***
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| Artwork Credit: Matt Ryan |
At that moment, a flock of cheerleaders glided past and Beefie loosened his hold on Barney, just enough so he could slip from his coat. As soon as his feet touched the floor, Barney sliced through the tree trunks and dashed down the hall. He ran twenty feet before Dirk and company realized what happened and initiated pursuit.
Barney panicked. He knew he was in for a beating once they caught him. The lockers whizzed past as his legs churned. The Tweedle Trio was gaining. He turned down an unfamiliar hall and darted into a boys’ bathroom. He leaned against the door, face beet red, hair matted with sweat, his breath coming in short spurts. It was quiet; he had eluded his pursuers; for the nonce.
Once he was certain he was safe, he staggered to a stall, dropped to his knees and emptied the contents of his belly into the bowl. He grabbed a hunk of toilet paper, wiped his mouth and flushed the toilet. He sat curled up against the stall wall, contemplating his next move.
He had never run from Dirk. He was fairly certain he was only forestalling the inevitable. I’m gonna get my ass kicked. I’d do almost anything to get out of this school, he thought.
“Well, you can’t sit there all day.”
Barney started; positioned in the stall opening was an immaculately dressed janitor. Black wingtips polished to a mirror finish, razor sharp creases on his overall pants and sleeves, the name Videl stenciled in blazing red letters above the left breast pocket.
“Get up. I need to work on the pipes.” His voice was silky smooth with a sinister edge.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” Barney whispered.
“Most people don’t,” replied Videl. Barney remained silent. Videl continued, “So, you’ve got a bully gunning for you.”
“What’s makes you say that?” asked Barney.
“Please. You’re holed up in a bathroom, puking your guts out and shakin’ like a lost soul on the river Styx. You’re certainly hiding from something.”
“You don’t know anything,” snapped Barney.
“I know you’re an only child. Your father left on the day you were born and you fantasize that he’s Stephen Hawking. You want to attend M.I.T. but your mother doesn’t want her little boy clear across the country all alone.
“Hell, it was a struggle for her to let you attend high school. And, to top it off, you’re being terrorized by a guy with delusions of stardom. ’Bout sum it up?” finished Videl.
Barney stared at the stranger for a moment, “You don’t know what it’s like to be the smartest person in the room, everywhere you go. No one around here takes me serious because I’m only ten.” He paused as he pondered the magnitude of this statement. “My guidance counselor, Mrs. Flurice, says she has contacts at M.I.T. She says I’d live in a supervised dorm; I’d be well cared for.”
“But, your mom won’t let you go.” Videl looked at the ceiling and tapped his chin with his index and middle fingers. “What would you say if I told you I could help you with that?”
What is Videl planning? Would you trust him? Please return next week and find out.
“I know you’re an only child. Your father left on the day you were born and you fantasize that he’s Stephen Hawking. You want to attend M.I.T. but your mother doesn’t want her little boy clear across the country all alone.
“Hell, it was a struggle for her to let you attend high school. And, to top it off, you’re being terrorized by a guy with delusions of stardom. ’Bout sum it up?” finished Videl.
Barney stared at the stranger for a moment, “You don’t know what it’s like to be the smartest person in the room, everywhere you go. No one around here takes me serious because I’m only ten.” He paused as he pondered the magnitude of this statement. “My guidance counselor, Mrs. Flurice, says she has contacts at M.I.T. She says I’d live in a supervised dorm; I’d be well cared for.”
“But, your mom won’t let you go.” Videl looked at the ceiling and tapped his chin with his index and middle fingers. “What would you say if I told you I could help you with that?”
END – EPISODE II
What is Videl planning? Would you trust him? Please return next week and find out.
