Because I Had You | A Shawn Hunter Love Story

Pilot

Cory approached the vending machine in the cafeteria, gleefully stating, "Good morning, Mr. Feeny."

"Good morning, Mr. Matthews," Mr. Feeney replied. Observing Cory, he added, "A candy bar? Doesn't your mother feed you a proper breakfast?"

Cory said bluntly, taking the candy bar from the vending machine, "Oh, yeah, she does. And I got to get the taste of this Shredded Wheat out of my mouth."

"You know, you're not doing your body any favors loading up on junk like that," Mr. Feeney said.

"Oh, thanks, Mr. Feeny." Pointing to his cup, Cory acknowledged, "And please enjoy that high-vitamin astronaut drink you're sucking down."

"There's no gravity in space, Mr. Matthews-"

I added with a smile, "Therefore, astronauts suck up." I patted the seat next to me as Cory continued to converse with Mr. Feeney.

"Learn from them." Mr. Feeney finished, leaving Cory to Shawn and I

Cory sat down at the head of table with Shawn and I on either side. "He's a teacher, man," Shawn said. "Keep raggin' on him he's gonna make your whole sixth-grade year miserable."

"I'm gonna be miserable anyhow," Cory smirked. At least this way, I'm taking him with me."

Shawn looked behind me to see Mr. Feeney sitting with a unfamiliar lady. "Hey, who's that?" He asked.

"I think she's new," I replied

"She must be new, she's talking to Feeny" Shawn said back

I turned towards Cory, "OK, so how late did you stay up last night?"

"Monologue," Cory replied.

"Monologue, first guest," I replied.

"Monologue, first guest, bad sketch," Shawn added.

"Monologue, first guest, bad sketch, funny zoo animal," Cory added.

"Monologue, first guest bad sketch, funny zoo animal Steve Lawrence," I finished

"Whoa!" Cory exclaimed. "Steve Lawrence!"

"And there's the bell," Shawn sighed, grabbing the trash from my lunch and going to throw it out.

"4 hours 'till lunch," I sighed.

--

We all sat in the classroom as Mr. Feeney was having two kids reenact Romeo and Juliet.

"She's dead, Mr. Bornihay," Mr. Feeney exclaimed as he circled the desk. "Pick up the knife and kill yourself.

The boy responded, "Come on, Mr. Feeney, you and I both know she's not really dead. May I please stab her a few times just to make sure?"

The girl got up from laying down, and looking him straight in the eye, said, "Hey, you touch me with that knife you better kill me the first time."

"Mr. Feeny-" the boy said frighteningly.

"All right, all right," Mr. Feeney intervened.

"Cory," I looked over at Shawn who was eagerly watching Cory, who seemed to have his hand up to his ear. Not Again. "What's the score?"

Cory whispered, "Bottom of the third, two outs, Dykstra's on second, Kruk's on first, 3 and 2 to Dalton-"

Mr. Feeney reached over and snatched Cory's radio.

"Why does he even try anymore?" I asked Shawn.

"Come on, May. He's got this down to a science," Shawn replied.