My Dear Lieutenant

Chapter 4

     As we stood in front of the garage door, waiting for it to open, I continued to bounce Tyler in my arms. For some reason, he never liked to be still, so that kept him from complaining.

     As the vehicle came into view, Shane stared at it. "What is it?" he asked.

     "A minivan," Seth answered as if it was obvious. I had to admit, it was pretty self explanatory. Shane just made a sound of displeasure, then we began to load ourselves into the vehicle. I was going to give directions, because chances are, none of the others would actually tell him where the school was. Also, Shane didn't know how to do up a baby seat.

     Shane drove quite wildly to the school. When he turned corners, I swear we went on two wheels. I was feeling a bit sick. When we finally made it to the school, I wanted to get down on my hands and knees and kiss the ground.

     The bell rang just as we walked into the principal's office. Duane Murney, a man that I had hoped I would never have to see again, was sitting on the edge of the principal's desk

     "I got them here," Shane told him, "My fault."

     "Yeah, I always said these kids need a parole officer," Murney commented, "I guess Mrs. Plummer thought so, too." He stood from the desk and turned towards Shane. "Wow, you've got a real upper-torso going on. You ever do any time?"

     Shane looked at him, slightly offended, then looked away. He was clearly uncomfortable. I didn't blame him, Murney was pretty creepy.

     "Sasquatch," Seth whispered to Zoe and Lulu.

     "You got something to say, boy?" Murney asked Seth, looking down at him. Murney was really tall.

     "No," Seth denied easily.

     "No? Okay," Murney said, then turned back to Shane, "Wow, looks like you've got a pair of legs coming out of your shoulder." As if that wasn't creepy enough, Murney then sent Shane a smile. "You hit the gym a lot, do you?" Shane just shrugged.

     "Woolly mammoth," Seth whispered. I had to contain my smile as Murney glared at my brother.

    "Alright, you know what, Creeper? You just bought yourself another fifteen minutes on the mats, with the Murninator," he told Seth. I clenched my jaw as he called my brother that name, trying to keep from making a remark, but I couldn't help myself.

     "You best watch your mouth, Murney," I sneered, switching Tyler onto my other hip. "Wouldn't want to get in trouble with your superiors for calling students names, now would you?"

     Murney turned towards me, taking a step forward. I didn't step back, but I did turn to the side so that Tyler was as far away from Murney as he could be at the moment.

     "Well, look who it is. Maeve Plummer. You've grown up, haven't you?" Murney commented. I saw his eyes scan my body, and I felt like I was going to vomit right then and there. He was disgusting.

     "Excuse me," Shane said, bring the attention away from me. I was grateful for that. He held out his hand, "Lieutenant Shane Wolfe. I'm watching the kids for the Plummers for a few days."

     "Oh, a babysitter. Well good, whatever job you can get, right?" Murney remarked. By now, I wanted to punch his lights out. I couldn't do much, though; Tyler was still in my arms.

     "I'm Murney, Duane Murney," he introduced himself as he walked around the desk. "My friends call me Little Puppet. I'm the VP here. I'm in charge of discipline, conduct and truancy, from top to bottom, K through twelve." He sat in the principal's chair. "You're in my house now, strong man."

     "You're the vice principal?" Shane asked.

     "And the wrestling coach," Murney added, "See the Creeper over there?" He pointed at Seth. "He's played hooky from every wrestling practice this month. And her," he continued, pointing at Zoe, "She has missed twenty-two Driver's Ed classes out of twenty-three. These are the worst students in my school. I'm ashamed."

     "Your school?" asked a young woman. Murney panicked, standing from the chair. I grinned at the woman. Claire Fletcher had become the principal in my last year of high school. She was a nice woman. She turned towards us and smiled, "Good morning kids." She then faced Murney again and cleared her throat, "Mr. Murney, thanks so much for watching my chair for me. I'll take it from here."

     "Roger that. Absolutely," Murney responded, "I was just informing our new friend here about some of the duties as vice principal."

     "Yes, speaking of which, how's it going with the investigation into the baloney slices on the cafeteria ceiling?" Ms. Fletcher inquired.

     "Oh that's been taking some interesting turns," Murney told her.

     "You just keep up the good work," she smiled.

     "Right. I'll be on the roof," Murney informed her, walking past her.

     "Bye now," she said as he left the room. When he was gone, she faced Zoe, Seth, and Lulu. "Alright then kids, I think it's time to get back to class. I'll cut you some slack seeing as it's Lieutenant Wolfe's first day. Thank you."

     Zoe and Seth left immediately, whereas Lulu hugged my waist for a moment. I bent down and placed a kiss on her head, then she left as well.

     "Can I get you two some coffee or..." Ms. Fletcher offered.

     "Yes, please," Shane accepted, but I held up my hand and shook my head. I didn't drink coffee. I was more of a tea type of person.

     "So what's with this Murninator?" Shane questioned, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk. I sat in the other.

     "He's big, he's hairy, he's creepy, and he's sometimes smelly," I answered. I saw Ms. Fletcher grinning as she poured coffee for herself and Shane.

     "But, he's harmless and he's got tenure," she said, handing a cup to Shane. "So, you're the bodyguard."

     "Well Mrs. Plummer thought that the kids needed-"

     "She's already briefed me on everything, and she told me that the kids aren't fully aware of the situation, and that's the way she wants it," she interrupted him. "She also told me that you are a 'Teams' guy."

     "Yes I am," Shane confirmed.

     "Well, Petty Officer Third Class Claire Fletcher at your service," she introduced herself. When I thought about it, it wasn't hard to imagine her in the Navy.

     "You're kidding," Shane said, tilting his head. She shook her head

     "Four years at a Naval base in Coronado. They paid for college."

     "Honour, courage," Shane began.

     "Commitment," Ms. Fletcher finished, "That's the way I run this school."

     "I like that," Shane said, smiling. He looked nice when he smiled. "So, permission to stick around and keep an eye on the kids?"

     "Permission granted," Ms. Fletcher responded, smiling back at us.