On the Strawberry Moon - 5. Chapter 5

‘Kalum,’ said Mr. Johnson. ‘Can you come here, just for two minutes please?’

Class had just finished and everyone was already packing up to go.

Kalum felt the dread feeling in his stomach. He looked over at Jasper who nodded. He would wait for him outside.

Shoving his backpack over his shoulder, he pulled his sleeves down to cover his hands. He walked over to Mr Johnson, his English teacher.

Mr Johnson put down his papers, waiting for the last student in the class to shut the classroom door so he could speak privately with Kalum.

‘Just sit down for a moment, don’t worry, it’s nothing bad,’ Mr Johnson gave a short smile.

He scanned through his papers and pulled a few out. Kalum pulled a chair out and holding his tense breath, he perched at the edge of the chair.

Mr. Johnson said, ‘I’ve noticed you and your brother get the exact same grades, quite similar answers.’

Kalum didn’t know what to say to that. ‘Um. Yes?’

‘I can see your brother struggles a bit with spelling.’

‘Okay.’

‘But when I see your work, I can see your grammar and sentencing are fantastic. But you scribble it out and re-write it incorrectly.’

‘Oh.’

‘Is there any reason for this? You have the right answer every time, your argument last week on the modern take on Jane Eyre, before you scratched it out, it was grade A stuff.’

‘Oh, um,’ Kalum just shrugged.

Mr. Johnson put the papers down and looked at him, ‘You should have more confidence in your voice and writing, Kalum. You should be top of the class.’

It was nice to hear from a teacher that he was actually smart.

But being smarter than Jasper was definitely not an option though.

Mr. Johnson could see he wasn’t getting through to Kalum so just nodded, ‘Just something to think about.’

***

It was lunch. The gang was just eating when Jasper needed the toilet.

If Jasper needed the toilet, Kalum needed it too. It was the Jasper way.

So, the twins left the group and walked to the bathroom. There were a few students in there who left the bathroom, chatting with each other. It was quiet.

Suddenly, Kalum was pushed hard against the bathroom wall, the tiles were hard and cold against his back. Jasper wrapped his hands tight across his throat.

Kalum tried, with desperation, to snatched at Jasper’s wrists. The state of panic took over him. He struggled to breathe; his airway closing up. He stared back at his brother as Jasper tightened his grip.

‘Do not speak to that fag again. Do I need to repeat myself?’

Kalum shock his head, still grabbing at his brother wrists, out of desperation.

It hurt so bad.

‘You understand?’

Kalum opened his mouth, ‘Yes’. It whistled out his trapped throat.

He thought he was going to pass out then Jasper let go.

Kalum spluttered and gasped hard, coughing and wheezing.

Jasper looked at him in disgust before walking out the bathroom.

A stall door flittered a little after he left.

Kalum stared at the floor, his eyes burning.

‘Hey.’

Kalum looked up at the timid voice, it was Robert.

Robert has been hiding in the stall and had seen everything. He instantly rushed over to Kalum. His eyes widen at the finger marks on Kalum’s throat. Instantly, he went to touch him.

Kalum shook his head and pulled away.

Robert stared, his face was horrified and his eyes full of tears.

Before Robert could speak anymore, Kalum shook his head again and walked past, pulling his collar higher around his throat, and left the bathroom.

As soon he left, Robert stared after him. He slammed his rage into the bathroom door.

‘Agh!’ he screamed.