Page 128 of 4 Corinthians

She quickly stood, blocking my path, and tried to touch me. I stepped back. “Mr. Strong, I’m not usually this forward, but you are too handsome to not tell you I’m interested,” she said, looking me up and down. Her eyes stopped at my dick print before she finally found my eyes again. “I’ve been taught a few things that I know you would enjoy.”

“N-n-n-n-no I wouldn’t,” I told her.

Her eyes ballooned, and she smiled. “Mr. Strong, do I make you nervous?” she seductively asked.

This bitch thought I was turned on? I laughed and stepped back. “No, you’re pissing me off,” I told her. I looked over her shoulder at the kids in the hallway, hoping that Judah and his class were about to return. To my disappointment, the group kept walking. Ms. Campbell came closer to me, and I grabbed her wrist before she could touch me. “Do not, put your fucking hands on me.”

“Oh, I like it rough,” she purred. “Will you punish me if I don’t do what you say? I’m a good girl.”

“Move.” I almost called her a bitch, but I stopped short when the door opened. Judah’s class walked into the room, talking and laughing. The gym teacher stood by the door, a mug on his face. He looked from Ms. Campbell to me, then back at the kids. Judah was the last one to walk in. He looked upset, which didn’t sit right with me.

“Ms. Campbell, do you have a moment?” the gym teacher asked.

Ms. Campbell nodded, then left the room; she kept the door open so she could see inside.

“Judah?” I called his name. He looked up from his desk at me. “What’s wrong?” I crossed the room, moving around kids in my way who were waiting in line to use the bathroom.

“I got in trouble in gym,” he answered. His eyes watered as he stared up at me. I knelt so that we were eye to eye.

“What happened?”

“Mr. Strong?” Ms. Campbell called my name. I looked over my shoulder at her. She’d already pissed me off with that shit from earlier, so she better tread lightly. “Can we talk to you in the hallway, please?”

“I’m talking to my son,” I told her.

“It’s about your son,” she replied.

I turned back to Judah, who was watching us closely. “What happened?” I asked him, not moving. I was going to give him a chance to tell me what happened before they started with their bullshit. My boy would always have the chance to talk to me before anyone else did. Except his mama; his mama's word was law.

“We were playing outside; the ball got kicked to the back by the fence. I asked Coach Hardman if I could get the ball; he said yes. When I got back there, a man was standing there. He was holding the ball. I didn’t talk to him, Four,” he said, shaking his head. “He knew my name; he said, ‘Here, Judah,’ and gave me the ball. I took it and ran to Coach Hardman. He went to the back and asked the man how he got there. The man pointed to the opening gate and said, ‘I opened it for him.’ But I didn’t Four. I swear I didn’t.”

“Alright, don’t worry about it. Pack your stuff, we’re leaving.” I stood and went to the door to see what the gym teacher had to say.

“Coach Hardman, this is Judah’s stepfather-“

“His father,” I corrected her. “Ain’t shit step about me and what I do for my family.”

Ms. Campbell stopped, blinked as if she was confused, then turned back to Coach Hardman. “His father,” she said. “Mr. Strong, this is Coach Hardman. He was telling me that Judah opened the gate and allowed a man onto school property.”

“Judah said he didn’t do it,” I told her.

“The gate only opens from the inside,” Coach Hardman said.

I shrugged. “I don’t care what the fuck you are talking about. My son said he didn’t do it.”

“There was no way that the man got in,” Ms. Campbell insisted.

“Were you out there?” I questioned her. “Or were you in here stepping over a line that I know my wife wouldn’t appreciate?”

“This has nothing to do-“

“You’re right, Ms. Campbell; this doesn’t have shit to do with you,” I cut her off, then turned to Coach Hardman. “My son said he didn’t do it. I will talk to my wife and let her know what the issue is. More than likely, she is going to want to see the camera footage from the back of the playground.”

“There are no cameras back there,” he told me.

I chuckled and shook my head. “Coach Hardman, you are walking a very thin rope right now. My temper ain’t no better than my wife’s. So, before you go accusing my son of something he didn’t do, you might want to have all your ducks in a row.” I stepped into his space. “Because when I come back looking for answers and it comes out that you lied on my son, I’m hanging you by that punk ass whistle you got around your neck.”

I stepped back as Judah walked out of the classroom with his backpack on. “You ready?” I asked him, and he nodded. “Let’s go.” I took his hand, and we left. When we got to the car, I helped him in, making sure he was strapped in before closing the door and rounding the car. I checked my surroundings before getting in.