Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bradley Chalkers sat at his desk in the back of the room-last seat, last row. No one sat at the desk next to him or at the one in front of him. He was an island

If he could have, he would have sat in the closet. then he could shut the door so he wouldn't have to listen to Mrs. Ebbel. he didn't think shed mind. shed probably like it better that way too. so would the rest of the class. all in all, he thought everyone would be much happier if he sat in the closet, but, unfortunately, his desk didn't fit.

"class", said Mrs. Ebbel, "I would like you all to meet Jeff Fishkin. Jeff has just moved here from Washington, D.C, which as you know is our nations capital"

Bradley looked up at the new kid who was standing at the front of the room next to mrs, ebbel.

"Why don't you tell the class a little bit about yourself, Jeff" urged Mrs. Ebbel

the new kid shrugged

"There's no reason to be shy," said Mrs. Ebbel.

The new kid mumbled something, but Bradley couldn't hear what it was.

"Have you ever been to the white house, Jeff?"
Mrs. Ebbel asked. "I'm sure the class would be very interested to hear about that".

"No, I've never been there," the new kid said very quickly as he shook his head.

Mrs. Ebbel smiled at him "Well, I guess we'd better find you a place to sit" She looked around the room." hmm, I don't see any place except, I suppose you can sit there, at the back"

" No, not next to Bradley!" a girl in the front row exclaimed.

"At least it's better than in front of Bradley," said the boy next to her

Mrs. Ebbel frowned. She turned to Jeff. "I'm sorry, but there are no other empty desks"

"I don't mind where I sit" Jeff mumbled

"Well, nobody likes sitting..there" said Mrs. Ebbel

"That's right" Bradley spoke up. "nobody likes sitting next to me!" he smiled a strange smile. He stretched his mouth so wide, it was hard to tell whether it was a smile or a frown.

he stared at Jeff with bulging eyes as Jeff awkwardly sat down next to him. Jeff smiled back at him, so he looked away.

As Mrs. Ebbel began the lesson, Bradley took out a pencil and a piece of paper, and scribbled. he scribbled most of the morning, sometimes on the paper and sometimes on his desk. sometimes he scribbled so hard his pencil point broke. every time that happened he laughed. then he'd tape the broken point to one of the gobs of junk in his desk, sharpen his pencil, and scribble again.

his desk was full of little wads of torn paper, pencil points, chewed erasers, and other unrecognizable stuff, all taped together.

Mrs. Ebbel handed back a language test, "Most of you did very well", she said "I was very pleased. there were fourteen A's and the rest B's of course, there was one f, but...' she shrugged her shoulders.

Bradley held up his test for everyone to see and smiled that same distorted smile.

As Mrs. Ebbel went over the correct answers with the class, Bradley took out his pair of scissors and very carefully cut his test paper into tiny squares.

When the bell rang for recess, he put on his red jacket and walked outside, alone.

"Hey, Bradley, wait up!" somebody called after him.
startled. he turned around.

Jeff, the new kid, hurried alongside him. "hi" said Jeff.

Bradley stared at him in amazement.

Jeff smiled. "I don't mind sitting next to you" he said. "really"

Bradley didn't know what to say.

"I have been to the white house" Jeff admitted. "if you want, I'll tell you about it"
Bradley thought a moment, then said," Give me a dollar or I'll spit on you"

Chapter Text

There are some kids-you can tell just by looking at them-who are good spitters. that is probably the best way to describe Bradley Chalkers. he looked like a good spitter.

He was the oldest and the toughest-looking kid in Mrs. Ebbel's class. he was a year older than the other kids. That was because he had taken the fourth grade twice. Now he was in the fifth grade for the first, but probably not the last, time.

Jeff stared at him, then gave him a dollar and ran away.

Bradley laughed to himself, then watched all the other kids have fun.

When he returned to class after recess, he was surprised Mrs. Ebbel didnt say anything to him. he figured that jeff would probably tell on him and that hed have to give back the dollar.

He sat at his desk in the back of the room-last seat, last row.
He's afraid to tell on me, Be decided. He knows if he tells on me, I'll punch his face in! He laughed to himself.

He ate lunch alone too.

As he walked in from lunch, Mrs. Ebbel called him to her desk.

"who, me?" he asked. He glared at Jeff, who was already sitting down. "I didnt do anything"

"did you give my note to your mother?" asked Mrs. Ebbel

"Huh? what note? you never gave me a note"
Mrs. Ebbel sighed. "yes i did, Bradley. in fact, i gave you two notes because you said the first one was stolen"
"Oh, thats right" he said. "I gave it to her a long time ago"
Mrs. Ebbel eyed him suspiciously. "Bradley, I think its very important for your mother to come tomorrow."

Tomorrow was parents conference Day.

"She cant come" Said Bradley. "She's sick"
"you never gave her the note, did you?"
"call her doctor if you dont believe me"
"the school has just hired a new counselor" said Mrs. Ebbel. "and i think its very important that your mother meet her"
"Oh they already met" said Bradley. "they go bowling together"
"Im trying to help you, Bradley"
"call the bowling alley if you dont believe me!"
"Okay Bradley" said Mrs. Ebbel, and she let the matter drop.

Bradley returned to his seat, glad that was over. He glanced at Jeff, surprised Jeff hadnt told on him. As he scribbled he kept thinking about what Jeff had said to him. Hey, Bradley, wait up. Hi. I dont mind sitting next to you. Really. I have been to the white house. of you wnat, ill tell you about it.

It confused him.

he understood it when the other kids were mean to him. it didnt bother him. he simply hated them. as long as he hated them, it didnt matter what they thought of him.

that was why he had threatened to spit on Jeff. he had to hate jeff before jeff hated him.

But now he was confused. Hey Bradley, wait up. hi. i dont mind sitting next to you. really. the words rolled around in his head and banged against his brain.

After school, he followed jeff out the door. "hey jeff" he called, "wait up!"
Jeff turned, then started to run, but bradley was faster. he caught up to jeff at the corner of the school building.

"i dont have any more money" Jeff said nervously.

"Ill give you a dollar if youll be my friend" said bradley. he held out the dollar jeff had given him earlier.

Jeff slowly reached out, then grabbed it.

Bradley smiled his same twisted smile. "have you ever been to the white house?" he asked.
"Um..yes" said Jeff.
"Me too!" said Bradley. he turned and ran home.