The final bell rang and students started packing their bags. The school was over for the day and everyone was ready to enjoy their weekend. Avril sat on his bench, unmoved, looking at the young, beautiful teacher. She is so beautiful, he thought.
“You must prepare your spellings until Monday,” the teacher, Miss Kathy, said in a raised voice. She attempted to reach every student amidst the after-school chaos.
“Oh no,” There was an unapproved roar from students as they left the classroom hurriedly. Avril made no attempt to move. He was lost in his reverie about Miss Kathy.
“Aren't you going home, Avril?” Miss Kathy asked.
Avril felt embarrassed as he was caught dreaming. He stood up, opened his pencil box and took out a ring. He clutched it in his fist and held his hand back. He walked over to the teacher's table. Miss Kathy was busy packing her belongings. She looked up. Avril was standing across the table.
“Yes Avril,” She smiled.
She looks even more beautiful when she smiles, Avril thought. “Miss, I have something for you,” there was little stutter in his voice.
“Yes, what is it Avril?” she looked amused.
Avril pulled out his hand and opened his fist.
“Wow, that's beautiful.” She took the ring and slipped it onto her finger. She smiled warmly. “Thank you Avril. It's so sweet of you.”
Avril started to say something but was stopped by Kathy's words.
“Now, I have to leave, Avril,” she said. “Have a nice weekend.”
“You too, miss.”
“and don't forget to prepare your spellings. There is a test on Monday.” she said. Avril watched as she left the classroom. Then he slowly walked toward his bench.
Avril was a 10 year old boy studying in second grade. He liked his English teacher, Miss Kathy very much. She was lovely and friendly. She smiled a lot. He had heard senior boys in his school talking about crush and love. I have a crush on her, little Avril thought.
At the dinner table, Avril was once again lost in his reverie. He didn't take part the conversation his parents were having. Suddenly he asked his mother, “Mom, what's the minimum age for marriage?”
“Eighteen, I suppose,” said his mother looking at him suspiciously. “Why would you ask?”
“Nothing, it's just.......,” Avril had no intention of opening his feelings about miss Kathy to his parents.
“Do you have some news for us?” asked his father mischievously.
“Not yet,” said Avril, smiling.
After dinner, Avril went into his study room. He opened the drawer of his study table and pulled out his planner notebook. He opened the page where important reminders were scribbled. On the fresh page he wrote, 'Marry Miss Kathy when you turn eighteen.' Satisfied, he smiled to himself.
The following Sunday, Avril's family went to shopping. Avril loved shopping. He liked watching beautiful things kept in the showcases of roadside shops. Occasionally his mother would buy him a toy too. But today he didn't want a toy. He wanted to buy cowboy shoes. He had seen senior students wearing them. Cowboy shoes will make me look cool, Avril thought. He wanted to impress Miss Kathy. He stepped outside the shop wearing cowboy shoes. As soon as he was out on the road he saw Missy Kathy coming out of nearby shop. His face lit with happiness.
“Hello Avril,” Miss Kathy said cheerfully. “Enjoying your weekend, uh?” She looked stunning in her casual attire.
Avril kept looking at her as she spoke with his mother.
“There you are, darling,” said a young man as he approached Kathy and kissed her.
“Where had you been Jacob? I have been looking for you in shops,” said Kathy coaxing him. Then she turned to Avril and his mother. “Meet my finance, Jacob. And Jocob this is my second grade............”
Avril felt as though someone had hit a blow in his stomach. He noticed that Miss Kathy was not wearing the ring he had given her. Instead she was wearing an engagement ring. It's over, Avril thought.
“Bye Avril,” Miss Kathy said as she walked away, her boyfriend's hand around her.
She didn't even notice my new cowboy shoes. And that boyfriend of her doesn't suit her at all.
Avril spent next couple of days trying to forget Kathy. He tried not to think about her. But the harder he tried, more difficult it became. He tried not to speak to her in class. But she would ask questions to Avril. He was not able to concentrate on anything. It seemed his brain had been engrossed by her thoughts.
“Excuse me,” there was a look of complete surprise on Miss Kathy's face.
“Don't marry him. He's not good for you. I will marry you when I turn eighteen,” blurted Avril.
Now she understood what it was all about. The look of surprise on her face was replaced by an amusing smile. “Avril, these are things of grownup people. You won't understand.”
Avril didn't know what more to say to convince her. “Please miss.....”
“It's so sweet of you to say that, Avril,” she started packing her bag. “But Jacob is a good person. Besides you are just 10. I'm sure you will get a nice girl when you are ready.” She patted on Avril's cheek and walked out of the classroom.
Following day, Jacob was seated in his car waiting for his fiancee outside her school. He heard a knock on the car door-glass. It was Avril. Surprised, Jacob lowered the glass and said, “Hey little fella, what's up?”
“Leave her alone,” Avril's voice was determined.
“Leave whom alone?” Jacob could not figure out what Avril was saying.
“Leave Miss Kathy alone. Don't marry her. You are not good for her. I'm going to marry her when I turn eighteen.”
There was a snicker on Jacob's face.
“Don't laugh. I mean it,” said Avril, slowly but firmly.
“That can't happen buddy,” Jacob was getting amused with the conversation. “It's already decided. We're engaged.” Jacob made no attempt to hide his snicker.
“Then I must fight with you. Tomorrow. After school. Inside basketball court. Bring your gun,” said Avril in a voice firmer than ever.
“It's a date Sir,” said Jacob. He couldn't have asked for better entertainment. “May the best man .......err..or boy win,” said Jacob, smiling.
Without a word, Avril picked up his schoolbag and walked away.
The following evening, Jacob was waiting for Kathy in his car, completely oblivious to what had happened yesterday. The car door opened and Kathy stepped in. They kissed. As Jacob was about to start the engine, he heard the knock. The moment Jacob saw Avril, he was reminded of their date. He smiled. The second episode of his entertainment had begun. He hadn't expected Avril to show up. He lowered the glass. “Seems you have taken this seriously,” said Jacob.
“Let's go,” was Avril's only reply.
For a moment Jacob thought of persuading Avril to forget the date and go home. But the temptation of entertainment won and he said, “Sure.”
“Go where? What's going on here?” Kathy demanded. She had no idea of the date of two men.
“Nothing honey, I will be back in a minute.” Jacob did not bother to explain. He stepped out of the car and started walking toward the basketball court, anticipating more fun.
The two men reached their destination. “Here we are little man,” said Jacob smugly. “Now what do you want me to do?”
“Have you brought your gun?” asked Avril.
“Gun? Are we playing some kind of shooting game?” Jacob waved his hands in air, sounding to be cool. “Look dude, I have no time for this schoolboy stuff. I'm getting late. Just tell me what.......” Jacob stood wide mouth as he saw Avril pulling out a gun from his schoolbag. “That's fake, isn't it?” said Jacob, looking anxious.
“It's real.” It was Avril's turn to sound cool.
“No. It can't be real. Where would you get a real gun?” said Jacob raising his hands as Avril pointed the gun toward him.
“My father is in Police. I stole it from his cupboard.”
“Look kid, whatever it is, put that thing down.” Jacob was getting little annoyed. “We can always talk like two descent men.” His hands were still raised.
“No. First promise me you won't marry Miss Kathy.”
At that time, Kathy appeared in the court door. She was standing some distance behind the Avril. There was a look of completed disbelief on her face after she saw what was happening.
“I can't,” Jacob said as he tried to control his anger. “This is no time to play pranks. Put that damn thing down.” He turned to Kathy. “Step ahead and taking that freaking gun from the kid,” he yelled at Kathy.
“No miss. Don't step ahead and you mister, don't yell at her,” Avril's voice was surprisingly cool. He held the gun firmly in his hand pointing toward Jacob. He unlocked the safety pin and put his finger on the trigger.
“Avril, listen to me. Put that gun down. Otherwise it will go in your report,” said Kathy stepping ahead. She was still in disbelief. She could not sink in what was happening.
“No. He must promise me that he won't marry you,” said Avril, unmoved and unblinking.
“okay. I won't marry her. You can have her. I never wanted to marry her. I just wanted to sleep with her which is why I got engaged to her,” blurted Jacob. He was trembling with fear. “I never loved her and I have no interest in her....”
Kathy could not believe what she was hearing. He never loved me. He had no interest in me. He just wanted to sleep with me.
“.....you can have her,” Jacob was saying. “Who wants to be with a girl having a ten year old boy as her boyfriend. A stupid bitch”
As soon as Avril heard the last word from Jacob, he lost his temper. He pulled the trigger. In fraction of a second, the bullet hit Jacob's chest and he collapsed on the ground. Kathy stood stock-still, unable to move. Avril was cool and smiling. For a moment, there was pin drop silence. The next moment, they heard a small plastic ball rolling on the floor. Jacob clutched his chest to see any trace of blood. There was none. It took him some time to realize that it was the plastic ball and not a bullet that was fired from the gun. Relieved, he stood up with an impulse and started to walk toward Avril.
“Don't you dare to touch him, you son of a bitch.” Kathy roared to Jacob. Jacob stopped. Kathy's eyes were blazing. “You just wanted to sleep with me and I thought you loved me.” She was shocked with Jacob's revelation.
Jacob made no attempt to talk to Kathy. He picked up his hat. “Go to hell, you two bloody freaking idiots,” he said and stormed out of the court.
“Thanks Avril for opening my eyes,” Kathy said. “You were right. He isn't good for me. Now let's go.”
“So you are going to put this in my school report?”
“umm...Let's just keep this between us,” said Kathy as they walked out of the court. There was a smile on their faces. A smile of achievement. A smile of satisfaction. A smile of affection.
The End
Category - fiction
That's just awesome...!!!!!!
ReplyDelete@ Gayatri, Thank you so much. This will surely motivate me to write such stories. This story is inspired from a short film. Here is a link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwR7ZX67iPE