Falstaff, who has to this point been his drinking buddy and best friend, 'I know you not, old man'?"
"It means it's time to get to work." The room looked toward Erica. Redican spied a confused look on Ted's face.
"I think I know where you're headed with this, Ms. LaPlante." Redican gestured toward Erica. "Can you elaborate?"
"It means the end of adolescence." Erica put on a sly smile. "No more parties." A couple of students gave out a fake boo, eliciting a few laughs. "No more convenient friendships. Hal has gotten all he can out of the bar. Now it's time to rule the kingdom."
"Exactly." Redican slapped his hands together. "Not bad, Ms. LaPlante."
Erica nodded as the bell rang. Much to their credit, the students didn't rush out the door as quickly as usual. Redican smiled to himself.
"Don't forget to do the handout tonight." Redican watched as the students whispered to each other while packing. "And remember that your outline for the 10-page essay is due on Tuesday."
Redican estimated the reminder only elicited half as many groans as usual. He caught Erica and Ted holding hands on the way out the door when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Mr. Redican, do you have a minute to talk?" Beth's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes wide.
Redican stifled a laugh. "I have a free period now. Why don't you shut the door and hang for a minute?"
Beth shimmied across the room and closed the door before sitting down in the center seat of the front row. Redican noticed her legs shake as she crossed them.
"How can I help you, Ms. Lynch?" Redican leaned back against the desk.
"I'm having some trouble with my outline. I was wondering if we could schedule a couple of one-on-one sessions."
Redican let out a shallow breath before walking around behind his desk. "Beth, you're friends with Erica LaPlante, am I right?"
Beth nodded.
"Good." Redican pulled out a weathered book from deep within his desk. "I think I have something here that can help the both of us."
Redican opened to a page with a bookmark from the Treasure Public Library and touched the ink. Several extra handouts flew off the desk as if a gust of wind had blown in.
"Mr. Redican, I–"
Redican pointed his hand toward Beth, and the words went out of her. The girl's eyes narrowed and moved off of her instructor. She stared straight ahead at the blackboard.
"Beth, I have a very important mission for you." Redican felt inside her mind for any resistance. There was none.
"Yes, Mr. Redican." Beth's eyes remained focus straight ahead.
Redican took his hand off the book and leaned over in front of his student. "Can I trust you to do whatever I ask of you?"
Beth nodded three times, each one slower than the last.
"I'm afraid this is like an airplane emergency exit, dear. I'm going to need a verbal confirmation."
Beth's eyes moved away from the board and focused on Redican. "Yes. I'll give you my life if you need it."
Redican's cheekbones rose with a wide grin. "Good. I just might."
Chapter 11
Ever since Ted asked her to join the team a few weeks ago, Natalie had re-worked her day to avoid seeing the superhero. Gym was the only class they shared, but she made a deal with Coach Fowler to spend the entire class training for next basketball season. Natalie had enjoyed beating up on the less athletically gifted, but with Ted's powers becoming more and more of a participation requirement, she didn't mind staring at a motivational poster while doing barbell squats.
After gym, they used to meet up to walk over to Hall C. To take away the chance they might bump into each other, she went out and around the opposite side of the building. Instead of going to the cafeteria near her fourth period math class, she took a 10-minute stroll to eat at the freshman cafeteria. The students gave the lunchroom that nickname because the upperclassman had taken all the tables in the newer, brighter location across the school. The room was where gym class was held in the 80s, but now
"It means it's time to get to work." The room looked toward Erica. Redican spied a confused look on Ted's face.
"I think I know where you're headed with this, Ms. LaPlante." Redican gestured toward Erica. "Can you elaborate?"
"It means the end of adolescence." Erica put on a sly smile. "No more parties." A couple of students gave out a fake boo, eliciting a few laughs. "No more convenient friendships. Hal has gotten all he can out of the bar. Now it's time to rule the kingdom."
"Exactly." Redican slapped his hands together. "Not bad, Ms. LaPlante."
Erica nodded as the bell rang. Much to their credit, the students didn't rush out the door as quickly as usual. Redican smiled to himself.
"Don't forget to do the handout tonight." Redican watched as the students whispered to each other while packing. "And remember that your outline for the 10-page essay is due on Tuesday."
Redican estimated the reminder only elicited half as many groans as usual. He caught Erica and Ted holding hands on the way out the door when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Mr. Redican, do you have a minute to talk?" Beth's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes wide.
Redican stifled a laugh. "I have a free period now. Why don't you shut the door and hang for a minute?"
Beth shimmied across the room and closed the door before sitting down in the center seat of the front row. Redican noticed her legs shake as she crossed them.
"How can I help you, Ms. Lynch?" Redican leaned back against the desk.
"I'm having some trouble with my outline. I was wondering if we could schedule a couple of one-on-one sessions."
Redican let out a shallow breath before walking around behind his desk. "Beth, you're friends with Erica LaPlante, am I right?"
Beth nodded.
"Good." Redican pulled out a weathered book from deep within his desk. "I think I have something here that can help the both of us."
Redican opened to a page with a bookmark from the Treasure Public Library and touched the ink. Several extra handouts flew off the desk as if a gust of wind had blown in.
"Mr. Redican, I–"
Redican pointed his hand toward Beth, and the words went out of her. The girl's eyes narrowed and moved off of her instructor. She stared straight ahead at the blackboard.
"Beth, I have a very important mission for you." Redican felt inside her mind for any resistance. There was none.
"Yes, Mr. Redican." Beth's eyes remained focus straight ahead.
Redican took his hand off the book and leaned over in front of his student. "Can I trust you to do whatever I ask of you?"
Beth nodded three times, each one slower than the last.
"I'm afraid this is like an airplane emergency exit, dear. I'm going to need a verbal confirmation."
Beth's eyes moved away from the board and focused on Redican. "Yes. I'll give you my life if you need it."
Redican's cheekbones rose with a wide grin. "Good. I just might."
Chapter 11
Ever since Ted asked her to join the team a few weeks ago, Natalie had re-worked her day to avoid seeing the superhero. Gym was the only class they shared, but she made a deal with Coach Fowler to spend the entire class training for next basketball season. Natalie had enjoyed beating up on the less athletically gifted, but with Ted's powers becoming more and more of a participation requirement, she didn't mind staring at a motivational poster while doing barbell squats.
After gym, they used to meet up to walk over to Hall C. To take away the chance they might bump into each other, she went out and around the opposite side of the building. Instead of going to the cafeteria near her fourth period math class, she took a 10-minute stroll to eat at the freshman cafeteria. The students gave the lunchroom that nickname because the upperclassman had taken all the tables in the newer, brighter location across the school. The room was where gym class was held in the 80s, but now
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