what happens in the locker room 🏹x⛳

chapter one: mr. delvis

I wake up to the sound of an absolutely hideous alarm bell. I groan as I march out of bed to stop it, only to go back to bed again.

"Sweetie?" Mrs. Delvis called out in her morning voice. "You're gonna be late again.." She trailed off as she fell asleep once more.

"Oh! Right!" I sat up erect and alert, remembering that I have to go to school. "Wait I'm not a student anymore.." I yawn out loud and begin drifting back to morning sleep, only to be alert once more to shout, "I'm a teacher! Shit!"

I quickly brush my teeth and grab a bagel, my mighty truck waiting outside for me to ride. My wife looks at me from the window and waves goodbye.  Just a normal day.

I make my turns to go to Turrfee Middle School; my second home, my greatest ambition. Turning right, left, straight ahead, left, right, STOP LIGHT, left, left, right, andddddd-

-made it just in time.

I park my car in the staff-only driveway, as I get out of my truck and slam the door shut, I see Mr. Arton get out of his little car, just a few parking spots over. I smile as he greets me from afar and comes by to strike a conversation with me.

"Why, hello Mr. Delvis!" Mr. Arton calls. "Had a nice weekend? It's a beautiful Monday morning and it's time for activities once more!" He chuckles, knowing full well that his students hate getting yelled at during archery, his activity, but loves to see them squirm. I find it quite cutesy thinking he's a torturous monster; he's basically a fluffball though his students won't see it.

"Good morning to you too, Mr. Arton," I reply, grinning. "Yeah, my own students actually quite enjoy golf. I've seen Brad become a real champ with how much practice he's been getting. Heck- he's almost as great as I am!" I laugh, Mr. Arton nodding gently and smiling back.

"Been quite a year huh, Delvis?" Arton breathed out with a small laugh. "Another year goes by, and now only a few weeks until school ends with our 8th graders leaving for a new year at high school, we're like their supportive muscle dads in charge of hundreds of children." He flexed his muscles at me, scratching his beard and playfully hitting my own muscley arm.

"Barely children, they're growing up so fast. Remember Terrence during archery a few years back? Man, he used to be quite the lad." I sigh as I remember the old days, leaning against the truck. Mr. Arton does the same, though, he's a bit shorter than me so he has to look up to meet my eyes. He stares, but he quickly recovers from his trance.

"Ah well. Things change, and students change by each year. I'm sure I'll get another star player in my activity this year as well." Mr. Arton claps his hands. "Well! Let's get to work. You have golf courses to set up, and I have archery targets to prepare. Catch up at break Mr. Delvis!"

He walked on, keys in one hand and whistling some tune, his favorite song. I sometimes wonder where it's from, but who knows? I quickly retrieve my things and papers from my truck and head on to the PE rooms.

In the corner of my eye, I see a student catch a friendly game of football among his friends as they approach the entrance. I shrug. Nothing out of the ordinary much.

Just a typical day, at a typical school.