Bad News Bob and The Mean Machine

Chapter 25

            Another chapter of our lives had closed, and everything that had happened that weekend had gone up in smoke (in more ways than one).  The trouble we had gotten ourselves into seemed to pass as quickly as it came.  But our parents were still worried about our safety, and since the police wouldn't believe our story and search for the two bad guys, they felt it was up to them to keep an eye on us, just in case Percival and Gus showed up.

             Their idea was to make sure an adult was around before and after school.   So it was my mom's job to bring us back and forth to school each day until this whole thing blew over.  My dad figured that if anything was going to happen, it would have happened by now, but he said you could never be too sure. 

            Bob, Kelli, and I didn't really mind being chauffeured around.  Mom kind of enjoyed herself as we crammed into the back of Dad's eight cylinder Mustang while she roared up and down the highway.  Kelli loved it because she got to sit next to Bob and was able to run her fingers through his hair.  And Bob was sort of getting used to the idea of having her around.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew these two were going to be together in the future.

             When we arrived at school that Monday, Mom pulled up to the front of the building.  She revved up the engine before we got out.  This attracted a lot of attention.  All the kids standing and sitting in the front of the school turned to stare.  Some of the older guys who were into "hot rods" walked over to check out the Mustang. 

            The three of us struggled out of the back seat and thanked my mom for the ride.  She said she would be back at the end of the day to pick us up.  With that, she revved up the engine, put it in gear, spun her rear wheels, and drove out of sight.  The guys watching her were impressed that an adult, a woman at that, was cool enough to "burn rubber."  Little did they know Mom had "burned rubber" on the racetrack long before they were born.  She used to be one of the best women racecar drivers in the country.

           Everything at school remained as calm and as peaceful as it had been the week before.  Since no one knew that we were involved in the fire on Saturday morning, nothing was said about it. 

            It was a typical school day.  The cafeteria food was terrible as usual, the boys' locker room was still smelly, and the same bad kids could be found sitting in the principal's office.  And of course, Buster was teasing my poor friend Bob. 

            This time Buster was calling him a "nerd".  Bob was being picked on today because of his black framed glasses, pants too short showing his white socks, and the pencil and pen set he carried in the pocket of his shirt.  That sure gave him good reason, but I still didn't like it!  This wasn't the first time that had happened, and Bob was certainly used to it, but for some reason, this time it annoyed him.  It bothered him enough that he actually told Buster to knock it off. 

            Buster was startled and didn't know what to say.  Bob had never acted that way before, but when Buster started up again, he put his finger in Bob's face daring him to make him stop.  The two insulted each other and Buster started to push Bob.  I wondered how long it would take for Bob to lose his cool, or for Buster to give him a face full of knuckles. 

            Then Buster started to poke Bob with that same finger he put in Bob's face.  He must have poked him one too many times, because Bob grabbed that same finger, and bent it back.  This sent Buster right down to his knees.  Bob continued to put just enough pressure on Buster's finger to keep him from moving.  If he tried to move, Bob would bend it a little more.  The pain must have been terrible because Buster, all of a sudden, became very sweet.  He even apologized to him for being so pushy.  

    Once Buster promised to be good, Bob let go of his finger.  Now, any normal kid would have admitted he was beaten and walked away, but not Buster.  He had to have the last word.  He told Bob that he wasn't finished and would get him.  Then Buster walked away as he rubbed his sore finger.  I was so proud of Bob, and I think he felt good about himself too.  I guess after several years of being teased, everyone has to stand up for himself.  And think about it, Bob did it all alone, with no help from "The Mean Machine."                        

Answer the following questions.

1.  To help keep the children safe, what was Marty's mom's job?

2.  What did Marty's mom do to impress the other students at school?

3.  Why did Buster pick on Bob this time?

4.  What did Bob do to stop Buster?

5.  If you were Bob, what would you have done to stop Buster?