The Hunters (Alexander’s story)

My day was fine and good until Dylan pulled on one of his schemes. He really hates me. He and Mr Clark. I was just chatting with my friends and he came to tease me, as usual. I got angry and held his shirt collar with my fist in the air. Just then, Mr Clark was walking by and Dylan pretended to be innocent. He even involved my best friend, Darrin. Mr Clark didn let us explain. He just gave us punishment to clean the cafeteria, at which was dirty as a junkyard.

Before I continue, a little introduction. I go by the name, Alexander Jones, Alex for short. Im a fourteen years old student of Fox Boarding School, the best in Fox City. I have a fair complexion, with black hair and brown puppy eyes(why the raised brows? My eyes are as cute as a puppy. You are just jealous). I have just my mother. What else do you need to know? I don have any siblings and um….. thats all. So where were we? Oh yes!

Most students here behave like animals. The cafeteria floor was filled with soda cans, snack packs, cartons and pieces of food. Angela and Sue—the cleaners in charge of the cafeteria—always suffer like this everyday in cleaning the cafeteria. It was worst on Fridays, which unfortunately, was today. Thanks to Mr Clark, they don have to worry about cleaning today(thanks a lot Mr Clark).

Other students weren making the job easier. As they passed, they threw whatever refuse they held. Biscuit packs, bottles of drinks and cans.

”Hey dumpster boy, I got something for you. ” Mabel said as she threw her soda can. She was one of the bossy girls in school.

”This ain fair. We are getting punished for nothing. ” Darrin complained. He had gray eyes and brown hair, which was sticking with sweat now.

”Life isn fair, buddy. ” I replied.

”Mr Clark just supports everything Dylan says or do. ” It was true. Mr Clark never punishes Dylan. ”Do you think they are related? ”

There was nothing similar with Mr Clark and Dylan. Dylan was short with red hair (I think he dyed it even though he said it was natural) and a buff body. His face had bruises and scars from fights. Mr Clark was in his mid fifties. He was fair complexioned and his face was a bit wrinkled, especially around his eyes.

Dylan was bossy, troublesome, stubborn, wicked. In a general term, he is a big bully. He steals students lunch, money, stuffs students in lockers or force them to do his homeworks, laundry and chores (someone told me his underwear smelled worse than garbage, yuck! Its just an exaggeration to show how bad his underwear smells).

”I don think they are related. Mr Clark is just being partial. ” I said.

”Yeah, way too much. Maybe I should talk to Principal Matt about transferring him. ” Darrin said and I chuckled. ”Lets hurry up before dinner time. ”

By the time the bell rung for dinner, we were done with the cafeteria and had taken a bath. We took our plates and cutleries and went to the dinning hall which was already crowded with students. Each class had their tables which was long and rectangular. Two long benches were placed at the two opposite longest sides.

We went to our class table. The first bench was occupied fully. After we sat down on the second bench, there was a little space left. I looked at everyone to see who was missing and guess who it was. Dylan. Unfortunately, we happened to be in the same class, Grade 8.

He was in Grade 8, yet he is the worst bully in school. Older students even fears him,. probably because he was stronger than most of them. He had fought with a Grade 9 student and the poor guy nearly lost his left eye. To make the matter worst, Mr Clark judged the case. Dylan lied in such a way that made the student look guilty and he was punished, while Dylan went freely. No one fought with him after that day. I wonder how he was strong.

I became his worst enemy the day I confronted him for taking a Grade 6 students snack. As we argued, Miss Priscilla came to us. I told her what happened and Dylan was punished. Since that day, he is always looking for ways to put me in trouble.

”Hey dumpster boy. ” Dylan came, swaggering in black torn trousers and red T-shirt. You might be wondering why people calls me dumpster boy. Its the nickname that Mabel gave to me, as the punishment Mr Clark always gives me is cleaning. ”Looks like this is the only space left. ”

I stood up. ”Would anyone like to switch place with Dylan? ” No response. ”What about with me and Darrin? ” Still no response.

”Oh well, no one. So Ill just sit. ” Dylan said and sat down. I sighed and sat down. This dinner won be nice.

Soon, some women, dressed in blue gowns and white aprons, came in with coolers and started serving us. Todays dinner was spaghetti and sauce with meatballs, accompanied with orange juice.

As I and Darrin were eating and talking about some songs, Dylan dropped a ball of spaghetti from his mouth. ”Oops, my bad. ” He smirked.

”Dylan look what youve done to my dinner. ” I complained.

”Oh please, its still edible. ” He expects me to eat his saliva from his mouth which Im not even sure he brushed this morning? Hell no!

”You are crazy. I can eat this anymore. ”

”Double food for me then. ” He grabbed my plate. I groaned. Dylan knew how to ruin someones day.

”You can share my dinner, Alex. ” Darrin said.

”Thanks. ” I said gratefully. It is rare for Darrin to share his food with someone, cause he loves eating. As I was about to take a forkful of spaghetti, Darrins plate fell on the floor. ”Oh no! ” Darrin exclaimed.

”Sorry again. Just reaching for my juice. ” Dylan said and took Darrins juice.

”Hey, thats mine. ” Darrin protested but Dylan quickly poured the juice in his mouth.

I got angry. ”Dylan, you got us in trouble today, and now youve ruined our dinner. What exactly is your problem? ” He ignored me and continued eating.

I smiled wickedly. Dylan was sitting on the edge of the bench. I pushed him a little with my side and he fell.

”How dare you? ” He bellowed as he stood up. ”Ill make sure you pay for… ”

”Whats going on here? ” Miss Priscilla came and interjected.

Dylan opened his mouth to talk, to blurt out lies. Lying is his talent. I quickly told her what happened before Dylan could speak.

”Dylan Tanner, youve been a nuisance in this school since you enrolled. Its not surprising you would commit this act. Ill decide your punishment tomorrow. But for now, clean up the mess you on the floor. ” Miss Priscilla declared. Dylan mumbled and went to get a broom. She faced. ”Sorry for what happened. Come and have another plate of spaghetti. ” Miss Priscilla was the nicest teacher in school. She was our English teacher and my favorite teacher—mainly because she punishes Dylan most of the time.

After dinner, we washed our cutleries and went to our dormitories—which is in the boys hostel for grade 8 students—to have our night routine. Then, we had our bath and got ready for bed. Darrin and I are using the same bunk bed. I was sleeping on the bottom bed, while Darrin sleeps on the top bed. We talked for a while before sleeping.