Life on Banana Street
Hallway Times
I was still sitting there thinking to myself if Billie and I were supposed to be together. He came back from the bathroom.
“Hey. Yep you were right. You didn’t move at all.”
“Would I lie?”
He looked like he was thinking. “Hmmm.”
I punched him. “Ass.”
“Yeah I know.”
There was an awkward silence.
“I still love you Addie.”
“I-I think I do too.”
“What? You either do or you don’t.”
“I don’t know, Billie.”
“Oh well. At least you know-”
He was cut off by me kissing him.
“Yeah I think you still love me.”
“I just don’t know. I mean, I love going out with Tre, but I’d still love to go out with you. I just don’t know.” I looked away.
“It’s ok. I kinda know what you’re talking about.”
I heard the office door open.
“Billie Joe?”
“Coming Mom.”
The door shut.
“Well, gotta go.”
“Ok.”
I waited a few minutes more and decided to go to class. But before I did, Mr. Brown A.K.A my dad came around the corner.
“Adeline, what do you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t want to go to class.”
“Why ever not?”
“People are bothering me again.”
“That’s no reason to not go to class.”
“You know, you have the same conversation with me everyday, you just change the keywords.”
“Yeah. So?”
“I don’t know. And I’m not going to class.”
“Adeline, I am your biological father and your principal and I’m telling you to get your ass in class!”
“I am not going to class! Get that through your head!”
“Either you get to class or you get detention for 7 days.”
“Detention please.”
“Alright. Come to my office.”
“Gladly.”
He assigned me detention for 7 days and I went to the room.
“Hello Adeline. Back so soon?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you do this time?”
“I was skipping.”
“Oh. Classic.”
“Yeah.”
“Adeline.”
“Yes Coach Rollins?”
“I’ll be retiring from detention this year.”
“No! You’re too young! You’re 27!”
“I’m gonna teach gym.”
“Oh. I am soooo taking gym next year. Who’s going to replace you?”
“Ferguson something or other.”
“Sounds gross.”
“I thought he was your favorite teacher.”
“You mean Mr. Fedie?”
“Yeah that was it. He’s gonna be my replacement next year.”
“Cool. But I’ll enjoy you while you’re in this room.”
“Ok, Mrs. Lusk sent you some work. Here you go.”
“Great! Science shit!”
He laughed and I did my work.
“Coach.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I go to the vending machine?”
“Yeah. Be careful. Nicky.”
“Oh. Yeah I know. Want anything?”
“Hershey bar.”
“Hershey!”
“Huh?”
“Oh, never mind. Middle school joke.”
“Oh. Here’s the money for it.”
I left and rounded the corner I once sat at, but jumped back. Nicky was attacking the vending machine. I figured I’d go get my dad.
I walked in his office.
“Adeline, what are you doing here?”
“Nicky’s attacking the vending machines again.”
“Ugh. Ok. I’ll handle it.”
He walked out of the office and went around the corner.
“Nicholas! Stop doing that! Other people have to use the vending machines too!”
“Sorry Mr. Brown. I’m just so hungry. Hungry enough to eat…you.”
“That’s enough young man! Get back to class.”
“Oh man.”
Mr. Brown came back in his office and dealed with a new student.
“So, you will be enrolling who?”
“My daughter Maria.”
“Ok. Maria. Come back here to the secretary and we’ll get you a schedule.”
Maria. Maria. Where have I heard that name before?
Maria! The slut girl from 3rd grade! I remember now.
She made out with my brother while he was in 7th grade.
I wish 10th grade would move along a little faster. Now that I’m in the same class with Maria.
-Later That Day-
I walked home with Billie with the cold winter wind hitting my face. It was almost like ice cutting your face.
“Well, here’s my house. I’ll see you tomorrow at school I guess.”
“Ok. Bye Addie.”
I went to the door and walked in waiting to see Tre to tell him what happened.
No one was home.
“Hello? Tre?”
No answer.
“Canada?”
I heard a distant noise but couldn’t make it out.
It sounded like ‘Hump me.’
I walked a little farther and could hear it more clear. ‘Help me.’
“Tre? Are you in trouble?”
I walked upstairs and went into Tre’s room. I saw the most disturbing thing. Mr. Hamilton was molesting Tre.
“Mr. Hamilton! Stop!”
“You’re next Adeline.”
“What the hell?”
I ran out of the room and called the cops.
“Cop dudes! My friend is being molested by our ex-teacher.”
“Give us the address and we’ll send some uhh…cop dudes over ASAP.”
“4821 Banana Street. Rodeo, California.”
“Ok. Thank you for your report. We’re sending assistance out at this moment.”
“Thank you so much.”
I hung up and ran outside and went in my old house. I looked out my window and saw the cop cars arrive and bring out Mr. Hamilton, Child Molester.
I came back into Tre’s room and hugged him tightly.
“I’m so sorry Tre. Just think something a lot worse could have happened.”
“It’s ok. There’s nothing you could have done about it. I’m just glad you’re here.”
I kissed him softly and the phone rang.
“I’ll get it. You just stay here and gather yourself.”
I went to the phone downstairs and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey Addie.”
“Oh hey Jeff. What’s up?”
“Nothing much…I just wanted to know if you wanted to come over and help me with geometry. I really don’t get it.”
“Why do you always ask me for help?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re smart. If you were smart you would have figured that out.”
“I know but you always want to work…what happened to the old Jeff?”
“I don’t know. My parents have changed me so much. But do you want to come over?”
“I guess. I’ll be over in a few.”
“Yes!”
“Ok?”
“Sorry.”
I was beginning to think. Does Jeff have a crush on me?
I walked upstairs and got my backpack.
“Tre can you take me to Jeff’s house?”
“Why?”
“He said he needed help with homework.”
“That better be the truth Addie. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Tre, I would never cheat on you. It’s the last thing I would do.”
“You mean that?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that after that horrific incident, I’m all weirded out.”
I totally forgot about that.
“Tre, I don’t have to go. I can stay here if you want me to.”
“Why the sudden change in plans?”
“I don’t know.”
“No, you can go help Jeff. What do I have to worry about? You’re my girlfriend and I trust you not to cheat on me.”
“You sure? You want me to go?”
“Geez Addie. You’re making seem like you are cheating on me.” He smiled, then it turned to a frown. “You’re not cheating on me. Are you?”
“No! For the last time no!”
“Feisty huh? It’s uh kinda turning me on.”
“Oh my God Tre. It would.”
“Yeah.” He grabbed my neck and started kissing me.
“Tre.” He didn’t stop. “Tre! I gotta get to Jeff’s.”
He hung his head. “Ok.”
He took my hand and we walked to the door, but stopped as soon as we got there.
We heard moans and someone said, “Oh Mikey. Oh Mikey!”
We opened the door only to find Canada and Mike making out on the doorstep. He was feeling her up.
They quickly pulled away and they looked at us with pink lips.
There was an awkward silence but Tre broke it.
“My God you people are as loud as Hell.”
I laughed and they looked embarrassed.
“Even Mom heard.”
She turned pale white. “Oh my God. No she didn’t! Please tell me she didn’t!”
“No, dumbass. She’s not even home.”
“Oh. Thank God.”
They walked in the house and we left for Tre’s car.
“Hey. Yep you were right. You didn’t move at all.”
“Would I lie?”
He looked like he was thinking. “Hmmm.”
I punched him. “Ass.”
“Yeah I know.”
There was an awkward silence.
“I still love you Addie.”
“I-I think I do too.”
“What? You either do or you don’t.”
“I don’t know, Billie.”
“Oh well. At least you know-”
He was cut off by me kissing him.
“Yeah I think you still love me.”
“I just don’t know. I mean, I love going out with Tre, but I’d still love to go out with you. I just don’t know.” I looked away.
“It’s ok. I kinda know what you’re talking about.”
I heard the office door open.
“Billie Joe?”
“Coming Mom.”
The door shut.
“Well, gotta go.”
“Ok.”
I waited a few minutes more and decided to go to class. But before I did, Mr. Brown A.K.A my dad came around the corner.
“Adeline, what do you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t want to go to class.”
“Why ever not?”
“People are bothering me again.”
“That’s no reason to not go to class.”
“You know, you have the same conversation with me everyday, you just change the keywords.”
“Yeah. So?”
“I don’t know. And I’m not going to class.”
“Adeline, I am your biological father and your principal and I’m telling you to get your ass in class!”
“I am not going to class! Get that through your head!”
“Either you get to class or you get detention for 7 days.”
“Detention please.”
“Alright. Come to my office.”
“Gladly.”
He assigned me detention for 7 days and I went to the room.
“Hello Adeline. Back so soon?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you do this time?”
“I was skipping.”
“Oh. Classic.”
“Yeah.”
“Adeline.”
“Yes Coach Rollins?”
“I’ll be retiring from detention this year.”
“No! You’re too young! You’re 27!”
“I’m gonna teach gym.”
“Oh. I am soooo taking gym next year. Who’s going to replace you?”
“Ferguson something or other.”
“Sounds gross.”
“I thought he was your favorite teacher.”
“You mean Mr. Fedie?”
“Yeah that was it. He’s gonna be my replacement next year.”
“Cool. But I’ll enjoy you while you’re in this room.”
“Ok, Mrs. Lusk sent you some work. Here you go.”
“Great! Science shit!”
He laughed and I did my work.
“Coach.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I go to the vending machine?”
“Yeah. Be careful. Nicky.”
“Oh. Yeah I know. Want anything?”
“Hershey bar.”
“Hershey!”
“Huh?”
“Oh, never mind. Middle school joke.”
“Oh. Here’s the money for it.”
I left and rounded the corner I once sat at, but jumped back. Nicky was attacking the vending machine. I figured I’d go get my dad.
I walked in his office.
“Adeline, what are you doing here?”
“Nicky’s attacking the vending machines again.”
“Ugh. Ok. I’ll handle it.”
He walked out of the office and went around the corner.
“Nicholas! Stop doing that! Other people have to use the vending machines too!”
“Sorry Mr. Brown. I’m just so hungry. Hungry enough to eat…you.”
“That’s enough young man! Get back to class.”
“Oh man.”
Mr. Brown came back in his office and dealed with a new student.
“So, you will be enrolling who?”
“My daughter Maria.”
“Ok. Maria. Come back here to the secretary and we’ll get you a schedule.”
Maria. Maria. Where have I heard that name before?
Maria! The slut girl from 3rd grade! I remember now.
She made out with my brother while he was in 7th grade.
I wish 10th grade would move along a little faster. Now that I’m in the same class with Maria.
-Later That Day-
I walked home with Billie with the cold winter wind hitting my face. It was almost like ice cutting your face.
“Well, here’s my house. I’ll see you tomorrow at school I guess.”
“Ok. Bye Addie.”
I went to the door and walked in waiting to see Tre to tell him what happened.
No one was home.
“Hello? Tre?”
No answer.
“Canada?”
I heard a distant noise but couldn’t make it out.
It sounded like ‘Hump me.’
I walked a little farther and could hear it more clear. ‘Help me.’
“Tre? Are you in trouble?”
I walked upstairs and went into Tre’s room. I saw the most disturbing thing. Mr. Hamilton was molesting Tre.
“Mr. Hamilton! Stop!”
“You’re next Adeline.”
“What the hell?”
I ran out of the room and called the cops.
“Cop dudes! My friend is being molested by our ex-teacher.”
“Give us the address and we’ll send some uhh…cop dudes over ASAP.”
“4821 Banana Street. Rodeo, California.”
“Ok. Thank you for your report. We’re sending assistance out at this moment.”
“Thank you so much.”
I hung up and ran outside and went in my old house. I looked out my window and saw the cop cars arrive and bring out Mr. Hamilton, Child Molester.
I came back into Tre’s room and hugged him tightly.
“I’m so sorry Tre. Just think something a lot worse could have happened.”
“It’s ok. There’s nothing you could have done about it. I’m just glad you’re here.”
I kissed him softly and the phone rang.
“I’ll get it. You just stay here and gather yourself.”
I went to the phone downstairs and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey Addie.”
“Oh hey Jeff. What’s up?”
“Nothing much…I just wanted to know if you wanted to come over and help me with geometry. I really don’t get it.”
“Why do you always ask me for help?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re smart. If you were smart you would have figured that out.”
“I know but you always want to work…what happened to the old Jeff?”
“I don’t know. My parents have changed me so much. But do you want to come over?”
“I guess. I’ll be over in a few.”
“Yes!”
“Ok?”
“Sorry.”
I was beginning to think. Does Jeff have a crush on me?
I walked upstairs and got my backpack.
“Tre can you take me to Jeff’s house?”
“Why?”
“He said he needed help with homework.”
“That better be the truth Addie. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Tre, I would never cheat on you. It’s the last thing I would do.”
“You mean that?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that after that horrific incident, I’m all weirded out.”
I totally forgot about that.
“Tre, I don’t have to go. I can stay here if you want me to.”
“Why the sudden change in plans?”
“I don’t know.”
“No, you can go help Jeff. What do I have to worry about? You’re my girlfriend and I trust you not to cheat on me.”
“You sure? You want me to go?”
“Geez Addie. You’re making seem like you are cheating on me.” He smiled, then it turned to a frown. “You’re not cheating on me. Are you?”
“No! For the last time no!”
“Feisty huh? It’s uh kinda turning me on.”
“Oh my God Tre. It would.”
“Yeah.” He grabbed my neck and started kissing me.
“Tre.” He didn’t stop. “Tre! I gotta get to Jeff’s.”
He hung his head. “Ok.”
He took my hand and we walked to the door, but stopped as soon as we got there.
We heard moans and someone said, “Oh Mikey. Oh Mikey!”
We opened the door only to find Canada and Mike making out on the doorstep. He was feeling her up.
They quickly pulled away and they looked at us with pink lips.
There was an awkward silence but Tre broke it.
“My God you people are as loud as Hell.”
I laughed and they looked embarrassed.
“Even Mom heard.”
She turned pale white. “Oh my God. No she didn’t! Please tell me she didn’t!”
“No, dumbass. She’s not even home.”
“Oh. Thank God.”
They walked in the house and we left for Tre’s car.