Maryanne rushed down the long corridor and up six flights of stairs to get to science class. Sheepshead High was not a tall building, but it was an endless labyrinth of classrooms and corners. As she rushed into the lab she settled at an empty marble table in the back. This class was small, only those who needed to repeat or make up the credits were here. Everyone had already paired with his or her friends. As she pulled out her notebook she got the peculiar feeling of eyes on her again.
The back door swung open and Ricky Linderman strode to her table on the last bell. He pulled up the stool beside her and kept his focus straight ahead. Maryanne gave him a long cool stare, as he had done to her numerous times. Moody and his platinum blonde friend, Billy, strutted to the table in front of them. With Ricky beside her, her confidence soared. Mr. Kessly, the lab teacher, scurried in behind them. He was skinny and bald with light blue eyes and a gray beard. He fluttered around adjusting the utensils; he noticed Ricky.
"For anyone new in class today, the person you are next to will be your lab partner for the rest of the semester."
Maryanne stole another glance at Ricky. She thought he would get up and leave right then, but he stayed put. Mr. Kessly called up a representative from each group to collect the lab supplies. Ricky made no move so Maryanne went up. Today was the fun day of dissecting a frog. Maryanne was braver than most of the girls when they had to pull the frog from the bucket. One girl kept insisting hers was still alive.
As Mr. Kessly explained the process, Ricky was ready and waiting with a scalpel in hand. The students began to murmur, but he pretended to not hear. When Maryanne placed the frog on the tray before him, he immediately began making skillful incisions, gently peeling away skin and muscle. Maryanne admired his long and dexterous fingers. She took the assignment of labeling the organs on the sheet; grateful she didn't have to do the dirty work. Mr. Kessly was happy with their project as he walked around. He called them a "neat and effective team."
Maryanne eventually caught Moody watching and whispering to Billy. She had a sickening feeling they were planning something devious. Ricky was the first in class to finish dissecting. He calmly stared out the window, while the rest still cut and hacked away at the poor amphibian. Maryanne kept watch on Moody; she noticed he picked up a hidden frog from the sink, still dripping formaldehyde. When she glanced nervously at Ricky, Moody aimed the frog and flung it across the table toward her face. Ricky's arm shot out and caught it in a split second before it could touch her. Maryanne let out a little shout and ducked. The catch startled both her and Moody.
Mr. Kessly scribbled on the board, telling the class to quiet down; they had also seen Ricky's catch. Ricky casually tossed the frog from hand to hand. He aimed it at Billy, but turned it into a curve pitch on Moody's chest. The whole class watched with interest, and Maryanne noticed some cheered silently.
"HEY! YOU JERK OFF!" Moody shouted.
Everyone laughed aloud, but hushed when Mr. Kessly marched over to the table.
"Quiet down now, or else I'll call the dean!" He warned.
"It wasn't me mistuh! It was Linderman! Jeeeeee..." Moody tattled.
"Linderman? I haven't heard a peep from him. He finished his work, I suggest you do the same, I don't need to see you in this class another semester, do I, Melvin?"
Mr. Kessly returned to the chalkboard and the rest of the class snickered. Moody began to mutter oaths under his breath, and gave Maryanne and Ricky the finger. When the bell rang, Maryanne turned to Ricky, with a grateful smile.
"Thank you! Those chemicals could have blinded me. You have fast hands." She admitted shyly.
Ricky stared at her, then quickly grumbled, "Forget it, I gotta go."
"You're welcome!" She called after him with a hint of sarcasm. She was glad her day was over.
-O-
Out in the hallway, Maryanne saw Moody and his friends lingering by a fire exit. Moving closer, she noticed they held a pimpled freshman by the collar. She slid behind an art display to better hear the conversation.
"Alright dork, where's the money you owe?"
The boy struggled and croaked. "I don't have fifty cents! I only have twenty five cents and I need it for…"
"Shut up! Jeeeee! What did I tell you? If you don't pay your protection money in full and on time, Linderman will come after you and there's nothing we can do 'bout it!"
"Yeah! He'll turn ya into soup. You want to be the next casualty on Linderman's list of victims. Probably on the front page or the ten o'clock news. Who knows how he'll off ya?" Billy sneered.
Moody laughed and tugged the boy's plaid shirt harder. "So what's it gonna be punk?"
The boy was in a state of panic and struggled fiercly. "I'll give it tomorrow, I swear! Why would he hurt me? I've never done anything to him, honest! I've never even met him before!"
Moody sighed loudly and looked to Billy. "Looks like we're gonna have to visit the office."
With fiendish glee they grabbed the boy's neck and dragged him into the boy's bathroom. Maryanne was horrified. Moody and his friends were terrible extortionists and they used Ricky Linderman's alleged reputation to get the money. She couldn't believe all this when Russell had told her. She ran past the bathroom just as Moody and Billy stepped out. The poor freshman was red faced and his head was soaked and smelled of urine. Moody knocked into her before she could escape.
"Well, look who it is, Peach face, too bad the frog missed ya."
Maryanne gritted her teeth, she was not afraid to stand up to him.
"You are a dog Moody, you and all your friends! I'm telling Principal Daniels everything you've been doing."
Moody pushed up close to her until she backed into the lockers. He grabbed her face in his hand and moved it from side to side. The freshman took the chance to escape when Billy loosened his grip.
"Listen Peache, we don't wanna hurt ya, I'll cut you a deal like anyone else. You give us fifty cents a day, and we give you protection."
"From what, Moody? You and your crummy friends are the only threat I see in this school!"
"Ha! You think so? You saw the glint in Linderman's eye, guys like him are unstable and one day they just snap and…ROOOAARRR!"
Moody yelled in her face and shook her from head to toe. Maryanne gulped in slight anxiety and he continued to harass her in a low tone.
"I personally think you're the next victim, he couldn't take his eyes off you in English class and Science. Pay up and we'll stop him. Got it?"
Maryanne shook her head adamantly. "You are a weasel! Linderman hasn't hurt anyone. He helped me from a frog you threw! I'm not giving you or your ugly friends anything!"
With all her strength, she shoved him into Billy and they bowled over against a bulletin board. She took off down the stairs. The bell rang and freshmen and sophomores clamored through the halls. Thankful for the distraction, she bustled out the side exit. She kept running around to the front of the building. Charles was waiting and she hopped into the front seat of the Lincoln.
"DRIVE! DRIVE! PLEASE!"
The chauffer stepped on the gas just as Moody and Billy caught up with her. They only managed to bang on the windows.
"What in the world was that, Maryanne?" Charles demanded.
Maryanne was breathless. "They're bullies from school. But I won't let them get me, somehow I won't!"