Between The Bells

Good morning, students. It's Monday, August 25th, 1986. First day of school here at Edna High.

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One thing is for sure, navigating high school in a small town isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s about grades. Sometimes it's about friends. Most days, it’s just about surviving.

 

In high school, there’s other rules you need to survive. They aren’t the kind printed in the handbook. They’re the ones nobody teaches but everybody learns real quick. The first is usually who belongs.

 

You know exactly how it works. There was an invisible pecking order, and everybody's got their place in it.

 

Take the senior benches, for instance. No sign is posted, but everybody knows the deal. Well, almost everybody.

 

Today, you're gonna see what it takes to earn your spot in the hierarchy.

 

You need to understand this because in high school, territory matters. And somebody's always testing the boundaries.

 

Let's get out there and see who sits where they belong and who learns the hard way

 

 

First Day Of School- Aug. 25th, 1986 - Let The Gossip Begin

 

SARAH MITCHELL TUGGED at her light blue blouse, already sticking to her back as she pushed through the stream of students in Edna High's main common area. August in Texas was no joke. It was eight on a Monday morning and already a sauna on the first day of school.

 

She took her spot on one of the two, L-shaped senior benches positioned right by the senior lockers on one end of the main hall. This spot made it easy to see almost every locker in the school and track all the juicy details.

 

Janet Wilson stood nearby.

 

"Early bird today, huh?"

 

"Mornin', Janet," Sarah said warmly. "You excited about your junior year?"

 

"I guess," Janet shifted her books. "Is it okay if I…"

 

"Oh honey, you better wait a few minutes," Sarah advised. "The others'll be here soon, and you should already know how sittin' here works. This bench comes with rules. It’s the seniors only bench."

 

Sarah watched Janet walk to her locker. It was the first day of school and the same rituals were happening. Freshmen were lost. Sophomores were trying too hard. Juniors were testing boundaries. The Seniors, of course, were claiming the top of the pecking order.

 

The familiar scent of Poison perfume preceded Amber Brown’s voice. Even on the first day of school, she looked perfectly put together in her fitted red pants and white blouse.

 

"Sarah, honey, you're here early. Good. We need to talk about how this year's gonna work. Right now though, I need to know if you heard about Jessica and Mike breakin' up at the lake party?"

 

"Jessica Morrison and Mike Stevens?" Sarah shifted to face Amber. "But they've been together since sophomore year! Bless their hearts."

 

"Not anymore they haven't," Amber said. "Apparently Mike was gettin' a little too friendly with Cindy Patterson, and Jessica caught 'em behind the boat house."

 

"Oh my," Sarah breathed. "That's gonna make homecomin' interestin', isn't it?"

 

"That's what I'm sayin'," Amber pointed. "We need to figure out how this affects the whole social situation. I mean, Mike's gonna want to bring Cindy, but Jessica will still be part of the homecomin' court, and"

 

"Ladies, hope y'all saved me some room. Gonna be a long year." Eric dropped onto the bench.

 

"Eric Schmidt!" Sarah smiled. "How was your summer, sugar? You have fun?"

 

"Freakin' awesome," Eric said. "Y'all should've seen the party at my place last weekend. It was an epic, last party of the summer. Had to hire a cleanin' service before my parents got back from Dallas."

 

"Your parents were gone again?" Amber asked.

 

"Business trip. Dad's expandin' the dealership, so they're travelin' all the time now." Eric shrugged. "Anyway, point is, we've got the perfect setup for parties this year. Big house, understandin' neighbors, and a pool."

 

"Speakin' of parties," Amber leaned forward, "did y'all hear about what happened with Abbie Henderson?"

 

"Of course!" Eric's eyebrows shot up. "Dude, that was crazy. I heard she snuck out and took her dad's truck to meet some guy from Victoria."

 

"And crashed it into their mailbox comin' home," Sarah added. "Poor thing. Her daddy was furious. I just feel awful for her."

 

"Serves her right," Amber said. "You don't take your parents' vehicle without permission. That's totally immature."

 

"Well, I'll be! Lookie here at what the cat done drug up to the senior bench!" Jack's voice boomed.

 

"Jack Stewart," Amber said dryly. "Punctual as always."

 

"Y’all savin’ me a spot, ain’t ya?"

 

"Wasn't really savin' as much as resignin' ourselves to the inevitable," Eric grinned.

 

"That there stings, Schmidt," Jack clutched his chest. "And here I thought we all was tight."

 

"Of course we’re all friends," Sarah laughed. "That's about the only reason your junior butt gets to sit here. Cause we know you're gonna do whatever you want anyway."

 

"Sharp one there aren’tcha Sara." Jack nodded.

 

"You could've at least gotten a fresh haircut before school," Amber added, eyeing Jack's sandy brown mullet. "Cut off that rat's nest."

 

"And mess up the number one feature that reels in the ladies?" Jack shot back, running his hand through his hair.

 

Amber looked around dramatically. "Yeah, I can see the long line of ladies there, Jack. They're linin' up for miles."

 

"Give it time, darlin'," Jack grinned. "School year's just gettin' started. So what’s the word on tha street, y’all? What’d I miss this mornin’?"

 

"Jessica and Mike broke up," Sarah offered.

 

"Well, hell's bells! What happened there?" Jack asked.

 

"Mike got caught with Cindy Patterson," Amber explained.

 

Jack shook his head. "That boy's dumber than a box of rocks. Jessica's sweeter than peach cobbler. What's a senior boy want with a sophomore gal?"

 

"Variety?" Eric leaned in with a grin.

 

"Stupidity," Amber shot back.

 

"Poor Jessica," Sarah said gently. "She’s gotta be heartbroken."

 

"She’ll be fine," Amber waved her hand. "Girls like her bounce back. Besides, makes homecomin’ a whole lot more interestin’."

 

Jack pointed across the hall. "Speakin’ of juicy stuff, y’all see what’s goin’ on by them sophomore lockers?"

 

"Drama already?" Eric asked.

 

"That's Cindy," Amber said. "And she's surrounded by Jessica's friends."

 

"Uh oh," Sarah murmured. "Should we do somethin'?"

 

"This ain't gonna end well," Jack predicted. "Them gals look madder’n a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs."

 

Cindy Patterson emerged from the crowd, face red, and rushed down the back hallway.

 

"And that," Amber said, "is how justice works at Edna High."

 

"Y'all think that was necessary?" Sarah asked gently.

 

"Honey, you mess with someone's boyfriend, you deal with the consequences," Amber replied. "That's just how it works."

 

“Ain’t no shame in standin’ by your friends,” Jack added. “Reckon that Patterson gal got her lesson.”

 

"Probably not," Eric said. "Girls like that usually just get sneakier."

 

"Speakin' of which," Amber turned, "anybody else got any interestin' summer developments?"

 

"Tommy Rodriguez grew like a weed," Sarah pointed. "He's gotta be six feet tall now. Looks like a whole different person, bless his heart."

 

"Good for him," Eric nodded. "Maybe he'll finally try out for basketball. Kid's got talent, just needs confidence. I told him he could use my hoop anytime to practice."

 

"What about that freshman girl?" Amber asked. "The one by the lockers wearin' makeup?"

 

"Bless her heart," Sarah said, watching the girl fumble with her locker. "Somebody needs to help that poor child with that makeup. First day's hard enough without lookin' like that."

 

Amber tilted her head. "That eyeliner’s purple. And is that... red lipstick?"

 

"You talkin' about the one over there?" Eric leaned to the side pointing. "Oh yeah, I see her. She looks like she got ready in the dark... at a Prince concert."

 

Jack let out a low whistle. “That there’s mighty cold, Schmidt. Now I can't unsee it."

 

Amber pulled out her spiral and flipped to a blank corner. "Let’s see if she survives the week."

 

“Y’all hear Bobby McNeil’s gonna have a party this weekend.” Eric added.

 

“Another one? He has more parties than you Eric.” Sarah said.

 

"Y'all are not gonna believe what I just saw in the parking lot!” Jerry Martinez announced, patting his gelled hair to make sure it was still in place.

 

"Jerry," Amber sighed, "it's eight in the mornin'. What could possibly have happened already?"

 

"Oh, this is good," Jerry said. "Y'all know Randall Hayes, right? Bad boy, motorcycle, leather jacket?"

 

"We know Randall," Eric said patiently.

 

"Well, guess who was droppin' him off at school this mornin'?"

 

"His parents?" Sarah suggested.

 

"His mama," Jerry announced. "In a minivan with a 'Baby on Board' sticker."

 

The bench erupted in laughter.

 

"No way," Eric wheezed. "Man, I woulda paid good money to see that!"

 

"I'm tellin' y'all," Jerry continued, "Randall Hayes climbin' out of a minivan. His bike must be broken."

 

"Well, I'll be," Jack said, his accent thickening. "Even the toughest hombres gotta call mama sometimes."

 

"Did anybody else see?" Amber asked.

 

"Just me, I think," Jerry said. "I was early cause my mom had to drop off my little sister at the elementary. She fixed us all a big breakfast this morning. Y'all know I got the best eye for catchin’ stuff."

 

"Well, look what the good Lord done blessed us with," Jack called out suddenly. "Matt Garrett! Get your sorry hide over here, hoss!"

 

Matt Garrett looked up, grinned, and walked over. He gave the guys handshakes with a shoulder bump.

 

"Mornin', y'all," Matt said, sliding between the girls. "Ladies," he leaned back, throwing his arms over the bench behind Amber and Sarah.

 

“We fittin’ to tear up our junior season, hoss?” Jack asked.

 

"No doubt, Stewart," Matt replied. "Coach has us practicin' hard this week. The rest of y'all better come watch us destroy Needville Friday night."

 

"Wouldn't miss it," Eric said. "Season tickets, baby."

 

"Good man," Matt grinned. "Alright, I better get goin'. Y'all stay out of trouble."

 

"That wouldn't make for much fun would it now, Matt?" Amber called after him.

 

“Depends,” Matt said, looking back over his shoulder.

 

Jack watched Matt walk away towards the math classes. "Y'all hear Matt's back on the market?"

 

"Oh really?" Amber asked, suddenly interested.

 

"Yessiree," Jack nodded. "He ain’t gonna go on about it, but his heart got broke this summer."

 

Jack looked over at Amber.

 

"Amber Brown. You starin' at his butt?"

 

"No, I'm not!" Amber's face flushed red.

 

"Uh-huh," Jack nodded. "That's what all the gals say, darlin'."

 

"I was just… he's… shut up, Jack!" Amber looked down and wrote in her notebook.

 

"Poor Randall," Sarah said, shifting the convo. "He's probably mortified. Y'all know how boys are about their image."

 

"Good," Amber said. "Maybe it'll bring him down a peg. Boys like that think they're so tough."

 

“Aw, c’mon, Amber,” Jack protested. “Ain’t no harm in needin’ a ride to school.”

 

"There is when your whole image is built on bein' too cool for everything," Eric pointed out. "It's like if I showed up in a beat-up Pinto instead of my Mustang."

 

"Fair ‘nough," Jack conceded. "We all been there."

 

The warning bell rang.

 

"Alright y'all," Amber stood up. "Emergency lunch meeting. We need to figure out the Jessica situation and discuss homecomin' strategy. Be here by 12:15."

 

"Sounds like a plan," Eric agreed. "Anyone need a ride to Sonic for lunch? I'm buyin'."

 

“I’m in hoss.” Jack shook Eric’s hand.

 

"Y'all make sure to save me a spot?" Jerry asked.

 

"If you bring more gossip like the Randall story," Amber said, "your spot is as good as secured."

 

"Deal," Jerry grinned and hurried off.

 

“Well, y’all,” Jack stood up. “New year’s kickin’ off, with Bobby McNeil's party this weekend, it's already smellin’ like chaos. Let’s see what ruckus’ gonna be raised.”

 

"Speak for yourself, Jack," Sarah laughed. "Some of us are gonna try to stay out of trouble."

 

"Where's the fun in that, darlin'?" Jack winked and headed toward his first period.

 

Sarah gathered her things. The senior bench crew was officially in session.

 

Amber pulled out her spiral, flipped past the schedule she’d already rewritten three times, and jotted a few notes in the corner.

​

• Jessica plus Mike equals over

• Cindy in the doghouse

• Abbie wrecked Daddy’s truck

• Randall: minivan truth bomb

• Matt Garrett: single

​

She underlined Matt’s name once and circled single. Twice.

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This was going to be one hell of a year.