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Spark gobbled down the rest of his wheat flakes and grabbed
his backpack to go. He was already late for Neoschool and his sisters were too
impatient and had left already.
"Great," the blue Shoyru muttered as he hopped
onto his bicycle and started pedaling quickly to Neoschool. "I get into trouble
with Ms. Barber first thing in the morning." Ms Barber was the most un-liked
teacher in his school. She was a large, oversized red Lenny who looked totally
funny because Lennies were skinny and small. She always spoke as if she was
shouting and taught all the eighth graders in his school Math. Too bad Math
was his first period today and he had to face HER for punishment.
After locking up his bicycle, Spark rushed down
the hallway and down to Math class hurriedly. His mind whirling as he tried
to think of excuses to give to Ms Barber for being late. Hopefully, she would
let him off this time. He was actually a pretty good student. His grades were
always A's or B's and he was polite and helpful to everyone. This was only one
of those rare times he was late.
He rushed into the class and skidded to a stop
at the teacher's desk. Panting hard, he threw back his head and nearly got a
heart attack. Standing in front of him wasn't the fierce face of Ms. Barber,
but a smiling red Shoyru.
"You're later mister," she said laughing in
a cheery voice. It sounded like bells ringing to Spark.
For some reason, Spark felt himself blushing.
"Sorry," he said then rushed on to explain. "I -- " The Shoyru teacher lifted
up a paw and shook her head slightly.
"No need to explain," she said kindly. "Ms.
Barber told me about the whole class before I came here and she said there's
a blue Shoyru here who's very well behaved. Always gets good grades and tops
the class in subjects occasionally. Quiet and well mannered, too. I'm guessing
it's you. I'm here to take over her for a week while she's on a course."
Spark smiled slightly. Ms. Barber told highly
of him? That was a surprise. "That's me all right. I'm Spark."
The Shoyru smiled. "I'm Ms. Joan. Everyone calls
me Peaches."
"Peaches?" Spark said in disbelief. The minute
he did he regretted it. What if he hurt her feelings? Not that he minded so
much or anything...
"Yep, Peaches," Ms. Joan -- Peaches said. "Once
during a training course I took I bought a can of peaches for my tea and they
spilled all over my white dress! Since then everyone has called me Peaches."
"Oh, I see," Spark said. He glanced at the rest
of the class. They weren't paying attention to Peaches and him at all. Good
thing. Maybe they could talk longer. She seemed interesting... in a new teacher
kind of way... if there was such a thing.
Peaches smiled. Spark smiled back thinking how
pretty she looked when she smiled. "I think it's time for you to get back to
your seat," she said snapping his trance.
"Sure," Spark nodded, anxious to please her.
He scurried to his seat and nearly tripped over his own feet. He looked behind,
wondering if she was going to laugh but she had her back turned to him and was
writing something on the board.
As he settled down and pulled out his books
for that lesson, he wondered what had gotten into him? Sure Peaches was pretty,
friendly and... pretty. But still, she was his teacher! Teachers don't like
their students.
But it would have been nice if she would, Spark
thought gazing at Peaches.
***
After school, Spark lingered around the hallway nervously. It was official.
He knew he had a crush on Peaches. It was his first ever crush. And what's more
on a teacher he hardly knew!
"And I'm sure he'll love this!" Voice chattered.
Spark lifted his head and saw Peaches and another teacher he liked, Miss Laura,
walking out of the Science lab. He jumped at his chance to talk to Peaches and
hurried up to them.
"Good afternoon, Miss Laura," he said politely
to the blue Wocky. "Good afternoon, Peaches."
"'Peaches'?" Miss Laura looked bewildered. "Spark,
my dear boy, you are not making fun of Ms. Joan here are you?"
"No, he's not, Miss Laura," Peaches assured
her. "I told my class to call me by that. Remember the story I told you?"
Miss Laura laughed. "Oh, I see. Well, it certainly
was a funny incident. Nice seeing you around Spark," she said and she and Peaches
turned to move.
"Wait!" Spark called out, unable to stop himself.
He felt like smacking himself when both teachers stopped walking and turned
back to face him.
"Is something wrong Spark?" Peaches asked, concerned.
"Erm... no... not... really, I just wanted to
know if there... is any homework today?" Spark spluttered stupidly.
Peaches nodded. "Problems 8 to 15 in your Math
textbook on page 19. By tomorrow. On single lined paper. Okay?"
Spark nodded feebly. "No problem, Peaches,"
he replied.
Peaches smiled then walked out of the hallway
with Miss Laura.
"What was I thinking?" Spark muttered as he
slowly left the school compound himself. He daydreamed about him and Peaches
all the way home.
"Spark!" his sisters called the moment he stepped
into his Neohome. "Come into the living room we've got something to tell you!"
Spark groaned. Why did his annoying siblings
have to always have something 'important' to tell him whenever he was doing
something important? But he went into the living room anyway.
Dapple, one of his sisters, a split Aisha was
bouncing up and down on the checkered sofa while his other sister, Randy a Christmas
Peophin was seated on the carpet sipping a smoothie.
"Hi Sparky," Dapple chirped. She hopped off
the sofa and perched herself like a Pteri on the armchair arm Spark was sitting
on.
"What did you want to tell me? And don't call
me Sparky," Spark said feeling irritated already.
"Okay," Dapple said reluctantly. Then she brightened.
"Guess what? Randy and I signed up for those athletic classes today and the
teacher's totally nice!"
Teacher. That word made Spark think of Peaches
again.
"Oh really?" Spark said uninterestedly.
"Oh, come on, she's totally great!" Randy grinned.
"Don't be a spoilsport. We just wanted to ask if you'd like to come for the
next practice? Peaches is looking for more people."
"Peaches?" Spark exclaimed jumping up.
Dapple and Randy stared at him.
"Gee, I know it's an unusual name, but do you
have to react like that?" Randy inquired.
"NO, it's not that!" Spark protested. "There's
a female Shoyru who taking over Ms. Barber my Math teacher for a week and she's
called Peaches, too!"
"Oh, what a coincidence," Dapple said. She looked
bored. "I just wanted to know if you want to come. Anyway, Peaches told us she
was a teacher today, so it's not a surprise."
Spark snorted. "You guys just don't know how
to appreciate Peaches," he retorted. "She's great. You'll be a lot more enthusiastic
than this if you really liked her."
Dapple raised her eyebrows and exchanged glances
with Randy.
The next thing Spark knew, he was running up
and down the stairs with Dapple and Randy at his heels.
"I know from the way you're speaking that you
like Peaches!" Dapple sang as she raced after her older brother.
"I don't, and stop following me!" Spark yelled,
his face turning crimson.
"Spark's gone all red!" Randy piped in with
much annoyance.
"ARGH!!!" Spark raced into his room and managed
to slam the door shut before either of his sisters got in. He locked it and
then threw himself onto his bed, his face burning. Great! Now his pesky little
sisters knew he liked his Math teacher. What were they going to do next?
"Spark's in Loooooooovvvvve!" Dapple and Randy
giggled outside.
Spark grabbed a pillow and pulled it over his
head, trying to block out their noise.
"Don't worry Sparky!" Dapple hiccupped outside.
"I'll help you to get Peaches to be your GIRLFRIEND!"
Still laughing, Spark heard them scamper away
to the next room and shut the door.
"Stupid pests," he muttered throwing the pillow
across the room. Now he was doomed! His life was in his sisters' hands, and
he knew they weren't going to make this easy for him...
***
"I can't believe it," Spark sighed as he walked alongside his sisters. They
were on their way home from Neoschool. It was the last day that Peaches was
teaching them and he was feeling down. "Peaches is leaving."
"Aw c'mon Sparky," Dapple said cheerfully. "Don't
be upset! Maybe Ms. Barber won't come back yet and your next teacher will be
called... Apples or Oranges or something weird!" she burst into hysterical giggles
with Randy.
Spark rolled his eyes. "Yeah right," he said
smiling. He knew he was going to miss Peaches. But after all, crushes on teachers
would never work out. And besides, Ms. Barber had good intentions on him.
"Hey Sparky!" Randy tapped him on the shoulder
with a hoof. "This is for you." She handed him a large, round, pink peach.
"Wha...?" Randy dropped the peach into Spark's
paw. He was astonished and glanced from one sister to another's face.
"Peaches' pet!" they chanted together in unison.
"Hey! Stop it you guys! I say stop it! GUYS!"
The three of them raced down the road the rest of the home, toward the setting
sun.
The End
Author's Note: I know it's cheesy but hope you like it anyway!
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