Mitchell Freeman: Unlikely Hero

Chapter 1 - A Rotten Day At School

    Author's Note:  Obviously I do not own the rights to any of the products or music       referenced in this story. Many thanks to the Apple Corporation, the books of Derek Landy, and the music of the 1980's.

     "Hey, Freeman!" called the gruff voice I knew too well, "You better have some money for me!" Even with my earbuds blasting Robert Plant's "Little By Little" at full volume, I could still hear that cursed voice clear as a bell.

     I kept looking at the ground and sped up to get to the school entrance. This Friday morning was the same routine as every other day of the week. The threat of bodily harm was hurled at me if I did not surrender my lunch and money, and the source of my torment was always the same. It was Kenny Gailin, the most notorious bully at Andrew Kemp Junior High. I thought if I made into the building then Gailin wouldn't be able to touch me. I was almost to the door when the vice-like fingers closed on my shoulder and spun me around. The earbuds were ripped from my ears, and the iPod snatched from my pocket.

     "You think you can avoid me?" Gailin sneered, dangling the MP3 player in front of my face before stuffing it into his coat pocket. "Lunch. NOW!" Gailin kept his grip on my right shoulder with his left hand as he cocked back his powerful right arm, fist clenched. Kenny Gailin was a wall of muscle with short, spiky blonde hair, and close set beady eyes. He always wore a black leather jacket and black jeans. Although he was only thirteen, he looked much older due to his size. He was six feet tall, and I thought that he could easily play starting safety for the Chicago Bears.

     The same fantasy ran through my head that ran through it every time I faced Gailin; I saw himself fight back. I grab Gailin by the throat and lift him off his feet. Staring the bully dead in the eyes, I growled, "You will never take my lunch again!" With superhuman strength, I hurl a wailing Kenny Gailin across the school parking lot. I am cheered by my fellow classmates, and carried on their shoulders into the school. Mitchell Freeman, the conquering hero, tormented no more.

     "I said, NOW!" bellowed the bully, shaking me back to reality.

     "I didn't bring a lunch!" I lied because I was tired of going hungry every day. I could not look Gailin in the eye.

     "No food? Well then, I'll take my compensation monetarily. Five bucks.

     I was surprised the big oaf knew what 'monetarily' meant, let alone 'compensation.' "I don't have any money," I mumbled, still looking at the ground. Everyone within earshot had fled into the school, or was pretending not to see what was happening to me. Gailin terrified all the other students.

     "Too bad for you, Freeman. Now I gotta take it outta your hide." Gailin started to bring his massive fist in for a landing.

     "GAILIN!"

    The bully froze with his fist inches from my nose. The commanding voice had come from the school entryway. Gailin's sneer faded to a grimace as the school principal, Principal Karzac, bore down on him. He quickly dropped his fist and released my very sore shoulder.

    Principal Karzac was a tall slender man in his mid-forties. His wavy brown hair and beard were liberally streaked with gray. The stern brown eyes looked like they could bore a hole through a brick wall, and at that moment, they were fixed on Kenny Gailin. Principal Karzac was the only person at Andrew Kemp Junior High who could make Gailin shrink with fear.

     "Trying to extort money from the student body again?" Principal Karzac didn't need an answer to his question. He reached into Gailin's coat pocket and pulled out my iPod and ear buds."Stealing other's belongings as well. My office. Now!"