Our Place in the Food Chain: Part IV
The Senior assembly started out precisely as everyone had envisioned: Steve Barkin…barking.
"Alright people, listen up!" He surveyed the crowd, trying to separate faces of returning students from the new ones. He had been over the files of the new transfers and had studied the Junior photos paper clipped to each one. There was no telling how their appearances may have changed, but he was happy to be able to pick out most of them. His disciplined, military mind was trained to keep track of many things, that included knowing the names of all the students he was in charge of. He already knew the ones who were returning, that left the new ones.
It was all he could do to keep from smiling as he spotted two particular students in the front row, sitting as close together as they could considering the permanently affixed arm rests, strategically positioned to keep students from holding hands or snuggling in the auditorium seats. Seeing the two of them together was nothing new. Unless they had separate classes they were always together anyway but he could still see the difference. Their shoulders couldn't be more than a centimeter apart. If it hadn't been for the divider they would most likely have been holding hands, the one and only Public Display of Affection, or PDA that wasn't specifically proscribed in the student handbook. That was fine with him, since that meant their hands were out where he could see them instead of other…places.
Seeing Possible and Stoppable together actually made him quite happy. That meant the girl finally opened her eyes, or that the boy had finally gotten the stones to tell her how he felt, or both. All he knew was what he saw those last few weeks of school and the magnificent performance Stoppable had put in there at the finals. On the outside he was a gruff, strict former military officer, but inside he was a secret romantic. He knew the pair completed each other and that pleased the softer side of him.
Then again he would have to keep a very close eye on those two. He was never one to put too much stock in rumor, but sometimes that was the only way to keep up with all the social goings-on that plagued schools, especially one the size of Middleton. He knew quite well that the normally hyper-involved Possible had virtually disappeared during the summer, obviously spending as much time with her new boyfriend as she could, to the detriment of the clubs and organizations she normally participated in. Whether that carried on into the new school year he would have to see. If so he felt it was his duty to point this out to her. While he thought her dawn-to-dusk involvement in just about every civic club imaginable was way overdone, it would be quite the shame if she traded all of that for time with the boy, his new-found grudging respect notwithstanding.
"Welcome back to Middleton High School, Class of Two Thousand Six, or at least a good many of you will have the guts and determination to complete this school year. I see lots of familiar faces today, as well as a few others who I will come to know in the next few months.
"First and foremost, we're all here to see that you get an education. In order to do that, we are going to have discipline. This is not a party. This is not day care. This is a place of work, just like the places many of you who don't have what it takes to get into college will go to when this school year is done…just like some of you who have some real gumption already go to when the day is done.
"There are some new rules that have been added to the student handbook this term. Your parents have all been mailed copies and you will all be given your own once you go to your first period classes. I want each and every one of you to read them cover to cover. You are responsible for knowing these rules and expectations. Ignorance is not an excuse.
"In particular there are two new rules you should pay particular attention to. First off I know a few of you are aware the school board has implemented a new policy concerning cell phones and pagers. Like I said, this is a place for learning, not for chatting with your friends." His eyes found Bonnie Rockwaller, fixing her with his gaze. "While I personally feel all such devices should be left at home, more sensitive types have decided for your safety you should have some means of communication on your person if you so wish. Be that as it may, all cell phones, beepers, pagers, walkie-talkies, video phones…" His eyes locked with Possibles as he said that. He hoped his expression conveyed 'we need to talk' to the young woman. "…and any other of communicator must be turned off and remain powered down unless it is a real emergency."
There was a collective groan from the Seniors, followed by a few minutes of clicks and beeps as more than ninety percent of them shut their assorted devices off. He risked one more look at Possible, who was quite visibly frowning.
"From this point on, if a phone rings between first period bell and seventh, it will be confiscated by school personnel and returned to you at the end of the school year."
He waited until the last of the phone chatter died down before continuing.
"The second major change to the rules involves the safety of every student. Unlike the past where Seniors have been allowed to leave campus for lunch or for…other reasons." He again looked at Possible. "…this will no longer be permitted. Once you arrive on school property you may not leave again until dismissed by the proper authorities, that meaning either myself, Assistant Principal Smithers or the new principal herself."
That brought more than a few groans. One of the biggest perks of being a Senior had been ripped away from them.
Possible and Stoppable were looking decidedly uncomfortable. It seemed as if both of the new rules had been written deliberately to stymie their 'extra-curricular' activities. In fact he knew the truth, both were simply responses to real-world concerns. With the rise of crime and other dangers, allowing students to leave and return to campus almost at will, no matter the reason, was simply not safe any longer. The phone policy itself had come about when the Superintendent of Schools toured this very campus last spring and had seen almost every student yakking on their phones, both in and out of class.
He smiled grimly. Everyone had paid attention to the privileges they were losing, not to the very last thing he said. Typical, he thought. Let them find out on their own. She wouldn't be here until next week, leaving him the de facto Assistant Principal in charge until then.
The two teenagers looked uncomfortable and upset as Steve Barkin crossed the floor of his office, taking a seat behind his plain metal desk. Their chairs were set just far enough apart the two couldn't comfortably remain in contact. Not that their particular brand of affection bothered him all that much. Possible and Stoppable were, by his standards, pretty decent kids, at least as far as he had seen on campus, the 'underwear incident' last spring notwithstanding. He was sure they would be the last couple he would catch in a janitor's closet or under the bleachers, doing things best left for adults in their homes or hotel rooms. Oh well, there's a time and a place.
"Possible, should I assume you're here to ask me about your communication device?"
She sheepishly nodded under his gaze.
"Was I perhaps not clear enough at the assembly?"
"Yes, but I thought…"
"You thought what, that you're some special case? All the same rules apply to you as they do Stoppable or any other student in this school. I'm sorry, but your device has to remain turned off during the school day. No exceptions."
"Then how is Wade supposed to reach me if there's an emergency?"
"And just what would happen then, Possible? Your little thing will go off and everyone around you will know it, they'll know there's something special, different about you, something that makes you above the rules, above the law.
"I sympathize with you. The whole world owes you a debt of gratitude for what you did last spring. For all I know the two of you may have saved the world again this summer. Don't know, don't care at the moment. If it makes you feel better, I argued your case with the new principal, but she firmly rejected the appeal.
"As for emergencies…" he reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a card, "…give this to Load. If the problem is severe enough he can call me, beep me, if he wants to reach you. That way you can satisfy both the new regulations. If I deem the case warrants, I will authorize your departure.
"Am I understood?"
"Yes sir." Both teens intoned.
"Good. I know you two do good and this sounds unfair, but life is unfair. Get used to it.
"The good news is that your little computer buddy can still reach you at the computer in your locker. I took the liberty of assigning you two side-by side lockers in the Senior hall. Load came by personally to supervise the refit and I think you will be pleased." He took two pieces of paper off his desk, scribbling on them briefly. "Here's a hall pass. I wouldn't want to have both of you already one-third of your way to detention on the first day of school."
He watched the two of them go, their hands joining the moment they passed his door. He hated doing that to them, but the new administration had left him no choice.
Funny both of them still didn't think to ask about the new principal.
Ron's eyes lit up as he spotted Kim right outside the cafeteria. Three hours of mind-numbing classes where nothing of real value except endless repetition of expectations and rules was discussed was telling on him, as was his lack of real sleep over the last day and a half. All he wanted to do was find a nice soft couch and curl up with her to get forty winks. At least Kim was in all his classes the second half of the day
The first half, even though he made great strides the latter half of his junior year, was well beyond him. Kim was taking "Advanced Placement" English, Calculus and Physics, all courses that would actually give her college credit, giving her a small jump on the difficult curriculum she was planning next year at college.
At least they would share their misery in History, Latin II and their first semester elective, 'Introduction to Political Science.' The last scared him senseless, but Kim insisted she had to take it. Being an elective, it was a pass/fail class, so he figured he could at least survive it. By second semester they would be down to only two classes together unless Kim changed her mind and signed up for Home Economics II, or as it was officially designated 'Introduction to Advanced Culinary Arts.' It was being taught by one of the new Johnson & Wales professors from Middleton College and he hoped it would be a springboard to landing a spot in that prestigious program.
Kim took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. The 'hand-hug' was a PDA policy approved stand-in for an actual kiss. She literally had to fight down the urge to give him a kiss and could easily tell he was waging the same war with his habits as well. Once they were comfortable in these halls again, maybe they would find chances for a quick hug or a stolen kiss but here on the first day they didn't want to chance running afoul of the new administration (or the old, as Barkin was in line for lunch already, glowering at the milling students as he waited his turn.)
Ron's grin almost tripled in size as he saw the menu for the day…"Triple-cheese Pizza!" He immediately started heading for the line, his mouth already watering at the prospect of downing a whole pie's worth of slices. It may have been 'cardboard caf' pizza, but cheese on cardboard was cheese after all.
He got all of two steps before Kim stopped him, his hand held fast in hers. "Come on, Kim, before it all gets gobbled up. I so don't want to get stuck with mystery meat the first day back."
"We're not eating that garbage this year." She said resolutely. "I've already got our lunch taken care of."
He looked at her in utter dismay. "But Rufus, he's got to have his daily allowance of cheese!"
"Hrk, Cheese!" He agreed, sticking his head out of Ron's pocket.
"I've got Rufus taken care of." She took his other hand and looked him in the eye. "Look, Honey, I love you and that means I care about you. I want you around from now on, and if I'm going to get that you're going to have to change some things. If you keep eating like that and sitting in front of the TV all the time, you're going to be gone before we even have a chance to get our kids in college." She stopped, letting that sink in.
"K, k, kids?"
"Okay, I said that to get your attention, I'm sorry, but we've both said we're in this together for the long haul. That might mean kids somewhere down the road, but I don't want to spend our forties taking you to the hospital every couple years for a bypass. Since today is the first day of school, it's the perfect time to start being healthy." She leaned as close to him as she dared without drawing Barkin's attention. "I want to grow old with you, Ronald Eugene Stoppable, but I don't want that getting old to come too fast." She whispered.
She led him to the Senior table and reached into her pack, withdrawing two sandwiches and a hunk of cheese. Rufus didn't wait to be asked, plowing into the latter with his usual gusto.
"Uh, what is it?" Ron asked, eyeing the food warily. The bread was dark and rounded instead of the usual square 'Wonder Bread' type slices.
"Don't worry, Mom made these, not me."
"Whew." He said, earning a soft kick under the table.
"Low-fat, low-carb pumpernickel, low fat Swiss and low-fat turkey pastrami, with brown mustard instead of mayo. Now eat, you need your energy for the rest of the day."
"No…haff…bob." He said, his mouth still full. He swallowed and repeated himself "Not half bad. Doesn't taste a thing like real pastrami, but good anyway." He still cast a longing glance at the line.
Something caught his eye. One moment he saw the usual gray-haired lunch lady standing there, passing out the gray goop that passed for food here. The pizza was already gone and he had to admit the sandwich was better than that gorchy mess, but that's not what drew his eye.
For a moment the lady behind the line looked different. She was shorter, a little wider, looking much more Asian. Instead of a black hair net she had a red and white checkered kerchief tied on her head do-rag style. He blinked and looked again and she was gone, the usual worker in her normal place. Try as he could he could no longer see the Asian lady.
Where had he seen her before?
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