My Dear Lieutenant

Chapter 5

     I'll admit, I felt pretty foolish while Shane and I were watching the kids. I was standing, pushing Peter on one of the swings, as I was surrounded by small children who were at least a foot shorter than me. It was better than Shane, I suppose. He was on a see-saw, looking through a pair of binoculars. Tyler was in a carrier attached to his chest, and there were six children on the other side of the see-saw.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bunch of boys in red jackets moving around. They were pushing some poor kid from one jock to another. Looking closer, I groaned. That poor kid was Seth.

     Lifting Peter off the swing, I went over to Shane. When I tapped him on the shoulder, he paused, leaving the kids up in the air.

     "Seth is having a bit of trouble with the jocks," I told him, pointing in their direction. Immediately, Shane let the kids down on the other side, then headed over to the crowd that was forming. On our way, Tyler was handed to me, and Shane removed the baby carrier. I put Tyler in a stroller to make it easier if I needed to help Shane.

     As Seth was pushed towards us, Shane picked him up and placed him behind him.

     "Enough," I commanded sternly, standing in front of Peter and Tyler.

     "Alright, you heard the lady," Murney said, "Let's break it up guys, come one." The jocks backed off and the crowd dispersed. Murney looked at Shane, who was staring at him. "Relax, Popeye. Boys will be boys. Anyway, it's kind of good for the Creeper. Gives him a chance to punk up. Learn to defend himself."

     "Six against one?" Shane asked.

     "Well, you know the odds are never pretty," Murney responded, "But look at it as a preparation for him. The naked streets of Bethesda can be so dark and dangerous. Right, Creeper?"

     Seth lunged for Murney, but Shane held him back. I wanted to attack him myself, but I had to remain calm.

     "You're pretty quick there, frogman," Murney said, smirking.

     "Put a cork in it, Murney," I shot at him, but he barely even glanced at me.

     "I, myself, happen to be a black belt. That's why they wanted me to coach the wrestling team," Murney boasted. He let out a yell and shot his hand out, so that it was inches from Shane's face. He didn't even flinch. Murney preceded to snort and say, "Sensei." Cracking his neck, he returned to what I've learned is 'normal' for him. "You know what that's called, homeboy? Total control. You alright?" he asked Shane, who was still staring at Murney as if the vice principal was an idiot, which he was. "Tell you what, maybe sometime you can pop by the wrestling class and we'll show the boys how a couple of pros do it. What do you think? I'll go easy on you."

     "I'm on duty," Shane replied. Murney thought that that was pretty funny.

     "You're on duty? Oh that's right, you're a babysitter. So it's kinda like "doo-doo" duty," he remarked. Shane, Seth, and I stared back at him blankly. I was very tempted to roll my eyes. "Don't worry about it. We'll do it on a day when you're not, uh, washing your hair." Giving Shane another look, he turned to Seth, "And I'll see you in class." He sent me a look and smirked, "Pleasure to see you again, Maeve." With one last look at Shane, he said, "At ease." After that, he walked away.

     "That guy don't have his head on right," Shane said to Seth and I.

     Seth, angry that he had been saved by his 'babysitter', snapped, "I was fine. I don't need your help." He stormed off somewhere, but I knew better than to follow him. He was a lot like me; when he gets angry, he needs to be left alone.