Mr Bones

Nobody understood. Nobody knew why. But they went along with it all the same.

The brush of a rigid leaf along his arm, awoke Mr Bones from a pleasant daydream. He cleared his throat, took off his battered coat, and persisted to concentrate on the reports before him. The sun shone down heavily, causing Mr Bones a mild headache as he tried to read the reflective white pages. Tick, tick, tick, wrong. It had been a long morning, and Mr Bones was just about ready to throw his students work into the large stone fountain he currently leant against. He needed a break. Not just a break from covering paper with red pen, but a break from everything. What Mr Bones needed most was a holiday.

He sighed in apprehension, as he flicked through the SACs, most of which – Mr Bones was pleased to find – were rather well done. Deciding he needed a drink, Mr Bones separated the small pile of marked reports from the mountain of unmarked reports. Then tapped them on the grassy ground to insure that they were straight, before sliding them into his tattered brown brief case. Immersing himself into another full fetched, creative daydream, Mr Bones left his belongings on the ground and headed up to the staff room.

The school stood tall, overlooking its oversized front garden. Walking up the hill was strenuous work for Mr Bones, who (despite his fit, young state) was worn out from the busy term. His muscles were tired. He longed for a fresh start, to renew his mind and his body. For now, however, he was on a mission for some coffee. Through the front gates. Down the common corridor. As he smiled to various students, Mr Bones wondered thoughtfully how many smiles he gave away in a day. A lot. He was a fan of giving smiles, all his students – even ex students – got a grin as he worked swiftly by.

“Hi Mr Bones!” waved Lucy from Biology 4.1 class. He greeted her cheerfully, before turning -almost instinctively- into the staff kitchen. Small and cosy, warm and stuffy. Mr Bones preferred the kitchen at his old job. It was easier to breath, more conventional than relaxing, at the veterinary kitchen. He also much preferred the coffee there. After a term of teaching, Mr Bones still hadn’t completely settled in. He liked to believe his teaching style had improved over the last few months, his students seemed fond of him and their marks were gradually getting better and better.

He filled up the glass kettle, insuring it had enough water for the next coffee deprived teacher to come along. As he waited for it to boil, Mr Bones headed over to the far walls small window. The only window in the room. He gazed down at the fountain, noting that his brief case and coat had been left in an unorganised manner. He ran a hand through his smooth brown hair, not an everyday action for Mr Bones, but it seemed to help revitalise him. He pushed the glass pane out, and stuck his head through. The kettle whistled in completion, Mr Bones jumped slightly at the sound, bumping his head painlessly on the open window above him. He rubbed it anyway. 

He poured the boiled water into his faded-brown mug, added coffee and milk, and stood stirring the ingredients together for far longer than necessary.  

On his way back to the garden, the corridors were empty. There were no students for Mr Bones to smile at. For this he was grateful, his energy levels were low and simple smiles were becoming an effort. Walking dangerously fast towards him, was Lucy again. She had her head down and seemed to be thinking with intense concern. “Hi Lucy” Mr Bones greeted her, she looked up at him briefly, her nostrils flared in surprise but the same worried look remained on her face. Suddenly, she increased her speed to a jog. Puzzled as he was, Mr Bones turned around and watched as she disappeared down the hall. He contemplated chasing after her to see if she was alright, but thought better of it and reluctantly continued on his way.

Walking down the hill, Mr Bones became aware that his brief case and coat were not in sight. He hoped that they were merely further around the fountain than he could see, but as he got closer it became more than evident that they were gone. Mr Bones looked left and then right, hoping to find someone running off with his belongings. There was nothing.

To be continued.