It wasn't my Fault The chess club - Part 7

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I got up as soon as I was awake, which was becoming the norm lately I washed then I set out my uniform for the day. Then I went down and had breakfast then I put the coffee on for Mum. I headed back upstairs to put my uniform on.

Which I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable wearing. After all, it’s been a month of wearing a black pleated skirt, a white blouse with a school tie, a blazer, and my beret with the school badge. Fair enough, it'd been four weeks now, and I still didn’t feel right, but I was comfortable enough. It was just being a girly girl on the weekends I hated, but with my school uniform, I was more at ease with myself.

The only part of the uniform I really hated was the white knee socks, as you had to make sure they were at the same height as each other 20 times a day. If you got to court with them, not level with each other, you could get a Demerit point, and if you got enough demerit points, you would get an hour's detention. At least it’s not that cold now, but in the warmer months, I’ll be cooler than the boys are in their uniform as they have to wear long pants all year as the dress code doesn’t allow for them to wear shorts Which is unfair as girls are wearing skirts in the warmer months.

With the girl's uniform, the only difference is in winter, girls have to wear tights or knee socks. In summer, girls get the wear ankle socks if they want to instead of tights or knee socks. Where the boys have to wear long pants all the time, that’s why some boys opt to wear skirts in summer and as long as they adhere to the dress code they can wear whatever they like. But only a few are brave enough to do it. I was just putting the last of my makeup on when Mum got up, and the first thing she asked was why was I up and ready so early?

I told her I was awake, so what’s the point in staying in bed? I had breakfast checked my homework and made the coffee, Mum thanked me for making the coffee as she got ready, I brushed my teeth, then went back downstairs to make Mum some toast and marmalade. I had her coffee and toast prepared at the kitchen table for when she came down. I was reading the science book that I had to read for school when Mum came downstairs and said thank you, Alex. I'll have this. Then I'll take you to school, Alex.

I told Mum theirs is no rush. I'm just waking up early lately, and I don't see the point in just lying there when there's stuff to do, Mum said fair enough then asked me to ask Jennifer where her mum got her dance kit Mum then asked if I was ok with going to dance?

I said yes, I'm ok with it, mum, it's a fun way to keep fit as theirs no swim team at school to keep fit. We have P.E. Class, but that’s just running normally, and I knew as soon as you saw Jennifer’s dance classes, you'd want me to do it. I’ll talk to Jennifer about the dance kit, and I’m sure we can pick it up on Saturday, but if possible, could I not wear a Tutu as they look lame?

Mum said I don’t think you’ll need one as it’s a modern dance class, not a ballet Mum then asked if I had everything I needed for school. After putting her makeup on, I put my blazer and beret on and grabbed my bag, and said I was ready, and we headed to the car. We pulled up outside the school, and I knew Jennifer wouldn’t be there yet, and I wasn’t sure if Ben would be there either I thanked Mum for the lift and Mum said it’s no trouble, Alex. I’m heading to my cooking club. Do we need anything from the next shire? I said if you are near that second-hand electronics shop, I need a new tablet as this one doesn’t hook up to the school Wi-Fi, so I have to put all my class info in manually.

I just need a good second-hand one that is compatible with the school system, and I gave Mum the card the library gave me with all the school's system information on it. Mum said I’ll talk to the gentleman who used to work with your father. He may be able to help. And I’ll see you here this afternoon darling. I wondered if the guy Mum was going to see served with my dad as Mum never said anything about the military now.

I waved goodbye and then headed to the bench where Ben usually waited I wasn’t expecting to see her, but there he was. He always looked brilliant, never anything out of place, very much the lady. He smiled as I walked up to him and said you’re early, Alex I know I’ve been waking up early since mum started dressing me. I don’t know why I’m just waking up early, and other than reading, I don’t like lying around in bed.

Ben said, fair enough. I don’t like lying around much, either. As we set up the chessboard, I ask how’s it going with Jay, Ben said well, he’s coming around. I just have to figure out who told on him, and I’m pretty sure I know who it is. May I ask who your suspect is?

Ben replied You have pointed them out to me before. I thought they might be your prime suspect, Ben said he didn't want to go into detail until he was ready. I said fair enough.

Ben said he had heard Jennifer was going shopping with me at the weekend. So Jennifer must have gotten your mum to invite her to come along on the weekend shopping trip. I said yes, she did. Asking Mum to give Jennifer a lift was a great idea, but as soon as Mum saw the dance studio, mum Signed me up for modern dance. I don't mind. I'm getting my dance kit on the weekend, but I'm actually looking forward to it as I need something to do that’s fun, that's not schoolwork at the last school I used to swim.

I was on the swimming team, which helped me stay fit, but we don't have anything like that here. So I hope I’m going to enjoy dancing plus it will keep me fit.

We ideally talked and played chess until Jennifer came over to us as we finished a game, and I said you have a go, but watch it. Ben's very good today. Jennifer sat down and got white in her pick, and opened with a standard opening. I asked Jennifer if there was anything new going on or on the grapevine  Jennifer said she'd have to check with Sandra, but nothing new that she knew of, and I'm so happy that the head bitch has stopped sending me emails every day. I didn't know she was so into this female dominance kick.

She wants me to keep a close eye on all of you and tell her if any of you do anything boyish and to let her know immediately so she could either deal with it by herself or let your mothers know or both. I'm really starting to hate her. I used to think she was a nice person and now I find out she's crewel and a sadist as well. We all nod our agreement then Ben gets a thoughtful look on her face, and then Ben asks Jennifer did she trust Sandra Ben went on to ask Jennifer if she asked Sandra to keep something quiet, would she?

Jennifer thought for a moment and said yes, she would. It would kill her not to be able to tell everybody, but Sandra’s word is good. She'll keep quiet if you ask her to.

Good, I may need her as a witness on short notice, Jennifer said I'll text her and ask her to come and talk to me and Jennifer pulled out her smartphone. Ben said good and added don't delete any of the emails you get from Miss Bright. They may be useful evidence one day.

Ben looked enviers of Jennifer's smartphone. He had an old flip phone that was only good for making calls, and from my research on petticoating and I knew giving boys outdated stuff was a way of controlling the petticoat, Jennifer got a reply from Sandra she'd talk to her in the lunchroom, and Jennifer said no, it has to be outside. Sandra replied, ok, I'll be outside at first break.

Jennifer let Ben know Sandra was going to meet her outside at the first break. Ben said good, and I know this will make the other girls uncomfortable, but I’d like you to bring her to the table, and I'll meet you all there. Now Jay's bus gets here soon, and I need to talk to him alone, but if everything goes well, we'll be playing chess together at lunch. I looked at Jennifer and said ok, we'll give you some space and got our bags and headed to our lockers. As we got inside, I told Jennifer that my mum asked where your mum got her dance kit.

Jennifer laughed. My mum hasn’t bought me anything since my brother left, in fact, she didn’t really buy me stuff before that as she didn’t show much interest in me. She put more effort into changing John into a girl than she did in me. The only person that cared about me was John. Even though Mum was trying to change him, he always took care of me. He made her get stuff for me all the time.

He said in his note that he was sorry he had to go, but Mum was getting really sneaky in trying to permanently change him. Witch, I now know what he really meant by that statement and that he would always be watching me. I don’t know how, but I always feel him watching out for me.

I was shocked at what Jennifer said, and I asked her have you looked after yourself since you were 9? Jennifer said yes, if I needed anything, I’d ask for it, and Mum would ask me why I needed it. I’d tell her it was for school or dance class, and she’d just buy it later. She got fed up with taking me to the shops all the time and just gave me her card and told me to use it to get whatever I needed.

That’s why I’ve got my own card now, so I don’t have to ask her for hers anymore, Now and then, she may ask how I’m going, but for the most part, she does her charity work, and she works on her investments, and leaves me to my own devisees.  I told Jennifer I m sorry at least my mum still talks to me and she still looks after me.

Jennifer said it was ok. I know John is watching over me somehow, and one day I’ll see him again, but for now, my job is to learn and be a good person and make him proud of me. We dropped our bags at our lockers and took what books we needed, and headed to class.

The class was good, but we always enjoyed the class. And it was the first break, and we got our stuff. I headed to the table with the girls, and Jennifer went to see Sandra.

I had just finished telling Sam and Tom that Ben had some plan that we all had a part in it, Jennifer walked up then with Sandra and said Ben needed to talk to her as well. That's why she's here.

Sam and Tom looked a little uncomfortable but said ok and greeted Sandra, To break the ice, I asked Sandra if there was anything new.

Sandra said the younger Brents are going to each class and apologizing for their actions, but the older twins haven't been seen since yesterday. Even though they are apologizing, they have been trying to find out who told them, and we all know what they will do when they find out who it is.

I wouldn't want to be them. Sandra finished with Ben stopped at our table just then and said I need you all to catch someone.

But let me explain quickly, I was suspicious of Julie in how much attention she shows Jay, so when my classes permitted, I followed Julie following Jay, and she's like a love-sick caff. I think she got jealous of you, Jennifer, and tried to get you out of the picture by getting you blamed for telling on Jay, but it backfired on her, and Jay doesn't trust any girl now.

Sandra put in quickly. Yes, she's in love with Jay. I've seen inside her notebook as she doesn't cover her work, and there are harts and love doodles for Jay every wear in it. We all looked surprised at this except Ben, who said that confirmed his suspicions. I've got an idea, and as I said, I'll need all of you.

So the plan is this!

In a couple of minutes, Jay is going to meet you, Jennifer, in the toilets near the hockey changing rooms, and you're going to sit in the first cubicle with these around your ankles. Ben handed a brown lunch bag to Jennifer and make sure they were visible. Jay will hide in another cubicle. If Julie does what she usually does, she'll sneak in, check on Jay and then sneak out.

She'll see you, Jennifer, and she'll go and tell Miss Bright, Sam, and Tom, it will be your job to follow her and see where she goes. She won't go and tell Miss Bright in person as she won't want to be seen. So I think she'll go to the suggestion box that Bruce empties after lunch. Right then, Jennifer looked in the brown bag and said If I'm wearing these, are they clean Ben smiled and said they are brand new. We all looked inside the bag and laughed. Ben looked at his watch and said you better get going, Jennifer. Jennifer took off for her appointment with Jay.

Ben asked Sam and Tom to get into a position where they could watch Julie. I and Alex will be talking to Bruce and waiting for the mail. Tom, if Julie goes anywhere else, come and tell me, as Jay has to go to the office straight away and prove that he doesn't have male underwear on. And Jennifer will have to go with him and say it’s a bet between us to prove girls' underwear is more comfortable than boys’ underwear.

Sandra asked what do you need me for? Ben said I need you as an independent witness. You'll follow Julie into the toilets just after her and see what she sees, but you'll see Jay and Jennifer together. As we walked that way, Ben asked Sandra we need you to keep this to yourself, Sandra said I'm on your side. You don't even have to ask now. I better get going if I'm going to be a witness, and She took off at a fast walk me and Ben headed to see Bruce.

As we got closer to his office, we made sure no one was close by and knocked on his office door. When Bruce answered the door, Ben asked loudly if Bruce had found his folder, as he had left it somewhere. Bruce replied yes, I did. Benji, come in, girls, and I'll get it for you. Once inside, we talked normally, and he handed Ben a folder and asked what can I really do for you guys. Ben told Bruce everything and asked if he could check the letters in the suggestion box before he gave them to Miss Bright.

Bruce just laughed and said I don't have to empty it anymore as it's just up there, and Bruce pointed to a corner in the sealing and said in the last school holidays. I put a shoot in, so all the letters end up in that basket. Yes, I got fed up with checking it every day as its empty most of the time Ben said that's great.

Just then, something landed in the basket, and Bruce picked it up and said no one other than the principal and myself is allowed to read these, so don't look as I read it as he opened it up and placed it on the table in front of us. It was a letter telling Jay about wearing boy clothes. Bruce said that's not nice telling on someone. It would be better if this letter disappeared and walked to the door and left the letter behind. Ben quickly picked it up and thanked Bruce for his folder.

Bruce said no trouble and let Samantha and Tammy know that every table will have the beautiful new caddy's they like so much by the end of the week, We thanked Bruce again and headed for the table we played chess, and everyone was there waiting with Julie close by. We sat down as the others watched Sandra and Tom play.

The others looked at Ben and said what now? Well, we have about 20 minutes till we have class, so Jennifer and Sandra, can you bring Julie over if she doesn't want to tell her that the Brents are looking for people who inform on other students as no one knows who told on them so there just going to deal with all the informers that way they'll get the right one.

The rest of us watched as the girls talked to Julie. You could tell she didn't want to come, but she got a scared look, and then she headed straight to us. When Julie got to the table, she asked what do you lot want? Ben placed her note on the table, and she went white and said, where did you get that and tried to grab it.

Jay said why did you do it? The last time you told on me, I had to wear a nappie for a week, and I couldn't wear underwear for two weeks after as they found out I'm allergic to the nappies, but Miss Bright made me wear them regardless. I was in so much pain.  How could you just because I didn't talk to you? Julie started to cry and said she was sorry she didn't know what Miss Bright had done. I thought you just got detention or something. Sandra butted in and said that something else Miss Bright likes is 20 strokes of a cane on each ass cheek.

Julie cries even harder. I didn't know Jay said you know now Julie begged for forgiveness. I really care for you. I'll do anything to make it up to you. Jay wasn't in a forgiving mood. Ben played peacemaker and said Meet us here at lunchtime, and we'll talk and remember to be good and keep your mouth shut, or I'm sure Sandra can arrange for the school to find out that you like to tell Miss Bright things and the way a certain family feels about people who talk to her they may want to speak to you now wipe your eyes then go and clean up.

We all looked at Ben, and he said don't worry, I would never tell on her, but she doesn't know that. What are we going to do? It’s going to be a long time before any of us are going to trust her again.