Chapter 3-1
473 Words
3ONE HOUR LATERBoom! The school doors fly open, and in bursts Judd, haloed in sunshine from the bright Spring day outside. His hair's windblown from the windows-down drive in his cherry red Mustang (his pride and joy). He's got a real bounce in his step, doesn't he?
(He always does!)
Head held high...
(As always!)
...he strolls up to the door of the admin office and leans inside, holding on to the frame with both hands. Boy, does he flash that lopsided grin of his!
"There you are!" says the woman behind the counter--Debbie in her twenties with the long black hair and cute horn rim glasses. "Hey, Sally!" She yells back to the woman working on the desktop computer behind her.
"Yeah, yeah." Sally acts grouchy, but she's a peach. Overweight and gray-haired at fifty-three...
(Judd brought her peanut butter cups just yesterday for her birthday!)
...she digs her some Judd-man! "You win the pool today." She looks over at Judd like she's miffed, but then she adds a little wink.
"I still think that if you're betting on when I get here, I oughtta get a piece of that action." Judd widens his eyes and nods eagerly.
"In your dreams, sugar-cube!" snaps Sally.
(Again with that flash of a wink.)
"Maybe next time, then." Judd shrugs and starts to go.
Debbie clears her throat loudly. "Aren't you forgetting something, Mr. Ramsey?"
Judd bobbles his head sheepishly.
(Still grinning!)
"I need to sign the late log." He strolls to the counter.
Debbie drops her voice to a loud whisper. "Like I don't already have you covered!" She smacks a late pass on the counter...but doesn't move her hand from on top of it. "Don't you play dumb with me, mister! Go big or go home!"
Judd rolls his eyes like he doesn't totally expect this. "Oh, right." Like he isn't loving every minute of playing the game that lets him get away with murder. "Let's see." He digs deep in the front left pocket of his jeans, comes up with nothing. "Huh." Then he checks the back pockets and frowns. "Now where did I put that?" He pats the front of his tight-fitting Euro-cut button-down black vertical-striped shirt, like he really thinks he'll find what he's looking for there. "I've got nothing."
"Time's a wastin'." Debbie snaps her fingers and points at the front right pocket of his jeans. "Andalé, andalé."
"Of course!" Judd jams his hand into the pocket and comes up with two mini-sized dark chocolate candy bars. "That was a close one!" He plunks the bars down on the counter...
(with a grin!)
...and reaches for the late pass.
Sally lets go of it and scoops up the candy with the speed of a striking cobra. "Get your butt in class before I change my mind." She flicks her head toward the door.
"Don't have to tell me twice." Grinning, Judd scoots out into the hall, giving the ladies a backward wave over his head along the way.
- Writer
