5

The weekend passed by in a drunken haze. I was barely sober when I woke Monday morning to go to school. The first thing on the schedule was English but I decided to skip class. I went to the library instead, put my head phones on and listened to rap music at top volume. The librarian gave me a stern look but I ignored her until the headmaster showed up and tapped on the maths handbook I was working on.

“What’s your problem?” I said rudely as I ripped my headphones off.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Miss Sheldon’s class?” he asked with an angry frown.

“Would you be if she’s the reason you spent Saturday afternoon in the police station?” I replied roughly.

“What did you do?” he asked with a frown.

“I was being nice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got homework to catch up on.”

I put my earphones back on and turned my attention back to the task at hand. I did not see him leave; neither did I hear the bell ring. I only noticed when my Maths teacher, Miss Preston, sat down next to me and put a gentle hand on my book. I took the head phones off and put my pen down.

“I do admire your determination to do this on your own but don’t you think it would be easier to do it in class?” she asked softly.

“Did I miss the bell?” I asked her, trying to keep my temper under control.

“You did. What are you listening to anyway? It does not sound like the stuff you usually listen to.” She replied with a soft smile.

“It’s not. But I’m in a foul mood so it keeps people away.” I replied.

“Is that what you want?” she asked and stared into my eyes.

“Just until this mess blows over.” I replied in all honesty.

“Ah! So the rumours are true?” she asked carefully.

“Depends what rumours you heard.” I said darkly.

“Miss Sheldon had you arrested for sexual assault?” she replied.

I nodded and looked away.

“Is it true? Did you do it?” she asked again.

I snorted and took a deep breath.

“No. I didn’t do it. But everyone seems to believe her so it doesn’t matter what I say.” I said and put the headphones back on.

She took them off and said softly

“I have known you a lot longer than she has. I have seen you work your ass off every night. I’ve watched you from afar all this time. So you can count on me, if you say you didn’t then I believe you.”

I stared at her for a second then said with a hint of sarcasm.

“That’s not creepy at all.”

But I stared into her eyes for the longest time then nodded, finding only understanding in her eyes.

“Oh and next time you decide to skip a class come join mine. You know you are always welcome to call on me.”

I smiled at her then started packing up. I turned the music off and followed her out of the library to her class. The class was unusually quiet, I understood the second I walked in. I looked around to where I usually sit. But my chair was taken up by a police officer, the very same one that had arrested me on Saturday.

I looked at the teacher, who was giving me an apologetic look. I clenched my jaw and balled my fist.

“Trust you huh? Fuck this. I’m out.” I said furiously and turned on my heel. I walked to my car and got in, slamming the door behind me. Minutes later I was out of the school gates and on my way to the bar where I work.

No one was more surprised to see me than my boss.

“Hey kid. What are you doing here?” he asked confused as I walked behind the counter.

“Getting ready for work.” I replied annoyed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at school?” he asked again.

“I’m either here working or getting drunk at home. Your choice.” I said to him with an attitude.

“I’ll get you a spare uniform. You can’t work in that.” He replied with a confused frown.

“Thanks Jeremy.” I said to him and started serving the customers that had just walked in.

At five thirty pm the regulars started coming in. I put the music up at a volume we barely have it that early in the day. However, it was old school rock and roll, and the louder the music, the more they drank. My parents came in at eight pm, looking worried. I had been off for about half an hour and was doing vodka shots with the band before we were due to hit the stage.

My mother rounded me up.

“Where were you!?” she yelled at me.

“Here. Working.” I replied over the music.

“Time’s up. Let’s go.” Claude tapped my shoulder.

I stepped away from my mother and headed to the stage. I picked up my guitar and said to the guys

“Give me a second will you? Follow my lead.”

“Always.” Tom replied with a grin.

I turned to the mike and said

“Something different tonight folks.”

I picked up the acoustic guitar and sang “Titties and beer.”

The crowd cheered and some sang along.

I switched cords when I sang

“Don’t look now your mom’s got her boobs out, showing everybody in town, faces turning red, we were wishing we were dead there were people standing around, yeah when mommas got to drinking there ain’t much thinking there’s nothing anybody can do I just hope and pray there never comes a day when mommas out drinking with you!

I like my women like I like my chicken with a little bit of fat on the end, not too much not too little just enough to make me grin.”

The crowd cheered but my mom turned on her heel and walked out. I strummed softly then began to sing my favourite Rodney Carrington song “Show them to me”

I then spotted a couple of teachers walk in and for some reason I spotted Gwen first. So I got really crude.

‘Put your clothes back on, I'd rather be alone

Your thing is all worn out, Now get on home

You've had too many lovers, They've worn off the hair

There ain't no way I'm goin' in there, Put your clothes on , And get on home

Should have never gone out, Should have never had a drink

Take that thing outside, it’s startin' to stink

Your friends done told me, where you have been

and I feel sorry, for all those men

Put your clothes on baby, and get on home

Yeah get that thing away from me, it looks like something, your dog would eat

Seen enough now set me free, I think that thing just barked at me

Early this morning it bit my leg, Oh little darling

don’t you make me beg, Put your clothes back on and get on home!

The crowd cheered and clapped and someone handed me a beer. I took it gratefully and took a couple of mouthfuls while the band starting playing a country tune. We did a couple more songs and then I said to the band,

“Give me a kind of a one-two beat”

Then I sang

In some of my songs I have casually mentioned

The fact that I like to drink beer

This little song is more to the point

Roll out the barrel and lend me your ears

I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow

I like beer, it helps me unwind and sometimes it makes me feel mellow

Whiskey's too rough, champagne costs too much, vodka puts my mouth in gear

This little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I like beer

My wife often frowns when we're out on the town

And I'm wearing a suit and a tie

She's sipping vermouth and she thinks I'm uncouth

When I yell as the waiter goes by

I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow

I like beer, it helps me unwind and sometimes it makes me feel mellow

Whiskey's too rough, champagne costs too much, vodka puts my mouth in gear

This little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I like beer

Last night I dreamed that I passed from the scene

And I went to a place so sublime

Aw, the water was clear and tasted like beer

Then they turned it all into wine

I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow

I like beer, it helps me unwind and sometimes it makes me feel mellow

Whiskey's too rough, champagne costs too much, and vodka puts my mouth in gear

Aw, this little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I love beer!

The crowd cheered and some actually sang along but I called for a break and got off the stage, getting bottles of beer on the way.

“Since when do we do crude country songs?” Claude rounded me up when we stepped out through the back door.

“I felt like it tonight.” I replied and downed the contents.

“So you are pissed at the world and our reputation gets ruined?” Tom asked angrily.

“We just got a reputation for the most diverse group! What the hell are you on about?” I yelled at them.

“We heard you got arrested.” Claude replied.

A deadly silence followed his words.

“Suppose you know for what too huh?” I asked them.

“For bullshit obviously.” Tom replied and gave me an understanding look.

“So what is the point to this conversation?” I asked them infuriated.

“Look, just warn us if you want to do country. It was kind of nice for a change.” Claude told me with a wry smile.

“Thanks guys but I think I’m done for the night.” I replied softly.

“All right. Let’s do mustang sally then we exit, how about that?” Tom suggested.

I nodded in agreement.

“All right.”

Tuesday morning came way too soon. I had begun to lock my doors at night so when I woke up it was with a bang. The banging was my mother trying to get in.

“We didn’t finish our conversation last night. I heard you did some weird songs last night.” She said when I let her in.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I said unapologetically and turned my back on her.

“So, what’s your plan? Going back to school?” she asked concerned.

“I suppose I should. I just hope the damn cops don’t follow me around again.” I replied and turned the kettle on.

“So you ran? You know that makes you look guilty right?” she said softly.

I shook my head.

“I was so pissed off mom. I’ll go back today but I think I will make alternative arrangements for my English though.” I tried to explain but a hangover was settling in.

“Go on. Get ready then.” Was all my mother said before walking out of my house.

I was early for once, thinking I could slip passed unnoticed. I had Olly Murs playing at a fairly high volume when I pulled into the parking lot. I got my bag out from the trunk and started walking towards the quad. The plan was to catch up with the science geeks so I could skip English class but my plan failed.

The police were back again and this time in full force. I was spotted walking behind the teacher and was called to a halt.

“Going to arrest me again?” I asked the officers as they fingered their stun guns.

“Don’t tempt me. You have English. Let’s go.” He replied.

“I’m not going into that class. I’ll go to maths but not English.” I argued.

“You have to.” The officer replied none too kindly.

I eyed their stun guns and the forceful looks on their faces before I sighed in resignation and changed my course. I took my time going to class, not caring that the two officers were walking behind me.

I stopped when I got to the door, trying my best not to turn around and walk away. The officers came to a halt next to me and then the man said

“Go in.”

“Do I have to?” I asked in a painfully tiny voice.

He gave me a sympathetic look then said

“Sorry.”

He opened the door and pushed me right in, almost making me lose my footing.

“Ass.” I shot towards him after I regained my balance.

“Shut up.” He said and jerked his chin.

I avoided all looks from my classmates when I made my way to my regular seat in the centre of the class. I stopped and then looked to the far back in the left corner, a teacher’s blind spot.

“Switch?” I asked the boy politely.

He nodded and gave me a sweet smile before packing up and changing seats with me.

“Thanks.” I muttered when he squeezed past.

“Sure.” He replied and sat down. I took my seat and waited for Gwen to tell me what books I should take out but she carried on teaching.

I shrugged and turned to the kid next to me.

“What are we doing?” I asked in a whisper.

The blond girl raised her text book and pointed to a paragraph. I nodded and winked at her, making her face turn a light shade of pink.

I opened my text book to the page and looked for the paragraph that we were dealing with. I put it up right in front of me and lay on my arms, silently reading along. A song began to form in my head and fairly soon I was silently tapping out a beat while we read.

“Can you quit that?” the guy in front of me asked in an irritable whisper.

“Study method. Sorry.” I replied softly.

He turned around and asked irritably.

“How do you study with that tapping? It’s annoying!”

“You turn it into a rap song. Easy to forget boring stuff but not so much if it becomes a song stuck in your head.” I replied with a dark frown.

He stared at me thoughtfully and pretty soon I saw his head begin to bop up and down. I grinned and continued the song I head in my head. It really was something I would put on my playlist.

My day went by fairly quietly, most in the same manner with the cops following me from room to room.

Maths was different though. Miss Preston put her foot down and slammed the door in their faces before they could come in behind me. I laughed before I took a seat near the back of the room, same as the other classes.

Finally the bell rang, signalling end of the day. I breathed a sigh of relief when I packed up my books and headed out the door. Miss Preston called me back though. She waited until the last of the class had left the room before she asked

“How are you holding up?”

I frowned in confusion.

“I’ll be all right.” I told her with an uncertain nod.

“You know where to find me if you need to talk right?” she said softly.

I could tell she was just trying to help.

“Thank you Miss Preston.” I said and turned to leave.

The officers were waiting outside for me.

“What did she want?” the man asked.

I turned to face him.

“What do you think Officer,” I leaned in closer to look at his name tag. “Smith? She wanted to know if I really did what you arrested me for.”

“What did you tell her?” he asked softly.

“Exactly the same thing I tell everyone. It’s a lie! Now back off. I’m going to work.”

“Work or drink?” he replied none too kindly.

“What’s it to you?” I spat back and walked away.

I drove away as fast as I could from the place of nightmares, letting out the tense breath I did not know I was holding in. I turned my car radio way up and sped home to change.

The rest of the week went by in the same manner. Show up to school, cops would follow me around for the day then I would go home, change and go to work.

By Friday I was fed up with the rumours. I went to work as usual but this time a couple of the teachers were there, having a couple of drinks. Gwen was amongst the group so I went to the back to where my boss was sitting.

“Can I change shifts?” I asked him rather grumpily.

“Kid you are not going to drop me on a Friday again. You changed shifts last Friday, you can’t just change any time you want.” He replied with a dark frown.

“There’s a bunch of teachers out there who made my entire week hell.” I replied with a dark look.

He took his glasses off and gave me a sympathetic look.

“Just ignore them and do the best you can.” He replied softly.

I sighed in resignation and went out to start my shift. I walked in behind the counter and tapped the girl out.

“Thanks.” She said exhausted.

“Sure.” I said to her, feeling very disappointed.

“Andy?” Ms Preston asked surprised when she saw me standing behind the counter.

“Yes Ma’am?” I asked before I grabbed her empty glass and filled it up with her drink of choice.

“What are you doing here?” she asked carefully.

“I work here. Have been for a couple of years.” I replied with a dark frown. “You were just too drunk to notice.”

She took her drink in silence and turned back to her colleagues.

I took the barstool that was in front of them and moved it to the other end of the bar. I sat down in front of the computer and started making a different playlist for the evening.

My boss came in and asked loud

“What time is the band coming in tonight?”

“Not sure. They have a gig downtown. They might come in later but I seriously doubt if you’ll have a live band tonight.” I replied thoughtfully, not paying much attention to what he was saying.

“Can you do solo then?” he asked quickly.

“Unlikely. I have a shit load of homework to do.” I told him.

He chuckled then said without thinking

“You should tell your teachers to give you more breathing space with those kind of things.”

I gave him a dark look then jerked my chin at the group that was listening intently

“Tell it to those idiots before they get too drunk to give a shit.”

He gave me a smile then said to them

“Try to give a shit sometimes will you?”

I grinned at my boss who winked at me and said

“Give me that song from Inner circle will you?”

My grin broadened before I typed in the requested song, Games People play.

The band came in at eleven pm, the group of educators were drunk beyond belief, it was partially my fault. I kept on urging them to do shots. I high fived the band then told them

“Help me with this lot? They need to pass out on this damn floor, black mail material.” I said to them in conspirator whisper.

The boys grinned at me.           

“What can I get you boys?” I said to them.

“Tequila for the bar.” Claude said to me.

“Aye!” I agreed and counted the people.

I almost laughed when I handed the shots out to the group who were by now clinging to each other for dear life.

“What’s this?” Ms Preston slurred.

“Tequila. From the band.” I replied and downed my own shot. I kept a straight face as the alcohol burned my throat.

The teachers winced and almost vomited as the tequila hit their throats.

I grinned and moonwalked as I gathered their shot glasses to the tune of the music. I got back to the band and turned to Jamie, the keyboard player.

“Will you teach me the keys sometime? I figured I’d add a third instrument to my collection.”

Jamie frowned at me.

“Are you thinking of starting a one man band?” he asked suspiciously.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Who needs friends when I have you guys to back me up?” I asked in all honesty.

Jamie grinned at me then pointed at me

“I’ll teach you just to hear you say that again.”

“Anytime.” I replied and went off to serve another patron.

When I got back to the guys Claude asked

“So, what are your plans for the band in the future? I mean, we covered country, rock, metal, classic rock, bar songs.”

He counted the styles off his fingers. I started bopping my head to the current song that was blaring on the speakers, not listening to him anymore.

Tom started to grin then he pointed to the fridge, held up three fingers and pointed to himself, Claude and me. I started to feel the music and my arms began to move on their own. Tom wanted three shots of apple sours, and by Jove he was going to get it. I had the three shot glasses in my hand as well as two bottles of the liquor. The patrons’ jaws dropped as I started juggling and pouring drinks to the beat of the thumping music.

Suddenly arms started lifting to ask for shots. I looked grinned winked and poured their shots in style. By the time the song was over I had sold more shots than we had in the entire evening.

“Beer!” Claude yelled at me and waited as I pulled the two bottles out of the fridge and opened them with the palm of my hand in a single swift move.

“Gentlemen.” I said with a smile just as another called out for a brandy and coke.

Same procedure and cheers when I flipped the bottle and caught it in the glass next to me.

I got bored of it a while later much to every one’s dismay. I gave them a bow and started working properly, trying hard not to slip on the melting ice I had dropped on the floor. That was the first time I noticed that the teachers were slipping away one by one, either stumbling outside to the parking lot or falling around to the bathroom.

The second I spotted Gwen starting her car and pulling out of the lot I took out my cell phone and called the cops.

“Pay back’s a bitch.” Claude remarked as the red and blue lights flashed.

“I know.” I responded, feeling rather empty. “Hand me my guitar.”