Boot Camp at TAC
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About this ebook
With the school principal out of action, Mr Harris is now in charge and declares that Te Arawa College is going to be run similar to a boot camp.
Meanwhile, Tucker decides to start his own religion... the worship of the Goddess - Vanessa Dante.
Speaking of Vanessa, her obsession with Rex is starting to have negative effects, effects which once led her to attempt suicide. Can she pull herself together and will the appearance of her long lost father only complicate matters?
Meanwhile Will Ullman plans to skip class with a bunch of guys to see a rugby match and a new junior boy finds that he has run afoul of the wrong people.
Richard Pinkerton
I am in my early 50s and have been writing now since I was 12. I prefer to write light-hearted drama but have written a little fantasy horror and science fiction too.I have an entire series of high school novels (19 of them so far) set in New Zealand (The Mob from TAC series), which I will gradually publish if there is a demand.I prefer to use a mix of quirky and outrageous characters you would never come across in reality and also your every day Joes.My writings are aimed at teenagers mainly, but also young adults.I have also written a series of detective novelettes, most of which can be found on my website. The majority require work, to be able to be published here, mainly due to copyright issues.Please do leave feedback or contact me if you want to know more about my books.
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Boot Camp at TAC - Richard Pinkerton
Bootcamp at TAC
(Book 9 in the Mob from TAC series)
Published by Richard Pinkerton at Smashwords
Copyright 2021 Richard Pinkerton
Other books by Richard Pinkerton
Dead End High
Dead End Town
Time Warped
The Rex Cassidy Investigators Series
The Mob from TAC series
1 - The Mob from TAC
2 – Mismatched at TAC
3 - Trouble at TAC
4 - Heroes at TAC
5 - Scheming at TAC
6 - Murder at TAC
7 - New Year at TAC
8 - Challenges at TAC
10 - Dark Days at TAC
11 - Jealously at TAC
12 - Choices at TAC
13 - Redemption at TAC
14 - Vendettas at TAC
15 - Aberrations at TAC
16 - Final Year at TAC
17 - Conspiracy at TAC
18 – Godly People at TAC
19 – Sabotage at TAC
20 – Distrust at TAC
21 – Competition at TAC
So Long, TAC
Acknowledgements
Amanda Kim
Fil Reid
Katherine Lato
Melva Gifford
Dabney Farmer
Vijay Kumar Kerji
To Dave
We sometimes called him mad but he was nowhere near as crazy as Mr Harris
CHAPTER 1:
Mr Harris takes charge
‘Come on, Mav, don’t be a wuss. You wanna see the game, don’t you?’ Will Ullman walked alongside Rick Maverick and Pete Cook as they headed towards the Te Arawa College school hall for morning assembly.
Wal, as his friends called him, loved rugby. He loved watching it and he loved playing it. Being the big burly guy he was, he often got to be a prop, relied on for his strength to push the scrum forward, forcing the opposing team back. Many people thought of him as the heavy metal type with longish brown hair, which he was, but when it came down to it, he’d rather be in the All Blacks than in a band.
He had looked forward to the big provincial game for some time, but sadly it fell on a school week this time around. It had seemed unlikely he’d get to go until he came up with his scheme earlier that morning.
Rick Maverick or Mav as he was better known, was a tall guy, perhaps a little bit of a geek, at least from Wal’s perspective, but an all-around great guy. ‘Wal, Wal, Wal, you do realise we’ve got no way of getting over to New Plymouth to see it? The bus drivers around here know us. They’ll never let us aboard because they’ll work out we’re skipping school. I guess we could spend the entire day tramping over there. Maybe you could utter up to God a short prayer for us, begging him to send one of his angels there to fly us over.’
‘Bugger that.’ Wal brushed past a fellow student as they neared the main entrance, nearly causing the guy to collide with one of the walkway poles. ‘Anyway, God’s got better things to do... like helping starving kids in Africa.’
‘Doubt it,’ Pete said. ‘From what I hear God prefers to help people with stuff like finding car keys and blessing the food of people who actually have it.’
'Or win at sports,’ Mav said.
'Or helping some person overcome their nose-picking habit,’ Pete added.
'Or providing sunny weather for a church picnic.'
'Yeah, I get it!' Wal snorted and forced back a smile.
Pete smirked. ‘Anyway, Wal, can’t you borrow your brother’s car?’
Wal halted before one of the entrances to the hall and turned towards his comical classmate, pricking up his eyebrow. He had hoped they wouldn’t suggest that. ‘He’ll never agree to it. I’ll have to borrow it without him knowing.’
‘Never stopped you from stealing his stuff before.’
‘This is different.’ He glared at his short companion’s playful green eyes. ‘I’ll be in the poo if he catches me.’
‘Yeah, Wal’s right.’ Mav sighed. ‘Looks like we can’t go then, huh? Better forget about it.’
‘Yeah, Nah, wait up,’ Wal said as his tall friend took another step to the entrance. ‘What if I do get it? Will you guys come to the game?’
‘For sure.’ Pete declared, sticking out his thumb.
Mav’s face looked pained. ‘But what if someone sees us there?’
‘Why would they?’ Pete asked. ‘They’ll all be here, right? No one will be watching TV here.’
‘They’ll never let us into the game,’ Mav said, running his fingers through his short dark hair. ‘They’ll know we shouldn’t be there.’
‘We’re sixteen,’ Wal said, determined to get him to agree. ‘For all they know, we could be school leavers who either have a job or are studying at Tech or someplace like that. They won’t care as long as they’re selling tickets.’
‘The teachers are gonna know we skipped, all three of us being out of school like that.’
Wal pushed the growing frustration to the back of his mind. ‘Geez, seems to me you’re making a lot of excuses, Mav. What’s the matter? You too chicken to skip school one day in your miserable life? Afraid of getting into the poo?’
‘I prefer not to wallow in shit, Wal.’
‘I get it. You’re afraid of what Mummy and Daddy might say if they find out.’
Mav let out a deep sigh. ‘So, what if I agree? I take it we’ll whip up a forged note from each of our parents explaining how we’re suffering bouts of 24-hour leprosy and we’ll be back at school again tomorrow? It so happens the day we get leprosy is the day there happens to be a rugby game on in town. Yeah, I think they’ll buy it.’
Wal snickered. One thing he liked about Mav was his zany sense of humour, even though it was often hard to combat. ‘I tell ya what, I’ll even break off one of your fingers and send it to the school as proof. How would you like that?’
‘Make it your own finger and we have a deal.’
Wal smirked. ‘We turn up here for school in the morning. We come in for the first two classes then head off at lunchtime. No one will even care that we’re gone.’
Pete chuckled. ‘Well maybe nobody will care about you, Wal, but the girls will miss me something chronic.’
Wal eyed Pete with contempt. It was the type of comment he would have made himself if he had thought about it and it annoyed him that Pete came up with it first.
Before he could speak though, Mav piped up. ‘Yeah, chronic pain is often followed by vomiting up your last meal. And that’s what will happen when they think of you, Pete.’
Wal burst out laughing. ‘Yeah, that’s for sure. One thought of your ugly mug, Cooks, is enough to make anyone hurl.’
Pete’s eyes twinkled merrily. ‘Vanessa likes me.’
‘Whatever!’
‘It’s true. She’s always tweaking my cheek and telling me how sweet I am.’
Mav replied, ‘Pete, Pete, Pete, that’s her nice way of saying you’re an idiot.’
‘Exactly!’ Wal snorted. ‘You better listen to your Uncle Wal, Cooks, she’s out of your league. The only guys who have the ability to charm her are Rex and me.’
‘You’re a dreamer, Wal!’
For a moment indignation welled up inside Wal, but then he realised he was joking. Nevertheless, he wasn’t about to let on yet. Make him sweat first, that was Wal’s philosophy, especially considering many found his stocky frame and demeanour intimidating. He was able to put on a mean expression that could chill a person to the bone.
‘What did you say, Cook?’ He grabbed him by the shirt and cast him an evil glare.
‘You’re in her dreams, Wal.’
‘That’s what I thought you said!’ Wal released him but made sure to keep the scowl going a few seconds longer.
Inside, the hall filled fast. Wal made for one of the rows he and his fellow year twelves normally sat at near the back of the hall. He found a junior boy sitting on the end of it. ‘Hey, you, get lost, this is a year-twelve row.’
The junior rose quickly to his feet and shuddered, his eyes wide. He was about to move away but Wal blocked his path. ‘Hold on a minute. I used to know you from Te Arawa Primary, didn’t I? Yeah, I recognise those Dumbo ears of yours. What was your name again?’
‘Trent Nord.’
‘Ah yeah, that’s right. You used to drool over Jacqui Donaldson every chance you got. The amount you drooled over her was enough to fill a bathtub.’
‘You’re... you’re Will Ullman.’
‘You think I don’t know who I am?’ Despite his harsh reply, Wal felt a tingle of satisfaction that the kid knew his name and most likely already feared him. He stood over the young junior, loving the feeling of being able to instil such fear and respect. His sheer size was normally enough to do it, but a few scowls and callous words always added to the effect.
Trent Nord whimpered and he barely squeaked from his pimply mouth, ‘Sorry, I—’
‘What are you doing here anyway? I thought you’d left Te Arawa.’
‘Yes, but we moved back here.’
‘Well, that’s freaking obvious. You’d hardly be here in this school if you hadn’t, would you?’
‘No.’
‘Forget about Jacqui Donaldson, twerp. She’s way out of your league.’
At that moment, much to Wal’s annoyance, Pete intervened. ‘You'll have to excuse Wal. He thinks he's God's gift to women.’
‘I am God's gift!’ Wal smirked. ‘Most girls consider me a prize.’
Pete snorted. ‘Yeah, a booby prize.’
Wal made a lunge for him but Pete fled to the other end of the row where he sat with Mav.
Wal turned back to Trent who now stared at the girls who sat behind Pete and Mav.
‘Well, what are you hanging around here for?’ Vanessa Dante was there. He paused too, to admire her. She was indeed a girl you could gaze at all day long. Her long black hair spiralled down over her shoulders. Her big sapphire-blue eyes sparkled as she chatted cheerfully with her friends. She was the sort of girl that made even a school uniform look sexy and her full red lips and slender neck begged to be kissed. He finally came to his senses though and growled at Trent, ‘And you can forget about drooling over her.’
‘That’s Vanessa,’ muttered Trent.
‘Derr, gee, Nord, you have an irritating habit of telling people things they already know. Yes, that’s Vanessa, so eyes off.’ Even as he said it, he couldn’t help but gaze in her direction again.
‘You’re her friend, right?’
Wal switched his eyes back at the year-niner. ‘Of course. We’re really good friends and I don’t like it when little shrimps like you ogle her. Get to your own row before I slap you one.’
Trent came to his senses and hurried away.
The hall continued to fill and the murmur of hundreds of students added to the atmosphere. Wal gazed back at Vanessa, strode along the row, sat next to Pete and turned around to deliver her a smile. ‘Hey, Nessa. We’re going to the rugby game tomorrow. Wanna come too?’
Vanessa smiled and what a knock out that smile was. ‘Ooh, la la! Wal, you have targeted one of my true passions, watching sweaty dirty men rolling around in the mud clutching at balls. How did you become so perceptive?’
For a second Wal’s heart leapt, thinking he was onto a winner, but then it occurred to him it might be sarcasm in her tone. Vanessa had a way of being sarcastic that sounded agreeable. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of the others around them though so figured he’d better be sure she wasn’t teasing.
‘Really?’
‘Err... no. Wal, you forget. I don’t go for that type of thing. I’m surprised you are so eager. I would have thought watching girls in short skirts playing netball would be more your scene.’
Chuckles came from those around and the insinuation was not lost on Wal. ‘Hey, nah, whoa, wait a minute, I don’t swing that way, you know that.’
‘What you don’t like seeing girls in short skirts?’
‘No, I don’t get into seeing guys getting muddy and sweaty.’
‘So why go to a rugby game then? Why not a netball game? As it happens, I’m playing one tomorrow at lunchtime and you’ll get to see me in a short skirt if you hang around.’
‘I...’ Suddenly Wal had mixed emotions about going to the rugby match. The thought of seeing Vanessa’s slender legs and curvy rear in a short skirt flashed through his mind and it was so pleasant it was almost impossible to shake. ‘You’re really playing a netball match tomorrow?’
‘Nuh-uh. I was kidding. I just wanted to see how much you preferred to see guys in shorts to girls in skirts. It’s that whenever guys go on about rugby it makes me wonder. But I’m sure you’re all male, Wal, nothing to worry about there.’
Wal slowly turned back around, not knowing how to react. Mav smirked at him. Wal shot him back an evil glare. ‘What?’
‘I think you got turned down, mate.’
Wal frowned, but then sighed and nodded slowly, ‘Yeah. I think you’re right.’
‘At least she left you with nice mental imagery.’
‘True. Nicest way I’ve ever been turned down for a date.’
Pete snickered. ‘I guess you must be used to getting turned down by now.’
Wal glared at his short companion. ‘Shut up, Pete, or I’ll slap you across the ears.’
The hall suddenly became quiet as the teachers made their way up onto the stage. Wal expected to see the school principal, Mr Ropata, take the podium but he was nowhere to be seen and instead, Mr Harris, the head of the physical education department, stepped up. He wasn’t dressed in his normal khaki pants and green t-shirt though. Instead, he was decked out in military uniform, with stripes and medals.
‘Someone must have died,’ whispered Pete.
‘Either that or war has been declared against Te Arawa College,’ Mav said.
A complete hush fell across the hall and Mr Harris spoke in a strong English accent, ‘I would like us to rise and sing the British... I mean New Zealand national anthem.’
Wal exchanged blank stares with his friends and noticed the quizzical looks on the faces of the other students around him. They never sang the national anthem except on special occasions.
The words God defend New Zealand
appeared on a screen over the stage and music came over the speakers. The teachers rose, so the students did the same. Wal found himself standing and muttering the words to the song as those around him sang. He glanced over to the muscular frame of Rex Cassidy who stood a few bodies along from Vanessa and their eyes met. Rex’s left eyebrow lifted as if in acknowledgement this was an unusual occurrence. Rex and Mr Harris were good friends but it seemed even Rex was mystified by events.
Finally, the song ended and they sat.
Mr Harris glanced around the rows, a smug expression on his face. The side of his mouth curled up under his goatee into a smirk and a twinkle appeared in his green eyes. ‘I guess you’re wondering why we started with the singing of the national anthem. And I guess you’re wondering why I am standing up here instead of Mr Ropata. That is because, for the next month, I will be acting principal of this school.’
Murmurs came from around Wal and he exchanged mystified glances with Pete and Mav.
The 40-year-old head of the PE department continued, ‘Mr Ropata has an overseas conference to attend as well as other business, which means he will not be with us for the rest of the term. Mr Reaper, the deputy principal is not well, so I have been chosen to take this role while Mr Ropata is away.’ His smirk turned into what looked like an evil smile. ‘And you needn’t think because I’m doing Mr Ropata’s duties means I won’t be in charge of physical education classes because I still will be filling those roles for some classes.’ His eyes narrowed as he stared at one obese student. ‘Yes, Tucker Pyles, your classes included. Don’t think you’re going to get it easy because I have other priorities.’
A few students around the overweight Tucker laughed. Wal almost felt sorry for the guy due to the forlorn expression on his tubby face.
‘Things will be quite different while Mr Ropata is away, you can be sure of that. Discipline must be maintained and it will be on my watch. As far as I’m concerned you have all had it too good for