Phys-Ed

Phys-Ed, also called Basic Training, was held outside, rain or shine. At least that's what the informational paper they had received in homeroom, said. It also said to go straight to the locker rooms and find their labeled lockers for a temporary uniform to change into for class.

On the way into the locker room, Abby sees a lot of upperclassmen girls changing out of their uniforms. Many of them who plan on becoming superheroes already had costumes made and ready, and wore them for gym. Some were still in the process of dismantling complicated gadgets, re-supplying utility belts, or just peeling off skin-tight leotards.

Abby wonders if she'll ever wear one. She couldn't imagine how it must feel wearing something so embarrassing in front of the entire class. Then again, superheroes did it all the time in front of the entire world.

The uniform she finds in her locker was much more tame. A white T-shirt with the school's logo on the chest, and a pair of navy blue spandex shorts.

As she's in the process of changing, she thinks she feels a tingle run up her spine, similar to what she felt that morning when she sensed someone using their power on her. She looks around quickly, but it vanishes and she doesn't receive a notification from her ability, so she shrugs and finishes up. A minute later she's outside with the rest of her class, standing in a group on the school's track.

"Good morning, class!" calls a man from the bleachers. He was pretty much what you would think of when you hear 'gym teacher,' and maybe worse. Stocky, balding, square jaw, and with a bit of a gut. He was wearing a faded green track suit.

"I'm the school's trainer and wrestling team coach. The name's Mr. Bixby, but you can call me Mr. Bix, Bix-man, or the Bix-inator." He grins across the class' unimpressed faces. "And for ladies specifically - feel free to call me Sexy, the Hot Teacher, or Your Highness!" He grins again. A couple of the guys laugh but most of the girls make faces of disgust. "Alright, alright. Only joking. You're all adults now, calm down. We're gonna start easy today with some stretches and a jog."

He divides the class into boys and girls, and goes back and forth leading them through basic stretches out on the track.

Abby notices with disgust that the boys' stretches are much more dynamic - like high-knees, high-kicks, arm-circles, lunges, and jumping jacks. The girls' stretches involve a lot more bending, hip rotating, and leg-spreading.

She could tell she wasn't going to like Mr. Bixby, or gym. The other girls seemed to think the same.

"Alright, finish up class with some jogging then do whatever you want before you hit the lockers," Mr. Bixby calls out to everyone. "Guys give me at least six laps running. Girls give me two. Wouldn't want you to make yourselves all sweaty."

Abby did six anyway. Most of the other girls did, too. Mr. Bixby was a pig.

Oh well, it was just one class. Surely the others would be alright.