The Adventures of Darren Cassidy - Chapter Three - A Convenient Spelling Error

Chapter Three – A Convenient Spelling Error

A few minutes after leaving Aiden’s house, the two friends reached the school. It wasn’t as large as the schools in the cities, but it was still the largest building in the village. They skirted around its edges, seeing as only teachers or latecomers were allowed to use the foyer, and approached it from the side entrance, next to the arena.

The school’s arena was actually just a big patch of dry earth with lines chalked onto it. Pavilions surrounded the arena, for while it was mostly used for Battle classes, matches were occasionally held there too. It was currently empty – an indication that the bell had already gone.

‘Hey, you two!’ an Axew called from inside the side-entrance. ‘Hurry up!’

Darren and Aiden jogged over to the little brown dragon.

‘How’s it going, Tyler?’ Aiden asked.

‘As it always goes on a Diaday,’ Tyler answered with a shrug. He began walking down the wide corridors.

‘How long ago did the bell go?’

‘Oh, just a minute. Raymond has class on the other side of school now, which is why he couldn’t wait for you as well.’

‘What does he have first period?’

‘Reproduction & Hatching, I think.’

‘That explains it,’ Aiden said, chuckling. ‘Mrs Williams is a right old battle-axe.’

‘Don’t let her hear you say that,’ Darren cautioned.

‘He speaks!’ Tyler laughed and patted Darren on the back. ‘But you don’t have to worry; none of us are crazy enough to do that. Seriously, she can force even a Serperior into submission.’ He stopped talking as they reached their first class and entered.

‘Misters Karman, Woods and Cassidy,’ the Granbull in the desk at the front of the class said, looking up from the journal in front of him, ‘how nice of you to join us.’

Aiden regarded him with a guilty expression. ‘Morning, Mr Cameron. Sorry we’re late. I overslept.’

‘Ensure it doesn’t happen again. Please, be seated.’

The trio took their seats in the centre of the class; Aiden sat in the middle, with Tyler to his left and Darren to his right.

‘Yes, we are truly honoured to be graced with your presence,’ a voice whispered from behind Darren.

‘Shut up, Malcolm,’ Darren whispered back, not turning around.

There were only nine students in the class, Darren, Aiden and Tyler included, so each day, he had to endure Malcolm Donnely’s stupid remarks. Malcolm and his friend, Seamus, despised Aiden’s entire group, but the vicious little Venipede seemed to harbour a particular loathing for Darren. Why, he didn’t know, but he disliked Malcolm in equal measures.

‘Just ignore him,’ Aiden advised.

‘All right, who wants to speak first?’ Mr Cameron asked, finishing his administration.

A Vulpix seated in front of Aiden raised her paw.

‘Anybody else?’ Mr Cameron looked at the other students. ‘No? All right, then. Miss McAllister, you have our attention.’

She smiled and made her way to the front of the class, handing her family tree to the teacher. Aiden called her the “verbose Vulpix” because of her tendency to give a lecture each time she opened her mouth. As such, it came as no surprise that she took thirty minutes to finish.

‘Thank you for that… painstakingly precise presentation, Minerva. You may return to your seat.’

The Vulpix did so, but not before smirking at the class. Mr Cameron was busy writing down her marks in a ledger, so Aiden took the opportunity to pull a face at her. She sniffed in disdain and sat down in her desk with as much poise as the uncomfortable piece of furniture allowed.

‘Who wants to speak next?’ Mr Cameron asked, looking up. ‘What about–’ He stopped midsentence as a loud snore came from behind Tyler. ‘Mister Cowell, please wake Mister Rafferty.’

Seamus, who sat behind Aiden, turned to his left to face the sleeping Drowzee. The Ivysaur grinned and, using his two tentacles, shook the sleeping Pokémon. ‘Oi, Duncan, a wild Snorlax stole your lunch!’

The Drowzee awoke with a start, calling, ‘What? Where?’

‘Seamus, that was uncalled for. Duncan, please come present your family tree to the class.’

Duncan mumbled sleepily and rummaged in his bag until he found his assignment. Stumbling to the front of the class, he handed Mr Cameron his family tree and begun his presentation. He was groggy, so half of everything he said was slightly slurred. Near the end, he forgot what he wanted to say, so he had to look at his family tree again before he finished.

‘Thank you, Mister Rafferty. If anyone still wants to deliver their presentation voluntarily, do so now, otherwise I shall choose. No? Very well, Seamus, you will be next, followed by Malcolm, Tyler, Nicole, Leslie, Aiden, and finally, Darren.’

One by one, each of the students presented their family trees, and as Darren’s turn came closer, he grew increasingly nervous. He had his family tree in front of him, desperately trying to remember all the dates. When he looked next to him, Aiden was doing the same, except he had written everything down beforehand, so he simply needed to memorise it. Darren mentally berated himself for not having done the same.

As Leslie concluded his presentation and Aiden went forward, Darren had an idea. Nobody knew who his father was anyway, so he didn’t have to use his real name. But he couldn’t just draw a line through “Axel Sheridan” and write something completely different, since Mr Cameron would be on to him within seconds. What to do?

Darren gazed at the name for some time, wondering what to do, when Mr Cameron called him forwards.

Darren started. Had time really passed so quickly?

‘I’ll be right there, sir.’

Panicking a bit, he picked up the pen and began to draw a line through his father’s name. He had almost touched the “S” when he stopped and wrote “Alex”.

‘Mister Cassidy, why the delay?’

‘I just noticed a spelling error I made, sir, so I fixed it.’ Darren sighed in relief. He walked over to the Granbull and handed him his assignment.

‘Thank you. You may begin.’

Turning around to face the class, Darren took a deep breath and began his presentation. He was deeply terrified of forgetting something, but despite his fears, everything went smoothly. He concluded well and made to return to his desk, but Mr Cameron stopped him before he could.

‘Err, Darren, your presentation was sufficiently detailed, but you only elaborated on your mother’s side of the family. What about your father?’

‘Oh, right.’ Darren’s right hind leg twitched. ‘Well, my father was a Mightyena named Alex Sheridan, born fourteen forty-one. His personality was “Bold”, which means he liked sour foods, but disliked spicy foods. Because of this, his defence was higher than average, while his attack was lower than average. And… that’s it.’

Darren made to leave again, but again, Mr Cameron stopped him.

‘Hold on just a moment. You say “was”, as if your father is deceased, but you never stated when he died. You also failed to elaborate on his side of the family. Why is that?’

Whereas the class had only somewhat paid attention previously, all eyes were on Darren at that time – even Duncan gazed at him curiously.

‘Well… my father was an orphan, so he never knew his side of the family. And I say “was”, because…’ Darren’s throat went dry.

‘Yes?’

‘Because… he…’ Darren shivered. ‘Because he left.’

‘Left?’

Was Mr Cameron trying to torment him?

‘Yes, he left. Before I was born, actually. He never once tried to contact us, so he might as well be dead, for all I care.’ Sweat ran down his forehead and his breath was fast and irregular. ‘Can I go now?’

‘Yes, Darren, you may return to your seat. Thank you.’

Darren happily did so, wishing everyone would stop looking at him.

‘Well, the bell will go any moment now,’ Mr Cameron announced, ‘so you may pack your bags, I suppose.’

The classroom was suddenly filled with the sound of pencil cases being pushed into bags and the straps clicking close. When the bell went, Darren was the first out the door.