Here is the second part of the beginning.
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Chapter #2: Jeremie Belpois
Breathing hard from the speed at which he was running, Jim arrived at the familiar office. Leaning in, he peered through the door at the two people talking within. Principal Delmas was a wise, nicely-dressed man. His outfit, a brown jacket and brown pants, with a vest underneath. Underneath that, a dress shirt and tie. His hair, the little that was left of it on top of his head, was grey. A pair of small, dignified glasses rested on his nose. The mysterious man had removed his hood, and the man's look was so familiar that it was hurting Jim's head as he raked it for any memories of this handsome, strong man.
Who is he? Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the man shook hands with Principal Delmas, opened the door and walked out of the room. He looked at Jim with a smile, and nodded his head. "Good to see you again, Jimbo. Sorry about earlier, but I had to get that off of my back."
Jimbo! The word bounced through Jim's head, rattling his already hurting brain. "Do I know you?" he asked in confusion. "You do seem familiar somehow…"
"Jim," Principal Delmas said, setting his hand on the gym teacher's shoulder. "Surely you remember Jeremie Belpois."
" Belpois!" Jim cried, his mouth dropping open in shock. "But…he looks nothing like Belpois!"
This man was strong, even muscular; Jeremie had been somewhat scrawny. This man's face was smooth, straight; Jeremie's had been wider. Jeremie's hair…well, it was a completely different style. Jeremie had worn glasses; this man didn't seem to need them. Jeremie had never gone anywhere without a laptop or pad of paper, in other words, a nerd. This man seemed more likely to be the kind of person who would be a secret agent. The biggest difference, however, was in the eyes.
Jeremie's eyes had looked like he wanted to challenge the world, that he was alive and active, that nothing could slow him down, that he was invincible. This man's looked, not defeated…simply, he had accepted his lot. It was obvious that his old fire, his old determination to change the world, was gone.
"I am Jeremie," he said simply.
"Jeremie here has come to request a job. He wished to replace the late Mrs. Hertz as Kadic Academy's science teacher," Principal Delmas explained.
"Replace!" Jim exclaimed in shock. Turning to Jeremie, he said, "You've come here for a job! But…But…you're the brightest student to every graduate from Kadic! You were going to change the world, to 'turn this world around', as you would always say. What are you doing back here?"
Jeremie lowered his head and muttered, "I'd rather not talk about it."
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I apologize for the shortness. There is more to the beginning, but I stopped where I did because it seemed like a good spot to do so. I am trying to be careful about how much of the beginning I put onto the web. Perhaps I will do one or two more. I will do it again once the reviews get to fifty. (I do believe that two more members will make their appearance in the next part.)
