Cool to Hate Gym

Mr. Tucker was notorious for being a tough teacher, yet another member of the faculty who was a fan of the football team. Most people knew him for the photo in the main hall of him holding up the state championship trophy, sitting in a case next to said trophy. Nevertheless you felt like you were going to be okay in his class today.

You made sure to get changed quickly and out into the gym ready to watch everyone filter out for class. This was one of the only actual classes that you had with Sarah, her cheerleader team and their boyfriends so the whole pack would be here today and therefore be particularly vicious with their "bullying". It never used to help that Mr. Tucker would turn a blind eye for his beloved team but today you wouldn't mind at all.

You saw Sarah walk out with posse in tow then make a beeline for where you were standing.

"Do you think that you can have Ms. Knight fight your battles for you? Huh? I know that you tried to rat us out, what did you think was going to happen?"

You were feigning playing the victim hoping that their cruel instincts would take over to metaphorically kick you while you were down and also retaliate for what they perceived as insubordination.

"It's not like that, I didn't tell her, someone else did. Really."

"Is that right? And who was this exactly?"

Sarah's boyfriend Roger decided that now was the time to pipe up, “Does it matter babe? The little loser had to have the little math teacher to dob on us. We need to teach him a lesson anyway right?”

Roger looked around at some of the other guys who were all nodding and generally agreeing with him.

“Look you’re right Roger.”

A booming voice came over the gymnasium as Mr. Tucker called the class to listen, “Okay boys and girls, today’s lesson will be in self defense. You boys especially should be paying close attention so you can protect the girls when the time comes.”

This causes a wave of chest puffing by the meathead football players in the room along with sighs and groans from a bunch of the girls. They were used to Mr. Tuckers old school sexism by now and there really wasn’t anything to be done to the school football hero now was there. Some had tried and failed.

“Alright people pair off into partners, one girl and one boy. We will start with ways the girls can defend themselves”, then a little softer, “Not that they’d be able to against a real man.”

From behind you felt Sarah grab your arm, “You’re with me John. It’s time to pay for what you did. Oh Sweetie, tell him what happens if he fights back.”

Roger was standing on a nearby mat, “If you even think of fighting my girl, you’re dead. If you hurt her even accidentally, you’re dead, if she says you deserve it, you’re dead.”

“I understand.”

Mr. Tucker waits for the shuffling to stop and each pairing has their own practise mat, “Ok, let’s start with a simple defense technique to trip your assailant when they rush at you. Let me demonstrate, any volunteers?”

He looks around the room before his eyes settle on you, a smirk crossing his face. It seemed like he was looking precisely for you and he had probably heard about what Ms. Knight had done as well. Oh well, it shouldn’t be too bad and then you can get back to Sarah so she could “bully” you some more.

You slowly walked over to Mr. Tucker who was standing out in the open part of the gym away from the mats ready for the demonstration. A number of the students looked on, some cringing, knowing what had happened and some eager to participate in the humiliation lest they be the next targets. “Okay, Mr. Doe pick up your pace as you approach me and hold your hands out as if to attack.”

You did just that and as you reached him his foot stuck out in front of your own with his knee up while he almost crouched down. You were expecting something but not exactly what this was so it took you by surprise and I tumbled over him face planting into the hard wood floor of the basketball court. It definitely hurt, but no worse than beatings you’d had in the past at the hands of Roger and his cronies.

As you lay there on the floor Mr. Tucker leant down to whisper in my ear, “Don’t fuck with the football team or the cheearleaders again, got it?”.

All you could do was nod your head and whisper back, “I get it, please don’t go stick a pen up your ass, it would kill be to know that you had.”

“Is that so, should’ve kept your mouth shut Mr. Doe. I’ll be right back.”

Louder again to the entire class, “Continue practising this defense move, try and use the assailant’s weight against them.”

Mr. Tucker then turned away walking towards the Gym office area, you just giggled to yourself and went back to the mat that Sarah was at.