Mr. Tan

Chapter 17: The Bully

My summer was over, I was 15 years old and starting my sophomore year in high school. Last week Earl took me to the shopping district in downtown Cleveland and bought me new clothing, undergarments and shoes. Since Adrian was done getting ready for school early, she came to my house and we sat on the front porch together waiting on the school bus. Earl was awake and he decided to make a hearty breakfast of sausage, scrambled eggs cooked in butter, buttery grits and pancakes. After we ate breakfast, Adrian and I sat out on the porch showing off our new clothes and talking about the classes that we'd be taking this year. We showed each other our schedules, we both had gym with Coach Brown, second period study hall with Mrs. Hunter. We didn't have many classes together cause unlike me, Adrian would be starting her junior year.

"Hey, have you heard from Benjamin for these last few weeks?", I asked. I've seen him but not much.

"He's got a girlfriend", said Adrian. He's been hanging out with her a lot. They started dating three weeks ago, I think.

"Oh, cool", I replied. Have you met her?

"Yeah, she replied. She's kinda bossy. She acts like she doesn't want Benjamin hanging out with anybody but her. Oh, she'll be riding our bus.

A few minutes later our school bus pulled up in front of the trailer. Me and Adrian waved bye to Earl who stood in the door way in a plain white t-shirt and boxer shorts, smoking a cigarette. We got onto the school bus and selected a seat in the middle of the bus. Within 5 minutes we pulled up in front of a bright yellow trailer where Benjamin and Kelly lived with their parents, standing with them was a tall and slender girl with a short brunette bob and bangs. She was wearing a short sleeve blue blouse and a blue denim skirt, and black and white canvas sneakers without socks. She was holding his hand and had her other arm resting on her shoulder. She was taller than Benjamin and Kelly. As soon as the bus driver opened the door, Kelly hurried up and got on the bus. She took one look at us and mouthed "what a Bitch", pointing at her brother's girlfriend. We looked at her, then back at each other.

"That's her, Tammy Snyder", she whispered in my ear, as Benjamin and his girlfriend walked past us.

"Oh, hey guys", said Benny.

His girlfriend gave us such dirty looks with piercing blue eyes, as she ushered Benjamin closer to the back of the bus. His sister sat in the seat next to us looking pissed.

"What's wrong with you?", I asked Kelly.