by Nessa Connor
“That’s right. I’d never been on a bike before.”
“Did you like it?”
“Yes. I thought it was great.”
“Where did you go?”
“Just up the coast a ways to have a burger.”
Carly gave her a thoughtful look. “His wife died years ago.”
“Did she?”
“While he was in prison. He’s been alone for a long time.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“So you’ll know. You should know because he likes you a lot.”
“You don’t know that.”
The girl wanted to tell her so badly she was bursting. “The other day, Audra tried to fix him up with another girl. Sheila is sexy and nuts about him, but he wasn’t interested. Later he told Cutter why, and Cutter told Audra, and I made her tell me. He said there was someone he was interested in, and she was my teacher.”
Her body trembled and she fought for control. “He’s a nice man. Who are Cutter and Audra?”
“He’s the club’s Enforcer and Uncle Greg’s best friend; Audra is his old lady. She told me she thought Wrench was being an ass, taking time to get to know you when he could be banging this other chick.”
The sudden intrusion of the biker society and sex into the conversation with a twelve-year old startled her, brought her back to the moment. Enforcer, old lady… they were the terms she heard in the movies that made them all out to be outlaws. And the idea that Greg had done time in prison wasn’t the kind of news that calmed her. That the women in the club talked about sex so openly to a young girl offended her sensibilities. “I like your uncle and we had a lovely ride, but…”
“I thought you needed to know that about him. And it’s important that he didn’t want to go out with the other girl and asked you to go on a ride instead. Mom said that’s what a guy does if he likes one girl better than another.” Then, before Melanie could reply, Carly grinned and magically shifted back to a little girl. “Teacher likes Wrench,” she said, her voice singsong. The she giggled and darted from the room.
Melanie stared after the precocious child. Her thoughts turned to a lonely, widowed biker who might pass on an easy lay just to take her for a ride—an innocent ride down the highway. And what did it say about her that she’d gone off with him happily, gone riding with a biker who was an ex convict. It all needed thought. A lot of thought.
The second period was an administrative one for Melanie—it was a chance for her to do some of her paperwork while the class studied art with Mr. Difle. Sometimes she’d have a student or two in the room with her who were supposed to study silently for having made some infraction of minor rules, but today she was alone, staring at her paperwork and trying to shake off a strange fantasy. She saw herself on the back of Greg’s motorcycle riding somewhere—some distant place that would take a long, long time to get to. She clung to him, and her mind summoned up all the things she’d felt on Saturday.
Because she was behind him, her arms wrapped tight around him and her thighs pressed to the vibrating motorcycle, she couldn’t see his face. Speech was almost impossible, with their words torn away by the wind, although if she put her lips to his ear she could tell him simple things. They rode along and the entire universe became one of sensation, part of it very sexual—she had to admit that. She’d come home with her panties soaking wet.
That was how it had been on Saturday—an overloading of her senses. That’s why she couldn’t honestly say if she liked Greg. Other than when they ate, he was more a sensation than a man; he was a warm, masculine body she clung to as he took her to his world.
For a woman who had spent much of her life thinking things out, studying, dealing with life through her intellect, it was as strange as if she’d spent a day on some alien planet where communication was tactile. Her feelings were certainly tactile.
She wanted him. More than she’d ever wanted anything; her desire was for this alien of hers to take her to bed, to undress her, to caress her and to take her, make her feel his overpowering strength. The fantasy was soft and beautiful, but her desire was almost violent. Greg was not like the civilized men she had dated and dismissed. He was a touch of a barbarian—controlled, and charming on the surface. He had shown her what it was like to turn off her thoughts and feel; now what she wanted was to let him know she craved for him to unleash the barbarian inside him.
So, the uncomfortable truth was that she wanted the man to take her. The idea itself didn’t frighten her but the knowledge that she wanted him, and wanted him so much, that being around him made her heart pound, aroused her, scared her to death.
What was he doing to her?
* * *
The rest of her day went by in a blur. Knowing her lesson plan by heart, the fact that there weren’t any unusual events and the kids behaved reasonably well, made it a tolerable swirl of the daily routine. Still, when the bell rang for the last period, and the cheer went up from the students as they grabbed up their things and raced out into the schoolyard, she was relieved. She looked forward to wrapping things up then going home to a quiet glass of wine and time to focus on her own thoughts and emotions.
Greg waved at her as he pulled up and Carly, followed by other children, went over to meet him. Melanie waved back and gave him a smile that she hoped didn’t betray her confusion. She needed to talk with him, but not here. Not in front of the kids. And certainly not until she had some idea of what she wanted that was a bit more thought out than dreaming of him throwing her down on a bed somewhere and ravishing her.
Just thinking about the idea made beads of sweat appear on her forehead.
When he roared off, with Carly, helmet on, behind him, she let out a sigh of relief. She’d avoided dealing with him, without snubbing him. It was a damn delicate line to walk and she appreciated that he realized her unease and was willing to give her some space.
I wonder what that biker bitch looks like—the one his friends are trying to hook him up with.
A picture of a skinny blonde arose from movies she’d seen and she felt the burn of jealousy. Where did that come from? She didn’t like thinking that way—she didn’t like being jealous or catty, but damn it, she didn’t want him stolen out from under her nose while she figured out what she wanted and needed. If she was going to stay sane she had to either act on her feelings or let them go.
“Are you Miss Wilford?”
She turned to face the gigantic man who’d called to her. Brian stood behind him looking at her as if he wished he was anywhere else. She remembered his father’s name, Malcolm Innes. “Mr. Innes?”
“Damn right I am.”
Brian turned away, facing the wall as if he couldn’t bear to watch what was going on. “You seem angry. What happened?”
He waved a book at her. “This is what happened. This book you assigned the kids to read.” She recognized it as one on the reading list for civics class. Students picked books off the list. “It’s a lot of crap about how transparent our democratic government is.”
“And?”
“It’s total bullshit and typical of the things you people are filling the kids’ heads with. Brian is supposed to write a paper on this book and, like any good parent, I get curious about what he is studying. So I read it too and it’s baseless propaganda, not civics. There are a lot of us onto the lies.”
Seeing he was working himself up into a rage, she forced her voice to be calm. “What lies, Mr. Innes?”
“Starting with what’s in this book, that the government will own up to the things it does. The experiments the government does on its own people are well documented and I’m sure smart people like you know all about the psych experiments that the Feds pretend don’t happen.”
“Why would we want to do that?”
He laughed. “Okay, you want to pretend that the elite aren’t forming a world government? Fine. But even you can’t deny they spy on us so they can discredit intelligent people who have met them.”
“Met
whom?”
“The aliens. The creatures our government wants to pretend don’t exist.”
“Mr. Innes, I think you should be talking to someone from the government about this.”
“You think we don’t try? You think we don’t send letters, and petitions, and ask questions at public meetings. But it’s all classified. They can’t talk openly or even privately about any of it. And then you teachers make it worse by teaching this crap science that says we are the only intelligent life forms. Anyone who does serious research gets crucified.”
“The school board chooses books that present what are the accepted scientific facts, Mr. Innes. We teach what is known or believed to be true by a broad spectrum of reputable scientists.”
The man’s face turned purple. “Reputable! Sure, you call anyone left standing reputable after discrediting anyone who thinks differently. Then you use that to promote the ideas of the chosen ones willing to play along with the damn intrusive government—an organization that runs on fake money.”
Seeing Brian cringe, Melanie looked for a way to calm his father down. Arguing with him wasn’t going to go anywhere. “I’m sure there is room for discussion, Mr. Innes. But this is sixth grade, and we teach simple, rather basic science.”
“Including the evolution of man from the apes.”
“Creationism is presented as well.”
“And the real story, that we are descended from aliens, isn’t even mentioned.”
She saw he was serious. Clearly discussion wasn’t going to work. “Well, I respect your beliefs, Mr. Innes, but I don’t choose the books or set what the students study. You need to talk to the school board.”
“Those bastards don’t listen to anyone. They don’t care what toxic ideas the government feeds our children. You’re supposed to be concerned about the children.”
“I am concerned about the children. Very much so. But you coming to me and saying the books are wrong doesn’t do anything. You need to itemize your concerns, put them in writing. Then, if you approach them reasonably, they will consider what you have to say. Have you suggested any alternative textbooks?”
“The textbook publishers cave into the government like everyone else.”
Behind her, Melanie heard the roar of a motorcycle. Curious, she glanced back and saw Greg pull up. Carly hopped off and ran toward the classroom at full tilt. “I forgot my homework. I have to get it so Uncle Greg will let me help change the bearings on a flathead.” With that cryptic message, she darted between Melanie and Brian’s father, slowing to grin at Brian. “Hey, Brian,” she called as she disappeared into the classroom.
“What do you want from me right now?” she asked him.
Malcolm Innes was waving his book. “Brian said you wanted to talk about new ideas, discuss them with him. I came here to show him that you don’t have an open mind at all. Clearly, all you are interested in is finding out how to counter the truth, to poison his mind. And I know the game.”
“Game? What game?”
“You pretend that you want to discuss things with him, but really all you want to do is find out what I’m teaching him, the lies I am exposing. You want to use your fake logic, fake facts to make him believe this party line—the government-approved, sanitized truth. You want to convert my child, a twelve-year-old boy, and use him to find out what I’m reading, what I’m thinking. To spy on us!”
“Whoa,” a deep voice said. Melanie turned to see Greg standing behind her. “Can we take a time out here?”
Malcolm turned on him. “Who the fuck are you?”
Greg moved closer, stepping around Melanie, smoothly putting himself between her and Innes. He made the move seem casual, just a man getting close enough to talk to another man. Then he looked up at Innes and held up his hands, holding them shoulder high, palms open. “Calm down, dude. I’m just a guy asking you to remember where you are—to cool your jets around the kids.”
“What are you—”
Just then Carly burst out of the classroom clutching a folder. “It seems that I’m waiting on a kid who is getting her homework. I can’t take her home without her homework. And this has nothing to do with whatever is bugging you.”
Melanie could see that Innes was quivering, ready to explode.
Carly came to stand next to Brian, putting her hand reassuringly on his shoulder. “What’s happening, Uncle Greg?”
Keeping his eyes fixed on Malcolm, Greg gave a disarming shrug. “It seems that this gentleman came by the school for a little chat and got a little heated. I think we’ve opened a dialog here, but Carly, I’d appreciate it if you’d wait for me by the bike. You can show off to your friends but you’re responsible if any of them drools on it or anything.”
She laughed. “Sure. Come check out the bike, Brian.”
“He stays here.” Innes was growling.
Greg watched Carly run back to the bike. When she was out of reach, he turned back to Innes. “You seem upset.”
“I am. I’m sick and tired of you people and your lies.”
Melanie looked over at Greg. “This is Malcolm Innes—Brian’s father. Mr. Innes, this is Greg Jones, Carly’s uncle.”
“Another pawn of the system.”
Greg smiled at Brian who relaxed a bit. “Hi, Brian. You’re Carly’s pal, right?”
He nodded.
“I’m just a mechanic,” he said. “A mechanic who has a niece in this school. A guy who doesn’t like it when people act out in front of the kids.”
Innes laughed. “That’s what you say.” He looked Greg over. “It’s a nice cover, isn’t it? A simple mechanic. A biker. And you just happen to be here so you can try to stop the truth from coming out. I don’t know what department you are with, but it’s pretty obvious your real job is to control people who know what’s happening.”
Greg’s laugh exploded. “Control people? I don’t control anyone, dude. Sure, when Carly is with me she’s expected to do what she’s told, but that’s the extent of it. And my specialty in life has always been on the side of misbehaving. You think the government isn’t your friend? You’ll get no argument from me. We have not always seen eye to eye, the law and me.”
“Then why are you interfering?”
“Because when I see a big guy like you with rage coloring his face, his neck muscles tight, see him threatening a nice lady, I feel a compulsion to try and point out he’s being a bully. I have a compelling need to make the point that people should be respected, especially teachers. And I like to do it in a way that can’t be ignored. Even pawns of the system have feelings and we act on them.”
“I didn’t threaten anyone.”
“You didn’t utter threats, perhaps, but your body language speaks loudly. You have to admit, you have a lot of rage. If you are trying to make some kind of political statement, feel a need to spout off whatever truth that has put a bug up your…” he smiled at Brian, “…whatever truth you think needs to come out, well that’s cool with me. As far as I’m concerned, you are free to express any old opinion you like, as long as you watch your language around the children and don’t try to intimidate people I admire.”
“What’s going on here?”
Melanie saw Donna Turnbull standing to one side. She looked upset. Behind her, Mr. Affir shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He looked ready to run.
“I don’t think we have a problem, Mrs. Turnbull. This is Mr. Innes, Brian’s father, and he was making some points about the textbooks we use being inappropriate or biased. He feels strongly about it.”
“I am the principal at this school, sir, and I can assure you that all the books are perfectly acceptable,” she said sounding indignant. “They are selected by state-appointed experts.”
“Acceptable to you, maybe.” He turned to Greg. “She’s another one,” he muttered. “She follows the party line to the limit.”
Donna looked up at him. “I remember you. You came to a school board meeting a couple of years ago.” She looked at Melanie. “He showed up and
started shouting at people. He had to be ejected from the meeting.”
“I only shouted because they wouldn’t fucking listen,” Innes muttered darkly.
“Language, Mr. Innes,” Donna said sternly, moving closer and looking up at Innes’s face. “I remember things differently. As I recall, they did listen, but didn’t agree with you, and you weren’t willing to accept that.” Melanie had to admire the way she was stepping up, even though she was clearly certain she was about to be killed. Coming between an irate parent and a biker had to be a new experience for her. “As this… as I overheard Mr. Jones say, you are entirely free to express opinions, in fact we encourage that, but not when it interferes with the operation of the school. We are supposed to be supervising the children now, not engaging in political debate. There are forums, times and place for exactly that. And I encourage you to avail yourself of them. You should come for a parent teacher conference. Even then, however, if you can’t discuss things calmly, and without resorting to profanity, I’ll be forced to have you removed from the school grounds.”
“It’s a public school. My money pays your salary.”
“I’m paid to keep order and protect the children. Your anger upsets the children. They don’t understand what you are angry about. And your choice of vulgar words is simply not allowed.”
Innes looked about as if he expected the police to arrive at any minute. “You are doing everything to indoctrinate the children with lies, not protect them. They should hear the truth.”
Donna stood her ground. “I think you’d better go, Mr. Innes. I’ve told you, this isn’t an appropriate discussion for the schoolyard. If you wish to discuss this matter, please make an appointment with my office or one of the teachers.”
“What if I don’t leave? Are you going to force me?”
“Actually, yes. If I must, I will call the police. If you refuse them, they will arrest you and call Child Protection Services to ensure your son is taken care of.”