Dissension (9 page)

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.

BROKEN WINGS

“When ze’ polar caps melt, sea level will increase…” Mr. Douglas’ deep, baritone voice lulled Anthony into a catatonic state.

He was the freshmen geography teacher, known for his hour long, monotone speeches.  Mr. Douglas was a large man, wide as a bear and just as hairy.  He scowled at the students from behind his thick eyebrows, which hid his time worn eyes.

Anthony had known him for years.  Mr. Douglas had been his elementary English teacher; an odd position considering his heavy, German accent.  Now he taught geography, which was one of Anthony’s least favorite subjects aside from music.  Having a teacher that could make defusing nuclear bombs seem boring certainly didn’t help the situation.

Anthony squirmed back and forth in his chair trying to get comfortable, but the burning sensation in his back wouldn’t go away.  All day he had been alternating between leaning forward with his head tucked into his arms and sitting totally reclined with his head jarred back like a Pez dispenser.  No matter what he tried he could never seem to find the perfect position. 

He rubbed his back on the chair with a dog-like, joyful expression on his face.  What he assumed was a mosquito bite had plagued him since last night and only gotten worse.  Anthony arched his back a little more letting out a satisfying groan, drawing the attention of the entire classroom. 

“Mr. Dimair, are we having chair problems today?”  Mr. Douglas eyed him from behind his bulky, bifocal frames.

Anthony looked up and noticed that every eye was locked on him.  He had stood completely out of his seat and was now behind his desk rubbing has back against the chair.

“Um my… underwear.”  Anthony blurted out before thinking.

The class erupted in laughter as Mr. Douglas surveyed him with a stern face.  He sighed and raised his hand, hushing the wave of giggles.

“Underwear problems?”  Mr. Douglas repeated.

“I…I just need the bathroom.”  Anthony pleaded as the burning in his back became unbearable.

“If you must.”

Anthony quickly ran around his desk and bolted out of the door.

“Oh and Mr. Dimair… do try to come back with your underwear sorted.”  Mr. Douglas chuckled before turning back to the class. 

Anthony burst into the boy’s bathroom.  He scratched at his back wildly, almost tearing off his shirt.  He slung himself into the beige colored wall and rubbed furiously against it.

“Oh my god!”  He screamed in exhaustion.

He knew something was wrong.  The pain he was feeling had gone beyond any insect bite.  Pulling off his t-shirt, he slid his hand across his back.  He scoured over it and then paused when his fingers ran across something scaly.

“Ugh!”  Anthony yelled.

Almost afraid to touch it again, he turned his back to the mirror.  Craning his neck, he could barely glimpse the scabbing gash that ran down his shoulder blade.  He turned to his left and an identical gash ran down that side as well.

Biting his lip, Anthony gently poked at the wound.  He rubbed his fingers across the scaly surface, grimacing the whole while.  Something was sticking out.  It felt thick and leathery, like his dad’s work belts.

With his eyes closed he pulled at it. It offered little resistance and more and more of it unfolded from his back.  Anthony moved his hands away and wiggled in disgust.  He squirmed around the restroom shaking his hands and talking to himself.

Slowly, he turned back and faced the mirror.  He took a deep breath as he tried to calm his nerves.  Suddenly, there was a loud crack and he buried his face into his hands, fearing the worst.  The pain in his back was gone, but he was too afraid to see what had become of the leathery skin he had pulled from it.

After minutes in silence he peeked through the slits between his fingers.

“Ahh!”  He screamed as he stumbled backwards and turned away from the mirror.

He threw his hands up and then pulled at his hair.

“No! No, no, no, no!”  He repeated over and over as he paced the restroom frantically.

He couldn’t stop fidgeting.  His fingers shot out and snapped erratically.  He scratched at his arms and shook in place, breathing like he’d finished his first marathon.

“Come on Anthony.  Get it together.  It’s not there, it’s not real.”  He said to himself.

Convinced he hadn’t seen what he really saw, he counted to three and then turned back to the mirror.

“Ahhh!”  He belted at the top of his lungs.

His scream carried all the way to the courtyard and down the long halls of the school.  Anthony hadn’t noticed how loud he was as he stood mortified in front of the mirror.

Without warning, the door burst open and Anthony spun around and dove for the stalls.  Sliding into one he slammed the door and locked it.

“Mr. Dimair!” A booming voice exploded.  “Are you in there, are you okay?”  It was Mr. Douglas.

“Oh, uh y... yes I’m fine.  My… um my stomach it just hurts real bad.  I’ll be out in a minute.”  Anthony moaned. 

“Are you sure? I heard your infantile whimpering all the way down in my classroom.”  Mr. Douglas said in annoyance.

“Yes, I’m ok s…sorry for interrupting class Mr. Douglas.” Anthony pleaded. 

“Hurry up in there, and keep it down for God’s sake.”

Mr. Douglas turned and headed back into the hallway.  Anthony waited and then hesitantly opened the stall door.  He walked back to the mirror and stared blankly at the image in front of him.

It was indescribable.  No amount of warning could’ve prepared him.  Anthony shook from head to toe, fighting just to remain on his feet.

He heard a buzz and something vibrated in his back pocket.  Reaching down, he fumbled into his jeans and grabbed his cell phone.  A message from Mikey scrolled across the screen.

“
Dude where are u…u dead lol???!
”

Anthony looked to the mirror and then back to his phone.  Taking a deep breath he typed a quick message and hit send.

“Hallway rr get in here!”

He scampered back into the stall and closed the door behind him.  The message had barely gone through when he heard the restroom door swing open and several footsteps trample inside.

Anthony!” Mikey called out.  “Bro, this is getting weird.”

“I’m in the stall.”  Anthony said, barely above a whisper.

“Well get out here dude.”

Anthony sighed and cracked the stall door.  He stepped one foot out and paused.

“Just promise me you won’t run.”

“Run from what?”  Mit asked.

He’d barely finished the question when Anthony emerged from the stall and stood in front of them.  Steve screamed and took off.  He bolted out of the bathroom door and disappeared down the hallway.  Mit didn’t move.  He stood like a statue, wide-eyed with his mouth hanging on the floor.

“Dude…what the…dude?”  Mikey repeated over and over.

Anthony frowned.  He was standing in the middle of the bathroom shirtless.  His chest heaved up and down and behind him two giant wings beat lazily in the air.  They looked like a mix between dragon and eagle wings, but the hair covering them was leathery and shiny.

Mikey threw his hand over his mouth.  He shook his head and rubbed his eyes.

“Dude, I mean dude?”  Mikey was still trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

Mit slowly composed himself and then started to circle Anthony.  He moved closer and closer inspecting him like a new alien species.

“Does it hurt?”  Mit asked.

He poked at one and it shivered slightly.  The wings were growing right out of his back, attached to him just like his arms or his legs.

“No…I, I don’t really feel anything.”  Anthony responded.

The door cracked open and everyone jumped.

“Sorry, um sorry for running.”  Steve mumbled as he poked his head in the door.  “Is it safe to come in?”

“I think so.”  Anthony looked confused.

Steve stepped inside and joined Mikey who was eying Anthony from a safe distance.  Mit was still poking and prodding at him like a science project.

“Can you move them?”  Mit asked.

Anthony shrugged his shoulders.  Mikey inched closer with a disgusted look on his face.

“Bro, that’s kinda awesome.  I mean it’s gross, but kinda awesome.”

“Yeah, well you can have them.”  Anthony said in annoyance.

“We can’t stay in here all day.”  Mit declared, after a long silence.

Anthony threw his hands in the air and his wings flapped.

“Oh!  They moved.”  Steve stuttered.

“What do you want me to do?  I can’t just walk out of here like this.”

Mit bit his bottom lip and rubbed his chin.  “Maybe we…maybe we can push them back in.”

“I’m not touching those things.”  Steve demanded.

“Dude shut up!”  Mikey scowled at him.

Together with Mit he cautiously approached Anthony and grabbed the side of a wing.  They tried rolling it up like a giant paper towel.  Anthony squirmed and complained.

“That’s not working.”

Suddenly the door burst open.  In unison they turned to find Principal Harris standing in the doorway.  He had a look on his face between anger and mild amusement.  His eyes moved to each one of them and he cleared his throat.

“Detention, for three weeks.   All of you to my office now!”  He stammered and then turned and stormed out.

Anthony was confused. 
Had wings become a normal occurrence at this high school?

“Dude…dude they’re gone!”  Mikey screamed.

Anthony reached across his back.  He ran to the mirror and turned around.  Sure enough his wings had tucked back into the scaly slits on his back.

“I…I don’t get it.”

“Who cares?  They’re gone, that’s a good thing.”  Steve reasoned.

“You think Harris saw them?”  Mit asked as he tossed Anthony his shirt.

“Nah, that dudes blind anyway.  Let’s go before he comes back.”  Mikey said as he headed to the door.

Principal Harris’ office had the distinct smell of cigars and old socks.  The vanilla colored walls were lined with awards and degrees, none of which belonged to him.  A dusty bookcase sat in the corner which he used to display his model ship collection.

From across the desk his beady, little eyes examined them; barely visible from beneath his bushy, gray eyebrows.  Normally a very forceful man, he seemed small and frail.  He sunk in back his black leather chair.  Probably noticing his diminished presence, Principal Harris sat up leaning forward on the desk.  He remained silent for some time and then suddenly broke into riddle.

“Boys who butcher the background of the boat get bridled in the brig.”  He spoke loudly putting an extra emphasis on each B.

Anthony sat confused, his back still slightly irritated.  Steve and Mikey giggled as Mit let out a snore which went unnoticed to Principal Harris.

After thirty minutes of finger pointing, threats of eternal detention and countless incoherent riddles, Anthony and his friends were released.  They suffered nothing more than a slap on the wrist and three weeks of detention for what he called rambunctious restroom horseplay. 

They walked out of the principal’s office as the bell rung to release school.  They had practically spent the entire day, either in the bathroom or resisting Harris’ nautical riddle hypnotism. Finally, outside of the school walls, Anthony’s mind was free to roam and the shock and awe of sprouting wings was in full effect.

“This can’t be real; I mean this just can’t be real.”  Anthony strode deliberately down the sidewalk shaking his head.  “What am I gonna tell my mom?  My dad’s gonna flip out.”

“Dude…do not tell your parents.”  Mikey stopped and grabbed him by the arms.  “I’ve seen enough movies to know you don’t tell anyone.  They’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”

Anthony shook his head and frowned.

“Look at the bright side.”  Steve interrupted.

“There is no bright side genius.”

“Yeah, you’re like some superhuman alien thing,” Mit added.  “It’s actually kind of cool” 

“I’m just…I’m just going home.”  Anthony split off in a different direction.

“Hey, are your parents’ home?  Mind if I come over?”  Mit asked, running to catch up with him.

“Not today Mit.  I just wanna be alone.”  Anthony frowned.

“Oh, yeah okay.”  Mit turned around with a sunken expression.

“Hey dude, you can crash at my place," Mikey turned to Mit and said sympathetically.  “Catch you late Anthony.”

Anthony made it home and snuck upstairs to his room.  He fell into his bed and covered his face with a pillow.  He felt scared and exhausted.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.”  He yelled, punching his pillow over and over.  “Ugh!”

Huffing loudly, he buried his face into the mattress. He closed his eyes, resisting the urge to cry.  Before he knew it, he was asleep.