pulling on the accelerator cable.

“Try swinging it!” I called out to her.

No luck at all. I sighed and said to her

“I got a mechanic on standby. Do you want me to make the call?”

“I’ll be all right?” she muttered the question more to herself before taking out her own phone and pressing a couple of buttons.

She took a couple of steps away and started talking on the phone. For some reason I stuck around until she got off the phone and said,

“My brother in law will be here shortly. He’ll give me a hand.”

I nodded but stood on the spot, my mind was starting to buzz. It was a sure sign I needed food, my medication, or perhaps lots of sleep. The only viable was the second option, but there was a teacher standing next to me. I looked at her and then at my car. My windows were tinted really dark… Perhaps…

“If you are sure you’ll be all right I’d better be in my way, you know, homework and stuff.” I said to her and took a step towards my car.

She barely paid me any attention as I walked over to my driver’s side and got in. I looked around me and locked the doors before reaching for the centre and taking out my secret stash of cocaine.

After a quick look around me I took out the mirror and with practiced hands prepared my line. I was so focused on what I was doing that I hardly noticed the person next to my window. I quickly took the line as fast as I could, inhaling deeply as my senses eased their nagging. It was only when the person knocked on the window that I realised I had company. I looked to my right and stared stunned. Miss Sheldon was trying to look through the tinted windows.

I packed up as quick as I could before unlocking the doors and opening it an inch.

“Sorry, I thought something was up when you didn’t start the car.” She said apologetically.

I smiled stupidly at her then said stupidly

“Decided to hang around to make sure you were all right.”

“Is that so?” she asked the put a hand up to my face. “You missed a spot.”

She rubbed her thumb under my nose and showed me the white powder on her finger.

“Oh crap.” I cursed and looked at her with pleading eyes.

Gweneviere chuckled at me then said softly

“You have to be careful with those things. It could bring you trouble.”

I nodded then said in admittance

“I know.”

“Then why?”

“I can’t help it. I work long hours.” I replied softly.

She was about to reply when a familiar truck drove in our direction.

“That would be my brother in law.” She said and stepped away from my car.

I got out and was met with a bearded, burly man.

“Aye there August.” He greeted with a smile.

“Aye John.” I grinned at him.

“Gweny.” He turned to the woman who wore a stunned expression on her face.

“You two know each other? August?”

“Of course we do. She works at the joint your sister is always whining about.” He said with a grin.

Gweneviere nodded with pursed lips and gave me a look that said I owe her an explanation.

“Well, I’ll be off then.” I quickly excused myself and got back into my car.

I waved back at John and gassed it to the exit.

I sighed with relief as I pulled into my driveway. My folks weren’t home so I pulled right into my side of the shared garage. I gathered my book bag and walked into my flat, glad that I had the cleaning service come in. I really was in no mood to clean anything. I tossed my book bag on the dining room table and put some music on. The intro beat came on of an Olly Murs song. I bobbed my head up and down to the beat and shuffled my feet to the ridge where I took out a light beer and opened the bottle to the beat of the music. I couldn’t help myself and started dancing to the music.

“I just want you to dance with me tonight.” I sang along between enormous gulps of beer.

The song was coming to an end when the front door opened and I was caught mid-step and chug by my mother and none other than Ms Sheldon. I choked on my beer and grabbed the remote and turned the volume down.

“Mom!” I said surprised and put my bottle on the table.

“Is this what you are doing when you are supposed to be doing your homework.” My mother asked with a smile and opened her arms to give me a hug.

“I just got home mom.” I replied and glanced over her shoulder.

My mother chuckled and swiped my beer off the table.

“Not a good enough reason to be day drinking. Long day?” my mother asked and looked at the label on my beer.

“Too long Ma.” I replied and took my beer from her and chugged the last of its contents.

“Why don’t you take a nap before you start your homework?” my mother asked sympathetically.

“I can’t Mom. I have to be at work at five. And the guys want to come over later.” I complained.

“Sooner or later you will have to make a choice my dear.” My mother said to me and was about to say something else when I interrupted.

“Not now Mom. We have company.”

“Oh. Yes. Of course.” My mother turned to the woman behind her and said, “Forgive me Gwen. My daughter, Andrea, otherwise known as Andy. Andy this is…”

“Gweneviere, Mom. We’ve met. She works at my school. Apparently a teacher, though I’m not sure what class yet.” I interrupted her.

“Actually, I’m the English Sub. Mrs Ward is transferring so I’ll be standing in for her until they can find a replacement.” Gweneviere said quickly.

“Good. So now I know who to call next time you need an English tutor.” My mom said and turned back to me. “Gwen is Mrs Shelly’s niece.”

My mouth gaped and my eyes popped. My teacher is my neighbour? Oh no!!!!

“So, how long have you been here?” I asked her carefully.

“About a week.” She replied casually.

I face palmed myself and said to her

“Hope you didn’t mind the noise too much?”

Gwen giggled and said in a very pleasant tone

“Not at all. It was very, illuminating.”

I couldn’t help but grin like an idiot as I held out my hand.

“August.”

“I’ll leave you two to it then.” My mother rolled her eyes and let us to ourselves.