After School

[Ms. Aliah Latini] September - Tuesday - 3:35 p.m.

[Ms. Aliah Latini]

September – Tuesday – 3:35 p.m.

“Does icing it really help?” Ali asked. She still wasn’t sure what was going one. One minute she’s correcting papers, and the next she’s running down the open hallways. “I mean, he still looks in pain.”

“I don’t know really. I saw it on T.V.” Mr. Tanimoto replied. He sounded just as confused as she was.

“Have you ever been kicked there before?”

“All men have at least once. I limped it off, but I guess I wasn’t kicked as hard as he was.”

The two teachers were staring at a wounded Nick, who was leaning in Mr. Tanimoto’s chair with his legs spread wide and Ali’s ice pack on his crotch. There was a mutual concern on both their faces.

“So can you explain to me what happened?” Ali asked looking at the two.

“I got kicked in the nuts!” Nick exclaimed.  The displeasure in his face made Ali very uncomfortable.

“And I regrettably have to say that it wasn’t me,” Mr. Tanimoto’s noted in disappointing tone.

Nick raised a lingered finger towards Ali. Confused, she looked at Mr. Tanimoto who was now looking at the door. She turned her head to see a young girl staring at her from the door way. Behind the girl was Calvin, who was looking rather upset. “She did it,” Nick shouted aggravated in pain. “She kicked me in the nuts.”

“Who is she?” Ali asked looking at Mr. Tanimoto.

Putting his large hands on the young girl’s shoulders, Calvin began his introduction. “This little spitfire is Benny. She is Mr. Tanimoto’s niece. She’s a freshman, so she is new to the school. From what she told me, her actions were out of spite for Mr. Smith here. And she will now apologize.” His grip on the girl tightened, yet she held no reaction.

“I’m sorry,” She promptly stated. Ali was surprised at the expressionless apology.

Calvin loosened his grip on the girl and gave her a pat on the head. “Good girl.”

“Is that it?” A groan trailed after Nick’s words as he shouted. “She kicked me in the fucking nuts!”

All the three teachers gave a sharp glance towards Nick. “Language Mr. Smith,” Mr. Tanimoto stated before Ali could open her mouth.

After a quick few minutes of explanation and Calvin’s medical examination, the teachers discussed a little on what to do with Benny. Calvin wanted to report it to the principle, but Ali suggested that Mr. Tanimoto take care of it because Benny is his niece and it was clear she had an agenda of revenge in mind for her actions. Mr. Tanimoto agreed on all accounts. However, there was a strange look to him that didn’t sit well with Ali. Calvin tried persuading Ali that there would be no lesson to be learned if the girl was not disciplined appropriately, but Mr. Tanimoto had a way with words that Ali oddly admired. He pointed that since he has known the Benny the longest, that he would know the best way to deal with her.  And as an apology to Nick he would be more lenient towards his punishment.

“Alright, fine. Orin you can deal with Benny, but there will be no special treatment.” For the few years Ali knew Calvin, she never seen him cave in so easily. He was strict when it came to rules. She remembered a fight that broke out two years ago between a couple of boys. Calvin was the only who could push himself through the crowd of students surrounding the boys. He easily separated the boys by lifting them both by the backs of their shirts like two kittens. He sat one on top of some nearby bushes, and the other held off the ground till school security and Mrs. Wittman arrived. With all the student’s eyes on him, Calvin spoke out that fighting was not tolerated on school grounds, and that anyone found having any physical altercation would be suspended, or expelled and transferred to Bishop. He then proclaimed a zero-tolerance rule on fights in and around school. Mrs. Wittman supported his rule, however it was never made official; this was purposely kept from students.