There’s a little twitch at the corners of Ramona’s mouth. Mr. Baldwin’s face is red, his cheeks are popping in and out as he wheezes. With half-closed watery eyes, he switches his gaze to Rory.
“You have disappointed me, Rory.” He waves a hand at Rory’s leggings. “That is not what I call manly although I cannot stop you attending Miss Stephan’s ballerina classes.”
“Ballet classes,” interrupts Ramona. “Actually it’s a Dancing Academy.”
Ramona is still standing with arms folded across her chest. Baldwin begins to shake with rage.
“Is that it, then?” asks Ramona.
Baldwin looks at the floor in defeat and points to the door. “Get out.”
Rory can’t wait to get out. As he reaches for the door, Baldwin finds his voice again.
“As for you, Ramona, you miss a class just one more time, and I’ll ban Mr. Daniels from teaching driving lessons to any students from this High School.”
“You can’t be serious,” says Rory. “Kirk is already half-way through his lessons, and anyway, he says you got a huge discount for him, from Mr. Daniels.”
Kirk is Mr. Baldwin’s son and following this disclosure, the room is quiet for a moment.
With a mock look of shock, Ramona stares wide-eyed and with mouth open, at Mr. Baldwin. “Wow!”
Baldwin waggles a finger in the air. “Ridiculous. Now both of you – get out.”
Ramona leans forward and places a finger over her lips. “I won’t say a word – promise.” She grins and flounces out of the room.
***
Rory is telling me about the confrontation, and I start getting worried. I tell him to talk to Ramona, but he shrugs. Ramona, he tells me, is a Tom Boy with attitude.
“Remember to signal,” I tell him, as we approach some traffic lights.
Rory flicks the indicator stork and pulls up at the red light.
“Perhaps you could fit her in after class, Mr. Daniels?”
My hands grip the sides of my seat at the thought. I tell him that's not a good idea.
“You wouldn’t want your driving lessons for students banned, would you? You know Ramona can’t keep a secret unless she gets what she wants.” Rory moves off and turns the corner on the green.
I look sideways at Rory, and a smile behind his long hair disappears instantly.
Rory accelerates smoothly. “She won’t be taking French on Tuesday mornings, so she has a free period.”
I tentatively ask if Mr. Baldwin knows about the new arrangement and then realise I’ve asked a silly question. Tomorrow is Tuesday.
***
I laugh out loud and listen with pleasure to the rolling thunder. Outside my garage, the rain is teeming down. The phone on the wall rings. “Hello,” I answer cheerfully.
“Hello yourself, nerd. Are you coming or what?”
My heart is thumping and my happy disposition has evaporated.
“We can’t drive today, Ramona. It’s far too dangerous.”
“No it’s not,” she replies sarcastically. “I can practice emergency brake and skid routine.”
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