Down and Out in Bugtussle by Stephanie McAfee Read Free Book Online Page A

“Good day, ladies,” she says smartly, then walks out the door.
    I look at Lilly, who appears to be as shocked as I am by Chloe’s outburst.
    “What the hell was that?” I ask.
    “Who the hell was that?” Lilly says. “Maybe the stress of that massive renovation project is starting to get to her.”
    “She hired a decorator and a construction crew!” I say.
    “Well, she still has to make a lot of decisions and she said last week that her cabinets had to be refinished because the glaze was all wrong. Maybe that’s why she’s in such a bad mood.”
    “Maybe so,” I say. “And J.J.’s brother moving back has really gotten on her nerves.”
    “Tate?”
    “Yes. Tate, with a stuffed fox and a collection of mounted fish and deer.”
    Lilly giggles at that. “I haven’t seen him in years. How is he?”
    “She said he was awful,” I say, laughing. “He and his stuffed fox are staying with J.J. right now and apparently the fox is on display in J.J.’s living room.”
    “Wow,” Lilly says. “I hate to say it, but that’s kind of funny.”
    “She doesn’t think so at all,” I say, getting up. “So I guess I’m going out with Dweeb Numero Dos this weekend.”
    “I don’t think that’s such a bad idea,” Lilly says. “I mean, it’s a free meal and—”
    “Don’t say it, Lilly.”
    “What?” she says with a sly smile. “Don’t say he might be your future husband?” She giggles and I give her the evil eye. “Just go out with him,” she says. “Then call and tell Chloe how great he was and how much you appreciate her setting you up.”
    “Right,” I say, getting up. “Because that’ll surely put an end to this blind date madness. Thank you.”
    She glances at her watch. “Aw, man. I’ve got to get back to class!”
    “Talk to you later,” I tell her.
    “Hope your day is better today.”
    “Thank you.”
    *   *   *
    During afternoon break, I’m sitting in the teachers’ lounge listening to Stacey Dewberry mourn the passing of Axl Rose’s singing voice, when the door flies open and a gorgeous chick dressed to the nines bursts into the room. Hot on her four-inch-high heels is a very dapper Freddie Dublin.
    “Oh my stars,” Stacey whispers. “It’s your nemesis from D Hall.”
    “What?” I whisper to Stacey. Then it hits me. “Is that—” I behold the face of my replacement.
    “Cameron Becker,” she replies.
    “What is her problem?” Cameron Becker asks as she jiggles ass and titties across the room to the fridge without bothering to acknowledge Stacey or me. “Who the hell does she think she is?”
    “Cameron, you should hire a lawyer and demand that evaluation be dismissed. You could lose your job over this.”
    “How dare she?” Cameron Becker fumes as she jerks the refrigerator door open. “Where are your Vitaminwaters, Freddie?”
    “Uh, that would be the only Vitaminwater in there, sweetie,” he says. “And you can’t just let this go. You need to go up there and talk to her face-to-face and let her know what’s up.”
    “I just did, Freddie, and she made a fool of me in front of Mr. Byer and Mrs. Marshall!” Cameron Becker takes a swig of purple Vitaminwater. “She’s the one who should be fired. She thinks she’s such hot shit sitting up there in her counselor’s office with all of her pretty plaques on the wall. Well, I’ve got news for her.”
    “Hold on a minute!” I say, standing up.
    “Ace, uh, Ms. Jones, I d-don’t think you should—,” Stacey Dewberry stammers.
    “If you’re talking about Chloe Stacks, you better stop right there.” I look at Cameron and then at Freddie.
    “Excuse me, Ms. Substitute Teacher,” Freddie snaps. “This is an A and B conversation, and you need to C your way out of it.”
    “Are you serious?” I ask Freddie. “Did you really just say that?”
    “Why, yes, I did,” he says, giving me a wry look. “And I may have even meant it, too.”
    “Who are you?” Cameron Becker asks,