Flexem High by Ken Earl wherein two strong women make their presence felt at Flexem High School ******************************************************************* Feedback welcome- EMAIL Ken_Earl_2003@hotmail.com Please note - "Jimmy Riddle" is slang for piddle,piss, etc ******************************************************************* Enter Ms Chung --------------- Brad saw Miss Chung for the first time on the very first day of the new school-year at Flexem High School (a London Comprehensive). She was standing in the middle of the playground looking totally lost in a forest of lower-school kids in green and brown school uniforms, many of whom towered over her, despite the fact that she was wearing heels. Brad estimated that she was about 5' 3" tall, with the beautiful shining black hair that Asian women tend to have. She was very pretty with a tiny waist. Despite her femininity, however,Brad was aware that she gave off an aura of strength and confidence. He suspected that under her jacket was a surprisingly powerful body to match her strong-looking legs. He stood there staring at her long enough for him to catch her eye. Immediately she broke into a dazzling smile and said, with a broad Australian accent. "Hi there, I'm Ms Chung. Could you tell me where the Staff Room is, please? this place is SO HUGE!" Her smile was infectious, and Brad warmed to her. He indicated the building and said "Are you Australian, Miss?" and instantly regretted asking a rhetorical question. "That's where I was born, yes. But my father's family are originally from Taiwan" she said, to ease his embarrassment. Treating Brad to a final dazzling smile she set off for the office. Brad couldn't help but watch her - She was wearing a shortish skirt that was stretched tight by muscular thighs and her calves were tight,hard balls that rippled as she walked. Until that moment in time Brad had never fully appreciated what the sight of muscles on a woman could do to him. He remembered, as a child being fascinated (without knowing why) by the sight of circus strongwomen performing amazing lifts, and female acrobats supporting one,or even two men. Such memories still set his pulse racing, but now he had seen a muscular woman in the flesh and he was totally overwhelmed. "Hello, Brad! Looking forward to the new school term?" After a while Brad became vaguely aware that someone was speaking to him and tugging at his elbow. Reluctantly emerging from his reverie, Brad turned to see Amy. "Oh, hi Amy" he said dreamily. "I was miles away." "You're telling me" she laughed, "I've been standing here 5 minutes!" "By the way" she went on "This is Tess. She's my new next-door neighbour. "Tess, this is Brad". "Hello" said Tess, blushing deeply and looking at the floor. "Pleased to meet you, Tess" said Brad to the dumpy looking girl standing next to, but slightly behind, Amy. For some reason that Brad could not fathom he was equally tongue-tied. The awkward silence was broken by Amy. "We'll see you inside!" she said, leading Tess away to save her from further embarrassment. "Tess, what's up? Surely you don't fancy that wimp Brad". In the month or so since Tess had moved into the area the two girls had become firm friends so Amy felt able to rib Tess mercilessly, as friends do. When Tess did not respond, she tried again. "Brad's always half asleep - he didn't even notice you were there!" She winced as Tess playfully punched her arm. "Hey, you could trying punching him. You'd either wake him up or knock him out! OW!" Amy had thought that Tess was dumpy and unfit when she first clapped eyes on her, but one weekend she'd seen her working out with her Dad in the garage. He was a former amateur boxer and was holding a punch-bag for his daughter to hit. When Tess saw Amy she went bright red and stopped what she was doing. Mumbling something to her father she disappeared into the house through a side door. She emerged seconds later fully dressed but still blushing, and invited Amy in. Amy tactfully never mentioned what she had seen - the power with which Tess had hit the bag, her surprising agility, the muscles in her legs and arms - because she could see how senitive Tess was. Tess, for her part, was happy to befriend someone so considerate. Enter Mr Riddle ---------------- Another new teacher, Mr Riddle, was on his way to the staff room and, as luck would have it, came along behind Miss Chung as she entered the main building.. He too had asked for directions to the Staff Room, but being the sort of person who gets lost in a phone-booth he had already made a complete tour of the place without finding it, and was on his second lap, as it were. He followed Ms Chung along the corridor, looking right and left but only half-aware that someone else was walking quickly in front of him. When she almost walked past the staff room and took half a step back he walked straight into her. To his surprise he bounced off her, hit the wall and slid down it into a sitting position, while she didn't appear to have moved at all. Eve Chung rushed over to help him. Looking up Chris Riddle beheld the compact, muscular woman of his dreams. She reached out an arm and when he took it she pulled him to his feet without any apparent effort despite the fact that he was unable to push up properly with his feet on the slippery floor. Some of the kids who had witnessed the collision walked by sniggering but he had eyes and ears only for this vision. "I'm terribly sorry" stammered the red-faced Mr Riddle "I was er- trying to find the Staff Room." "No worries, you've found it, you and me both!", said Eve Chung, and she flashed him the smile that had dazzled Brad. Chris Riddle was hooked. Meanwhile, as the two teachers were getting acquainted, Brad's younger brother Darren was about to be re-acquainted with the bain of his school-life. "Oi! kid! Come 'ere!!" - it was the dreaded voice of school-bully Ed Norris, known as Muscle `Ed but never to his face. Ed was loitering with some of his cronies outside the gymn. Darren reluctantly walked over to him, forcing his face into a smile. "How's it going,Ed?" he asked, trying to inject his voice with a confidence he didn't possess. "Bet you thought I'd been expelled? Well it didn't happen, see!" Darren's heart sank - that meant that he would be "helping" Ed with his Maths again. In return Ed would waive the protection money that Darren would otherwise have to pay. Turning back to his cronies Ed dismissed Darren with a wave of his hand - "I'll see you here straight after school - don't be late!" An appointment with 5X ----------------------- Eve Chung had been thrown in at the deep-end. She was a Supply teacher and had been taken on to cover long-term illness - in this case a nervous breakdown caused by stress. She was about to meet the main cause of that breakdown - 5X. These kids were the bottom stream of Maths students, no-hopers, and here she was about to step into their lair. She tried not to show her anxiety as she walked into the classroom, which was strangely quiet with ALL the kids sitting down. If the door had been half-open she would have expected a bucket of water above the door - they were that quiet. She entered the room. "Good afternoon, I'm your new Maths teacher Miss Chung". Silence. She looked around for her desk. They all followed her gaze to the corner where some of the boys had dragged it, turning it round to face the wall. Hoots of derision and catcalls. She counted to ten, weighing up what to do - she decided to play it down. The noise subsided again as they waited to see what she would do. "OK, nice one!" she smiled. "Would the boys who moved the desk put it back where it belongs, please?" A thuggish looking lad named Boormin, the ring-leader, got up and sat on his desk. "Put it back yourself!" he jibed. More derision and catcalls. Short of sending for the Headmaster there was only one thing she could do. She took off her jacket, and now there were wolf-whistles added to the bedlam because she possessed a not-inconsiderable bosom which looked all the more impressive on her deep chest and tiny waist. As she approached the desk she crossed her fingers hoping that she could move it - it wa a huge old wooden one and the little darlings had more than likely filled the drawers with books! They all fell silent again , seeing that she really was going to try and shift it. She squatted down, grabbed the side of the desk under the drawers and was surprised at how easily she moved it round 90 degrees. Now she could get her arms under it where the chair would normally go! Derisory, half-hearted cheers, mixed with only one or two boos. She knew that she could easily drag it - but why not try to impress the little monsters - maybe intimidate them, even? Eve bent her legs a little so that her arms were under the desk like a human fork-lift, and strained. The whole desk came off the floor and the kids fell silent. Taking tiny steps,she carried it back to its place by the blackboard, bulging arm muscles faintly visible through the blouse she was wearing. She dusted her hands theatrically and said simply "Sit" which they all did with the exception of Boormin who remained perched defiantly on top of his desk - he was starting to piss her off. Eve walked over to him. "Were you thinking of moving the desk back again?" she asked. "I'm willing to let you try - on your own!". He said nothing. "I want you to sit down in your seat" she said slowly and evenly. Then she leaned forwards and said conspiratorially in a low voice- "Tell me - what do you think weighs more - the desk or YOU?" Boormin looked down at the ground, avoiding her gaze, and sat in his chair . "Please, Miss?" said a girl sitting at the front. Her name was Sally, and she didn't take crap from any of the lads . She was 5' 11" , the district pentathlon champion, and felt a natural empathy towards Eve. "What is it?". "It took Boormin and THREE of his weedy mates to move that desk, and then they put books in the drawers! How come you can lift it? You are SO strong!" Cheers from all the girls in the class. She told them about her Powerlifting background, and the kids responded by asking questions about the types of lifts, what was her favourite and so on : she gradually turned it into a proper Maths lesson, converting Kilos to Pounds. At least it was a start... Tess sees the light --------------------- By the end of the week Eve Chung's exploits were all round the school , along with her newly acquired nickname of "Ms Chunky". (It was also common knowledge that Chris "Jimmy" Riddle was keen on her,to say the least.) As word spread, there were several copycat incidents of desks being moved around. Fortunately there were few old-fashioned desks left in the building. Even so, the Head was forced to mention it in Assembly, threatening dire retribution on those who continued with the practice henceforth. Eve found that the desk-lifting feat had increased her kudos among the pupils. One or two of the older boys, she could tell, had a "thing" about her, not least Brad Simpkins who was in her "A" level Maths class. After one particular class, while the other students rushed off to lunch Brad hung around while she was gathering up her things. "Miss Chung, is the story true about you lifting the desk?" "Yes, Brad. Why do you ask?" she replied. "I was w-wondering how much it weighed?" "I don't know, truly." "What's the most you've ever lifted?" he ventured, heart racing. "Well when I was really fit - not like now - I benched 85 kilos" Brad, who "thought" in pounds, did a quick mental sum - "Wow, 187! What about over your head?" . "A bit less , I think. I'd have to look it up. Are you thinking of taking up weightlifting?" "Oh no, Miss!" Brad said hastily, "I was just curious", and with an embarrassed smile he turned to leave, only to find Tess standing in the doorway. "Hi, Brad, I -" "Can't stop,Tess. Sorry!" he mumbled and slid past her. Eve couldn't help but notice the hurt look on Tess's face and she wondered whether Tess had overheard any of their conversation. She really didn't know whether to pry or let it go, but Tess just stood there, as if there was an invisible barrier across the doorway. "Something wrong, Tess?" Eve inquired softly. No answer. She gently pulled the girl into the room and closed the door. "You don't have to tell me what's wrong" said Eve "but it might help if you get it off your chest." "I wasn't eavesdropping or anything Miss" said Tess, "but I heard what you said to Brad. Is that why he likes you - because you're strong?" (That was Tess's trouble, Eve thought to herself - long baggy jumpers, skirts you could camp-out in, severe hair-do, thick-rimmed spectacles. Penny-to-a-pound her Mum bought all her clothes! Can you blame the boy for not noticing her? What can I say to the girl without upsetting her even more? She obviously has a crush on the boy and sees me as a rival.) "Well ... yes, I guess so.." To Eve's surprise Tess brightened visibly: "Oh, really? You're not kidding me?" she said doubtfully. "My mum says that men are put off by women who are stronger than them!" "No, I'm serious. I HAVE had one or two male admirers in my time!" "Great!" said Tess."Oh, before I forget, I was told to give you this by the Head" . Having completed her errand, Tess made for the canteen to do her Prefect's duty. Tomorrow, when Brad would be on duty, she would show him what he was missing.. Meanwhile Eve read the note she had been handed - "Ms Chung. See me in my office at 12.45" T Bagshott Headmaster Up before the Head ------------------- Eve knocked on the door at 12.45 precisely - she'd heard that Mr Bagshott was a stickler for time-keeping. "Come in!" - a very imposing voice. Feeling like a schoolkid about to answer for a misdemeanour, she took a deep breath and went in. The owner of the voice was actually a small dapper man in his 50's with a neat moustache, slightly thinning hair and piercing blue eyes. He looked more like a senior civil servant than a teacher. "You wanted to see me, Mr Bagshott?" said Eve. "Yes, Ms Chung. We have a problem with that loathsome boy in 5X. Vermin, isn't it?" "Boormin, I think, Headmaster" corrected Eve. "I was probably right the first time, eh?" grinned Bagshott. Eve was reassured by his friendliness, but still apprehensive. "What exactly is the problem , Headmaster?" she asked. "I've just had the boy's father on the phone. You allegedly threatened to physically manhandle the boy when he refused to sit at his desk and he's been off-school with stress ..allegedly!" "I didn't exactly threaten him", said Eve "I just said..". "I know EXACTLY what you said, Miss Chung" interrupted Bagshott. "I've interviewed three or four of the pupils already, you see. Apparently you asked him to consider whether he weighed as much as the desk - is that not correct?" "Yes, but I ..". "The implication is quite clear - " he went on, denying her the opportunity to defend herself - "Sit down or will MAKE you!" "But I never intended to ..." . "If Boormin senior decides to take this further I will have to write a report for the School Governors. You are, of course, entitled to give your ..version of events.. ". Eve at last had a chance to speak , but she was stuck for words - Boorman had clearly made up his mind and this was a Kangaroo court for a soon-be-out-of-a-job-Aussie. "I, I ... oh what's the use! When do you want my resignation?" "Relax, my dear - it needn't come to that!" said Boorman, changing tone instantly from an I-put-it-to-you in-your-face barrister to a kindly uncle. Eve said nothing, but flashed her best smile while wondering what the sly old git had in mind. "As you may know,here at Flexem we operate a three-strikes-and- you're-out policy with regard to troublesome pupils. In Boormin's case, he's on two already. I could expel him for this incident, OR - if his father lets the matter drop - I can allow him to stay." Eve stayed smiling , waiting to see the size of the BUT. "But, there is ..something I'd like you to do for me- ". "No way!" said Eve advancing on the small man, smile gone. "Just because you're the bloody Head doesn't give you the..". "NO NO! Miss Chung" interrupted Bagshott desperately, backing away with hands raised. "You misunderstand me - I didn't mean to imply anything ..untoward!" Eve sensed that Bagshott was fascinated by her - like so many men she had met, and perhaps a little intimidated. They were the same height, although in her heels she looked taller and she easily outweighed him. "Well? What is it you want me to do?" she said, standing over him stone-faced with arms folded. "As you can see, Miss Chung, I have an identical desk here in my office. I was wondering if you would be willing to give me a personal demonstration of how to lift it?". He cleared his throat and tried to ease the tension - "I haven't filled the drawers with books" he said with a forced grin. Eve glared at him, but refused to lighten up. "As long as that's all!" she said. Removing her jacket and sweater, she kicked off her shoes and walked over to the desk. Under the sweater she was wearing a short sleeved blouse, so that her thick veiny forearms and bulging upper-arms were clearly visible. She placed her arms under the centre of the desk ,took a deep breath and lifted. The desk came off the floor, and Bagshott sighed audibly. Eve put the desk down, took another deep breath and lifted it again, holding it for several seconds. Bagshott stared in wonder as her arms quivered and pulsated with the effort. Her calves, which looked very big in heels, seemed truly huge as she stood barefoot. Her whole body, in short, was like a compacted spring. Eve put the desk down and went to retrieve her jacket, saying over her shoulder "I take it that will be all?" Bagshott cleared his throat - "I.. I was just wondering whether I might er-feel your arm? Of course, if you'd rather not!" he added hastily as she glared at him with venom in her eyes. "Come here!" she said, and as Bagshott approached her timidly, she flexed her right arm for him. She allowed him to fondle the massive round ball of her combined biceps and triceps for a few moments then grabbed him round the chest in a powerful bear-hug, easily lifting him off the floor. Bagshott gasped as the air was expelled forcefully from his lungs. "Steady on! Miss Chung" he managed. "Sorry, Headmaster, am I hurting you?" she said pointedly, lowering him to the ground. "I sometimes forget my own strength!". "Yes, quite so" he replied, looking down at the floor. Eve noticed that he didn't back away - if anything he probably wanted more. She put her hands gently on his shoulders. "Do I have your support in the case of the Boormin boy, then?" she asked sweetly. Bagshott looked up - "Of course, dear lady" he said. "Well, if I can count on your support then you can count on mine!" With that, she put her hands under his armpits and lifted him easily into the air ,holding him there while she spoke - "I'd be very ..disappointed if you were to let me down,Headmaster", she said. "You wouldn't do that would you?" "No, Miss Chung, I would never do such a thing!" "After all you wouldn't want me to let YOU down, would you?" So saying, she let go of him just for an instant, so that he gasped involuntarily, before catching him again and gently lowering him to the ground. "Now that we understand each other, may I go now, Headmaster?" Bagshott nodded, knowing that it wasn't a request. Eve put on her shoes & sweater before breezing out of his office with her jacket over her shoulder and her most dazzling smile playing on her lips. She left Bagshott feeling that, far from taking the Early Retirement he had been considering, he might stay around a while now that this vibrant new Member-of-Staff had lifted his spirits, so-to-speak. Up Before the School Bully --------------------------- Darren had been avoiding Muscle 'Ead all day, having made a mess of Ed's homework - well ,to be more precise, he'd forgotten to put in a few deliberate mistakes. The result was that Ed's Maths teacher - the volcanic Mr Kramer (known less-than-affectionately as "Krakatoa" Kramer) - - had sussed that Ed was cheating and had read him the Riot Act, and now Ed was looking for Brad with revenge in mind. Darren knew that Ed would eventually catch up with him and could only hope to talk his way out of trouble, but right now he was stuck in the queue in the-canteen. Even worse was that the fact that his big-brother Brad was there on Prefect duty. Darren had never told Brad about being bullied because, for one thing, he had never been actually thumped (so far) by Ed, and for another , Brad was absolutely useless when it came to fighting- he was sure to get a hiding from Ed! As for Brad, he hated being a Prefect . Theoretically he was supervising the lower-school kids. In practice, they did pretty much as they liked despite his presence. He was just about to bawl out a 1st year boy for flicking food at another kid when he was grabbed from behind in a crushing bear-hug, and lifted clean off his feet. "Put the Prefect down, young lady!" boomed a voice from behind. Brad was dumped immediately to the ground. "Lady?" said Brad. He turned to see Tess looking sheepishly at the floor. Behind her was Krakatoa Kramer. "F***ing hell!" he said under his breath. Every pair of eyes in the canteen was on them and Brad, like Tess, began to do a good impression of a beetroot. Fortunately for them Kramer was in a good mood, and all he had to say was - "We have a right to expect a little more decorum from our Prefects, wouldn't you say?" "Yes, Sir" they both chorused. As Kramer lumbered away, Brad thought he detected the trace of a grin on his face. The noise level in the room began to rise again as the atmosphere returned to normal. Brad could now give Tess his full attention. At least the girl in front of him looked like Tess, except that she didn't dress like Tess - you could actually see her legs, and her clothes generally followed the outline of her body, as opposed to looking like the Michelin Man's cast-offs. She wasn't dressed in flash,designer-gear or anything, she was just looking ..well, good ! And there was only one word to describe her body - FIT. Brad could only stare at her in silence, while trying to think of a compliment that wasn't embarrasssingly corny, but fortunately he was saved by the bell - the bell for second-sitting,that is. Brad's stint was over - "Let's eat lunch together, Tess" he suggested. By way of reply Tess grabbed Brad's arm and pulled him out of the hall and into the nearest empty class-room. Brad noticed with pleasure that although he was offering resistance, it had no effect on her progress - in fact she didn't even seem to notice! Closing the door behind them, Brad said "I'll take that as a NO then, shall I?" She ignored the sarcasm - "I'm fed up with following you around, and you ignoring me, Brad". "You've been following me around? Sorry, I hadn't noticed, Tess", he lied. "There! You see - you admit it!" she said triumphantly. "No, I DID NOT, I just-" "I know you fancy Miss Chung - What's she got that I haven't?" "Well..." he said, thinking hard as he looked Tess up and down. "Go on!" she insisted, looking hurt. "Well..." he said, hesitating, "you can't deny she's .." "Go ON!!!" "She's got a MATHS degree!" he said, grinning and retreating at the same time. Too late, Tess nailed him with the straight jab to the upper-arm that she used on Amy, only much harder. Brad's arm felt numb all the way down. Seeing the look of pain on his face, Tess rushed over to hug him. -This is more like it!- thought Brad. "Sorry! It's a sort-of reflex action," she soothed. "Where did you learn to punch like that!?" grimaced Brad, although what he was actually trying to do was grin. "I train with my Dad - he used to be a boxer. I'm getting pretty fit, and strong too!" "Really?" said Brad evenly, trying not to show the enthusiasm he was feeling . "Don't you believe me!?" "OK - Prove it! How about we arm-wrestle?" said Brad. "Right here, right now! But if I win, will you go out with me?" "Possibly" said Brad. Tess hugged him again, only harder this time. She got a "Probably!" and a "Definitely!!" in rapid succession. As they locked arms, the power of Tess's grip took Brad's breath away, and when they went at it he was totally unable to make any impression at all, even though she seemed to be taking it easy. "You don't seem to be trying very hard for someone who doesn't want to go out with me!" taunted Tess, although she knew that he was going for it. Brad re-doubled his efforts and suddenly, to his dismay, Tess's arm started to go down, but her attention was no longer on the contest or on Brad, but on the people standing in the doorway. "You wimp, Simpkins!" It was Muscle 'Ead and two of his cronies. "Too weedy to arm-wrestle boys are you?" he sneered, pulling Brad around to face him. Ed grabbed Brad by the lapels and hauled him to his feet, to stand on tip-toe. "Your snotty little brother really messed up my homework! Kramer went nuts - I've got to see Bagshott 'n all! Tell him I'll be waiting for him outside school - if he don't show up I'll come looking for you instead, got it?" "Leave him alone," said Tess, coming to stand at Brad's side. "Push off, bat! This is nuffink to do with you!" hissed Ed. Suddenly Ed's left arm went numb, courtesy of Tess's right jab, and he could no longer support Brad who toppled backwards onto the floor. "I SAID, Leave my boyfriend ALONE, Muscle 'Ead!" said Tess standing there defiantly, arms folded. Laughter from the doorway, instantly cut-off as Ed turned to make a note of which of his two pals would be sorry later. "Nobody calls me that!" fumed Ed, turning back to face Tess. "Well, I just did? What are you gonna do about it? I mean, surely you wouldn't hit a GIRL would you?" taunted Tess. Ed turned to his cronies, spreading his arms in a gesture that somehow conveyed - ' Not normally, but I could be persuaded. Any ideas? ' . "Tell you what,Ed - let's arm-wrestle! If I win, you and your goons leave us alone - if YOU win, you can pummel Brad to your heart's content!" "What was that?" inquired Brad from somewhere under the table. "Do me a favour, darling!" sneered Ed, "You couldn't even beat Simpkins just now!" "So you're refusing? What's the matter, Muscle 'Ead? Scared?" Ed went crimson with anger. "You two, keep a lookout and CLOSE the door!" he hissed to his pals. "I told you, NOBODY calls me that!!!" he said through clenched teeth. "Come on, then! And don't say I didn't warn you!" Ed tore off his jacket, dived into Brad's chair and offered his arm impatiently to Tess, who took her time to sit demurely down before taking Ed's arm, smirking as she did so. "Right, you asked for this" warned Ed and quickly said, "1,2,3 GO!" He pulled with all his might, expecting a swift victory. The speed of his onslaught caught Tess by surprise and her arm was on the way down before she got going, but she held him ! Ed was astonished that she had halted his progress and amazed at the size of her arm under stress, now clearly visible through her blouse. He poured it on, knowing instictively that if she ever got back to level-pegging then he was finished, but he was fast running out of steam. Tess on the other hand controlled her breathing and rationed her efforts so that ,in under a minute, Ed's arm began to shake and she was able, with a small increase of pressure to get back to the starting position. Ed was fast failing, and beginning to panic - losing to a girl, however strong, was unthinkable. How could he ever face his cronies again? The sweat poured off his brow, and he looked as if he might burst a blood vessel. Tess slowly began to up the pressure and, as she felt Ed's arm about to collapse she held onto it. "If you don't leave Brad and his brother alone " she whispered "I'll challenge you again - in the dining hall, in front of half the school." Then, to Ed's surprise, she grimaced and pulled her own arm back, making it look like he had won. The cronies had been watching through the window, and now came back in. "About bloody time!". "What took you so long?" They moved towards Brad to give him what-for, but Ed stood in their way - "Not so fast!", he said, "I've been thinking ..". This news alone was enough to stop them in their tracks. "Simpkins is a wimp, but his bird -". "My name is Tess! And I am a girl, NOT a bird!" "As I was saying - Simpkins is a wimp, but his girl TESS is OK. Anyone who wants to duff him up, be my guest BUT you've gotta beat HER at arm-wrestling first!" "Whose first?" said Tess offering her arm to each of them in turn. There were no takers. "Just as I thought!" said Ed. "Come on!". When the bullies had departed, Tess helped Brad to his feet. "I don't get it" he said."You lost but I'm still in one piece." "Ed and I came to an arrangement. Come on BOYFRIEND, let's eat!" "Technically, I'm not your boyfriend" insisted Brad. "You lost, remember? You need to challenge me again GIRLFRIEND." "But you know you're bound to lose!?" said Tess, bemused. "Yep" said Brad happily. "OK, but let's eat first, I'm starving!" As they left the room, Ms Chung and Mr Riddle walked by on their way to the staff room. The two females exchanged knowing smiles. When he was a lot younger Brad had been a big fan of Superman comics, but he had always found it ridiculous that no-one ever saw through Superman's pathetic Clark Kent disguise - effectively a change-of-clothes and a pair-of-specs. But as he looked at Tess he realised that we all see what we expect to see. "Can you see OK without your specs, Tess?" "I'm wearing lenses" Tess replied, and as if reading his mind - "I left my specs in the phone booth when I was changing into my Supergirl costume!"