Read Big Mouth for Free Online Page B

said, Fat Boy.” He straightened then shoved Willie aside, dismissing him. The kid scurried away like a crab at the beach. “I think you need a lesson in how to talk to your superiors,
scrub.
”
    No one else said anything, not even the janitors. And that was the way it would stay, I knew. Shane and his thugs were outnumbered big time, yet they were in charge. My goose was cooked.
    Tears pooled in my eyes.
Please no, not again.
I’d die if I got canned again.
    My only hope was to run. I quickly stretched my neck up to see over Shane’s shoulder and—
yes!
—I had a clean shot to the emergency exit if I could somehow get by him. I snorted involuntarily at that thought. Dump trucks couldn’t outmaneuver hot rods.
    As if sensing my impulse to flee, Shane hunched his head down, leaned his shoulders forward, and spread his arms wide with his feet staggered in some psycho-ballistic wrestling stance. He swayed forward like he was about to lunge in my direction, but before he could take a step, a commanding voice echoed down the hallway into the tense cafeteria.
    All heads turned right. In strode Principal Culwicki, his wide green tie flapping up over his shoulder. Rushing after him was Mad Max, followed by a short, waddling man in an olive-green uniform and red armband.
    Max was clutching a yellow file folder.
    “…already told you Del Heiny won’t go for that, Maureen,” Culwicki was saying. “Even if they would, I am
not
putting a rotting pig on the football field. What does that have to do with science? Oh, there’s another one!” He stabbed his finger at a mustard slogan that the janitors hadn’t cleaned off the wall yet. “Good grief, Eckstein, are these delinquents getting in through the pipes? Rekey all the locks again. And have the janitors order more red paint. Oh, there’s another!”
    Suddenly Culwicki halted. Max and the campus security officer dominoed into his back. Culwicki stayed solid on his feet, though, his eyes locked on Shane.
    Shane slowly uncoiled and smiled at the wiry principal. “How’s it going, sir?”
    Culwicki narrowed his eyes. “What in tarnation are you doing?” He stepped closer. So did Max, a puzzled look on her face. The officer furiously scribbled on his board.
    Yes! Shane was finally going down. Maybe Dunk Week had been worth it.
    Shane must have come to the same conclusion, because his smile disappeared. “I—”
    “Stop. I don’t want to hear it.” Culwicki took a deep breath, then shook his head in utter disgust. “You’re the wrestling coach’s
son,
boy. You should know better.” He pointed to Shane’s left foot. “Move that foot an inch to the left. Your balance will be better. Honestly, if you’re going to show off your Sugarfoot stance, at least have the decency to do it right. I never want to see a horror like that again. You hear me?”
    No!
    Shane grinned. “Yes, sir. Wider stance. Got it.”
    “Good. Now wipe that smile off your face. Wrestling is serious business. I said wipe it off! Drop and give me twenty. All three of you. Now! Have some pride.”
    Shane’s smile disappeared instantly. He dutifully dropped to the ground, only pausing a moment. But in that nanosecond of hesitation, his eyes practically glowed with hatred. Okay, so maybe he didn’t get busted, but at least he was suffering some humiliation.
How does it feel, tough guy?
    Culwicki bent down and yanked off Shane’s cap. “And take off that disrespectful hat. Where’s your loyalty?” He threw it on Shane’s back as he cranked out his push-ups. “You know what? This is the third time I’ve caught you in a bad stance and had to assign push-ups. That’s three times too many. Come with me. I’ve got my old training photos in my office, I’ll show you the proper stance. I think your dad’s in some of the pictures, too.” Then he took off again, his green tie flapping wildly, the Olive Shirt scurrying after him. “Oh, there’s another one! This is an outrage, Eckstein, you