Miss Cherry was the music teacher at Lawndale High. A newly graduated teacher, this was her first teaching position. She was in her early twenties and quite young and attractive. Some of the more experienced teachers considered her too young and attractive to handle some of the students in the senior grades, being a little too close to them in age. However, she'd had no problems to this point.
Her first real problem came when she was dealing with her newly formed band. One of the boys was a flautist, reasonably good, even if not nearly as good as he thought. The trouble was that he'd come to see her just before an important full practice with a fat lip, explaining that he couldn't play.
"What happened, Andy?"
Miss Cherry was damned certain that it wasn't from running into a door. Running into a fist was much more likely.
Andy had demurred, beating about the bush, reluctant to say anything, obviously not wanting to get someone else in trouble. Miss Cherry was persistent and although small in stature she had a lot of willpower. Andy eventually conceded that he might have been in a bit of a scuffle with Bruno. Nothing much, he assured her. Just one of those things.
Bruno? Miss Cherry was struggling to recall a student named Bruno. She asked for clarification.
"Ah, Bruno doesn't take music," Andy admitted. "He, um, has other interests."
Probably a jock, decided Miss Cherry.
"I see. Does Bruno happen to have a name that I might know?"
Andy looked a little startled to find that there was a teacher who hadn't even heard of Bruno. "I think his name's Bruce. Yeah, that's it. Bruce Atkins, but everyone calls him Bruno."
Now Miss Cherry could place him.
"Bruce Atkins, the big boy in the senior class?"
Andy nodded.
"And you got into a scuffle with him?"
Andy was looking a trifle shifty but nodded.
"What possessed you to get into any sort of fight with him? He's more than twice your size," exclaimed Miss Cherry, indignant on behalf of her student. She hated bullies. She was so going to have a word with Bruce.
"Alright," she said. "You're excused practice, but I'll be having a word with young Mr Atkins."
"Ah, I'd rather you didn't," said Andy. "He'll think I snitched on him."
"Don't worry. I won't tell him who told me about the fight. You're excused."
Bruno was surprised, but not concerned, to be asked to report to Miss Cherry after school. He ambled off to the music room and walked in. He nodded thoughtfully as he looked at the young teacher. A very nice little thing, he decided. Definitely on the tasty side.
"You wanted to see me, Miss?" he asked politely.
"Yes, I did. You do know that fighting isn't permitted in the school?"
"Ah, yes, I do, but that doesn't worry me. I never get into fights."
"Really? You also know that bullying is not permitted?"
"Again, yes. Again, not a concern of mine. I don't need to bully anyone."
"Really? You don't think that beating up a student half your size might not be considered fighting and bullying?"
"It probably would be, but as I don't do that sort of thing I don't see how it applies. Mind telling me where you think you're going with these silly questions?"
"I'm addressing the matter of you beating up Andrew. He couldn't take place in his rehearsal because of the damage you did."
"Andrew, Andrew," said Bruno thoughtfully. "Noisy guy with a big mouth? That the guy you mean?"
"Yes, that's the boy I mean. Half your size and you punched him in the mouth."
"Not very hard if he's still running around shooting it off and complaining. If I'd really punched him he'd be sucking his dinner through a straw for the next month."
"I didn't say he made the complaint. You may think it's funny but I and the school take a very different view of the matter."
"Seeing you've only got part of the story it stands to reason that Andy was the informant. Any unbiased witnesses would have given you a slightly different view of what was really only a very minor scuffle."
"No matter who told me you can't get past the fact that he's half your size."
"True. Are you saying I have to accept bullying because I'm bigger than most of the guys? You were just saying the school didn't tolerate bullying."
"What? How is he going to bully you?"
"Are you asking me for my side of the story? I guess I can give it, unless you want to keep on accusing me of stuff first. You know, let me know where I stand before I formulate a reply."
Sarcastic swine, was Miss Cherry's opinion, already predisposed to not believe anything he said.
"Please, by all means tell me what you think happened."
"You probably don't know it but one of my hobbies is martial arts. I'm quite good at it, too. Most people think a guy my size will be slow, but I'm not. Anyway, Andy and three of his mates. . ."
Bruno stopped at that point, putting on a surprised expression.
"Oh, you didn't know he had three of his mates with him?" Bruno shook his head sadly. "It's amazing the little details that get left out at times. Anyway, as I was saying, Andy and his mates thought they could take me. Being taught that it's not wise to use martial arts outside of the dojo I chose not to fight them. However, not wanting to run away with those idiots chasing me, I stood my ground. Instead of actually fighting I merely defended, avoiding and redirecting any blows without slapping the idiots silly. Now I might have been slightly careless at one stage, resulting in one of those redirected blows hitting Andy on his fat mouth. Purely accidental, I assure you."
Bruno spread his hands and tried to look helpless.
"What could I do? I did apologise. So did Mike. He threw the errant punch."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"You can please yourself," Bruno said with a shrug. "It's easy enough for you to check. Just lean on Andy or speak to Mike. Look Miss, I'm a big guy and very strong. Even my muscles have muscles. I have so many muscles I have to leave some at home so I don't scare people. If I'd actually fought the four of them would be carried away, not walk on their own feet."
"So you're so mighty that odds of four to one mean nothing to you?" scoffed Miss Cherry, thinking that she'd met some arrogant people but this boy was in a class by himself.
"You're not putting it in context, Miss," said Bruno, still smiling, but feeling irritated. "Four people my own size and skill and I wouldn't have a chance. Four guys like Andy and his mates, they don't stand a chance. Would you like a little demonstration?"
"Oh, by all means. Show me your power."
"I hoped you might say that," said Bruno, his smile now a lot more genuine. Also a lot more evil. He ran his eyes over her, considering her slacks, nodding to himself.
Before Miss Cherry realised what was happening Bruno picked her up and tucked her under his arm. She gave a startled shriek, hammering at his back with her fists, finding herself ignored. Well, not completely ignored. Holding her with one arm Bruno casually undid her slacks and pulled them down and off, tossing them on her table. To her horror she found her panties following.
Bruno placed her back on her feet, smiling broadly, while Miss Cherry started at him in horror, trying to cover herself with her hands.
"You – you – how dare you," she raged. "I'll have you charged with assault. You'll be expelled. How dare you molest me?"
"Did you notice how helpless you were against me? Like I said, I have a fair bit of strength. Ah, someone may come along, you know. You really should put your panties on at least. You're putting me to the blush. Um, I didn't actually molest you, by the way. Just took your pants down."
Miss Cherry moved to get her clothes back on fast. Throwing glares at Bruno who was watching with interest.
"Stop fussing, Miss. You'll look back on this someday and laugh. It's funny."
"You won't find this so funny when I report it," snapped Miss Cherry, incensed at his attitude.
"Report it? Um, yeah, I can see you going and complaining to Mrs Fotheringham. Now what will she say, I wonder. 'You're saying you just stood there while a student undressed you, Miss Cherry?'"
Miss Cherry fumed as she heard him imitating Mrs Fotheringham's prim voice. That was exactly the sort of thing the old beldam would say.
"Ah, yes, I can just imagine the look on her face and hear her talking to you now. Tell me, do you think she'll ease you out of the school before or after she suspends me?"
Miss Cherry glared at him helplessly. He was right. If she whispered a word about this she'd find herself relegated to teaching kindergarten children how to tap on a triangle.
"If you ever do anything like that again I'll, I'll. . ." She paused, not able to think of a threat horrendous enough.
"You do know that I'm eighteen, don't you?" Bruno asked.
"I didn't, neither did I care. Why are you bringing that up?"
"Just letting you know that I'm an adult where some things are concerned. If I have cause to, ah, do that again, it will be with serious intent subsequent to the panties removal. By the way, I'd take it as a favour if you'd shave. I do like a smooth mons. Don't forget to lean on Andy for the full story."
Miss Cherry watched him depart, fuming quietly. Thank god he wasn't taking music lessons. He'd render her classes unbearable. She'd just have to make sure she avoided him in future. She'd also have to find a way to make Andy eat his damn flute, the devious little rodent.
- - -
Miss Cherry currently resided in a unit that was within a short walk from the school. Alternatively, she resided in a unit that was an irritatingly long walk from the school. It all depended on the way you walked. Sticking to the road and the footpath was the long way. Cutting through the park was the short way. On those occasions that Miss Cherry had to work late her lateness was compounded by taking the long way home. Shady parks at night were not a good idea.
