Dissension by R.J. Wolf

Steve stuttered.
    “What do you want me to do?  I can’t just walk out of here like this.”
    Mit bit his bottom lip and rubbed his chin.  “Maybe we…maybe we can push them back in.”
    “I’m not touching those things.”  Steve demanded.
    “Dude shut up!”  Mikey scowled at him.
    Together with Mit he cautiously approached Anthony and grabbed the side of a wing.  They tried rolling it up like a giant paper towel.  Anthony squirmed and complained.
    “That’s not working.”
    Suddenly the door burst open.  In unison they turned to find Principal Harris standing in the doorway.  He had a look on his face between anger and mild amusement.  His eyes moved to each one of them and he cleared his throat.
    “Detention, for three weeks.   All of you to my office now!”  He stammered and then turned and stormed out.
    Anthony was confused.  Had wings become a normal occurrence at this high school?
    “Dude…dude they’re gone!”  Mikey screamed.
    Anthony reached across his back.  He ran to the mirror and turned around.  Sure enough his wings had tucked back into the scaly slits on his back.
    “I…I don’t get it.”
    “Who cares?  They’re gone, that’s a good thing.”  Steve reasoned.
    “You think Harris saw them?”  Mit asked as he tossed Anthony his shirt.
    “Nah, that dudes blind anyway.  Let’s go before he comes back.”  Mikey said as he headed to the door.
    Principal Harris’ office had the distinct smell of cigars and old socks.  The vanilla colored walls were lined with awards and degrees, none of which belonged to him.  A dusty bookcase sat in the corner which he used to display his model ship collection.
    From across the desk his beady, little eyes examined them; barely visible from beneath his bushy, gray eyebrows.  Normally a very forceful man, he seemed small and frail.  He sunk in back his black leather chair.  Probably noticing his diminished presence, Principal Harris sat up leaning forward on the desk.  He remained silent for some time and then suddenly broke into riddle.
    “Boys who butcher the background of the boat get bridled in the brig.”  He spoke loudly putting an extra emphasis on each B.
    Anthony sat confused, his back still slightly irritated.  Steve and Mikey giggled as Mit let out a snore which went unnoticed to Principal Harris.
    After thirty minutes of finger pointing, threats of eternal detention and countless incoherent riddles, Anthony and his friends were released.  They suffered nothing more than a slap on the wrist and three weeks of detention for what he called rambunctious restroom horseplay. 
    They walked out of the principal’s office as the bell rung to release school.  They had practically spent the entire day, either in the bathroom or resisting Harris’ nautical riddle hypnotism. Finally, outside of the school walls, Anthony’s mind was free to roam and the shock and awe of sprouting wings was in full effect.
    “This can’t be real; I mean this just can’t be real.”  Anthony strode deliberately down the sidewalk shaking his head.  “What am I gonna tell my mom?  My dad’s gonna flip out.”
    “Dude…do not tell your parents.”  Mikey stopped and grabbed him by the arms.  “I’ve seen enough movies to know you don’t tell anyone.  They’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”
    Anthony shook his head and frowned.
    “Look at the bright side.”  Steve interrupted.
    “There is no bright side genius.”
    “Yeah, you’re like some superhuman alien thing,” Mit added.  “It’s actually kind of cool” 
    “I’m just…I’m just going home.”  Anthony split off in a different direction.
    “Hey, are your parents’ home?  Mind if I come over?”  Mit asked, running to catch up with him.
    “Not today Mit.  I just wanna be alone.”  Anthony frowned.
    “Oh, yeah okay.”  Mit turned around with a sunken expression.
    “Hey dude, you can crash at my place," Mikey turned to Mit and said