Birthright: A Phoenix is Born

Play Play

Friday

Damian

Entering Doyle Park Crescent evoked a deep shiver to my core. The taxi jerked hard at the speed bumps. Up, down, up, down, up, down. Friction rubbed against the small of my back. So I pulled at my sweater, hoping to soothe the uncomfortableness with the very ugly uniform.

"You okay?" Asked Kumar, dressed in the same getup. "You're sweating a lot."

"Really?" I squawked. "I thought it was just the A.C. Can we open a window?"

"No." Koju's voice boomed from upfront. "I don't want you seen by anyone until we arrive. It's vital to the success of this mission."

"Success for what?" Intruded our driver, words grated like gravel under a boot. A harsh blend of classic Dubliner with a hint of smoker, a conclusion supported by the faint tendrils of cigarette stench. From the back, a few features took centre stage, a shiny bald head and jiggling neck fat. I peeped up top to see a sign with his name, Will Crash. The churn in my stomach grew violent.

"My friend here's going to declare his love for a girl." Tutted Kumar.

"Ah love." Regaled our driver. "You know, back when I was youn-."

"You can drop me off here." Koju smiled dryly.

Our heads bobbed forwards while the car screeched to a halt. Kumar and I stared flabbergasted as Koju stepped out the vehicle then peered through our window.

"Close your mouths before flies enter." He scolded. "And don't worry I'll join you soon."

He double-tapped the hood before we zoomed past more speed bumps. I held tight to the belt as the car eased approaching the school. The image was a smack to the face. Doyle Park secondary school presented itself. A generic building complex. But today was different, a large coach had parked itself on the carpark, surrounded by many heads, all in their brown jumpers.

"Thank you." I mumbled before quickly reaching for the handle. However, the car doors refused to budge. I glanced at the dashboard and saw the driver's thumb pressed hard on the lock button. Kumar's petrified façade mimicked my own. We turned towards the driver. He turned back. A fattened face whispering to me.

"Make sure, you tell that girl exactly how you feel."

As soon as the thumb lifted, Kumar and I broke the handles open. And sprinted in the direction of our classmates. Distant shouts of a roll call became audible. As did the hiss of backchat, gossip, taunts and conversation. The brief pat to the back was expected, as Kumar disappeared from behind me. Our social groups coming into play.

"Brightflame." Uttered a flat tone.

"Present." I replied.

The change in vibe took me for a spin. Glares, stares and leers descended, white slits scoped the incoming arrival with hidden intent. I brushed past most, walking en route to the person who called me.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise." Announced Mrs Hadragon, her custom pencil knot in place, this time sporting a yellow turtle neck. "We assumed you were gone for good till Chris explained your ehm, bowel problems."

The students erupted in laughter, as I held up my collar. The loudest of all, Kumar's groups.

"Yeah miss." I grimaced.

"Is that Damian I hear?" Yelled a shrill voice.

A tiny headed man popped out from the surrounding crowd. Wearing a bright neon tracksuit, and black runners which added three inches onto his tiny frame. My hand pulsed with power ready to be unleashed on his face.

"Well, well, well." Crooned Mr O'Rourke. "If it isn't Damian Brightflame. See me and you got to have a little chat about that shower later."

"Don't embarrass yourself Pearse." Mrs Hadragon winced.

"Yes, mam." He straightened. "But there is a problem of lack of teachers, where is Mr Cornell?"

"Apparently the wife divorcing him. Something about can't stand living on his lowly salary. And in honestly I can't say I blame her." Tutted Mrs Hadragon. "Don't worry about that, we got a student-teacher allocated to us. Here he comes now."

Koju waltzed in, wearing khaki shorts, knee high socks, a plaid shirt with salmon tinted sweater on top and square lensed glassed. His shoes shredded any potential respect the year had for him. A strange cross between clown level absurdity in size and season two Carlton Banks. The classes near died laughing at the guy.

"Hi, how are ye?" He wheezed to the students.

The disconnect between his figure and clothing was real. Seams pulled at their thread's end. His deep timbre tone was replaced by a high pitched whiny sound. I hissed at the man but he walked past collecting the clipboard from Mrs Hadragon. Koju's words played again in my mind.

Don't worry I'll join you soon.

This guy's something else.

"All aboard." Called the teachers.

A pretty foolish move on their part, since it started a war for the back seats. Multiple squads competed for the illustrious positions. Resulting in bruised limbs, harsh insults and unnecessary close contact with a surprisingly amount of unwashed bodies. By the end, the results were as expected. The Lads occupied most of the back seat, with Mandem picking up prized two by two seats a little further up. The rest of the class filed the remaining spaces with teachers upfront.

I slouched into the tender seat padding and poked out the window. With my friend group consisting of five, I naturally got chaffed a spot on my own. Concentrate gusts of Lynx blew from the boys behind. Sending me on a relapse of how this all began. I smiled, not even noticing someone taking the seat beside me.

"Hey." Pitched my neighbour.

I looked over and heart sunk.

"How's it going Damo?" Chirped Elaine.