The big kid didn’t look the least bit intimidated by Eddie and his crew of nerds. “You know what —” he began in a menacing tone. But what he saw next killed the words in his throat.

Behind Eddie, Mama Baxter was passing by on her scooter. Instantly, she slowed down to shoot the big bully a threatening look.

The image of a big purse with big buckles flashed across the bully’s mind. A few stupid lockers just wasn’t worth being wailed on by Eddie’s psycho mama.

“You can have ’em,” he told Eddie quickly before rushing away.

A moment later, a pretty girl stopped by the water fountain next to Eddie’s locker and took a long drink.

Watching her, Eddie grinned. “Sure is good to be back home.”

* * * * * *

Raven reached the back door of her history classroom, parked the scooter, and waddled inside. She found her teacher at his desk.

“Mr Petracelli, what are you still doing here?” she asked, dropping her hat onto one of the desks.

“Oh joy, you’ve returned,” said the teacher. But he didn’t look the least bit happy to see her. In fact, he was so disturbed, he began cracking his neck.

“Only because I was worried about you,” said Raven, going to the classroom’s front door and opening it wide. “Staying here all times of night, cracking your neck. What kind of life is that?”

“Mrs Baxter, are you in the PTA?” asked the teacher worriedly.

“No,” said Raven.

“Let’s keep it that way!” he cried and then he disappeared out the door.

Raven was about to follow him, when she realised she’d left her hat on one of the desks. As she moved to get it, however, the back door of the classroom opened. Through it came her father and mother!

Raven panicked. She spun her giant body, waddled to the blackboard, and tried to look busy erasing it.

“’Scuse me, we’re looking for Mr Petracelli,” said Raven’s father, just like her vision. “We’re Raven Baxter’s parents.” As Raven’s parents moved farther into the classroom, Raven tried not to freak.

There was no way she wanted to risk facing her mom and dad dressed like Mama Baxter, so she just kept erasing the blackboard.

“Oh no, it’s Ms Petracelli,” she informed them.

“But we got a message on our machine from a Mister Petracelli,” said Raven’s mother, confused.

“Oh, see, in the rain, I got a little cold,” Raven said. Then she made a big show of coughing. “So, uh, maybe you should leave.”

Continues next week

Based on the popular TV series created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman. Illustrations: Uday Deb