Captain Mack by James Roy

St Lawrence’s were heading from the station towards the school, and Caleb eyed them with a concerned look. “Can’t it wait till after school?”
    â€œNo, I might forget. It’ll only take a minute.”
    â€œWe’re going to be late. We’ve got the Fat Controller first up.”
    â€œCome on,” Danny said. “It’ll take longer if we stand here arguing.”
    The supermarket was almost empty, except for a man stacking shelves, the woman at the checkout, and a couple of older boys buying chewy.
    â€œOver here,” Danny said, seeing the toiletries section to one side. He paused in front of the razors as he studied the selection.
    â€œCome on,” Caleb said, glancing over his shoulder at a group of boys crossing the street from the station. “Hurry up, all right?”
    â€œYeah, yeah, hang on,” Danny said, picking up a twelve-pack of double blade razors with a lubricating strip. “What do you reckon about these ones?”
    â€œSure, whatever,” Caleb said. “Let’s just go.”
    â€œOh, wait, maybe these ones are better — they’re for sensitive skin.”
    Caleb looked at his watch and shook his head. “Mate, I’m going — I can’t afford to be late for Whaley’s class.”
    Danny ignored him. “Yeah, these are better,” he said.
    â€œGood, I’m glad,” Caleb said as he walked away. “See you soon.”
    â€œYou right there, son?” the checkout lady called out.
    â€œI’m looking for hair cream,” Danny answered. “Hair cream?”
    â€œYeah, for … for my grand-dad.”
    â€œJust to your left, love.”
    Danny looked over what was there — gels, sprays, shampoos and conditioners, but no hair cream.
    â€œAre you sure you’ve got it?” he asked.
    The woman came over. “I thought we did,” she said. She muttered to herself as she scanned her eyes along the shelf. “Will this do?” she asked at last, picking up a tube of super-hold gel.
    Danny took it and read the label carefully. “I guess so,” he said.
    As he got to the checkout he looked across the road to the station overpass. Normally there’d have been a couple of St Lawrence’s boys straggling, heading reluctantly towards the school. It alarmed him to see that this time there were none at all. The overpass was empty.
    Danny arrived for Science almost ten minutes late, and was heading quietly for a spare seat near the side when Mr Whaley stopped his droning.
    â€œGood morning, Mr Snell,” he said in a terse voice. “Decided to join us after all?”
    His brain stuck firmly in automatic, Danny spun around, snapped to attention and saluted as smartly as he could. “Yes, sir!” he replied loudly.
    The entire class burst out laughing. Mr Whaley’s eyes looked like they might explode right out of their sockets. “Excuse me?” he said, his voice disturbingly controlled and menacing. “Did you really just salute me?”
    Danny felt his skin go hot and cold and the blood drain from his face as he realised what he’d done. “I’m … I’m sorry, Mr Whaley,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean that.”
    â€œDisrespect such as that is intolerable, Mr Snell. And I’m afraid it’s far too late for apologies.” Mr Whaley pointed to the doorway. “You can wait outside Dr Partridge’s office until I’ve finished this class, since I don’t have the time to brief him right now.
    â€œBut —”
    â€œGo!”
    As Danny turned to leave he noticed three faces in particular. Shaun and Grant were staring straight at him and grinning widely, while Caleb was biting his lip and staring hard at the top of his desk.
    Dr Partridge peered over the top of his glasses. “This kind of behaviour surprises me coming from you, Daniel. There are boys of whom I’d expect it, but