I entered the school yard, bored as ever. It was just another plain day that followed a never ending cycle.
Learn,
Break,
Learn,
Go home.
Or go to Chokey. It depends on your situation, I guess.
The sky was grey that day. Flowers had been withering for a while. But you would've expected it. Crunchem Hall was a dark, gloomy and strict place. You never would've wanted to go there. I sat down in my usual spot behind the dusted statue of Trunchbull until looking ahead. Two young unfamiliar faces.
Perfect.
It was a tradition for me to do whenever there was new kids. Warn them and scare them.
"Oi, new kids!"
They looked back at me in confusion so I got up and started walking.
"So you think you're Able to survive this mess by being a prince or a princess? You will soon cee, theres no escaping tragedy. And even, if you put in heaps of effort, you're just wasting ener-G 'cause your life as you know it is h-cient history."
I stopped when some students joined in to warn and scare them. They were doing a pretty good job because those two looked horrified. They were eventually let in by the prefects and once most of them took them into the school one stayed behind to let me into the school.
"Hortensia, can you actually try go to class on time today?" The ginger male prefect asked me.
"No." I shrugged and walked into the school, knowing I'd just have a wander around the halls until getting caught.
I wandered around aimlessly, sometimes seeing the prefects and the two girls in hallways. Suddenly the intercom screeched.
"I have become aware that some of you are not yet in class, correct this. You have five seconds to comply."
I shrugged, unbothered and continued walking. I was strolling past another hallway where the two kids were let in by the school's nicest teacher. "Just you wait for phys-ed." I called and continued walking until finding my classroom and going in.
"Sorry that I'm late miss." I shrugged.
"Sit down immediately, child. You're lucky that the Trunchbull isn't here yet. She's coming here for a visit. Have you forgotten?"
I shrugged and went to my seat unbothered.
"Take out your books and go to page 57. Act like you're working because as I have said to Hortensia, the school's local troublemaker," My teacher started and I smirked. "Ms Trunchbull is coming to our class today. Now chop chop, I want you to do page 57, 58 and 59's questions. I don't expect you to do it all but attempt it. I wouldn't give you all this much questions if it weren't for the visit. Also, Hortensia, take that hat off. And put on your blazer."
I groaned and took my hat off and put on my blazer. I couldn't really take being in Chokey for the seventh time. And yes, I've been in there six times. Once, as you know, with the syrup, the second time I put itching powder in the drawer where Miss Trunchbull keeps her gym shorts and trust me, it was brilliant! The other four times were lates and the dress codes.
I pretended to write until the door swung open. Guess who it was. The Trunchbull, of course.
She stomped in, practically shaking the room, and scanned around. "Good morning Ms Haven." She greeted my teacher. "I'll take it from here."
Ms Haven nodded and left the room with no regrets. "Now, maggots. From multiple teachers I have heard of some maggots in this particular class disobeying. You all know what happens when I hear of disobeying. Say it."
"Phys Ed." The kids called out formally and I kept quiet.
Suddenly her cold eyes darted to me. "It appears I haven't heard everyone say it. You, stand up and say it." She pointed at me.
I stood up and called out loudly. "Phys Ed."
She made me continue standing up and walked over to me.
"I know you. What's you're name again?"
"Hortensia. Hortensia Buckets." I told her.
"Ahh. Yes. The troublemaker." She stared at me and I glared at her. "Right. All of you change now and get ready for phys ed." she turned around to the class until turning to me. "And you. I have no doubts that you misbehaved. But according to some you haven't done much. So instead of phys ed, well, actually, you'll still do it. But for the rest of the day you'll stick with me. Is that clear, Buckets?" She leaned in closer and I quickly nodded.
"Alright. Now get out." She pushed me hard out the door and she came behind me to whisper.
"I'm watching you, maggot."
I just sprinted over to my classmates and hid in their crowd.
"Come along, maggots." She said and drove away in a little car thing, making us run after her. We kept running until there was a forest. I found another trail and jumped across a fallen tree stump and continued sprinting after her. There was a mud part beside the phys ed camp and we had to walk through it. I walked through it easily and stood at the other side. But the other kids seemed to find it hard. She glared at me before marching over to the phys ed camp.
It was like an obstacle course. We had to do it all. Every single obstacle and all of us were only ten or eleven.
She began to yell at us while we did the obstacles about discipline for children who weren't listening and loads of more things. She stopped and climbed a massive tower type of thing and I just looked up at her while sitting up on top of a ladder.
Trunchbull changed the scores so it was
MAGGOTS: 0000
AGATHA: 1000
I quietly whispered under my breath. "She's mad." And some students started giggling which caught her attention. She climbed down and marched over. I quickly climbed up the ladder and went off a zipline using a hanger to another area. I looked up to find one of the prefects, Gwyneth, from my class helping me up.
"Look what you've done now, Hortensia." The prefect mumbled.
"What? I have you to back me up. Do I?" I whispered and she sighed and nodded.
"Fine. Just this once if you get the blame." The prefect shrugged.
The Trunchbull was told I said that she was mad and stomped over. "I knew you would cause some sort of trouble today."
"No, miss, it wasn't her. It was him." She pointed to a student that was just starting to climb the ladder I was on prior.
"I swear. Hortensia had her mouth shut." The prefect told her and she grumbled.
"Whatever. I still have my eye on you, Buckets." She grumbled before walking to the student who was blamed. I raised my hand for a high five to the prefect and she just blinked. "Ouch. Deep." I mumbled.
Trunchbull grabbed the child and tossed him into a basket and I winced.
"Now, children. Do you understand why maggots like you shouldn't disobey?"
The rest of the kids quickly nodded.
"Go get changed for class." She called and we all legged it out of there.
I quickly changed and got my red beret back and put my blazer on my chair, unbothered to wear it. Suddenly the intercom screeched again.
"Hortensia Buckets, my office, now."
I groaned and left the changing rooms to find Gwyneth going up to the office aswell. I made it up there first and she looked at me in confusion. "Hortensia? Why are you here?" She asked.
I shrugged and knocked on the door and stepped aside so she'd just see the teacher.
"Come in."
She called from inside the door. The teacher went in and I followed behind awkwardly.
"Ms Trunchbull, I-"
"Oh, Gwyn. How nice to see you here. Have you seen that maggot Hortensia Buckets around here." She asked before turning around on her chair to find me standing beside her.
"You, child, stand on the balcony. Do not eavesdrop on whatever Miller has to say." She instructed sharply and I shrugged, leaving to the balcony. I looked out to find kids running around, laughing. I groaned and leaned against the balcony, bored. I heard them talk about a particular younger girl than both of us and how she should be moved up to my class. Suddenly the intercom screeched.
"If you want to throw the hammer for your country, you have to stay inside the circle all the time. If you want to make the team you don't need happiness or self esteem. You just need to keep your feet inside the line. Sing, children. Two, three, four:"
From the balcony I could hear the kids singing. I looked inside the office to find her waving her arms like a conductor while watching all the cameras. She hummed along and sang with the children. She then handed the intercom stick thingy to Gwyneth who started singing. The doors of the balcony burst open and she walked out, not even realising I was still there. I looked down to find kids with different coloured flags, all colours of the olympics logo. They started doing some dance with the flags and suddenly she grabbed two white flags and did some dance too. It was pretty strange. She blew a whistle and all the kids with flags set them down to shape an 'O'. Three circles in the upper section and two in the lower. After they were set down it was the Olympics logo. I blinked confused and the Trunchbull started singing again.
"I applied just one simple rule, to a hammer-throwing life at school. Life's a bore so learn to throw it, find the bally line and toe it, and always keep your feet inside the line." She left inside and I heard her yell. "Now get out."
Gwyneth quickly left and then I was called in. "Get in here, squit."
I entered and she scanned me up and down. "Ah, no longer presentable, I see?" She hummed. I blinked and looked around.
"Do you know what happens to unpresentable children, child?"
"..."
"Ah, you really don't know?" She asked again.
"..."
"TALK, MAGGOT." She yelled.
I flinched and stayed silent. Why was I so scared of her?
I sighed and talked.
"..Uhm. I don't know."
"Excuse me? You 'don't know'."
"..."
Suddenly the bell rung and she slammed her hands on the desk, making me jump.
"You heard the bell, Buckets. Out!" She pointed out and I legged it out of there, bumping into children while running off.
I finally stopped and panted. No, nonono. Why am I so scared!? I'm meant to rule the school here.
I breathed heavily and left into the main hall. I'll just wander again. I'll be okay.