A New World Begins

A return to school

“Hi Craig, move up, make space for me.”

“Oh, Hi, Mandy.”

I moved along the bench, making space for Amanda to slip in beside me at the lunch table. She’s a sixth former, the daughter of one of my dad’s colleagues and so another ‘patch brat’ from the marines’ barracks. She’s something of a stunner and all the other guys at school really fancy her. Not that I don’t of course, but I’ve also known her for years, she’s more like a big sister to me rather than any serious possibility of a girlfriend. Not that I’m looking for a girlfriend of course.

“So, have you been avoiding me?”

Bloody hell! How do I answer that? It’s not that I have been avoiding her. Well, sort of, I have. I’ve kind of been avoiding lots of people since I got back here to the UK and re-started at my old school. Like no-one is ever going to let me forget those pictures I posted. I still can’t believe I was so dumb to do that. Well, I didn’t post them all of course. Not on my own. I was sort of encouraged to do it when I was out of my head on Rohypnol. But I can’t admit that can I? That door is staying locked shut. I get a lot of stick from my mates about the cheerleaders, but actually they are all dead jealous. I can live with that. My mates don’t need to know what really happened. But Mandy is different. Like I said, I’ve known her for years. She lives just a few doors down the road from me. Her dad and my dad are best mates.

“Sorry Mandy, I’ve just been kind of busy. And keeping my head down. I guess you saw the pictures too?”

“Craig, I think the whole school saw the pictures! To be honest, I was a bit surprised at them.”

“Er, well, I, err, it was sort of…”

“Not that, dipstick, we’ve all seen how tight and snug your swimming trunks are. Nobody’s forgotten that day you got a hard on as the girls lined up for their heats as you were waiting to be presented with your medal for winning the under 15’s County Swimming Championships last year. Those wet trunks didn’t hide much and you’re pretty big for your age.”

“Mandy! Keep your voice down.”

“Oh, come on Craig, you can’t be shy! Not after posting pictures of you naked in bed with three American cheerleaders! The surprising thing is that you did that! I wouldn’t be surprised at some of your mates doing that if they got the chance but you’ve never struck me as being like that, you’ve always been a much more sensible type of guy. More mature. Discreet. Trustworthy. Lots of the girls here quite fancied you until you did that.”

“But Mandy, it wasn’t…”

“To be fair, Craig, quite a few girls do still fancy you after seeing the pictures, but not necessarily the sort of girl that would be good for you. Not the sort you might want to take home to meet your mum. But the nice girls are definitely going to think twice before getting involved with you.”

She’s bloody right of course. That’s the problem with Mandy.  She makes me feel like her naughty little brother that she’s just caught sneaking a biscuit from the biscuit barrel. That’s a ‘cookie’ to you ‘merrykans.

“What’s up Craig, cat got your tongue?”

“Well, I suppose, as you saw from the pictures, the pussy got my tongue…”

Oh fuck! I can’t believe I just said that! Especially to Mandy. She’s going to kick my arse for sure. Probably tip my glass of water over my head and slam my face down into my sandwiches.  Why does my mouth say stuff my brain doesn’t approve of?

Now she’s just glaring at me. Making me feel about half an inch tall. It’s not like I even liked licking those girls’ pussies. I just did it because, well, you know, that’s what guys are meant to do to girls isn’t it? They love it. Well, that’s what all my mates say. I’m not sure how they know. I don’t think many of them have actually had sex with a girl. Maybe none of them.

“Mandy, I…”

“Craig, shut up.”

“Sorry…*

“Now, get your brain back in gear. I’ve a lot of catching up to do with you. You’re going to walk home with me tonight and tell me more about your time in America. Be waiting for me on the steps outside after school. Got that?”

“Yes Mandy, but I don’t go home straight away after school. I have a part time job now. Tidying up at Mr Wheeler’s garage. So I can only walk about halfway with you. Unless you want to come and help me stack worn out tyres for collection and put spanners back on their shadow boards.”

She’s glaring at me again. I can feel my face burning up too. Everybody is looking over here. They think I am chatting her up. The hottest girl in school. They don’t realise she’s holding my balls to the fire.

“No, okay, I thought not. I’ll be on the steps after school Mandy. Honest, I’ll be there.”

* * *

“So, Craig, if you didn’t get sent back home because of the cheerleaders, why exactly did your dad send you home? If I take your word for it that there is more to those pictures than you can talk about, there has to be a good reason. Come on, the beans. Spill them.”

I kicked a drift of leaves off the side of the pavement as I walked home with Mandy. I love the smell of crispy autumn leaves. I wonder if Nat has got guys on extra duties clearing leaves off the paths and parade ground over at Allegheny College? I’m missing out on what people say is the best time of year in New England. The Fall as they call it over there. When all the leaves turn red and gold and brown and look amazing.  I wish I could have seen that. The first hints of autumn were in the air that weekend when we had the barbecue at Nat’s house. The day we boated down the river. The day we told each other about how we felt for each other…

“Craig?”

“Sorry, Mandy.”

I wonder if Mandy has ancestors that emigrated to America? Married into the Bauer family? She has genes in common with Nat. The Inquisitor General gene for a start. A tenacious, enquiring mind. Those same eyes that drill right into me.

“Do you know, Mandy, that in America some people don’t get their baked beans from a tin? They bake their own beans, and make their own tomato sauce with diced mushrooms, onions and fresh ground pepper. They’re awesome at breakfast. With hash browns and bacon. I had them at Nathan’s house. His family have their own cook.”

“Yes, your mom told me that you’re getting fussy about your food,” laughed Mandy. “She said you’d been spoiled at that private boarding school, said it seemed more like a five star hotel than a school from what she’d heard. But who’s Nathan?”

Who’s Nathan? Bloody hell, why did I mention him? She’s going to be like a dog with a bone now. Won’t let go. Why was I thinking of him?

“Nathan? Oh, he’s just a friend. He was at the school. I got to go to his house one weekend. Actually, he’s the Governor’s son. Everybody at that school was dead posh. He had a Mustang car. Kids can drive at 16 over there. Even younger in some states. You must have seen the kids at American schools in all the films. They drive to school. Like Ferris Bueller. Did you see that film?”

“So, you went to school with Ferris Bueller, is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

“Er, well, sort of, I guess. It’s different over there.”

“Craig…”

Not that bloody look again. It must be full moon or something. The werewolves are out. Breathing down my neck. Mandy’s digging away. I wonder if mum put her up to this?

“Ouch!”

Somebody just threw a bloody conker at me. A conker just hit me right on the back of the neck. I’ll flatten whoever did that. It must be Owen or Wayne. They’re both within throwing range and looking innocently away. Or Mark and his mates over there. Yes, it’s probably them.

“Oi! Mark! Try that again and I’ll knock your teeth so far down your throat you’ll have to stick your toothbrush up your arse to clean them. Got that? Wassock,,,”

Mandy’s laughing. She thinks it’s funny.

“Ignore it, Craig. Don’t drop to their level. It was only a conker. It didn’t hurt you.”

“Not the bloody point, Mandy. Of course it didn’t hurt, but they are taking liberties. I can easily flatten them. They wouldn’t stand ten seconds in a fight against me. I’ve a good mind to go and flatten them all, serve up a lesson for everybody. Don’t mess with me…”

“Craig, shut up. I can smell the testosterone going into overdrive a mile away. Just ignore them. Everybody knows you can beat them. Just play it cool. Don’t rise to the bait. Your dad’s right, it’s lucky you weren’t born a fish. Just keep your cool and make them look like the idiots they are. After all, it’s you that’s walking home with me, not them. That’s their real problem. They’re jealous. Maybe I should be too. So, who is this Nathan?”

* * *

*Ping*

You have a new online chat request waiting, Craig.

*Accept*

 Dad:      Hi, son

Craig:    Hi, dad.

Dad:       How are things?               

Craig:    I’m good. Back at school. Working at the garage.

Dad:       I know. In fact, I’ve been hearing good things about you.

Craig:    You have?

Dad:       Yes, I was talking to Shaun only yesterday. He told me you’re doing well at the garage. He was bursting to tell me about you giving a dressing down to the mechanics last week. Says he’s never seen a 15-year-old Sergeant Major before. Told me how you turned up after school last week just as the staff were changing out of their overalls to go home and you tore into them because they were leaving the place in a mess.

Craig:    He did?

Dad:       He did…

Craig:    I didn’t know Mr Wheeler was there.

Dad:       He said he was in the office, trying not to laugh.

Craig:    They deserved it though. Since I started the place has been getting worse, untidier every day. The mechanics just took it for granted I would clear up after them and so started leaving the place in a mess. It was taking me ages to tidy up. That meant I had less time to spend boxing up the used oil filters and stuff for recycling, or stacking up the used tyres. Not on, dad. I’m not their slave.

Dad:       I heard you told them exactly that. Shaun said you reminded him of me. He approved, and I’m proud of you too son. Stand up for yourself when you have to. 

Craig:    Honest, dad, they needed talking to.

Dad:       I also hear how you spent your first wages, Craig. Taking mum out for dinner at the weekend. Must have taken every penny you had.    

Craig:    It did. And then some. I had some money saved up too, so I used all that as well. It was nice. Mum enjoyed it.

Dad:       That was so good of you. I’m really proud of you.

Craig:    It was the first time I’ve had my own money dad, and I wanted mum to know how much I appreciate all she has ever done for me. Until now all I have ever bought for you and her for birthdays and Christmas and stuff has really been with money you two gave me. It meant a lot to be able to treat her with my own money. It made stacking tyres and stuff really mean something.

Dad:       Just a shame you don’t have your own dinner jacket, I can just imagine you and your mum sauntering into a restaurant with you looking like James Bond. Your mum really likes that photo we got of you at that fancy art gallery opening you went to in Pittsburgh.         

Craig:    I’ll start saving up and see if there are any proper tailors in town. Maybe you could buy me a Rolex for Christmas?

Dad:       Cheeky runt!

Dad:       Seriously though, Craig. I am proud of you. That was an awesome thing to do, spend your first ever wages on your mum.

Craig:    She’s worth it, dad.

Dad:       Can’t argue with that, son.          

Craig:     I’m hoping she might even make me some proper baked beans now…

Dad:       Don’t push your luck, son. Tinned beans are safer. Your mum might be many wonderful things but a cordon bleu cook, well, no…

Craig:    I won’t tell her you said that…

Dad:       Thanks son…     

Craig:    I’ll cost you a Rolex.

Dad:       You have to wait a few more years, son, you’ll get my Rolex when you’re 21, you know that, Craig. Your grandad gave it to me when I was 21, just as he got it for his 21st. I’ll pass it on to you for your 21st.

Craig:    I know dad. I was just joking.

Dad:       Speaking of rich boys’ toys, I’ve been invited to spend Thanksgiving with the Bauers. Thanksgiving is almost as big as Christmas over here. The invitation was directly from the Governor too. I’m assuming your friend Nathan is behind it.

Craig:    He did say something about it, dad. He’s just trying to be nice.

Dad:       I guessed you two had been in touch.

Craig:    Dad, I…

Dad:       I had to decline the invitation, Craig. On Thanksgiving it’s a tradition that the officers in the unit I’m attached to serve dinner to the enlisted ranks who have to be on duty instead of home with their families. You understand that?

Craig:    Of course, dad. I said to Nathan you’d probably not be free to go.

Dad:      I know Nathan means a lot to you Craig. I want you to understand that I understand that.

Craig:    I do, dad. It’s just that…

Dad:       Young Nathan is quite a strong character. He wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer. He phoned me up directly after I declined the invitation and invited me to play golf with him and his dad the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Suggested I bring my boss along, the guy who let me use his membership at the country club to meet with you and your friend Shane after the Parents’ Day at your school.

Craig:    He did?

Dad:      He did.

Craig:    And?

Dad:       It would have been churlish to refuse. Nathan’s shrewd, I’ll grant you that. So, I’m playing golf with my boss, General Armstrong, which is good, against Nathan and his dad, the Governor, in two weeks’ time.