Changing With Autumn

Chapter 3

Unfortunately for me, tennis practice let out early and since I really wasn’t paying attention I didn’t notice that my coach had noticed me on her walk back to the locker rooms from the tennis courts. There I was resting peacefully with my eyes closed when I heard the cough beside my car. I opened my eyes to the death stare from Hell and couldn’t help it when I jumped back a little. 

“Ms. Maddison, how nice to see you. When you didn’t show up today I had assumed you were sick and went home. I mean since you went to all of your classes today except for mine during 8th period I figured you had to have gone home sick. How relieved I am to see that you are well.” The sarcasm dripped like venom from her mouth with each of her sickly sweet words.

“Oh, hi Mrs. Anders. Well, yeah I wasn’t feeling too well and my mom was supposed to call in my absence to 8th period so I could go home, but I guess she didn’t. I came out here but my car wouldn’t start. I mean you know how these old cars are. So I’m stuck waiting for my uncle to come and give me a jump.” I replied nervously, pulling excuses from thin air and lying through my teeth.

“Oh well I’m relieved that it isn’t too serious. I do hope your uncle gets here soon. You don’t want to get stuck in here all night. Oh, and don’t worry too much about practice today. Monday we can partner during 8th period and again afterwards at practice to go over what you missed today. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the upcoming match next Thursday due to a silly, little absence.” She smiled menacingly.

“Yes thank you Mrs. Anders. I would really appreciate the extra one on one so that I’m ready for next week’s match. You know with it being our school rival I wanna make sure I’m in top shape.” I responded trying to sound as sweet and innocent as possible. 

“Feel better Ms. Maddison.” She turned and stomped away looking extra drill sergeant-y. 

“H-have a great weekend!” I called after her. 

I cursed under my breath. Practice was bad enough, why not add on my whole class period and practice with the coach criticising every move I make. I could just imagine the excessive drills I would be performing next week in order to better prepare for the upcoming rivalry match. Unfortunately, it didn’t take too much imagination because I knew what my Monday fate held. The coach’s go to moves; whenever she really wanted to make someone pay for a wrong they had done to the team she was sure to pull out her tasks of suicides and the painful calf strengthening exercises where you stand on your tiptoes and clench your calves for an obscene amount of time, and if you drop your heels to the ground you start all over again. 

Awesome. No point in waiting to go home now. Well maybe just for a minute longer since I had to wait for the coach’s car to leave so it didn’t seem like my car had just become miraculously blessed by Jesus and jumped back to life. She knew I was ditching but I’m no quitter; I was gonna stick to that lie efficiently. I mean, honestly there was no point in trying to get her even more ticked off and add extra days to my Monday torture. Better milk that uncle jumping the battery story for at least another 10 minutes. So I went back to trying to relax on the hood of my car, although a little less relaxed now that I had to keep one eye open to watch for the approaching drill sergeant enemy.

My unexpected and quite uncomfortable run in with Mrs. Anders didn’t really have the outcome I had hoped for. I figured she would be anxious to leave as quickly as possible just like all of the other teachers ready to start their weekend, but it seemed she had the same stubborn determination that I did. She knew I was lying and she was watching me like a hawk to make sure that my imaginary uncle really was going to show up to fix my “broken” car. I could see her through her office window watching me with her piercing eyes and smug smile on her face just knowing that she was going to catch me in the lie so that she could find some other forms of cruel punishment next week and get her revenge for me ditching practice. 

I wasn’t going to give up though. I was going to see the lie through. Even though I wasn’t sure just how long I could drag it out for. At some point I had even tried to run through all of the people I knew that were old enough to pass for an uncle and wouldn’t rat me out to my parents when I explained to them the predicament I had put myself into. Zilch. I had nothing; no options, and apparently a social group of a bunch of knarks. When I finally came to the realization that I really was screwed and would have to just man up and take the punishment, Mrs. Anders walked out of her office with a blazing fury in her eyes.  

Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap. I’ve been discovered. She has proof now. I’m screwed. My mind whirled. I wasn’t sure how, but this woman was a freaking FBI agent ninja or something so I knew there was little chance of me making it out of this. My hands started sweating and my heart started pounding as my eyes followed her as she stomped her way to her... car? Wait, what?

As I watched her drive by and shoot me daggers from her eyes I did a little victory dance inside. I knew I shouldn’t push my luck, but I just couldn’t help giving her a small wave as she passed. My head fell back on the window and I let out a sigh of relief. I did it. I freaking did it. 

With a couple deep breaths I was able to slow down my racing heart and I slid off the hood of my car and jumped into the driver seat. Starting up my car I couldn’t help the little smirk that popped onto my face until I realized what lay ahead of me at home. I gave myself a quick pep talk and threw on my battle armor. I may have a taste of the little victory with my coach but now I was off to the war that awaited me with my parents.