The Compliant Personality Type

Chapter One - The Supply

This was going to be fun.

We had a new supply teacher [substitute teacher]. And we always totally destroyed the supplies. I mean... you have to do something in school. It's so boring otherwise.

But as soon as the guy walked in, you sort of knew that there was something a bit different about this one. For starters, he had a jacket and tie on, which is pretty freaky... and he basically had this whole presence thing going on too.

Of course we totally ignored him and carried on chatting. I mean... you do, don't you? But he didn't say anything. He just walked to the back of the classroom and waited... and it felt like he was listening in on us talking, or something. It was totally freaky and, pretty soon, all the chat sort of dried up.

"Good morning," he said as if nothing had happened. "My name is Dr Simmons and you will be learning mathematics with me. Please open your textbooks at page 42."

There was the normal shuffling type stuff but loads less talking than usual, I guess. I mean... the guy was standing right behind us. It's pretty tricky to relax when he's doing that.

"Please answer questions numbers one to twelve," he told us.

I made a start on the questions. I mean... it was dead easy stuff. But the guy was starting to get on my nerves by just wandering around the classroom, pouncing on people and asking them if they're stuck and stuff. Why couldn't he just stay up the front where he belongs?

But then he got busy with Andy. Andy's just thick so I knew he was bound to keep the guy busy for ages.

I mean... we all have our phones set to silent in class - not even any buzz. We're not stupid. But somehow you still sort of know when someone's sent a message round.

I glanced up - he was still busy with Andy. So I quietly unlocked my phone and looked at the messages. Tracy had decided that the guy was 'tots hot'.

I was in the middle of telling her that she was just weird when I realised the guy was standing right over me. I mean... I managed to get my phone locked but, before I could even think, he had the thing in his hands.

"I was only using it as a calculator," I said, all in a hurry.

He gave a little smile. "In that case, you will not have any problem in unlocking the screen and demonstrating that the calculator application is in the foreground," he said. He didn't let go of my phone but held it out to me so I could type in the passcode

I didn't know what to do. I mean... he'd totally got me.

He gave a little smile. I mean... it wasn't a nice smile. "I will be in this room at the end of school," he told me as he slipped my phone into his jacket pocket. "Come and find me. We will discuss the matter and then I will decide whether or not I wish to return your phone."

"Yes, Dr Simmons." My whole body sort of sagged.

The rest of the day was a total mare. I mean... what are you supposed to do in school without your phone?

After classes, I hung with the others for a bit before heading along to my appointment with death. I mean... I didn't exactly keep him waiting on purpose but I wasn't in any sort of desperate hurry to get there either. When I was ready, I pulled the hood up on my hoodie and sort of slouched on into the classroom.

He was sitting in the big desk at the front of the class, kind of hidden behind a wall of marking. I mean... he didn't even look stressy about the fact I'd kept him waiting or anything.

And he didn't bother saying anything. He just pointed at one of the chairs. I sort of collapsed into it and started to fiddle with my fingernails.

He just ignored me and kept on doing his marking.