Average Joe and the Extraordinaires by Belart Wright Page B

snooze
button to save his sleepy state.
    Joe:
“Dang it!  Just a few more minutes.”
    Nine
minutes later the buzzing came back, but this time Joe was ready to get up. 
The morning went by in a blur.  Joe vaguely remembered taking a shower, having
cereal, and watching T.V., but not really paying attention to what was on.
    He left
his house and walked to the car, which was parked on the street.  His dutiful
girlfriend Kate had returned it—his parents said—after the whole stadium
incident.  He still hadn’t seen or talked to her since and wasn’t sure what
he’d say the next time he did.
    He got
into his car and turned the ignition.  His car jumped to life but it felt
different.  Everything felt different.  The drive to school went by in a blur. 
Joe vaguely remembered seeing street signs, a stoplight, a slow old lady
crossing the street, traffic lights, more traffic lights, and a cute girl with
red hair in the school’s parking lot.  She smiled at him.  Her red hair
reminded him of Kate, but Kate’s was naturally red. He couldn’t say the same
about this girl.
    The walk
through the school went by in a blur.  There were plenty of staring faces
everywhere he went, much chatter, some laughter, and many whispers.  No one
talked directly to him but Joe knew that they were talking about him.
    He had
shifted through the halls and was almost near his locker when he bumped into
two guys that he was distantly familiar with but had never talked to before.  More
accurately, they bumped into him.  He knew them as Fleez and Dozz, and that they
were to be avoided.
    Fleez:
“Uh-oh!  Badass alert!  Clear the hallway, peasants, lest you want to be just
another victim.”
    Fleez was
the taller of the two, and had a distinct island tan and large dark eyes.  His
hair was black and curly but partially shaved on the sides.  He approached Joe
in a casual manner.
    Dozz:
“That’s not fair, Fleez.  He’s been acquitted of his crimes.  That makes us the
only badasses setting off alarms here.”
    Dozz was
very hairy, almost like a werewolf and had tiny beady eyes.  He already had a
full beard that hung down past his Adam’s apple even though he was only
sixteen.  His hair was equally as long, reaching down to the middle of his neck,
and both hair and beard were brown and completely messy.  Underneath all that
hair was flesh so pale that Joe wondered if Dozz had ever seen the sun.
    Fleez:
“He’s been acquitted of half his crimes, so he’s a badass until proven
innocent.  How ‘bout it, Joe?  Wanna join the likes of us and raise hell?”
    Fleez
stuck his hand out.
    Joe:
“Sorry, but your friend is right.  I’m not a badass.  I’m just a regular guy. 
Excuse me, I have to get to class.”
    Joe
sheepishly pushed past them and walked down the hall.  Further down he caught a
flash of red hair and saw her. Kate was facing her locker.  He stood still and
wide-eyed like a deer in the headlights.  She turned and looked in his
direction and they locked eyes, but only briefly.  She turned her head and
walked away down the opposite end of the hall.
    The rest
of the day went by in a blur until lunch, when he bumped into the principal,
Mr. Patrias, a short and slender man with a penchant for tacky dress clothes. 
Today he wore an olive green suit with a yellow tie and pocket square which
made him look like a pickle someone accidently dunked in mustard.
    Mr.
Patrias: “So, Joe, you’ve decided to join us in the land of the learning?”
    Patrias
laughed at his own joke, but Joe didn’t find it so funny.
    Joe: “Yes,
sir.”
    Mr.
Patrias: “Well I’m glad you’re in good health and that this whole ordeal is
behind you.  Now you can get back on track to academic excellence.”
    Joe: “Yes,
sir.”
    Mr. Patrias:
“Remember, Joe, toeing the line won’t cut it anymore.  I won’t have it here at
my school.  I’ll be on your case until you’re just as bright and competitive as
my best.”
    Joe: