PAUL’S INTERNAL BIOLOGICAL-CLOCK ‘did’ it-again – this-time, he woke-up an-hour early before the-alarm buzzed for-school. In the dark, windowless-room he sat-up as he recalled last-nights OBE-trip of-going to the Garden-of-Eden…
… and he felt ‘guilty’ of-going there with negative-THOUGHTS OF VENGEANCE – where he ‘nearly’ bludgeoned Kerubiel with an-axe – BUT IN A WAY, he needed to go there-too ‘where’ he finally HAD-MET the ‘betrayer’ Mercury…
Paul glowed-purple in anger when thinking-of his-ALLIES WHO-now had ‘turned’ as traitors-with their secretive-scheming agendas…
He mumbled his-rant to-himself…
‘… when in Rome, ‘DO’ WHAT the-Romans do, yea – and it-seems, you-bloody Romans do-have a long-TO-DO LIST… that-even betrayed the ‘TRUST-AND-FRIENDSHIP’ of the Defenders-of-Perth! I’m ‘with’ Jane, on-this-one…
'... WE DON’T ‘NEED’ our-superpowers – you ‘take’ them-back and ‘LEAVE’ US-ALONE… cos’ we’re ‘not’ ashamed to-be handicaps-mortals…’
For a long-time, he had figured-out that the-Gods HAD ‘GIFTED’ him-and-Jane with superpowers ‘during’ the Treeton dairy-farm thunderstorm-tragedy – it was logical-too that that the-Evil WOULDN’T HAVE granted those ‘gift’ – as the-duo were-to fight’ evil-itself…
… but evil had ‘chosen’ his-twin instead – and, GRANTING-HIM superpowers so-that he could be-powerful in the NIGHTMARE-WORLD…
He was ‘still’ angry at the Roman-Gods – Mercury-and-Venus – for ‘using’ Jane-and-him… and decided to ‘BOYCOTT’ THEM…
‘… my-Christian conscious is ‘clear’ – and your-Romans’ bloody-conspiracy plots of ‘creating’ a 2nd-and-3rd-saviours are an abomination-and-blasphemy… and I want no-part of it… and ‘stain’ my-soul…’
He-then realised that the Old-Gods and their-counterpart Demons were into the Rebirths-and-Rejuvenation schemes to have THEIR ‘PRESENCE’ to-be-known, and TO WALK-again in the domain – ‘where’ men had ‘forgotten’ Them…
… and, They-all had ‘CHOSEN’ PERTH-earth for ‘their’ 2ND-COMING…
‘… it’s a bloody ROMAN-INVASION once-again…’
From his Catholic Sunday-school teaching, he learned-THAT THE ROMANS had ‘crucified’ Jesus…
… where He-later ‘became’ the ‘Saviour’ of-mankind…
… last-night, in the Garden-of-Eden – Mercury had mentioned that his-father, Jupiter… would-be the 3RD-SAVIOUR of-mankind of the-future…
‘… who is ‘Jupiter’…? Is he ‘related’ to the NASA-rocket God…?’
Paul didn’t want to ‘mention’ Apollo by-his-name – because he was ‘ANGRY’ AT HIM the-most… as the alien-God’s seed-of the Saviour-Daughter ‘would-be’ THE BURDEN his-girlfriend carrying in-her-womb…
‘… who are these ‘meddling’ f*****s…!? I want TO ‘KNOW’ WHO I’m facing ‘against’ FROM-NOW ON…?’
His iPad was on his study-desk – Paul did ‘not’ want to levitate from the bed to it… instead he forced himself the hard-way – to get-himself on his-wheelchair as a ‘normal’ cripple ‘would’ do…
He was Googling Mercury’s FATHER, JUPITER – perusing the post in Wikipedia… and was perplexed as he ‘found-out’…
‘Whoa… Mercury’s mother, Maia… Venus’ mother, Dione… ‘both’ fathered by Jupiter…? What is this Game-of-Thrones bogan incest-shit is going-on here… with-Merc ‘marrying’ his step-sister…?’
Then he focused-on Jupiter’s ‘resume’ – the so-called 3RD-SAVIOUR of the future-mankind…
‘… the Roman God-of-Gods… God of the Sky-and-Thunder… He ‘who’ protects the races and ‘gave’ moral-concepts…’
Paul read-on paragraphs of the high-and-mighty God-of-Gods… skipping the mythological-tall tales as – he wanted to zero-in-to ‘find’ HIS-WEAKNESS…
… and he found ‘none’…
‘… cannot be killed by lightning as He has the power-of electrokinesis… can ‘control’ both static-and-celestial electricity…’
Paul was stumped…
‘… Gemini-Blue ‘COULD’ SHOOT ELECTRIC-BOLT ‘from’ the finger-tips – does this-mean I’ve been ‘cursed’ AND INHERITED PART-OF Jupiter’s powers @the Treeton DAIRY-FARM…?’
He looked-at his alarm-clock and-gasped – it was ‘already’ 7:09 AM… he had over-researched and time ‘parted’ some-how – and, he was-now ‘late’ for school…
Paul ‘hit’ his-palm on his-forehead… and sighed…
… as-he had EVEN ‘NEGLECTED’ his priorities to his-soulmate, Jane – to ‘help’ her to obtain the ‘medical-abortion-pills’ for her Roman-Immaculate-Conception pregnancy…
… he had been-avoiding the ‘action’… till-the ‘last-moment’ – as he ‘felt-guilty’ of the Catholic’s mortal-sin ‘when’ it came to-abortion…
Tapping the iPad’s keypad and clicked on the first-site’s store on the first-Google-page – and, Paul placed an online ORDER FOR the medical-drugs…
… he gave the Walker-address – and can’t think of a fictitious-name for a recipient… and, he was running-out of time ‘before’ Gary picked-him-up for school…
So, he typed-into the-column – ‘Paula-Abdul’ – and wheelchaired to the bathroom…
<><>
UPSTAIRS, AT THAT ‘SAME’ MOMENT – Peter woke-up looking at the alarm – 7:22 AM, to-realise he had ‘overslept’ and was ‘late’ for-school… but before he jumped-off the bed… he was pondering-on the ‘dream’ he had…
… last-night, where his-ally had ‘threatened’ him – and was ‘brutal’ too – that made Peter ‘fear’ of him…
… Iskur had ‘taken-and-abducted’ him by-force to the Nabatabean-temple in Petra, Jordan – where the-incubus menaced-and-terrorised him to ‘kill’ the Red-demon to prove his ‘loyalty’ to be-in the faction of ‘another’ Princes-of-Hell, Beelzebub...
… he ‘almost’ beheaded’ the Red-demon prisoner… who was shackled on-a-short chain to the floor – but…
… ‘before’ the blood-of-the Red-demon was on-his single-right-hand…
… he was ‘rescued’ by his-favourite Catholic-angel, St Michael – who had-prevented the murder… but…
… the Archangel was ‘not’ alone…
… Peter remembered the ‘green-force’ that ‘accompanied’ St Michael – that reminded him of the ‘OTHER-PERTH,’ of the Made-in-China hologram-projection-trick that the student-counsellor, Ms King ‘had’ pulled…
‘… huh…? Was that SeeIn…? Nah… it cannot-be… it’s a parlour-trick the Old-woman ‘used’ to intimidated-and-imposed fear – when she counseled ‘mischief’ kids to submit to her…’
Peter could ‘not’ remember the ‘rest’ of his-dream in Petra… and, got-off his-bed – and put-on his school-uniform…
-O-
When he hurried down the-stairs, Peter-then remembered ‘other’ parts-of-his fragmented-dream – where the-incubus had ‘THREATENED’ HIM-TOO – to ‘not’ sell his-blood to the Crowleys-in-the UK…
… at that-same time, Kitty ‘barked’ at-the-backyard ‘after’ sensing his-presence…
He cursed-out aloud…
“Shut-up, you-bloody nuisance…!!!”
“… ‘why’ can’t I ‘sell’ my-blood…? NOW – I DON’T ‘have’ a-Plan-B to ‘buy’ Dad’s house for-myself – and, to GET ‘RID’ of the bloody-dingo, the-quad and inspector-mom ‘legally’… and have the ‘WHOLE-SPACE’ for myself – so-that I can have ‘whomever’ I want to-visit-me…’
Peter was fascinated BY HIS VISIT to the ‘wealthy’ Ken-Chan’s manor – where the 16-year-old lived by-himself ‘independently’… where HE ‘PAID’ maids-and-servants as ‘minions’ to cook-and-clean after-him…
‘…damnit! I could ‘HAVE’ THAT-LIFESTYLE – if I could ‘sell’ my-blood…!’
He left the-house, slamming the front-door…
-O-
His mountain-bike was parked outside the closed-garage – for ‘easy’ access. He rode it unsteadily in the narrow-patio with his-mother’s parked Audi in the-centre. His blazer’s sleeve touched the grimy car’s side-window… slightly staining-it which made him ‘curse’ at his-mother’s dirty-car…
… it used to to-be, Caroline took the 4-year-old car to the carwash on Sundays after church – but these-day while working night-shifts during the nocturnal zombie-epidemic crime-cases… the car was ‘hardly’ cleaned, and had aged-too…
Peter rode on his-driveway to the main-gate… and he saw the grey Nissan Almera arriving – with the friendly-faced Uber-driver, Gary greeting him…
“Good-morning, Peter… you’re off-early – is Paul coming…?”
“… I don’t bloody-know – nor do-I-care…”
Gary chuckled and-seeing him-riding off – as he ‘knew’ that Paul’s twin had an attitude-problem…
… he ‘knew’ Peter well-enough – where the-twin rode with him 3-years-ago, after the-boys’ ‘rehabilitation’ from their car-crash injuries… but he always fought with Paul in the ‘entire’ way to-school… bullying-him…
… then after a month, Peter decided to ride separately in a different-Uber car – as he ‘complained’ that the Nissan’s cabin ‘smelled’ like a public-toilet… with Paul having urinal ‘leaks’ during the initial-stage of ‘recovery’ from his spinal-cord injuries…
… now, with his prosthetic-arm, Peter rode his-bike to school after 3-years.
-O-
He was running late to-school – and decided to use the ‘Jim-Wong-trail’…
… the shortcut stretching in the old-and-closed down-road since they built a new-highway – and Peter ‘nicknamed’ the deserted-road ‘partially-after’ Alicia-Wong…
… whom in the ‘OTHER-PERTH’ – ‘where’ he had attacked-her… leaving-her in a comatose-state – and ditched-her to die…
… and Jimbo-the-homeless – took ‘THE-BLAME’ for his brutal-crime…
He was half-way riding the Jim-Wong-trail – speeding and at-the-same time, avoiding pot-holes… Peter looked-up and saw a ‘stalled’ superbike rider in a-distance… he chuckled…
‘… a flat-tyre, I guess… riding on moon-crater-sized potholes…’
As he approached, he noticed the leather-jacketed rider was a red-Mohawk-cut hair-styled woman… who stood beside her-big Dodge-Tomahawk bike…
… she put-up her-arm and hailed-him to-stop…
‘…F***! She ‘must’ wanna use MY-PHONE to call-for-help…I bloody-GOT NO-TIME for someone-ELSE’S SHIT…’
He rode-past her, shouting…
“My-mom ‘told’ ME ‘NOT’ TO talk to strangers…!”
“Peter-Walker… HEY, wait…!”
‘… huh-what… she ‘KNOWS’ my-name… who’s-she…!?’
It gave him all-the-reasons to ride-faster rather-than to-stop – Peter looked-over his-shoulders… the woman was running after-him on-foot…
… Peter peddled even-faster to lose-her – looking-over to-his rear-again… the athletic-woman ‘was’ catching-up…
‘… who IS SHE – the bionic-woman…!?’
“PETER-STOP!!!”
He felt a heavy-tug slapped-on his-shoulder… made him off-balance and… he-fell on his butts-hard on the road – with a strong-arm still-pinned on his-shoulder…
… while watching his-bike cartwheeling several-times… and landing over-10-meters away…
Like a-ninja, Peter hopped-back to his-feet… and went-on his self-defence mode – as he reached-for his-backpack… to retrieve his WEAPON-OF-CHOICE – the-Babolat…
… then he realising that – he had ‘forgotten’ to pack-his-racquet… with the rushed-overslept morning just-now…
… so, he decided to ‘settle’ the ‘old-fashion’ way OF-A FIST-FIGHT – now, with…
… a robotic-leftie – he was Southpaw-Pete…
‘… somebody’s gonna get her-teeth punched-in…’ His adrenaline-rushed…
He feinted like a boxer with his-hands-up…
“Hey-chill! I WANNA ‘TALK’ to you…!”
By her accent – she was ‘not’ from AROUND-HERE… probably an-American tourist-cum-serial-killer… STALKING HER-VICTIMS on the lonely-road…
He went-on the attack and struck-out his robotic-fist at her…
… but she caught it with ease with her metal-palm – the punch’s impact made a metallic twonk-sound…
The woman held Peter’s fist-firm… as the-teen wrestled to FREE-IT – she-then pushed his-fist-away… and, Peter dropped on his-butt DOWN-AGAIN on the-asphalt…
“Hey-boy, stop ‘fighting’ ME – I JUST wanna talk to-you…!”
“Who are you!!?”
She chuckled… as she introduced herself as…
“I’m Renee-Osbourne… and I work-for Kimura-Star – and-boy… you ‘sure’ pack-a-punch – did you ‘modify’ it…?”
… Renee Osbourne – that was a ‘familiar’ name…
… Peter then ‘remembered’ of-the OTHER-PERTH… where HE ‘DATED’ Jane over-there – who ‘had’ told-him of a certain DEA injured-agent… WHOM HER-Uncle Jack ‘had’ experimented-on – and giving her…
… A ‘FULL-SET’ of robotic-limbs…
‘… no-wonder, she CAUGHT-UP with my-bike…’
… Peter thought as HE LISTENED to her-speak…
“… FYI… there is a microchip in your-arm – THAT ‘ALERT’ Dr Turner if you had ‘modified’ it…”
“… so-now what…? Did he ‘SEND’ YOU here-from-Washington… to take-back my-leftie…!!?”
Renne laughed…
“… hahaha, I don’t give a damn, OF ‘WHAT’ you-do with your-product…”
“Then-WHAT DO you-want…? HOW ‘DID’ you find-me…!?”
Renne took-out her iPhone and showed the teenager…
“… finding you IS ‘EASY’ – I have ‘tapped-on’ your GPS-locater…”
Peter immediately stood-up…
“WHAT! You been-bloody ‘STALKING’ ME…!!? DO YOU-KNOW ‘who’ my-mom is…? She’s the Inspector-of-Perth – SHE’LL ‘ARREST’ you for-this…!!!”
Renne simply laughed-at his-threats…
“Hahaha… let ME MEET Insp Caroline-Walker… I’m TELL-HER ‘what’ her elder-twin son had been BUSY-DOING in the-weekend in the internet-cafe…?”
Peter stammered in-denial…
“… what…? What you ‘mean’…? What internet-café…?”
“I got photos of you going to-your neighbourhood internet-café…”
“That don’t mean ‘shit’ – everyone goes there…”
Renne chuckled…
“Preciously, but ‘not’ everyone did ‘WHAT’ YOU DID… and I DO-KNOW WHAT you ‘did’ over there…”
“Hah! What DID I ‘DO’…?”
“… as I recall, you created a false email-account for your Facebook-Page and YouTube account to post a particular-kissing video of your-twin… and even ‘copied’ similar hashtags to his-famous Tarzan-fame…”
“No! I DID ‘NOT’ – you’re LYING!”
“Hahaha… remember I have your phone ‘tapped’ – and-observing your-habit of constantly-on your-phone, gave it-away… such an-amateur mistake of checking your secret-YouTube channel to get ‘subscription-and-likes’ was where I ‘CAUGHT’ YOU – ‘only’ if you had ‘known’ the Science-of-Data Forensics, which you don’t-know 2-f***s-about…
“… I bet your-mom ‘KNOWS’ WHAT I’m talking-about once we ‘meet’ her… hahaha…boy, wouldn’t she be thrilled to find-about your catfishing deceptive-activities…”
Peter was speechless with mouth-opened…
“What do YOU WANT…? I got 5,000 Aussie-dollar, I’ll give it to you to ‘shut-you-up’ – I wish I could GIVE YOU ‘MORE’… but the money is in-my-blood, and your-boss ‘failed’ to see-it – that-Dr Turner WOULD ‘NOT’ contact the billionaire Crowley-buyers and bloody make an-INTRODUCTION-DEAL…!” The ‘victim-of-unfairness,’ PETER GRIPED…
The Mohawk-haired woman struck a match to her-cigarette, saying…
“Oh-yes, I read your-reports in D.C. that your-blood type ‘changed’ in the aftermath of the Treeton dairy-farm tragedy… how-about your-brother Peter… and Jane…? Do they have’ superpowers…? Based-on, the bizarre occurrence and talks on-the-net… it is possible…what do you-say, Peter… ARE THEY ‘SUPES’…?” The know-it-all Renne baited…
“I don’t know what you’re talking-about… them as bloody ‘supes’…!? Hah! My twin is a tortoise-quad and his girlfriend is blind-as a-bat…?”
“Denial-denial-denial, hahaha… why’ ARE YOU PROTECTING-them – you’ve already ‘got’ them with the ‘kissing-video’ that would ruin their reputation… innit…?”
Peter remained tight-lipped was ‘quiet’ in-thoughts…
“… listen-here, boy… I just want to BE YOUR’ FRIEND here… tell-me ABOUT ‘THEM’…”
The cornered-Peter ‘evaded’ the query with his-question…
“… err-dude… you gonna ‘tell’ my-mom about the YouTube channel… aren’t-you…?”
“… friends don’t tell-on each-other… UNLESS THEY ‘mistrust’ each-other… I’m your friend for-now and your-mom WON’T KNOW our-secret… so, what is it GONNA-BE…?”
Peter shook his-head…
“… no, they’re a bunch-of-mediocre ‘cripples’ – THEY’RE ‘NOT’ superheroes…”
“… okay, have it your ‘way’ and DON’T TELL – but you’ll eventually-WILL ‘WHEN’ the kissing-video blows-up…”
Renne removed her-jacket – Peter noticed her-flat-chest, wearing a gothic t-shirt that ‘read’ – ‘Daughters-of-the-Underworld’
… she pulled out her call-card… and, handed-over to the-teenager…
“… anyway, here’s my card as a formality… I ‘know’ you’re bound to-lose-it – but anyways, I have your-number – and, I call-you ‘soon’ and WE’LL ‘TALK’… hey-boy, aren’t you late for school, or-something…
“…you better get-going – see-ya, alligator…”
Peter watched her slinging her-black leather-jacket over her shoulder… coolly walking-back 200-metres to her parked superbike…
He clasped the black-card in his robotic-palm – it-was printed of a-red ouroboros-snake ‘eating’ its own-tail…
… it had the visitor’s phone-number…
… along with her-codename…
… Klothod
<><>
JANE WOKE-UP TO HER BUZZING-ALARM – she had ‘not’ had-any night-terrors since sleeping on her bed last night… but she was mentally-exhausted… and, was even worried of her-bad luck that she had ‘been’ cursed-with…
… it was ‘when’ her-return-to the GARDEN-OF-EDEN, last night – where she became ‘aware’ of the Red-demon, who-HAD ‘CONFIRMED’ of her ‘virgin-birth’ with the seed-of-Apollo... but she was ‘GLAD-AND-RELIEVED’ that her-boyfriend was ‘supportive’ of buying-her the abortion-pills online – SO, THAT her-parents of-post-Treeton would ‘not’ find-OUT ‘ABOUT’ it…
She ‘remembered’ the pact she made with Paul – TO GIVE-UP their ‘superpowers’ and ‘not’ to be part-of the Defenders-of-Perth – which-only GAVE THEM worse-luck and bad-blood … after their mentoring-allies had-betrayed them WITH THEIR premeditated-deceits…
The blind-tween dressed-up for school that-Monday morning– her-father ‘had’ the left-for his-work early… something to-do with meeting with an-investor. But Alicia…
… would-be there to pick-her up in her-Uber-ride to-school…
… her-BFF had promised to ‘buy’ some meat-buns for breakfast… as the ‘remaining’ of-the Wilsons who now-led the ‘new-normal’ of ‘not’ HAVING LOLA ‘under-the-roof’ – to cook-and-prepare their daily meals…
… her-hunger pangs from her drinking-wine last-night took-a-toll… Jane-then drank lots of water before her-gastric-pains hits…
Jane went to the backyard to check-on her injured-dog. The blind-master heard shallow-breathing of the canine as it was still incapacitated-by the-meds. She placed her hand in the open-cage and touched his-paw… and felt-around his-coarse Alsatian fur before touching his-head…
Talking to-her-pet in a low-voice as she ‘encouraged’ him to ‘GET’ BETTER. Blind-Jane placed her index-finger ‘in’ the water-dish… and found it half-empty indicating Piper had-drank ‘during’ the-night – she refilled-it and put a bowl-of DOG-CHOW in the cage, in-case he got-hungry later…
‘… don’t worry, my-sweet boy – as-long I’m ‘still’ around… you won’t GO HUNGRY …’ She ‘promised’ her faithful hero-dog…
Her Samsung had a ‘miscall’ – indicating Alicia ‘was’ nearing to pick-her-up… Jane started walking to the backdoor – saying to her-sleeping-dog…
“… bye-Piper-boy… sleep-well and heal-well…”
-O-
While she was locking the-front door… the blind-tween ‘heard’ a-toot. She then walked to the Toyota and heard the backdoor-open… and ‘felt’ Alicia’s hand guiding her-from-the inside to the backseat…
… and, ‘most’ importantly was the ‘smell’ of the meat-buns… that ‘made’ her-stomach-growl…
The car drove and blind-Jane took a big-bite on the bun…
… she ‘noticed’ something-was-wrong – when her chatty-BFF was ‘quiet’…
“… Ali-what…?”
The Chinese-girl RELEASED a deep-breath… then-saying…
“… Janey… we have a ‘problem’…”
<><>
A SONG FROM GARY’S CAR-STEREO was ‘stuck’ in his-head, as he wheelchaired to-the main-door of his-school…
… it was the soulful-sounds of the Motown’s supergroup, Kool-and-the-Gang’s…
… Kiss-and- Say-Goodbye’s choruses – that-was ‘playing’ on-and-on mentally…
In the corridor, Paul ‘heard’ some students making fun of him but he didn’t know ‘what’ it-was about when they said, ‘he’s-a-big-boy-now’… and had ‘assumed’ it was something to do with his-birthday that-weekend.
Then he noticed the junior-students – who were his ‘fans’ were ‘not’ acknowledging him like they-used-to… looking at him in a ‘funny-manner’… and Paul heard’ their-whispering…
“… my-mom told-me to TAKE-DOWN my Tarzan-Page in Facebook…”
He made his-way to his-disabled elevator, and while wait Paul noticed Dougie Zimmerman walking in-the-foyer with his-cobbers…
… and remembered ‘them’ from the JANITOR’S ROOM’S fire incident, a month-before – where they put-out the combustion-flames where JANE-AND-HIM ‘had’ caused… and, they did ‘NOT’ TELL-on-them…
While walking-up the stairs to the 2nd-floor, one of them pointed at Paul and laughing…
“… look it’s Tarzan! The Jungle-boy IS MORE ‘ADVANCED’ than-us lowly seniors – hahaha…having his ‘own’ sex-tape…!”
Feeling offended, Paul scoffed … while ‘NOT’ KNOWING-what they were talking-the-hell ‘about’…
… the elevator-door opened…
… while-in the slow-moving lift-car, the crippled-teen was ‘wondering’ WHY-WAS everyone this-morning – ‘was’ treating him…
… ‘like’ an indifferent oddball.
-O-
The elevator-door opened… and-at the same-time the school-bell rang to-commence the first-period on a-Monday – where ‘normally’ students were tardy after the-weekend. Paul passed the-open the-door of his-classroom to get-inside… Terry of the Irish-backbencher saw him and cried…
“Romeo-Tarzan of the jungle is in-da-house!”
When he was reaching his desk – he heard…
“Horny-Tarzan… looking for Jane – where is she…? Probably in the caves with her-bats… Go-for it, Caveman Tarzan – Go find-Jane, and ‘shoot’ a-sequel, hahaha!!!”
Everyone laughed but Paul ‘ignored’ them to go to his-desk…
… he had used to their ragging as bullies – but he was glad the Irish-boys were well-behaved during his birthday-party in the house of the Inspector-of-Perth – the ‘one’ day they have ‘spared’ him from taunting in front of Jane-and-Alicia…
The teen noticing that Jane was ‘not’ in-class, and so-was Alicia – and-even…
… Peter was ‘late’…
Their class-teacher, Mrs Sibeth Staghorn entered the class and backbenchers were quiet-and-settled… the English Language teacher was ‘taking’ the class-attendance…
… the school’s peon, Muthoo Ganesan then-came and spoke to-her…
“… Mrs Staghorn, g’day to-you… Principal-Harris ‘WANT’ TO SEE student Paul-Walker… your-student Jane-Wilson IS ‘ALREADY’ IN his office…”
The teacher excused Paul… who followed the-peon outside…
“Mr Ganesan, what is ‘about’…? Why is Principal Harris want to see-me and Jane…?”
The East Indian-man shrugged his-shoulder…
“… I don’t ‘know’ – Principal Harris told-me to ‘get’ you… and I came…”
The peon walked ahead and the wheelchaired-teen followed to the direction of the elevator… halfway there they intercepted the janitor, Mr Quigley coming-up the stairs – the 2-adults greeted each-other and shared a common-topic – of the Monday’s lotto draw-predictions…
The 2-men noticed that Paul was ‘still’ lingering behind-them – the peon-said…
“… Master Paul-Walker, Principal Harris ‘WANT’ TO SEE-YOU… you ‘go-on first, I ‘got’ something to ‘talk-here’ – I’ll catch-up with you-later…”
“… okay… I’m going…” Paul made his-way to the elevator…
-O-
While in the lift, Paul was wondering ‘WHY’ PRINCIPAL-HARRIS wanted to see-him…
‘… Jane is ‘there’ too – ‘don’t’ tell-me… IT’S ONE of the ‘heroic-handicaps’ school-promo campaign…? The Mayor’s Award is totally ‘enough’… we-both would ‘not’ want any-part in this ‘image-campaign’ mess any-more… leave ‘us’ be…’
Then, Paul felt ‘guilty’…
… Principal Harris ‘did’ so-much for them ‘since’ he was DATING THEIR MOTHER – the weekend ‘expensive’ home-catered dinners, the-recent birthday… and his-birthday prezzie…
He thought-of his wooden-board chess-set that Tom-Harris bought for-him…
‘… I can’t play shit… but Alicia is gonna teach-me ‘how’…’
The door dinged and-opened – Paul wheelchaired-out to coincidently see Alicia in the foyer, rushing towards-the stairs to the 2nd-floor… he called-on her…
“…HEY-ALI! Is Jane at the-principal’s office…?”
The Chinese-girl did ‘not’ reply – and ran-up the stairs… saying…
“… I’m late for-class…”
“… okay, see you later…”
… in the foyer, he heard echoes of the ‘peon-and-janitor’ voices ‘upstairs’ talking about-lotto…
… Paul went-on alone in the-corridor – as he passed closed-door classrooms’ first-lesson in-commence…
… making his way to Tom Harris’ office…
-O-
At the east-wing, Paul reached the SHS’s Admin-office and saw the receptionist was ‘not’ there… so he wheelchaired to the glass-door to the open-office area where a dozen-staff were…
… they saw him coming – some-froze and others gawped…
Paul ‘felt’ funny-and-mistrusting… as everyone he ‘had’ encountered since the first-hour when he-came to school – were ‘treating’ him-in-suspicion…
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… he didn’t ‘bother’ to acknowledge-them… by-saying – Principal-Harris ‘wanted-to’ see him…
So, he headed straight to his-office…
-O-
Paul reached the closed-door and HEARD ‘SOUNDS’ of an argument-inside – a domineering pitched-woman’s voice was-in the midst of the-spat…
… it unravelled the crippled-teen… but he proceeded-forward to rap-on the door-genteelly…
… the student-counsellor, Ms King opened the door for-him… Paul noticed the medium-sized closed-office was ‘crowded’ that-morning. Ms King sat back on a short-bench beside-the door – whom she shared with plump-woman whom Paul doesn’t ‘know-who’ she-was…
… but by-the-way, the mole-on-her-cheek-woman ‘glared’ at him with her ‘angry-eyes’ –set-fixated on-him and-following his-every movement – like a-predator…
… ‘made’ Paul instantly ‘DISLIKING’ HER at first-glance…
Jane ‘was’ THERE-TOO – sitting quiet on her chair, close-to the filing-cabinet…
Principal Harris was behind his mahogany-desk – facing 2-visitor chairs… with one-seat ‘empty’ – and the-other was-seated the overassertive-and-loud Mrs Shelley Wilson…
… Paul’s girlfriend’s doctor-mother…
… whom he ‘met’ her in ‘EVERY’ PERTH-REALMS ‘that’ he-had ‘been’– but seeing-her ‘now’ in the ANGRY-SIDE of her for-the-first-time…
… she was in dispute with the-principal on a first-name basis – because they-were ‘friends’ outside-school…
“… ARE YOU BLIND-like my-daughter, Thomas!!? Tell-me, you didn’t see ‘that’ coming while everyone is ‘talking’ about you and your bloody-run school in the social-media…!? And, you have the cheek to tell me TO-CALM-DOWN for your mismanagement and ‘wrongdoings’…?”
“YES!!! “Calm-down,’ Shelley – you ARE ‘MAKING’ a bigger problem out of ‘this’…!!!”
“HEY! I SAW THE PROBLEM ‘when’ you made your-bloody ‘hero-campaign’ on the first-day of the term without my-consent, being the-mother of the daughter of-the-recipient – you-then ‘invited’ the mayor to your-circus…”
“You got it ‘wrong,’ Shelley! It was the mayor-Blake’s IDEA – TO GIVE the Bravery-Awards to Jane-and-Paul… it was a last-minute ‘EVENT’ TOO – the mayor’s office called… saying that the mayor ‘WISHED’ TO PRESENT the bravery-accolade to them – based on THE ‘POSITIVE’ publics’ response-of the viral-zoo-videos in Perth…”
“… so, is your-mayor going to ‘PAY’ CHILD-SUPPORT to unwanted students’ pregnancy-too…? If-so, where does the bloody-money ‘COME’ FROM…? Is-it from ‘out’ tax-payers’ dollars…!!?”
Paul who was beside the closed-door near to the-bench – was confused of ‘not’ knowing ‘what’ WAS GOING-ON… he rubbernecked and ‘whispered’ to Ms King…
“… what’s going-on…?”
“… you don’t ‘know’…?”
… Paul shrugged…
… and the student-counsellor GAVE HER-NOKIA phone to him – with a link-to a YouTube video…
The teenager’s jaw-dropped as he watched ‘ONLY’ 15-SECONDS of the 2-minute video… of the SHS’ Family-Day @the-beach – 3 MONTHS-AGO… ‘TAKEN’ with him-and-Jane who wanted their ‘privacy’… ‘AWAY’ FROM the main-group @the South-beach…
‘… WHO’ videoed-us…!? Bloody-voyeur…!’
Mrs Shelley Wilson then turned her-head around – and was ‘aware’ of Paul’s presence in his-wheelchair… and picked-on him-next…
“YOU!!! The bloody-culprit! Where is YOUR-MOTHER!? I have been waiting ‘more’ than a-half hour for-her – and, I got work to-go-to in-the-clinic!”
Being shout-at, Paul was terrified and… was left flabbergasted with no-words to-reply – but Principal-Harris responded-instead…
“… calm-down, Shelley – I’m trying to call-her-too…but she’s ‘NOT’ RESPONDING… probably sleeping ‘after’ HER-NIGHTSHIFT, investigating her police zombie-cases…”
“Thomas, looks-like you ‘know’ of the ins-and-outs of her SLEEPING-SCHEDULES – I thought you ‘woke-up’ from her-bed and… CAME TO-WORK this-morning…”
Tom Harris was appalled…
“… listen-here, Shelley – LET’S BE civil and… ‘not’ drag my-private life-into-this…”
Shelley cut-him-off…
“Hah! What private-life…? You ‘SLEEPING’ WITH the Inspector-of-Perth is THE ‘TALK’ of ‘our’ Twitter-community!”
Paul’s jaw dropped…
… learning all-the dirty-laundries and closet-skeletons were out-exposed… in-both in the-principal’s office and-social-media…
“… it’s no-business of ‘WHOEVER’ TO-TALK of ‘what-I-do’ in my personal-life…”
The doctor-mother shouted-back…
“It’s my-bloody ‘business’ as a parent to have ‘WHATEVER’ SAY IN your private life before shit-hits-the-fan when the 2nd-sex video DROPS-IN AND RUINS my reputation as a-respectable doctor in Perth… you-Thomas, what ARE YOU GOING to do about-it…?
“Are you ‘are’ going to practice ‘DOUBLE-STANDARDS’ WHEN it comes to ‘disciplining’ your-girlfriend’s twin sons in this-matter, hah…!?
“I’m going-to ‘write’ a petition to the PTA TO REMOVE YOU as to-be ‘unfit’ as a-principal – only-if you don’t EXPEL BOTH THE-WALKER-BOYS from your bloody school…!!!”
“… what…? Peter-too…!? What ‘did’ he do-wrong…?”
“… while his-cripple-brother was fondling my-daughter – WHO’ RECORDED-IT… hah…!? It ‘must-have-been’ the one-armed ‘son’ of your-girlfriend, who it ‘was’…!”
“You got-it-all ‘wrong,’ Shelley – there WERE 2-GROUPS in that Family-Day that-day – Peter was in THE ‘OTHER’ GROUP – WHERE they visited Rotto…!”
… despite pointing ‘her’ mistake, Shelley lashed-out…
“He was ‘THERE,’ I ‘KNOW’ – even… he ‘WAS’ IN MY HOUSE on the night of the black-panther attack… I ‘HEARD’ HIM in Jane’s bedroom…but-when I wanted to ‘catch’ him – he ‘trapped’ me in my bedroom… WHEN HE blowtorched-and-welded my-door-shut!!!”
In-the-corner, Jane facepalmed… it ‘was’ she-WHO ‘TRAPPED’ Shelley in-the-room – so ‘not’ to interfere with StarGirl ‘CONFRONTING’ THE-entity-Popobawa in-its transformation as the black-panther… WHILE PAUL was with-Jaheem in her-bedroom AT-THAT-moment…
Even Paul sighed at THE DISILLUSIONED doctor-mother’s allegations – of making-up stories to ‘fit’ her-missing-puzzle-pieces OF HER-REALITY… which was the opposite to what ‘actually’ happened – of the Defenders-of-Perth’s SAVING SAMUEL from being a-CHILD-SACRIFICE ‘that’ night…
… but it was ‘their’ SECRET-IDENTITIES which they-had-concealed ‘led’ to the confusion – that had Shelley to assume HER ‘OWN-UNIMAGINABLE’ conclusions of EVENTS-OF-that-night…
… but he had A ‘SUSPICION’ of his-twin – ‘WAS’ SOME-HOW involved in the kissing-VIDEO… that mysteriously ‘SURFACED’ AFTER 3-months…
‘… if you’re ‘NOT’ THERE in South-beach AT THAT ‘MOMENT,’ Peter – maybe ‘some’ minion of-yours ‘VIDEOED’ IT…!’
After a-brief-moment of silence – Mrs Shelley-Wilson’s voice boomed-again…
“Tell-me, Thomas – ‘WHO’ POSTED the video-then on your-watch…? And, how can this ‘shameful’ things happen on your-poorly organised Family-Day trip…? Were your-teachers in-charge there were ‘blind’ too… leaving students ‘having’ illicit-sex behind their-backs!!!”
“Come-on… no-one HAD-SEX – the boy was only-kissing…”
“Yes, kissing my-daughter – SOON, THERE is a possibility of a sex-tape scandal-next… Thomas, are you ‘running’ a high-SCHOOL-HERE OR a-porn-hub production-studio using ‘minors’…? So-what have you DECIDED ‘NOW’ – AREN’T you ‘not’ going to expel these 2 ‘perverted’ twins of your-girlfriend!?
The principal was speechless…
“HAH! Do you think someday I’ll send my son-Samuel to your bloody-damned-school!? NO! I-WONT…! He would ‘not’ be corrupted like his-sister! Thomas-Harris, I ‘BLAME’ YOU! YOU’LL GO-down too soon, once I make the petition to deem-you ‘unfit’ to-be in THE CHAIR-OF-the principal… that you’re sitting comfortably-on now!”
… Paul saw the woman ‘who’ followed Jane’s-mom was smirking ‘when’ Shelley was ‘threatening’ the school’s principal… ‘what’ was lacking was a bag-of-popcorns to-go for her front-row ‘entertainment-pleasure’ of the verbal-altercation…
“… as for my-naïve B-girl, I’m ‘PULLING-HER-OUT’ from this detrimental-school that you’re running – she’s going-back to her Victoria-Institute Blind-SCHOOL WHERE genders are ‘segregated’… with no-horny-boys there TO ‘GETTING’ INTO her-pants!”
Paul-then saw Jane stood-up in-a haste… and-pointing at her-mother…
“ENOUGH of you ‘THREATENING’ EVERYONE, Mother! That day at-the-beach, I was ‘only’ kissing my-boyfriend… and he certainly DID ‘NOT’ get ‘into my-swimsuit!”
Mrs Wilson pointed-back at the principal, condemning…
“Look at your-bloody shameful-school THAT ‘ENCOURAGES’ juvenile to have illicit relationships! Is that part of the school’s CURRICULUM…? I’M PAYING her-school fees for an Australian-school education – ‘not’ for-her to have SOME-BOYFRIEND at her-tender age-of-12!!!”
“Hey! Stop-condemning my-school! For your-information, Mother – I don’t ‘slack’ in-class… and, I’m ‘still’ a top-girl!”
“… yea, but you ‘slacked’ to-be the #4-girl last term – all cos’ you ‘LACKED’ FOCUS… too-busy with ‘MAKING-OUT WITH your-bloody so-called ‘boyfriend’…!”
… Paul’s jaw-dropped as the argument was ‘referring’ to him with-blames – ‘when’ the-reality was that… Jane ‘slacked’ in class to-be #4 was-because she ‘lacked’ her-sleep… ‘when’ she was haunted-and-hunted ‘every-night’ by Peter-the-incubus who wanted to get into her-pyjamas….
The domineering matriarch-then pressured… ‘when’ Jane was-stumped…
“I don’t believe you! There must-BE ‘MORE’ THAN KISSING you-both have-gotten yourselves-into – Jane! I want you ‘now’ TO TAKE A pregnancy-test!!!”
… Paul saw his-girlfriend speechless… he was horrified to the thought of her-urine might be-positive of pregnancy…
‘… oh-shit, what a-luck… her-mom would ‘find-out’ – I ordered the-pills ‘a-little-too-late’ where Jane did ‘not’ have a chance-to-TAKE THEM…’
… Paul was relieved that Jane spoke-out to ‘object’ – where it could ‘buy’ THEM-TIME…
“I don’t give a shit if you believe me or ‘not’ – I’m ‘NOT’ TAKING a pregnancy-test to ‘PROVE’ ANYTHING to you!”
… Paul saw the student-counsellor beside-him, speak-up…
“Jane! Don’t BE ‘RUDE’ to your-mother!”
“Shut-up, Ms King… you’re the school-counsellor ‘NOT’ A-PSYCHIATRIST – you don’t ‘know’ WHAT ‘SHIT’ IS HAPPENING in my-life!”
The doctor pointed at the principal mocking…
“SEE THE WAY she-speaks! What kind-of f***ed-up school is this…? GROOMING 12-YEAR-OLDS to-be rebellious… and with ‘no’ RESPECT TO ADULTS!”
Blind-Jane replied-instead…
“RESPECT SHOULD-BE ‘earned,’ Mother – I’M REBELLIOUS because you’re a ‘bully!”
“Sit-down ‘now’ – DON’T TALK TO ME like that, you-blind-punk! I still have bloody custody over-you till YOU’RE 18!”
“… yea, 6 ‘more’ years OF MENTAL-TORTURE of ‘being’ your ‘pet-critter’ B-girl!”
“You ‘listen’ to-me – you’re BLOODY-TAKING the pregnancy-test, whether you like-it or ‘not,’ you hear-me…?”
“NO! I don’t have TO ‘PROVE’ ANYTHING to-you, ‘now-that’ you’ve walked-out from ‘our-lives’ – you’ve fought-and-threatened daddy saying you’re going to ‘DIVORCE’ HIM… then you took my-brother and WENT-AWAY to live in Uncle-Topher’s house…”
… Paul was ‘listening’ to the dirty-laundry of-the-Wilsons…
“YES! I want-to divorce your-alcoholic LOSER-FATHER! I made an-attempt to ‘save’ you from-him but you ‘choose’ to stay-back ‘UNDER’ HIS-ROOF – ‘now’ after one-week under ‘his’ care… look ‘what’ happened – you are into this disgraceful SEX-SCANDAL! How shameful is this ‘happening’ to the-daughter of a doctor…?”
“Mother, if YOU ‘THINK’ that kissing will ‘make’ me-pregnant – then you’re a ‘really’ very dumb-doctor…!”
“OH-YEAH, at least my-mother ‘raised’ ME WELL… I STUDIED-hard and I became a-doctor with my-brother-Jack – I DIDN’T HAVE a boyfriend in school, and I focused-on my-studies – where else-you, with your ‘boyfriends’… you’re GOING-DOWN the-pit-hole like your-LOSER DADDY!”
“… okay, SINCE YOU’RE OUT of my-life – don’t worry about-me from now-on – I have my ‘OWN’ AMBITION to be a scientist like my-Uncle-Jack…!”
The doctor-mother growled-back…
“You’ll NEVER BECOME a scientist – you’ll BE A LOSER like your-retched father! Damn you both!!!”
Tears-rolled on the blind-tween’s face… and, moments-later Jane responded…
“… fair-enough… ‘more’ juicy-topics for you to ‘gossip’ in Twitter, yea…? Because you have ‘more’ friends-online than in real-life – but they don’t ‘DON’T-KNOW-YOU’ like I do-you-Mother…. an awful, cruel and a bitter-person…! Which-nobody can tolerate-you except for-your Facebook-friend…”
Jane-then pointed AT-THE WOMAN-WHO had ‘accompanied’ her-doctor-mother… seated across in-the-bench…
“… you ‘brought’ her-along… your-Ira is sitting-here quietly… and silently-cheering her ‘bully’ doctor-friend’s threats… and enjoying every-moments of it! Listen-ma’am, ‘soon’ she would ‘bully’ YOU-TOO…!”
Paul looked at the facial-reaction on the plump-woman with a mole-on-her-cheek… ‘who’ was a state of shocked… and Paul ‘almost’ chuckled, as…
… it was like-the-TV’s ‘breaking’ the-4th-wall’ scenario – and ‘was’ pointing at her… ‘to-be’ in the hot-seat…
The tension-in the-office ceased ‘when’ the LOUD-BELL RANG – for the 2nd-class period…
Paul was even more amused of ‘what’ happened ‘when’ the 5-seconds long bell-rang – with Mrs Wilson too was ‘disoriented’ from her-argument… before…
… she ‘pointed’ at the principal… shouting…
“Where is this-Insp Caroline Walker!? I BEEN WASTING-TIME for a-bloody hour waiting … I bloody work to go-to… Thomas, YOU GO GET’ HER – you ‘have’ the house-key… dragged-her from her-bloody bed cos’ I WANT TO TALK with her now!!!”
<><>
THE NOW-SENTIENT CAROLINE, who hardly had 2-hours of sleep… stirred ‘when’ she awaken-by the sound of buzzing. Still-sleepy, she looked at her iPhone on vibrating-mode…
… there were 11-miscalls, 3 text-messages and a video…
The groggy-woman looked at the screen in the darken-room… WONDERING ‘WHAT’ was-the emergency all-about…
… the miscalls were from Tom… and, so ‘was’ the text-messages…
… she-still did ‘not’ KNOW ‘WHAT’ WAS the-emergency…
It was only-when she clicked the link SENT BY THE student-counsellor, Ms Diane King… to the YouTube video – was ‘when’ Caroline got her-clarity…
… it documented her-son kissing his-girlfriend on a mat in the sandy-South-beach ‘before’ they lube-each ‘other’ with-suntan – and, the-couple then wore their sunglasses, and slept-together while holding-hands…
The second the video ended @2:03 – Caroline ‘was’ startled…
‘… what ‘happened’ next…?’
The inspector-mother re-read the ‘content-descriptions’ of the YouTube video… which was IN-CAPS-AND-BOLDED:
‘COMING-SOON – PART 2 – TARZAN-AND-JANE’S SEX-VIDEO’
‘…did they have sex ‘too’…?’
Caroline got-off the bed and started to hastily dress-up… and, her-mind was frantic…
‘Poe! What’s wrong with you!!?’
… the-mother ‘recalled’ the ‘VISIT’ TO THE WILSONS ‘more’ than 2-months ago – where Paul apologised to the-PARENTS FOR ‘NOT’ ASKING their-permission… when he took-Jane to the South-PERTH ZOO – WHERE the rhinos-and-elephant ‘disaster’ HAPPENED…
‘Poe! What’s wrong with you ‘again’!!?’
She was ‘really’ disappointed with her 2nd-born… who’d ‘misbehaved’ during the school’s Family-Day outing…
‘… so did’ Peter on-that-day – the-fool jumped-off the ferry to search for his metal-arm… endangering himself ‘where’ he doesn’t ‘know’ how-to-swim…
‘… ‘why’ are these boys a handful…?’
She was all-dress in front of the-mirror. She went forward to apply her-lipstick for-Tom… and, then decided ‘NOT’ TO…
‘… so-much for my ‘substitute’ father-figure for those 2-demons…’
She dropped the-lipstick in her hand-bag… and left the-room…
-O-
While coming-down the stairs – Caroline was ‘greeted’ by Kitty’s loud-barks in the backyard … she went-over to quieten the racket the-mutt was creating in the-neighbourhood….
… when she opened the backdoor – the playful Kitty lunged-at-her…
“Down, Kitty! Down!”
She was ANNOYED THAT PAUL who-had ‘not’ leashed the dog ‘before’ going to school…
… the inspector-mother ‘knew’ of Kitty’s Belgian Malinois ferocious-breed in the police K9-unit – where it could ‘scale-up’ their 11-foot fence… and go wander outside…
‘… what-if, it ‘bites’ someone…?”
Caroline dragged Kitty by-its-collar… and tied it to the-pole…
“Quiet! Or… I’ll SEND YOU-AWAY to the-pound!”
The inspector-mother ‘regretted’ granting Paul with a pet… when he had carelessly ‘ignored’ the dangers-and-responsibilities of ‘owning’ a vicious-breed canine…
‘… maybe the dog ‘should’ go – as a ‘punishment’ for-the irresponsible Poe…’
-O-
She walked-out the front-door to the Audi on-the-porch. Looking-up, she saw her garden was ‘withering-and-dying’ – due to the bugs-and-pest infestation…
… she sighed… and doesn’t care anymore…
… since the Wilfords ‘had’ transferred the Walker-house DEED ‘OVER’ to-Peter… where it SO-HAPPENED that-the Wilford-niece was ‘also’ her elder-son’s girlfriend…
‘… it’s Peter’s house ‘now’… and-the lawn is his-problem…’
She got into the car – and drove-away…
<><>
EVERYONE WAITED A LONG-TIME for Caroline Walker. The office was-now quiet – and nobody was arguing… of ‘both’ the visitors-and-staff’…
… but they were mentally-preparing for the ‘NEXT’ BOUT ‘when’ the Insp-of-Perth arrived…
There was back-and-forth of texting between Shelly-and-Ira. While the principal was into his school’s paperwork – the student-counsellor was ‘working’ too… sending emails on her-Nokia.
Paul saw his girlfriend sitting ‘alone’ in a corner, with her beanie that she-wore had covering her-brows… and she was glowing-dim…
… Jane was crying-too… and she had ‘no’ tissue – and, wiping her tears in her sleeve-of the blazer that she-wore. Paul wanted to offer his-handkerchief…
… but he-had to ‘thread’ himself – ‘between’ the-path of the ‘lion-and-hyena’ – to get-to-her…
He ‘chickened-out’ and cursed to himself…
‘… what kindda stingy-miserly school is-this – that can’t afford to ‘buy’ a box-of-tissues…?’
THE BELL-RANG at that same-time – it was the longer-bell… to indicate that it was RECESS-TIME…
… Principal Harris ‘instructed’ Ms King to ‘accompany’ both Jane-and-Paul to the canteen.
While wheelchairing to leave the office, Paul last ‘saw’ the remaining-adult were waiting-themselves-out – as they have ‘decisions-to-make,’ once the Insp-of-Perth arrived…
-O-
When the-bell rang, Jane was the first to walk to the door – wanting to-get-away from her bully-mother…
… Paul saw the pissed-off looks on her – as she ‘had’ also missed the morning-classes in the ‘wait’ @the-principal’s office – where her ‘own’ doctor-mother messed-her-up just-now… when the-version ‘of-the-woman’…
… had-called Jane as a ‘loser’ like her-father…
Outside the office, blind-Jane walked-alone forward using her walking-stick… Paul caught-up with her… looking at the blue-glow, she asked…
“… where is your mother…?”
“… I DON’T KNOW…probably in her-sleep back from night-shift…”
“STOP-TALKING, you-2…!” Ms King ordered…
The 3-of-them were quiet and they walked along the corridor where other student were making their-way to the school cafeteria-hall. But when they reached the entrance-door – Ms King’s phone-rang…
“You-2 go-on ahead and order your food…”
Paul saw the student-counsellor standing-behind and Jane hurried to get-in the serving-line – when he got there on-his wheelchair… he was 8th-in-line from his-girlfriend. Paul was moving-among the lining-up of-the junior students… they were no-longer friendly-and-chatty…
… but looking-and-peering at him seated-on his wheelchair with ‘their’ judgemental-eyes – as they have seen his-kissing ‘scandalous’ video that was trending – about their ‘once’ hero-Tarzan.
Ignoring-them, he ordered a pre-packed beef-sandwich and he choose to drink a canned Milo – the chocolate-milk, as a ‘healthier’ drink option from a-coke…
By the time he paid for his-food at the check-out… Jane had ‘gone’ to mess-hall…
As he wheelchaired-out, he saw her-yellow-glow seated at their regular round-table… with the food-tray on his-laps, he wheelchaired towards her…
… he felt ‘intimidating’ eyes set on him, as he passed rows-of-tables.…
… where the girl-students with their disgusted-looks to his ‘behaviour’ in-the-video – and the boys smirking at him…
Ignoring-then, he looked at the next-row of tables of – Alicia chatting with her-boyfriend’s group…
… at the backrow was Peter… with the loud backbencher-cobbers at the long-table…
His wheelchair arrived to Jane… who was having her tuna sandwich and a kiwi-juice box – and he sat-with-her… whispering…
“… Jane, I’ve ‘ordered the-pills – will ‘give’ it to you tomorrow…”
“… thanks… but will the-pills work…?”
“… I don’t know, dear… you ‘take’ it first, and-then we’ll ‘see’…”
“… okay… err…sorry, my-mummy was ‘harsh’ on you just-now, Pauly…”
“… don’t ‘BLAME’ YOURSELF at-all – the ‘situation’ is that we’re ‘both’ cursed-and-trapped in ‘these’ realities where… it’s playing musical-chair with ‘OUR’ PARENTS. Jane, that was ‘not’ your-mom back there in the principal’s office, okay…? Just remember that…”
Jane nodded… and ‘let’ her-blue-beacon SPEAK THE-RATIONAL… as he was her-eyes in the ‘seeing-world’…
“… you take the pills for-now… well, it’s an-abortion pills, should-be like rocket-science… err… meaning, IT ‘SHOULD’ work…”
A voice spoke-out ‘from’ their-rear… it was Ms King…
“Both of you wouldn’t be SITTING-TOGETHER in recess-breaks from today-onwards – as-per instructed by the principal-and-Mrs Wilson…
“Paul! Get your tray and ‘move’ to the NEXT-EMPTY table… NOW…!”
… the ultimatum-decision was a punch-IN-THE GUT for Paul – as he cleared the table and followed Ms King to 3-TABLES BACK…
‘… bloody musical-chairs…’ Paul too-was pissed…
Those ‘mean’ girls were clapping-too as he passed-them – while some boys were ‘also’ jeering at-him…
Paul realised that his-popular Tarzan’s brief fame in-school had ended today… when the kissing-video had tarnished him into ‘being’ a laughed-at mere crippled boy-again…
At the empty-table, the student-counsellor took the ‘best’ seat – Paul was facing-her and ‘not’ Jane who-was seated in his-rear… he asked…
“… Ms King, did my mother call just-now…?”
“No, she didn’t – but we’ve left messages for her to ‘come’…”
Eating his-sandwich, Paul was observing the middle-aged woman of the Australian Aboriginal-descendent who was sending work-related emails on-her-Nokia…
… he remembered ‘encountering’ 2 of-her ‘OTHER’ VERSIONS:
* in the ‘OTHER-PERTH,’ she (and Alicia) were ‘allies’ to the Defender-of-Perth – where they ‘rescued’ Samuel-Wilson from being a ‘child-sacrifice’ of Asmodeus
* in ‘PERTHLAND,’ she was in her ‘younger-self,’ and worked as a school librarian – where she gave him career-advice
Now, in ‘POST-TREETON’ – she was THEIR ADVERSARY…
… Paul ‘remembered’ the first-days of HIS ‘ARRIVAL’ to this-realm – where he-and-Jane had met her in-a-café… where THEY SEEK HER advice-and-guidance ‘since’ her ‘background’ was-of SCRUTINIZING MEDIEVAL Middle-Eastern studies – but she was ‘RELUCTANT’ to help…
… so, ‘when’ he-and-Jane ventured-alone TO ‘INVESTIGATE’ whether Hajji – the ‘key-figure’ of evil – ‘existed’ in POST-TREETON…
… they were met with THE DISASTROUS South-Perth Zoo’s ‘animal-tragedy’…
Putting the final bit of the beef-sanger into his mouth… and while chewing… his thoughts-digested into suspicion…
‘… what if this-version of Ms King is ‘serving’ evil-itself…?’
THE SCHOOL BELL rang – the woman looked-up at the disabled-teenager…
“… come… LET’S GO to ‘your’ classroom…”
“… err… I guess you’re ‘busy’ in work, Ms King – I can find-my-way to my classroom…”
“… ‘not’ any-more… they have ‘TRANSFERRED’ YOU to the B-Class…”
-O-
The elevator-dinged on the 2nd-floor, the door opened and Ms King pushed the wheelchair with Paul – who was still in-state-of shock… that he wouldn’t-be in the ‘same’ class with Jane any-more…
“Go and get your-bag…” Ms King instructed at the door…
Paul entered the-classroom… and went to his-desk to collect his-bag pack…
…noticing that Jane was ‘NOT’ THERE for him to say-goodbye-to – probably she-was with Alicia in the Girl’s-room. But there were 5-students in the class at that-time…
… the class-clown, Terry Donavan was there… chuckling and waving-farewell…
“… you won’t be-missed, Tarzan-Poe…”
-O-
The B-classroom was next to the 2nd-floor staircase… when Ms King pushed his-wheelchair over, Paul saw senior-students coming-back from their recess-break… staring at him…
In the ‘new’ class-room were returning-students from canteen-break filling-up their seats. The class-teacher was punctual – and was talking to Ms King…
… Paul saw his young new-teacher who was of Vietnamese-descendent by the name… of Mrs Kim-Li Duegermman – as she was married to a White – but…
… behind-her she was… ‘nicknamed’ as Kimchi-Doberman… because she was a fierce Math-teacher…
Paul was assigned to sit in the front-row of the-class, beside the main-door…
… he had ‘missed’ sitting in the 2nd-row of the A-Class – right behind Jane… sharing their ‘private-and-intimate’ bodily glows ‘moments’ – of blue-and-yellow ‘hues’ that gave a fusion of green-auras… that ‘BOOST’ POSITIVITY thoughts for-themselves in-class…
He was still daydreaming – when Ms King called him…
“Paul!”
“… huh… yes…”
“… I’ll come-later… when the ‘inspector’ arrives…”
He nodded and the student-counsellor left…
… Paul could hear Raymond Donovan, Terry’s elder-brother at the back, mocking-him… and followed by laughter from his-backbencher-mates…
“Fat-Tarzan is in ‘trouble’ – he’s seeking asylum-status in our class – let’s ‘welcome’ the refugee of-the-jungle…”
Paul ‘remembered’ Raymond-Donovan from the ‘OTHER-PERTH’ ‘when’ he accidentally electrocuted Terry… and the mad-elder brother ‘defended’ his-younger-brother – and shouted at-Paul… and, he-then made a complain to Principal-Harris that his-wheelchair was dangerous-and-rigged to ‘electrocute’ students…
… but…
… little that Paul ‘knew’ that in the present POST-TREETON ‘realm’ – Raymond-and-his cousin ‘had’ recorded the Kissing-video…
… that was ‘shared’ with Peter, a-month-later.
<><>
TOM-AND-CAROL were both-alone at the principal’s office…
… he was ‘updating’ her…
“… Shelley made a big-scene just-now – and ‘warned’ me’ that Jane should ‘not’ associate with Paul – so, to put her in-a-peace of mind, I’d transferred him to the B-class, Carol…
“… tomorrow, I’ll appoint a prefect to accompany Paul in recess-period – so-that he ‘won’t’ talk to her-there…”
“I want to confiscate his iPhone too – that way he would ‘not’ have any-contact at-all with ‘that’ girl…!” Added the-mother…
“No, that is ‘harsh,’ Carol – it is his ‘basic’ humanitarian-rights to have a cellphone these-days… just like food-and-water…”
“Go f*** his rights! That son-of-Solomon SHOULD ‘NOT’ be shown any-mercy!!! Why are both of ‘these’ boys such a bloody ‘burden’ TO-RAISE…!? They ‘both’ having ‘girlfriends’ at ‘their’ TENDER-AGE…
“… they-too are ‘young’ but are ‘both’ criminal-minded ‘just’ like their-late father… may he ‘burn’ in hell!!!”
The principal was quiet for a-moment – to-allow Caroline vent… then-after a brief-pause, the inspector-mother asked…
“What-else happened…?”
“… Jane-too had refused to take A PREGNANCY-TEST when her mother ‘demanded’ it-just-now… anyway, it ‘not’ necessary… it’s just a kissing-video, no-more than-that… no-worries for ‘now’…”
“… but-Tom, what-if there’s a sex-video ‘somewhere’… they are BOTH-MINORS – do you ‘know’ how embarrassing of a heartache that implication is FOR A-MOTHER…? That her 13-year-old ‘boy’ is ‘doing’ it on a viral-video in THE INTERNET…”
… she-then broke in-tears – Thomas opened his desk-drawer to take a box-of-Kleenex… and offered-her… and was-consoling…
“… furthermore, YouTube would ‘not’ allow porn in their-site – and the last-I-checked… even the kissing-video had been-flagged down… you ‘should-not’ worry now, dear…”
“But there are ‘other’ child-pornography sites that that would want TO EXPLOIT IT… and ‘if’ that ‘was’ a possibility – then it’s the END-OF-POE… just like-his-father…”
… Caroline was back-venting and-rambling of her bottled-up marital-frustrations…
“… a bloody scumbag-flirt that I was married-to… who went to the-bloody casinos to gamble-and-fornicate behind my-back… and, who is always depressed when he lost thousands of dollars in a night… but the next day… he’s back-on-his feet – ‘feeding’ the addiction by returning to the casino to gamble-and-f*** again…
“… he ‘ruined’ his career-too… do you ‘know,’ Tom – he had ‘designed’ the-architecture of the Mayor’s Blake-tower building…? But… half-way-through the project, he embezzled the company-funds to ‘repay’ his-gambling-debts – and they caught-him and ‘fired’ him…
“… ‘even’ the Mayor John-Blake too had ‘swept-him’ under-the-carpet – and did ‘not’ press-any criminal-charges on Solomon… and, he ‘got’ away-easy-peasy…where-he ‘should-be’ behind bars for his-crimes…
“… and, ‘NOW’ HE’S DEAD… and subsequently left-me… with his massive-debts-and-his 2 ‘useless-horny-sons’… who would-be one-day ‘following’ his footsteps of gambling-and-f***ing…! It’s like-a diseased bloody-heredity-genes of ‘my’ cursed-family…!”
Caroline pulled-out a couple-of tissues to wipe her angry-tears…
“I donno… what do I DO, TOM – I’m ‘such’ a BAD-MOTHER… who made a bad-choice of marrying the-wrong-man… AND BEARING ‘his’ delinquent-twins…!? Yes, blame-me for ‘THAT’…!”
The principal rose-up from his-desk – and went to her-chair…
…the divorcee got-down on-his-knees to embrace her…
“… hush-Carol… YOU’RE ‘NOT’ a bad-mother – and, I still want to-BE A-PART of your-life… WE BOTH’LL work it-out…”
They-then kissed…
<><>
IN THE B-CLASS, MRS DUEGERMMAN was teaching 7th-Grade’s curriculum Math topic of ‘Measurements-and-Geometry’ – a lesson taught a fortnight-ago, by his former Math-teacher Ms Celine Costa… but Paul had ‘forgotten’ and could ‘not’ grasp its basics…
… it was his 2ND-CHANCE to learn ‘about’ scalene, isosceles and obtuse-angle triangle – if he ‘ever’ wanted to have an-ambition to-be an-architect like his-father…
‘… if I don’t get it ‘right’ this-time… then I’ve to kiss the architecture-career ‘goodbye’ – and settle for a profession of dog-training…’
His reveries were interrupted by the presence of Ms King whom the-principal had ‘sent’ to get-him…
“… your mother is ‘here’…” The student-counsellor said…
… and pushed his-wheelchair out of the class…
… as they came to the handicap-elevator… Paul’s heart was-pounding – he was expecting WW3 in Aussie-soil if – Jane’s mom ‘argued’ with-his…
‘… why me… oh-shit – why me…?’
… recalling that he had gone to Principal’s office in the ‘OTHER-PERTH’ when’ he ‘had’ electrocuted-Terry – but got-off the hook… without calling Caroline to his-office…
… unlike on the ‘OTHER-PERTH,’ where Peter who attacked Zubeer-Khan… the inspector-mom ‘came’– ‘when’ his one-armed twin was ‘later’ severely-punished for-his violent-behaviours…
…but in POST-TREETON, Peter ‘behaved’ – and, ‘had’ all-the luck-in-the world – to-be ‘not’ called to the principal’s office… with Caroline coming-over to ‘settle’ the-problem…
‘… ‘why’ is this smooching-video ‘COMING-OUT’ after a-month since Family-Day – has the devil ‘had’ something TO DO WITH it… to see-me ‘fall’…!?’
-O-
The student-counsellor opened the principal’s office-door ‘without’ knocking – on his wheelchair Paul saw the principal and the inspector-mother were embracing each-other… then, the ‘startled’ couple instantly ‘broke-off’ from their-hugging… and went to their-respective seats… the teenager looked-around and-was startled…
‘… huh…? Where is WW3’s Mrs Hitler…?’
… Paul was ‘relieved’ that the scary-and-loud ‘psychotic’ woman WAS ‘GONE’ – so there wouldn’t-be 2-mothers – with both having ‘their’ MARITAL-PROBLEMS… getting-to argue the ‘flaws’ of the-other’s ‘RAISING-CHILDREN’…
… Paul was eased-too that now’ HE HAD ‘ONLY’ his principal and his-mother to deal-with ‘now’… and, HE WOULD ‘BOLDLY’ face-the-music…
“Paul… come-here, Son – your-mother and-I have to ‘talk’ to you…”
He wheelchaired-forward… and noticed Caroline reaching for a Kleenex…
‘… huh… where did ‘that’ tissue-box ‘magically’ come-from…!?’
… he was also hurt to see… the body-language of his-mother that was ‘turned-away’ – avoiding looking-at-him…
Tom-Harris spoke…
“… you’ve seen-and-heard for yourself of how-aggressive Mrs Wilson-was… protecting her-daughter… she EVEN ‘THREATENED’ to pull Jane-out of this school and put-back to her-former-school for-the-Blind… but I manage to convince her that through the AI-technology that her-daughter is-having – that she would ‘ACHIEVE-MORE’ success in Stamford High-school because she ‘has’ proven to-be one of ‘those’ top-students’ of this-school…
“… please-Paul – DON’T’ RUIN HER-EDUCATION… that was ‘why’ I sent you to the B-class to ‘separate’ you-both – FORGET-HER, Son…
“… focus-on your ‘own’ priorities in your-studies and hit the books. You were an-average student in your A-class ‘before’ – now, YOU ‘SHOULD’ BE the-Top student in the B-class in your-midterm exam, in-months from now…
“… and-the thing-about adolescence ‘FIRST-LOVE’ is-that – it ‘won’t’ last… so, it’s best to focus your-efforts on your-STUDIES INSTEAD… ‘RATHER’ to be-distracted by these ‘nonsensical’ puppy-love romances…
“… I’ve also ‘CONTACTED’ JANE’s father just-now… as she’s in his-custodianship… and Mr Wilson ‘told’ me that he would ‘DELETE’ YOUR-phone-number from Jane’s cellphone … and ‘BLOCK’ YOU-too…”
… Paul was shellshocked ‘when’ he was TOLD TO-FORGET his-girlfriend in his rest-of-his schooling-career. He had ‘expected’ his-mother TO SAY-SOMETHING – as she ‘did’ often at-home with her policewoman’s lectures… but his-MOTHER SAT-MUM… with a hand covering-her-face in-embarrassment – and let the principal ‘do’ THE TALKING…
Tom Harris then-said…
“… in the-lights-of your ‘punishments’ of going TO THE B-CLASS – your mother-and-I too want you to do the ‘same’… which is to ‘DELETE’ JANE-WILSON’s phone-number from your cell-phone… and you’ll DO IT ‘NOW’ in front-of us both…”
… Paul was ‘startled’ as he DIDN’T SEE ‘that’ mandate-coming…
… so-as long he had to work his ‘way-up’ back to-the inspector-mother’s Good-books as a Good-son – he automatically-obliged…
Paul took his-iPhone from his blazer-pocket – and placed it on the principal’s desk for ‘everyone’s’ view-of-inspection… as he used his thumbprint to unlock the phone – and was going-on to-his ‘contact-list’ of less-than 20-phonenumbers in it…
… scrolling alphabetically of Alicia ON TOP OF ‘G’… for his-Uber driver, Gary – and thumbed-down TO ‘J’ FOR his girlfriend, Jane…
… he pressed ‘DELETE’ contact…
Tom Harris spoke…
“… now, ‘BLOCK’ HER too…”
Paul gratified that ultimatum-too – as he ‘BLOCKED’ HIS-GIRLFRIEND FROM ‘NOT’ calling him-again…
… but he was ‘smart’ to have JANE’S NUMBER ON WeChat and WhatsApp – where they ‘CONSISTENTLY’ FACETIMED…
Tom Harris pointed-at-him and spoke-aloud…
“GOOD! NOW, enough of this school-time romance-escapade nonsense – and GO ‘BACK’ to your-classroom AND STUDY!”
“… err… yes-Sir…”
… the teenager was ‘relieved’ that the punishment-ordeal WAS OVER… that he ‘can’ live-and-get-by with the SCHOOL’S ‘SENTENCES’…
… as Paul’s mind was in flee-mode… he turned his-wheelchair around…
… but he was ‘HALTED’ BY his-mother’s voice…
“WAIT!”
Inspector Caroline Walker stood-akimbo in his-path… and interrogated-him…
“Did you ‘HAVE’ SEX with that Wilson-girl in-the-beach!!?”
“… err… no-Mom… we-were ‘only’… kissing…”
Caroline SLAPPED HIM across-the-face… and, even Tom cringed…
“Don’t lie to me – did you HAVE SEX with her… on the school’s Family-Day!!?”
… his face-stinged from the hard-slap… just like a TV serial-Korean-actor – Paul broke-down in-tears…
“… no-Mom… it’s the truth… I don’t lie to you…”
The inspector-mother’s finger was pointed at his-face…
“You better ‘not’ lie! If THERE IS a sex-video – I’m DISOWNING YOU, you hear-me...!!?”
Paul wailed-aloud as Caroline looked-on – and her-own-knees then-buckled… as she too sat back on her-chair… crying-after to-what she ‘had’ said…
… Paul saw his-mother sobbing – wheelchairing-forward and he hugged-her-arm and-cried even-more…
“… I’m sorry-Mom… don’t-cry – I’m telling the-truth… I’m a virgin… I’ve ‘not’ had-sex with any-girls before… that’s the truth – and I ‘never’ want to hurt-you-by lying to-you…”
-O-
After a-moment, Paul left the principal’s office… to go-back to class. He felt his right-cheek swelling from Caroline’s hard slap…
‘… luckily, mom was ‘not’ wearing her WEDDING-RING… or I may ‘have’ gotten bruised in my-kisser… but anyway, she ‘STOPPED’ WEARING it ever-since Dad died…’
As he rolled his-wheelchair, he realised that he had a-crushed ball-on-Kleenex in his palm… and had no ‘place’ to dispose it… and he stuffed-it to the-side of his-wheelchair seat ‘after’ blowing his-nose…
… he was in a ‘mess’… and needed to go to Boys-room to CLEAN HIMSELF-UP of sweat-tears-mucus-and-drools – ‘before’ he-resumed his ‘new’ B-Class…
Paul went to the washroom @the-ground-floor ‘beside’ the handicap-elevator – and noticed the-place was ‘empty’… he levitated from his wheelchair to face the-mirror…
… the reflection of him was a-mess – with his-hair crumpled-and-unkempt…
He washed his face in the-sink… wiping-dry with his-handkerchief… ‘before’ looking-back to the-mirror…
… Paul noticed his-right fat-cheek was swelling fatter… and it was turning blue-black too– so, he washed his face again in cold-water… to ‘reduce’ the swelling…
… it did ‘not’ work – as it was ‘turning’ blue-blacker…
‘… wish I had some Hollywood-makeup to make it ‘go’ away…’
The teenager ‘decided’ to live with it – if everyone would-tease later…
… that of Tarzan-being ‘slapped’ by-his mom for ‘kissing’ Jane…
‘… so-be-it…’
He was ‘not’ angry with Caroline too… as he ranted to the mirror…
“… I forgive you-Mom! Because you are-SOME ‘VERSIONS’ of my-mothers from the-multi-verse… ‘WHO’ IS ‘HERE’ to defy-me in POST-TREETON, and, right-to the of-end my bloody-life – but I’ll NEVER FORGET JANE…!!! no-way, she’s with me in this-mission journey…!
“… and, good-luck with your-life, Mom…! I HOPE YOU find ‘happiness’ with Principal Harris – maybe he’s the ‘BETTER-MAN’ THAN my ‘flawed’ dead-father…!
“… but leave my ‘unfinished’ BUSINESS TO MYSELF – as I have a ‘beef’ with your eldest-son… my-twin, the-devil… who had ‘followed-us’ both to POST-TREETON with lots-of ‘some-sort’ of Blackmagic-good-Luck… SINCE DAY-ONE we-3 stepped into this realm…!
“… the devil is in your ‘Good-books,’ Mom – and, you don’t ‘know’ it – AND-ME – I’ve been ‘attracting-and-absorbing’ all the bloody-bad-Luck and – now MY-JANE IS PREGNANT!!!”
He resisted his-escalating teen-angst-urge of punch THE MIRROR… and at the same time, being aware that ‘SOMEBODY’ was coming at the door…
… he dropped on his-bottoms on the wheelchair seat… so that his-levitation superpower would ‘not-be’ known…
… peering at the mirror he saw the janitor, Mr Quigley asking…
“Oii! It’s a racket in-here… during classes going-on over-there – ‘WHO’ WERE you shouting-at, boy…!?”
“… err… no-body, Mr Quigg…”
“… well-go on to your-class – and ‘STOP’ SHOUTING to yourself… you-psycho-kid…!”
… Paul left the washroom – as he wheelchaired-along in the corridor close-doored classes of the junior-students… to go to the-elevator…
… as he mumbled – along to-himself…
“… yes, Old-man… I’M THE bloody psycho-kid who would-be ‘unbalance’ POST-TREETON… from having its SAVIOUR-DAUGHTER…
“… I would put a stop to this IMMACULATE-CONCEPTION ‘BUSHTIT’ once-for-all – and, my-Jane would ‘NOT’ BE PREGNANT on-my-watch…!!!”