𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼 Shorts

♔ BSK - D x OC - 5

I picked up my bag and he followed me out of the embrace of the tree and out into the sunshine. Sure enough, I could see Spotty and Plug over by the river where Teacher had pushed them all in. The two were talking animatedly but stopped when Plug saw Danny. The two burst into a new conversation when they saw us together and I widened the gap between me and Danny further, my steps long and fast. Unfortunately Danny could match me stride for stride with his long legs, and managed to walk beside me up to his friends. I was about to walk past, but Danny seize my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, practically dragging me over.

"And where have you been?" Spotty questioned, looking down accusatorially at our joined hands.

"I fell asleep," I said, tugging my hand out of Danny's grasp. "And Danny woke me up."

"With a kiss," Plug muttered, but it wasn't quiet enough. Spotty snorted and Danny hit Plug upside the head, scowling.

"Keep your mouths shut, both of you! Nothing happened."

"If you say so," Spotty sang, narrowly dodging a half-hearted punch from Danny.

"Anyway," I interrupted. "Do you know where everyone else is? I want to run something past them. Particularly 'Erbert."

They swapped confused glances and shook their heads.

"We were sent out in pairs to look for you guys so we can go," Spotty said. "We wanted to leave you, but Toots insisted."

"Thanks," Danny said sarcastically. "And why are we leaving? We only just got here!"

"There's this Big Game Show going on in Beanotown. Head sent Teacher a message saying to go back to school so we can go later. It's on at five. After school I know, but it'll be fun, right?" Spotty said enthusiastically.

We eventually found the others - they had all regrouped, being too lazy to walk far - except from Toots and Sidney, who came back later, Sidney taking up the rear and complaining loudly, and complaining louder when he saw we were already back.

***

"Alright class, I just need to change, so please wait for me in the classroom!" Teacher called.

"Teacher, can I ask you a question?" Danny said quickly. "Why don't you have fun more often?"

Teacher paused. "Well... I don't know, Danny. I suppose... I suppose when you're a grown up, you sometimes forget how to."

He gave us a thin lipped smile and left the room in a rush, leaving us to wonder at his morose behaviour.

Spotty raised his eyebrows. "Sheesh! How can you forget to have fun?"

Danny shrugged. "I don't know." He led the way into class and slumped down in his seat. "I wish we could stay this age forever."

Sidney nodded. "Me too."

"Me three!" Plug agreed.

A chatter built up in the room. Toots glared me down as I passed the front seats, where there were spaces next to the boys - I adopted my spot at the back of the room again.

I couldn't hear anyone in particular over the hum of laughter and talking of the nine, but I watched them all the same.

Danny and Spotty seemed to be having an entertaining conversation. Danny was talking in a low voice with Spotty, and making a couple of swishing hand motions. Spotty threw his head back and laughed, then slapped Danny on the shoulder.

Danny watched with a grin as Spotty climbed up onto the table, clutching one of those clear shatterproof rulers.

"You are all prisoners of the count of Monty Bistoe!" He declared, brandishing the ruler down at us. There was some eye rolling, but we all watched in anticipation as Danny climbed on the desk to join him.

"Oh yeah? You reckon without Captain Kilswift!"

Spotty smashed the flat of his ruler against Danny's, making a clatter. "Pah! Let your sword do the talking!"

A full-out reenactment of a pirate fight scene ensued, with much click-clacking of plastic and a couple of yelps as bare skin got smacked accidentally. Everyone was watching now, and I was sure I heard Plug taking bets halfway through.

I saw a streak of white and black in the middle of the fray, and a bedazzled Winston leaped onto my lap. I startled and he stretched, proceeding to knead my thighs until he found a comfortable position to curl up in.

"You'll get hair all over me," I chided, stroking his soft back. He purred in contentment and opened a lazy eye.

Spotty's exclamation broke the moment. "Take that, pirate, and that!"

He grinned and braced his ruler against Danny's, leering over the top of the cross at him. "You fight like a girl!" He jeered.

"I heard that!" Toots shouted.

Spotty ignored her. "Let's see what you're really made of."

"You got it!"

This time, all rules were out of the window. Danny landed a few hits by 'accidentally' standing on Spotty's tie and Spotty got one by standing on his own tie to make it taught so that Danny tripped up.

Soon stationery was being used as ammo, not just by the two but also the other kids. They threw at whoever they hadn't placed their bets on - except Smiffy, who threw at whoever, regardless of the bet.

That's when teacher came in. He stood in the doorway for a moment before storming in. "What's the meaning of all this?" He demanded.

Smiffy had run out of rubbers and pencils, so he changed to more drastic ideas.

He flung a chair towards Spotty, who ducked, and the chair flew towards Teacher. Teacher's eyes widened and he ran out and slammed the door shut, so the chair collided with it rather than him.

"WHO THREW THAT?" He shouted from outside the room.

"Help," Sidney muttered, diving for his seat.

Danny looked about wildly, then caught sight of the guilty Smiffy. "Here, Smiffy," he said, handing the boy his ruler.

Spotty caught on and pressed his own ruler into Smiffy's other hand. "Happy birthday!"

When Teacher burst back into the room, he saw three neat rows of students - and Smiffy standing in the middle of the mess with two battered rulers.

"So!" Teacher said triumphantly, snatching the rulers out of the poor boy's hands.

"But," Smiffy tried. "But..."

Teacher scowled down at him. "If you continue this kind of behaviour, you'll never get the job you want in the future! You'll have to work in McBeano or something!"

Danny leaned forward and asked: "What do you want to be when you're older, Smiffy?"

Smiffy brightened. "A badger."

Even I couldn't help but laugh at Smiffy's naivety. Teacher watched passively while we snorted and hooted.

"You won't need any qualifications for that, then," he sighed. "Any other realistic job ideas?"