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Edwin Brotch yearned for one calm school day. Just one! He knew it was probably too much to ask for, at least until they hired a second teacher to take charge of half the class (or everyone besides Amata Almodovar and Cyan Caster, if he were really lucky). But alas, he was not blessed with such pleasantries.
Cyan got to class early that day, as he always had.
“Good morning, Mr. Brotch,” he said, chipper as ever. He was dressed as Grognak the Barbarian, with his green skirt-like bottoms and hair messed up just-so to replicate the comic book character’s signature locks. He also had on a black tank top (Cyan was too shy to go shirtless, even if it would be truer to the character) and some gloves matching the color of his belt. Although, Brotch noticed that Amata wasn’t by his side like she usually was in the mornings.
“Good morning, Caster,” he replied. “I like your costume! But where’s your little friend Almodovar?”
“She won’t make it in today. She’s with my dad,” he explained. “She’s feeling a little under the weather.”
“I see. Well, that’s too bad. When you send her her work after class, let her know I hope she feels better soon.”
Cyan nodded. “Oh, and Mr. Brotch? I made you this... since it’s Halloween,” he shyly walked to Brotch’s desk and slid a card over to him. It was made with orange construction paper and had HAPPY HALLOWEEN written on the front, and on the inside he found a drawing of Cyan dressed as Grognak (although he had more of a resemblance in the drawing than he did in real life) and Brotch dressed as a vampire. Under it was written “remember that I like the extra large chocolate bars and Amata likes radioactive gumdrops — Cyan Caster” in neat handwriting. Brotch chuckled at the note and gave Cyan a smile.
“Thank you, Cyan. I love it. And don’t worry, I’ve made sure to stock up on chocolate bars and gumdrops for you and Almodovar.”
Cyan nodded again and gave a goofy grin, then he grabbed some more construction paper from the side of the room and took it to his desk to doodle more Halloween cards.
The rest of the class slowly filled in within the next half hour. Christine and Freddy were absent, having faked an illness to stay home for Halloween. So, Paul came in first, not wearing his costume yet. Then Susie, wearing a costume that Brotch vaguely recognized as a cartoon princess. Then Wally, who had stopped wearing Halloween costumes around 3 years ago. Then finally came Butch.
Butch was also dressed as Grognak (long wig and shirtlessness included), Brotch immediately realized (and dreaded). Cyan and Butch had always been competitive, so wearing the same Halloween costume would definitely bring chaos. Brotch prayed that hopefully neither would notice until class was over, but of course, nothing ever went right in Vault 101. Cyan turned in his seat when he heard Butch come in, which made his green bottoms much more visible.
Butch immediately yelled, “What the hell, Caster!?” and before Brotch could do anything about it, the boy was stomping to Cyan’s desk.
Cyan stood up, ready to defend himself if it should come to that (it would). “What the hell yourself, DeLoria! I chose this costume first!”
“Caster, please don’t engage,” Brotch started, but it was already too late.
“Screw off, you did not! I’ve had this costume planned since last Halloween!”
“Well, I’ve had this costume planned since... the day before last Halloween!”
“If you planned it so long ago, how come it looks like shit? Grognak doesn’t wear a black shirt, dumbass!”
“Well, I—” Cyan blushed. “I - I don’t exactly have Grognak’s body, so— shut up! Your costume looks like shit. You... that wig makes you look like a girl!”
“Oh yeah? At least I get my hair cut every once in a while so I don’t look like a girl all the time, unlike you! Just change, you freaking moron!”
“Screw you! I don’t look like a girl! You go change! I got in my outfit first, so you go change!”
“I can’t change — not that I would, anyway — but I’m matching with Christine! I’m Grognak, and she’s the virgin from The Lair of The Virgin Eater.”
Brotch tried to interupt, “I - I don’t think you know what that means —”
Butch ignored him. “So you have to change!”
Brotch watched as Cyan cocked his fist back, and he knew today was going to be a looooong day. He didn’t bother breaking up the boys’ fights anymore — they would just start again as soon as they were let free (or worse, start beating up Brotch). And besides, the Vault was awful boring. At least watching 2 preteens fight over a comic book character was something to do.
And so, Cyan punched Butch in the face (well, in the chin. Butch had recently grown a few inches and Cyan hadn’t adjusted yet) and he toppled backward on the floor. It was looking like maybe it would be a short fight, at least until Butch pulled Cyan’s legs out from under him. Cyan fell and hit his head on his desk, and Brotch sighed as he used the classroom phone to call his father.
Brotch assumed that’d be it, surely little Cyan would pass out, or give up, or something, but he just got back up and pushed Butch back on the floor. Butch kicked him in the chest, and Cyan hit his head on his desk again. Brotch noticed blood, so he realized he had to seriously intervene. He pulled Butch away by his underarms, then lifted Cyan onto his desk.
“This has to stop, you two. Caster, go to your father’s office. Please.”
Cyan didn’t speak, just blinked some tears out of his eyes and nodded. He put a hand on the back of his head and walked out of the classroom without saying a word.
“This isn’t over, crybaby! I’m seriously going to kick your ass tomorrow,” Butch yelled after him, still on the floor.
Edwin Brotch yearned for one calm school day. Just one!