Free Hit Squad by James Heneghan Page A

up from her work. “Forget it.”
    Jessie acted friendly and concerned. She gently brushed a few seeds off Birgit’s back. “Birgit, do you know where in the stockroom they keep the paper towels? My bench just ran out.”
    â€œThey’re in a cardboard box at the back beside the…”
    â€œBe a sweetie and help me find them?”
    Birgit stopped working and lookedaround. Mona was busy joking with Shelley. She shot a glance at the other students. Normal. Her hands were covered in wet clay. She tore paper towels off the roller. Wiping the clay from her hands, she followed Jessie to the stockroom.
    Mona and Shelley were fast. They quickly followed Jessie and Birgit into the room and closed the door behind them. Mona looped an arm around Birgit’s neck from behind and pulled her backward to the floor. Jessie stuffed a wad of paper towels into Birgit’s mouth before she could cry out.
    â€œHold her, Jess!” said Shelley.
    Jessie kneeled on one of Birgit’s arms. Mona kneeled on the other arm. Shelley sat on Birgit’s hips. For Birgit, struggle was useless; the weight of the three ninth graders was too much for her. She waited, ice-blue eyes glaring up at her attackers.
    â€œGet the paint, Shell,” said Mona.
    â€œI’ve got a better idea,” said Shelley. “What Miss Superior needs is some nice hot chocolate.” She tore the wrapper off her Marsbar and took a bite. “She called us animals, remember?” She passed the bar to Mona.
    â€œAnd slobs!” said Mona. Her dark eyes glittered through her bandit mask of mascara and eye shadow. She took a bite of her friend’s chocolate bar.
    Shelley chewed noisily. Then she opened her mouth and drooled sticky saliva-melted chocolate and caramel onto Birgit’s upturned face.
    Birgit tried to turn away, but they held her head tight. The brown liquid dripped into her hair and dribbled down her cheeks.
    Mona copied her friend. She leaned over and slobbered chewed chocolate into Birgit’s eyes. Bubbled it out slowly from the sneer of her lips. She made retching noises deep down in her throat.
    Jessie laughed nervously. “Gross.”
    Birgit tried to wrestle her head away. Eyes closed tight. Neck muscles straining. Jessie grabbed a handful of hair and forced her head straight.
    Birgit lay quietly, almost relaxed, takingwhatever else they had to give without flinching. Jessie removed her fingers from her hair. Birgit lay still, as if she were dead.
    It was quiet in the stockroom. The sounds of the class just outside the door were far away. A single bare lightbulb shone from the ceiling. The floor was black and white squares, like a chessboard. It was narrow, with just enough room for Birgit’s spread-eagled body. The room smelled of paint and thinner.
    Mona leaned close to Birgit and spat in her ear. “So who’s the animal now, huh?”
    â€œYuk!” said Jessie, screwing up her face in disgust.
    The bell rang. The three attackers fled. Birgit’s skin was no longer white and her hair was no longer shining. She pulled the wad of paper from her mouth and sat up, trembling.
    A shadow filled the doorway. She looked up through saliva, chocolate and tears. The art teacher stood at the door. His mouth was open as he stared down at her in disbelief.

Chapter Two
    Grandview High, Monday, lunch hour.
    â€œGimme your lunch, kid!”
    Mickey Cord, reaching into his locker for his bag lunch, turned to see who was growling in his ear.
    â€œYou deaf? Hand over your lunch.”
    There were two of them. Overweight bullies with mean eyes. The kind who got fat eating other kids’ lunches as well astheir own. They looked like seniors. They were big. One of them was glaring down at Mickey. The other mountain of lard was hitting the kid in the next locker over.
    There were eighth and ninth graders all around. Slam of metal doors. In and out of their lockers. Pretending not to notice what