Teachers Pet (Part Three)

Teachers Pet (Part Three)

By: Roger Alderman

Shadows' turns to Smiles', as he climbs inside the car, “Now what?” Smiles' shakes his head, “Really? You’re really asking me that. Come on Alex… err…Shadows I know you’re smarter than that.” Shadows' exhales loudly and gives a nod of understanding, “Funeral home.” “Yup, funeral home,” Smiles' merges his car onto Grissom Parkway and turns towards Port St. John. 

Smiles' looks at his protégé nervously looking around and shakes his head. Smiles' reaches across Shadows' and opens the glove box. He looks up, as the car vibrates along the edge of the road, “Damned it, look in there and get my pill bottle out.” Shadows' looks a little confused but does as he is told. 

Smiles' opens the bottle takes a few pills and hands Shadows' a pill, “Take that it will calm your nerves.” “But,” Shadows' starts to complain. Smiles' growls at Shadows' uncharacteristically, “Take the fucking pill, boy, or I swear I’ll fucking cut you to pieces!” Shadows' doesn't wait for even a second and quickly takes the pill.

Shadows' and Smiles' blast loud heavy metal music, as they transverse the small town. Smiles' hums along to the music, as Shadows' can hardly contain his growing excitement. “You ready for this?” Smiles' blurts out above the music, “after tonight.” Shadows' turns to his teacher with eyes glassy and smiles, “No more Bully problems.”

Smiles' laughs, as he deliberately swerves from side to side along the old country road. Shadows' tries to stabilize himself, but begins his eyes growing heavy. Smiles' turns to Shadows and yells, “Waa-Hoo! You’re feeling it now aren’t you boy!”

Shadows' stares out the window trying to focus, as the world blurs. For a moment, he glances at an intersection barely visible through the nearby woods. His eyes lock on to and focus on a young boy shaking his head no. Shadows' follows the boy with his head until they have moved out of sight.

Smiles' jerks the car off the main road and onto the rear driveway of the funeral home. Shadows' shakes his head trying to collect his senses and thoughts, “I think I’m gonna be sick.” “Quit fighting,” Smiles' slams on the car's breaks, a loud thump comes from the trunk, and looks at Shadows', “you gotta ride that wave, boy! Trust me it’s so worth it.” 

Smiles' and Shadows' exit the car and grab their toy from the trunk. Robert struggles inside the duct taped sheet against his captures. Smiles' laughs maniacally, as he drops his end of Robert. Smiles' stomps down across his head, neck, and shoulders repeatedly. “I think I broke him,” Smiles' beams wide at Shadows'. 

Shadows' thrust the door open and motions for Smiles' to get inside with Robert. They enter the embalming room and were again assaulted by the stink of the sanitizers and cleaning chemicals that hung in the air. “Check to make sure your dad is either asleep or not here?” Smiles' asked.

Shadows' turns and enters the rest of the funeral home and check if his father was present. “Dad, you here?” Shadows' calls out. Alex removes his mask, “Shit, forgot about that thing.” Alex strides despondent along the corridor towards the kitchen, “Anyone home?” 

Alex cautiously entered the kitchen and sighs in disappointment at what he has found, “Fuck, Really dad?” Daniel lay slumped over the kitchen table in his underwear surrounded by half-drunken bottles of whiskey. Alex lowers his head in shame, as he collects Daniel to move him to his room rather than the kitchen, “This is getting a little old dad. For once could you just fall asleep in your own room.”

Alex places Daniel into a fireman style carrying position and turns to leave the room. Alex comes face to face with Smiles' chuckling and shaking his head, “Is this your father?” “It’s not funny Mr. Kenny,” Alex yells defensively. Smiles' smacks Alex across the face and growls, as both Alex and Daniel, fall to the ground, “One… last… fucking… time… When the mask is on. You will call me FUCKING SMILES'!”

Alex stares in shock at Smiles' and rubs his cheek. Daniel moans and shits himself. Alex shakes his head and climbs to his feet while glaring at Smiles'. 

“Take that piece of garbage to his room and then SHADOWS' better fucking meet me in the embalming room,” Smiles' stares at Alex and Daniel points a blood-stained finger towards the embalming room. Alex nods and drags Daniel back to his room. 

Smiles' observes Alex and finishes off a half-empty bottle from the kitchen tabletop. “Fucking Kids,” Smiles' pitches the empty bottle against the refrigerator sending a cascade of bottle fragments across the kitchen floor. Smiles' returns his attention to the embalming room and giggles maniacally, “Okay, breaks over, playtime bitch boy!” 

Alex drags Daniel to the staircase with tears streaming down his face, “This is bullshit.” Daniel moans and pisses his underwear. “Fuck,” Alex yells and kick Daniel’s unconscious body. “That wasn’t very nice,” says a disembodied voice. Alex’s eyes dart around the room seeking the origin of the voice. 

Alex cannot believe his eye, as the misty image of Andy walks through a wall. The room becomes ice cold and Alex rubs his hands together, “What the fuck?” Alex observes his breath and the hairs on his arms rise along with his anxiety, “Andy? But you’re…” “Dead,” Andy frowns at Alex’s comment.

(Continued in Vol. 4)