Group Project

Chapter 1. The project

"I'm not working with that scar faced little runt!" Sarah Beckinsall declared loudly when she arrived late for the lesson, "You'll just have to swap me with someone else. I was at a prefects meeting with the headmaster and he kept us over time so I couldn't get here for the start of the lesson."

Miss Jameson stood and glared. Distaste written all over her face. All work and talking in the classroom ceased. All eyes on her, waiting for her reaction. Had it been one of the male teachers, Sarah might have gotten away with it but not with Miss Jameson. Everyone knew she wouldn't tolerate that kind of outburst, not even from a prefect, not even from Sarah Beckinsall. Her teaching methods were rather old fashioned, strict but she always tried to be fair. "Sarah Beckinsall," she said ominously quietly, "I cannot believe anyone, let alone a prefect, would behave in such a disgusting and revolting manner. I am ashamed of you and you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You are very fortunate to have been blessed with a good appearance and haven't suffered any serious traumas or pain, and yet you see fit to vilify a boy who has suffered greatly." Miss Jameson went on in like quiet manner for five minutes or more causing Sarah to shuffle her feet and go red in the face. Finally the teacher wound down her sermon with the instructions, "Firstly you will publicly apologise to Ben here and now and then you will join with him and Nancy to work on the group project you've been set. Come out to the front here, face the class and let everyone hear your apology in a clear manner and in just as loud a voice as your previous utterance."

Head down, Sarah walked to the teacher's desk and muttered, "I'm sorry, Ben." She saw the boy looking at her with tears streaming down his face. She saw Nancy Mayhew put an arm around his shoulder and thought, "Fat bitch. She's no better than he is."

"Is that all?" queried Miss Jameson. Sarah nodded indicating it was. "Then you had better see me at end of school today and we'll discuss it further. Now join the other two in your group and let's have no more of this nonsense."

The object of Sarah's derision was Benjamin Jones, more frequently called, 'Hop-along' or 'Kinky-cock' by many schoolchildren. At the age of three when his baby-sitter was answering the phone, he'd climbed out of a bedroom window and fell through a glass conservatory roof lacerating his body in the most horrific manner. Surgeons at Gt. Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London fought for weeks to save his life and they did, but Ben wondered many times in his early years, if they had done the right thing. Scars, which grew with him, covered his face and most of his body. The drugs he'd been given to reduce the pain severely stunted his growth so he was by far the smallest in his class and the multiple fractures in his right leg made it shorter than the left and caused him walk with a limp. Hence the cruel nickname Hop-along.

His other nickname was again derived from the accident. His tiny penis was badly cut by the shards and although the surgeons had restored it to full functionality, it had a slight sideways kink near the centre of its length. It was really only noticeable when it was erect but one day in the showers, a loud mouth lad had seen it and broadcast the news to his classmates who then gathered round to make fun of the lad. However, perhaps because of the stretching the surgeons did in his infancy, his penis was a little bigger than average and seemed even larger on a boy of small stature.

The surgeons wanted to do some skin grafting but his parents wouldn't agree to it. They thought the boy had suffered enough pain and the grafts would have to be redone as the boy grew. They also believed that his fall was 'an act of fate' and done for a purpose, a purpose that possibly wouldn't reveal itself until later in life. Throughout his time at school he'd put up with the taunts and gibes of his schoolmates. In the early years too, some were even very afraid of him because of his bizarre appearance and several times girls had run from the room, afraid he was a monster. All this made Benjamin Jones very introverted and, of course, the object of much bullying. In fact he rarely spoke unless he had to and then he was laughed at because of his lisp.

Sarah sat with her back to Ben. "What's this project all about then?" she asked Nancy. Nancy passed her the instructions.

"You are to design a bridge that will span a gap of 45 cms. between two desks and support a weight of at least 1 kg. The only materials allowed for the construction are: newspaper, glue and string.

The project is specifically a group one and the input of all three members of each team must be clearly seen in the design and construction stages as well as in the folder.

Marks will be awarded not only for the ability to support the required weight, but also for the aesthetic quality of the design.

A folder must be produced showing all your design ideas and source material. 50% of the marks will be for the folder regardless of whether the bridge passes the test."

"God that woman comes up with some pretty shitty ideas," Sarah commented quietly, noting the teacher was out of earshot.

"It's to make us think of ways round a problem," Nancy answered. "We have to think of ways to make a flimsy material strong enough to support a weight."

"It'll have to be pretty strong to support your weight!" Sarah sarcastically replied.

Nancy was indeed a large girl. Tall, buxom and when people were being kind they used the phrase, 'well padded'. Despite her size she was unassuming and quiet. Later, as they worked on the project, they became affectionately known as the Laurel and Hardy group.

"I think we ought to start by looking for a book on bridge design," ventured Ben.

"Who pulled your chain?" snarled Sarah. "I will take over the leadership here and Nancy can help and you can do any of the little jobs we think your puny mind and body is capable of Kinky-Cock." Tears rolled down Ben's face again.

Miss Jameson came over. "Is everything all right? She isn't upsetting you again is she Ben?" Ben shook his head.

Nancy looked directly at Sarah. "Yes she is Miss. Please put her in another group."

"You…" Sarah started.

"Sorry I can't do that now Nancy. All the others have started work." She turned to Sarah, "I shall have a few more words to say to you later young lady." She walked back to her desk and watched them from there.

"I'll get you both later," Sarah hissed.

Nothing more was said and nothing was done on the project until Miss Jameson came back. "Sarah you obviously believe you are better than Ben and can design and built a bridge to the specification without his help. Is that so?"

Sarah thought there was going to be a catch but said, "Yes."

"Ben, I guess you'd prefer to do the project without Sarah's input." Ben nodded. "What I am going to suggest is that you and Sarah have a little competition to see who can build the bridge that takes the most load. At assessment time, we'll test both bridges to destruction rather that seeing if they will take the one kilogram weight. Would you both agree to that?" Both said, "Yes, miss," in unison.

"What about me miss?" Nancy asked.

"You have a choice Nancy. You can choose which of the two you want to partner but once you've chosen, there's no changing back."

"I don't want her helping me," cut in Sarah.

"It's her choice."

"I'd rather work with Ben anyway, miss."

"Very well. Perhaps it will be as well if next time you and Ben sit on the other side of the room so you don't get accused of stealing Sarah's ideas." The teacher had a fair idea that the stealing might well be the other way round. Ben and Nancy might only be good 'B' stream kids but Ben was very practical with his hands and ideas. Academically, Sarah was a top 'A' stream girl but she doubted her ability to produce a construction that would hold together without help.

The lunch bell went and Miss Jameson called for silence before releasing her class. "Before next week, I want you to do some research on possible designs or design ideas ready for inserting in your folders. I know some groups have started to do this already but I wish to see further progress before next time."

"Thanks for siding with me Nancy," Ben said quietly. "Would you like to come to the library after your meal and see what information there is in there?"

"Sorry, the only book we have on bridges was checked out a while ago and various others have asked for it too." The librarian was apologetic, "Sorry we didn't know in advance that this project was coming up. You could try the main library in town but I've already suggested others try there so I wouldn't hold out too much hope. You could try the Internet."

Outside they ran into Sarah flanked by two of the rugby team. "Well isn't that piece of shit that got me in trouble with Jammy Jamie. You got Knockers Nancy to hold your hand Wimpy?"

"Leave him alone Sarah. It's your own fault. Get your own back by making a better bridge than us, otherwise we'll have the laugh on you."

"Heh Sarah, why don't you up the stakes a little?" Pete, on of the rugby players suggested. "Sarah, if you win, you get to put that baby boy over your lap and give him a bare arse spanking and I get to screw Nancy."

"No way," Nancy cut in.

"And if the wimp team wins, which I'm sure they won't," he gave a laugh, "Wimp boy gets to screw you in your bed for an hour."

"And I get to spank her arse first!" Nancy stated. Ben was surprised she was even considering the idea.

"Are we agreed?" Pete asked. Ben shook his head, no, but Nancy went for it and Pete, Sarah and her other friend decided it would be a laugh so they ignored Ben's objection.

"Why did you do that?" Ben asked.

"Because I'd like to see her taken down a peg or two and I think we stand the best chance. Sarah's a clever clogs and might do a super folder but the test is on the strength of the bridge. My dad's a civil engineer so I'll enlist his help and you're good at making things so we could do well. And maybe I wouldn't mind Pete screwing me," Nancy added with a laugh.