Duds

12 The Conqueror

The next day was Saturday and I wanted to have a little fun. I made my plan that night. Ash and Gerry would never know...

The next morning I got up like usual and went through the motions. I went to breakfast then to Manners class. It's surprising how much we do not know about being polite. I've been taking that class for about ten years and there is still some things I do not know about manners.

Next class was Street Fighting Class. It was one of my favorites because I could beat up people when I was angry without getting in trouble.

We were taught to try and disable our opponents ASAP to the point when the opponent is unable to fight anymore. Then they would lose.

We got to class. It was a mixture of boys and girls unlike some of the other classes I had. I was in the advanced class, and even though Gerry was in it he was in the second advanced class that happens in the afternoon. He would be having Swim Class now.

Ash is in the standard class because of his handicap. He would have been a great fighter if he had legs.

While I was thinking about Ash and Gerry our teacher walked in. His name was Mr. Wheywright.

"Attention!" he yelled.

We stopped talking and stood at attention.

"At ease," he said.

Mr. Wheywright was a short, stout man. His voice was cutting sharp like a knife. He was very strict and if anyone put even a toe out of line in his class then he would personally come over and sock that person. He injected a lot of fear into my classmates.

"-Now I want twenty laps around the gym," He concluded.

We all started off at a run. I counted every time I past him. One, two, three...eighteen, nineteen, twenty! I stopped trying to catch my breath.

"You're not done yet sissies!" he yelled, "Now I want fifty push-ups!"

He was going hard on us today. I dropped down to the floor and started counting.

"Also, when you get to thirty I want you to switch from push-ups to clapping push-ups!"

Oh great. I hate clapping push-ups.

When I got to thirty I started doing what Mr. Wheywright told us to do and I slowed down. I was so tired from the running and then the thirty push-ups before this.

My arms shook and I tried harder. Mr. Wheywright saw me struggling a little. He walked over to me and squatted down.

"Hey, what's your name again?" he asked.

He insisted on forgetting my name every time just to annoy me.

"Rose," I grunted.

"Ok, Rose. Do you need a little help there or a break?"

"No," I grunted.

"Really? 'Cause, it looks like you do."

"Not I don't, sir," I said.

Forty-three, forty-four, forty-five...

"Ok," he said.

"Thank you...for your...concern," I said between push-ups.

"You're welcome."

Forty-nine, fifty!

I collapsed and started panting. Lillia saw and yelled out to me.

"Hey, Dud!" she shouted.

I turned around.

"Me?"