Wings So We Can Fly (Part 2)

The sound of a crowd of uncontrollable students chewing and chatting filled the cafeteria. It was more of a hall than a cafeteria; tables for four were dotted across the floor all the way onto the outside veranda: only the elite Year 12s ate outside.

It was the lunch break at Redwood High School and most students had already collected their portion. Some lined up for seconds: "some" referring to Paris Lejayin. She got her second serving of the main meal and the dessert and restarted her meal like it was her first.

Alekay sat next to her and their friends Mordecai Fin and Tressa Parker sat together. Paris wildly gormandised her meal while her friends sat chatting about how their classes went.

"I wish I didn't take art." said Alekay.

"You can say that again!" Paris mumbled between mouthfuls.

"I just feel like it's unnecessarily difficult to pass but then you look at what's in art galleries and it's-"

"TRASH! Rubbish! Those people would never pass an art class!" interrupted Mordecai. "Those people spend like what? FIVE minutes drawing a few squares or painting some absolutely random shape and get world famous!"

Paris didn't even look up from her plate. Tressa was quietly tracing the circumference of her dessert bowl with a disposable spoon.

"Why are you so quiet?" asked Mordecai. Tressa looked up.

"Me? - I just wouldn't know. I don't even take art. Well at least- not like you guys."

Tressa was in the year below. Year 10-M. At Redwood each Year Group had between two and three randomly separated classes of 15 students per class.

"The art my class does is mostly notes and writing stories." she added.

"Oh my gosh, why?" asked Paris.

"Not sure."

"Who's your teacher?"

"Mr. Liwei."

"Eesh!" exclaimed Mordecai. "Mr. Liwei is the worst! Why is he so strict for no reason?"

"Right? Did somebody break his heart?" added Alekay, laughing now. "Sometimes I just wonder why he's got to be so sour!"

Paris's eyes opened wider.

"I could use him to make lemonade!" shouted Mordecai in mid-laughter; but unfortunately, right at the moment when the whole cafeteria chose to have a mini moment of silence.

Nobody laughed. Mordecai's laugh fizzled into embarrassment.

From their tables, mobs of students stared at him blankly.

Mordecai buried his face underneath the table. They continued with their meals.

"Should have just kept quiet." whispered Tressa. "Serves you right."

"He's soooo fat though!" said Alekay.

Paris gestured for him to stop. He didn't pick it up. Tressa slapped her forehead.

"Imagine what it was like to be preggo with a baby that would grow to be that big - it'd be like.." Alekay trailed off as a curious finger rapped on his shoulder.

"Go on, tell us. How would it be like?" asked a sinisterly serene voice from behind them. If the witch from Hansel And Gretel had a son, it would be Mr. Liwei. A short finger rested on Alekay's shoulder, sinking it into the floor. There was no mistaking it; the flagitious finger of Russell Liwei: Year 9 and 10 art teacher. Alekay looked over his shoulder, a small part of him wishing that nothing was there. They locked gazes.. or something like that- Mr. Liwei's disparaging stare scorched right through Alekay. Alekay awkwardly chuckled. It was the last of his dignity packing up.

"Umm, exactly how much of that did you hear?"

"Do you know why you've been called into my office?" asked the principal, Ms. Saunders. Alekay remorsefully nodded his head.

Ms. Saunders let out a thoughtful "mhmm" sound.

"Then you know what you did wrong." she said calmly. Then she lost it. "WHY must it be you TIME and AGAIN! WHY must I always have to speak to you EVERY SINGLE DAY! What - you want me to call your parents for you? Is that what you want??" she bellowed. Alekay was quiet. "Tell me!! Is that what you want??!"

Alekay swallowed back his fear and held his hands together.

"Ma'am, thi-thi-this is my first ever visit to your office."

Ms. Saunders paused and thought deeply.

"Are you sure?" she asked, in the sort of manner that made Alekay doubt his own honesty.

"Yes ma'am." he replied, quite unsure of himself at this point.

Ms. Saunders massaged her bare chin as if to mimic a principal with facial hair.

"Well.. That's fortunate for you. You should have seen your face though!" she laughed, mimicking Alekay's remorseful demeanor. Then in an instant, she switched back to seriousness. She stood up from her table and walked right up to him.

"I'll run a check on you, Mr. Robinson, but if I find a bad record I will call you back into my office. And you don't want to pay me a second visit. Trust me."

For half a second, Ms. Saunders' youthful smile poked out from beneath her professional behaviour. She was about to laugh. Alekay was pressing his advantage, he knew it, but he couldn't hold back.

"What would happen if you see me in this office again ma'am?"

"If I see you in this office one more time young man, I will... I will devour you." she said, sounding a little lost for words at one point. "Don't underestimate me, Alekay!"

Devour? thought Alekay. What???!

Now he was really going to laugh. This principal was the cats pajamas.

"Yeah, right!" he laughed.

Ms. Saunders face straightened. She did not laugh.

"Did you just 'yeah, right' me?"

"No- I was- I-"

"--- Come after school for detention."

"Did you get detention for it?" asked Paris, sitting next to him in afternoon class. Alekay buried his head in his hands.

"No- and yes."

"Huh?"

"Just don't ask about it."

Paris patted his back.