Chapter 14
Being in multiple foster homes that believed in their own lazy version of 'homeschooling' Andy had trouble with so much as basic multiplication tables. And they were doing fractions. He copied down everything on the textbook in the best handwriting he could use. It wasn't the best but it was legible. The teachers were pretty nice and a few kids spoke to him. The bell rang and everyone, even the teacher, shot up like a lightbulb.
Mr. Kershaw had the kids line up as they were dismissed to the cafeteria. Andy grabbed his backpack and headed down the hall all alone. He saw Tyler and another boy push and trip a kid. Andy frowned, of course Tyler is a Bully. Maybe I should help that kid up.
Bullies didn't scare Andy. They were nothing compared to everything he'd gone through. Andy walked over and helped the kid up.
"Who are you supposed to be?" A blonde boy said, "Looks like ol' Benny boy made a friend." He crossed his arms. "You new or something?"
Tyler glared daggers at Andy as if he were dating him to say anything.
"I am new, my name's Andy."
"Well Andy, it's not too smart to stick your nose in other people's business."
"Bullying people is a business?" Andy asked, sounding braver than he really felt.
"Yeah it is. And if you don't want any trouble then I'd move your little ass away if I were you."
Andy turned to the kid. "Come on let's go" the kid nodded, grabbed his backpack and gave one last glance at the bullies before walking beside Andy.
"Thanks" The boy, just about Andy's age with curly brown hair and glasses spoke. "Yeah I'm fine." The boy had a
bit of a nazel to his voice.
With his back turned to the boys, Andy rolled his eyes. "Great. Just what I need: a bunch of jerks."
"It's not so bad, as long as you don't challenge them," Bennet said, adjusting his glasses. "What did you say your name was?"
"Andy, I just moved here."
He introduced himself in his best I totally know how to talk to people voice.
"Well I'm Bennet." The boy gave his introduction. "I'm pretty much known as The Geek to everyone." Well at least he embraces it. "I was actually on my way to lunch, wanna sit beside me?"
"Sure" Andy said.
There were so many kids, some weren't even kids. The high schoolers had a big table in the back. He caught Bennet waving to him from a table. Andy made his way over where Bennet patted the seat next to him. He was holding a grey square with a screen. A game boy? They let him bring that to school.
Andy sat down and opened his lunch box. He pulled a baggie out with a fresh PB and J sandwich.
"All right!" He heard Bennet cheer. He turned and caught Andy looking at the game.
"Hey I just got past the sixth level, never did that before!"
Andy took a bite out of his sandwich and thought, I used to like video games. Yeah I remember I had one of the first Nintendos before any of my friends. Even though Mom couldn't afford to buy me many games, I still had some. I had Super Mario Brothers, and I had Good Guy Adventures. Help the Good Guy get out of the haunted house. Boy, did they have that one wrong.
"Hey, do you like Pokémon?" Bennet asked.
"I've never really played it." Yeah I never got a chance to play that.
"You've never played it? I'll have to bring the cartridge tomorrow. It's really fun."
He's in hog heaven, Andy thought. Not even nervous about all the bigger kids around him.
They talked more about games and other things. Bennet mentioned that he recently got a Nintendo 64. Andy was surprised, didn't those just come out?
As if on cue, the bell rang signaling that lunch was over and to get to class. Like robots every student in the room quickly threw away their remaining bits of lunch and headed off to their next class.