A Different School - Pt 1 of 2 By Francine Eddie Michelson was, perhaps, not entirely a typical fourteen year old. In his midwestern locality, morals and family values were held in high esteem, and this was especially true in his own family. His father, an engineer, and his mother, a physical therapist in a local hospital, did the best to get their two sons quality educations; and, in their view, this meant private schooling. They thought the schools they selected were superior to the public schools in levels of teaching, strength of discipline, and moral values. Eddie's older brother was now away at college, leaving him as the only one at home with his parents. Eddie now attended ninth grade in an all-male school, which his parents thought especially good for his development at this age. There were few single-sex schools left, but his was one of them. It was paired, to be sure, with an all-girl school a few miles away, with which it shared some programs and social events, but Eddie had grown up in what was basically an all male student body. To be sure, he had plenty of exposure to women - most of his teachers had been female, and he had girls in his neighborhood with whom he was acquainted. However, he had no sisters, and no girl classmates, so Eddie was not entirely comfortable around girls. Not to worry, his mother had told him; lots of time later to spend with girls. What was important, just now, was concentrating on his school work. This, Eddie did with enthusiasm. He was not an athletic boy, and disliked active sports. His real interests were scholarly, and he excelled in mathematics and science. His real love, however, was languages - his favorite class was German; taught by a lady originally from Frankfurt who also taught chemistry in his school. Eddie admired her, and loved her class. German was seldom offered in the local schools; French and Spanish being much more common. In fact, the only reason there was a German class was that the teacher, really hired to teach sciences, was qualified and on the faculty, and so a single class was offered. There were only six boys taking the course, and now it was only three weeks before the end of the semester. Eddie hoped it would gain be offered in the semester following, but because of the low enrollment he had been told this was in doubt. Eddie's father was delighted with his son's scholastic capability and attitude, not at all concerned that he was a bit withdrawn. He saw Eddie as a potential engineer, as he was, and found his interest in German a future advantage to him in possibly working for an international firm. Eddie himself was not terribly concerned about his future - just now he was happy with his life. He had his school, his books, his hobbies, and a small number of boys who were his real friends. His mother tried to widen his social interests, but seemed pleased with his intellectual pursuits. It was on a Wednesday that Eddie was called to the school office, right from his third period class. Eddie had not been been a discipline problem, and with some anxiety he presented himself at the principal's office, wondering what incident might have provoked this summons. The principal's secretary bade him wait a few minutes, then ushered him in to see Mr. Howard, the principal. Mr Howard was a tall, slender man, good with students, and with a friendly manner. Eddie found this fortunate - he was quite shy, and hated being placed in confrontational situations. Mr. Howard put him at ease. "Eddie", he began, "you are certainly one of our outstanding scholars. I want to commend you on your grades and your work. We're proud of you!" "Thank you, sir", was all Eddie could think to say. "Eddie, you know you are one of the six students in Miss Schmidt's German class. She says you have an unusual ability and hopes you will continue your studies in German. Do you like the course? " "Oh, yes, indeed, sir! Miss Schmidt is a great teacher - I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I hope to travel to Germany one day, and I would love to be able to read some books in German. I'd like to take German again next semester." "That's what I need to talk to you about, Eddie," Mr. Howard continued, "you see, Miss Schmidt is having to leave us at the end of this week. She may be back next year, and if so we will try to offer German again, but I'm afraid we won't be able to offer it next semester because we won't have a qualified teacher. In fact, we won't be able to complete the class here even for this semester. You have two weeks to go, and Miss Schmidt won't be here to teach or to give the final exam. I think you do want to complete the semester, though." "Yes, sir! I am sorry about Miss Schmidt - she's really a great teacher, - I hope she'll be back." Mr. Howard continued. "Eddie, of the six students in the class, you are the only one who really needs to complete the last weeks to get your credit. As you probably know, two of the boys are not passing the class, anyway, and they will repeat it if we offer it again. One doesn't need the course credit to graduate, and doesn't want to continue. We offered two of the boys an opportunity to complete the course, by going temporarily to another school, but it does not offer other courses they are taking, so it's not workable for them. You, however, have a chance to go to the other school for two weeks, if you wish, and if you take all your classes there, including German, which they offer, then you will get full credit. Then you will return here for the start of next semester. Are you interested?" "Yes, sir. What school would I go to?" Mr. Howard smiled. "You will go to Huntington Academy, just for the last two weeks. As you know, we have a partnership with them, and the same buses serve both schools. You will have no problem getting there, and it will be only for two weeks. They do have a small German class, and it will enable you to complete the course." "But," Eddie protested mildly, "Huntington is a girl's school!" "We know. You will be the only boy there. We have made arrangements with Mrs. Jordan, their principal, and she has agreed to accept you for this short period. Eddie, I know you may feel a bit out of place at first, but, remember that the great majority of boys in this country go to schools with girls - we are one of the few schools that is still limited to boys only. Believe me, you will adapt! It's won't be that hard. In a couple of years, you'll probably be going all the time to classes with girls. It isn't all that bad!" Eddie nodded. Mr. Howard explained the details, and gave him some papers for his parents to see. That night, Eddie explained to his mother and dad what he was about to do. His father just smiled and shook his head. "Eddie - you'll do fine. I'm sure a school full of girls isn't going to scare you!" His mother was a bit more understanding, and gave him a bit of encouragement. The next Monday morning, Eddie prepared for school - his new one. The school bus normally arrived at his pick up point at about seven A.M.; to get the students to classes starting at eight. The same buses went to both schools, dropping boys at his accustomed location, and taking the girls to the next stop at Huntington Academy. Eddie was less concerned about dealing with the girls than the teasing he was going to get from the other boys. He know several other boys envied him, for many of them would love to be in coed classes; but inwardly he was filled with misgivings about how he would relate to classmates who would all be female. He readied himself for school; dressed, visited the bathroom, grabbed a bit of breakfast. He was accustomed to taking care of himself, as his father was usually gone before him, and his mother was busy getting ready for her own job. Eddie went out waiting for the bus at ten to seven. The bus was on time, and he was immediately the subject of crude remarks from several boys. The girls seemed to have to say, although one expressed a bit of amusement, saying, "We're going to have a BOY in our classes? " The bus stopped at Eddie's old school first, and all the other boys got off.. Eddie was left in thee company of a group of girls. While several ignored him, most showed signs of delight, or at least amused interest, at his presence. They weren't, he decided, at all unfriendly. While they were of assorted ages, some older and some younger than he, those of his own age group seemed quite happy to have him. When the bus unloaded at Huntington Academy, a woman teacher met the bus. "You must be Edward Michelson, and you're going to be with us for two weeks?" "Yes, ma'am," Eddie replied, "and I go by Eddie!" He know he was >embarrassed in this all female surrounding, and he felt he was blushing a bit. "I am Miss Hardie", the teacher introduced herself, smiling. "We're glad to have you. I'm going to take you to our principal, Mrs. Jordan, so we can explain to you somethings you need to know." Eddie was ushered into the office and introduced to Mrs. Jordan, who was an older, grey haired, and somewhat heavy lady, but with a friendly smile that reminded him of Mr. Howard. Mrs. Jordan went over the class schedule he would be following, gave him a book of rules, and discussed with him his academic standing and how his grading would be handled. Then, with a smile on her face, she turned to Miss Hardie, and said "Let's bring in Jennifer, now!" Miss Hardie returned a moment later with a girl about his own age, in the crisp uniform dress all the girl students wore. She was nice looking, about the same height as Eddie, and slender. Perhaps she was not a real beauty, as girls go, but she certainly wasn't homely. Mrs. Jordan introduced her. "Eddie, this is Jennifer. She's a ninth grader, as you are, and she's one of those in our German class; so she'll be taking German with you, and a couple of other classes as well. Now, Eddie, I know there's a lot you'll want to know about how our school operates; so I am assigned Jennifer to you as your guide, while you are with us. She will tell you what you need to know, and I think you would rather talk to her than to me. Ask you whatever you need to know. I'm going to give her the rest of the period to go over things with you, and then she will stay with you for the first part of the day. Jenny, I want you to make him welcome!" Jenny led Eddie out of the office and to a bench outside the office, where they both sat. To be sure, Eddie was quite shy with girls, but realized he was going to be surrounded by them. Jenny was friendly, but formal, as she went over the locations of classes, where they had lunch, where his locker would be, and a multitude of other details. Eddie asked her a few questions, carefully, not wanting to seem too ignorant, and especially not wanting to embarrass her. After a bit, when they seemed to have covered what Jenny thought was necessary, she escorted him to his first class. They entered just as second period began, and Jenny introduced him to the teacher, who then introduced him to the girls in the class. This wasn't as difficult as it first appeared, Eddie thought. The girls seemed to accept him. He noted at once that the class was much tidier and more orderly than what he was accustomed to. The girls were better disciplined than the boys were, and the classrooms were cleaner and better organized. He did hear a few giggles, and the teacher had only once to deal with students talking in class. Eddie liked the order, and the girls seemed accepting of him. After end the end of third period, which was German, Jenny left him, saying she would see him again at lunch. On his own, Eddie followed his directions to the next class. It was now just after eleven, and he thought he would take a bathroom break. He looked for a boys bathroom. He did quite a bit of looking. There were a number of girls' rooms, but he didn't see a boys bathroom any where. He used up almost all of time between classes in looking, with no luck. No matter, he thought, he could wait a bit longer, even if it was a bit uncomfortable; then he would have a better look to lunch time. There had to be a bathroom for boys - surely, the faculty knew that he would need to use one. He got through fourth period. Even without Jenny, he found he could manage with the girls; although really he talked to them very little. He was beginning to think about his increasing need to find a bathroom. He looked some more - with no results. Of course, he thought, he could ask one of the teachers - they seemed nice! But, the thought of asking a female how to find a boys' bathroom was just too embarrassing! He would try to figure out another way. Jenny was waiting for him at the cafeteria. "Hi! You found it - you're doing OK! How did fourth go?" Her manner was casual, but Eddie reflected that being his guide was her school assignment. For just a moment he thought of asking Jenny how to find a bathroom - but he couldn't bring himself to discuss such a subject with a girl. His need, however, was becoming much more urgent. It was now noon, and he had last emptied his bladder just after six that morning, and he had been drinking water frequently from the hall fountains. Despite his need, he just couldn't ask Jenny. Jenny stayed with him though the cafeteria serving line, then sat with him a several of her friends as they ate. Eddie ate his lunch quietly, mostly listening to the girls and saying little himself. He emptied his drink and refilled it, as he sat nervously with the girls. Not knowing quite what to say, he occupied himself with frequent sips from his glass. When they had eaten, he excused himself from his female companions, saying he wanted "to look around" a bit. Both nervous and anxious he began exploring again for a bathroom. His need was now urgent. His bladder was full and sending strong complaints. He didn't know what to do - the obvious solution would be to approach a teacher, who would surely understand his problem; but in his embarrassment and shyness, he just could not broach the subject to a woman. Still, he knew he would have to do something. If only Jenny had told him where to find a bathroom - but maybe she was as embarrassed about the subject as he was! Anyway, she hadn't said anything about it. Fifth period started with Eddie in class, without Jenny. He was nervous, fidgeting a bit, trying to pay attention despite being constantly distracted by his now-swollen and hurting bladder. His face, he felt, must be showing his distress, though he tried to mask it. The teacher appeared to pay no attention, perhaps assuming hie was just overly nervous from being in this all-female environment. He had no idea what to do, yet could not force himself to reveal his problem to anyone for help. Somehow he got through the class. As he walked away from the classroom, down the hall, he noticed a girl who had been sitting across from him step alongside him. She wasn't as nice looking as Jenny, being a bit on the plump side, but had a friendly face. She looked directly at him, seeming reluctant to speak. Then, hesitantly, she did. "Hi - I'm Margie. I was in fifth period with you. You looked so - well, maybe nervous or something ---" she hesitated. Then, slightly blushing, went on "Is something - - well, anything, bothering you?" She looked at him, twitching, not quite knowing what so say. He responded in a noncommittal manner, saying "Well, I .." his voice trailed off. He sensed that she had perceived his problem, yet neither of them knew quite how to express it. She resumed, clumsily, "I know something's bothering you - and I - I think I can guess what it is--" her voice had become lower, and she looked at him in a sympathetic manner. He felt a huge swell of embarrassment, mixed with a bit of hope that some help might be coming. She went on, although he had said nothing. "I think - I really think I know what - well, I think you need to go to the bathroom. Am I right?" He felt a flush come to his face. He couldn't think of a thing to say, but he nodded silently. She smiled gently at him, and then he said softly, "yeah- real, real, bad!" She spoke softly, too. "I thought so - I know how it feels when you need to go and you can't get to a bathroom. I've felt that way, too. We don't have any boys' bathrooms here, 'cause all of us are girls. Didn't anyone tell you - I mean, someone must have thought of - " He overcame his embarrassment a bit, now that she had broken the ice. "No one told me where I could go, and I - well, I just couldn't ask - I mean" he stammered a bit, then added, "I gotta go real bad - it really hurts. You've felt that way. too?" His question reflected his own ignorance of girls - he could hardly imagine a girl in his condition. Margie was sympathetic. "I sure have - but, look, I'll try to help you. I can't take you into a girls' bathroom - but--" she thought for a moment. "Would you come with me for a minute?" Without a word, he followed her down a side corridor which led to the outside of the building. As they stepped outside, Margie surveyed the area where the building opened onto a grassy zone leading to the school's athletic field. At the moment, no one seemed to be on the field. Just to the left of them, as they exited the building, was a row of low bushes bordering the walkway to the field. She stepped between the bushes and the side of the building, a space of perhaps five feet. She motioned to him to stand beside her. The spot was hidden from inside the building, and the bushes, a bit more than waist high, shielded them from the walk. While several girls were outside some distance from them, no one was nearby. Eddie found himself standing beside Margie, as they both looked over the bush to the area beyond. Margie opened a book and held it in front of him. She spoke to him in a low voice. "Can you - could you - well, do it now? I'll keep a lookout - no one can see us real close, and if I hold my book it will look like we're studying something - could you - I mean, boys do it standing up, I always thought - can you - now - into the bush?" He blushed furiously, yet he knew if he was to achieve relief, he had to do it quickly, before someone came closer. But standing next to a girl? He struggled with the circumstances. Sensing his feelings, Margie added, "I - can you? I mean, I know I'm standing next to you, but I promise I won't look - I really won't!" To himself, he thanked her for that assurance. Hurriedly, he quickly opened his pants as he drew himself close to the bush. He aimed his penis into the bush and began to urinate. True to her word, Margie kept her eyes looking ahead, and never glanced down. Furthering the camouflage, he used one hand to help hold her book as they both looked over it, while the other guided his stream into the bush. He knew Margie could clearly hear his stream as it poured into the bush. He was afraid she might be tempted to look down, but she never did. The stream continued to pour out of him. Margie commented softly, "you must have had an awful lot in you - when did you go last?" Eddie was struck by the question - here he was talking to a girl while he was peeing, and she was asking him questions so personal - but at least she wasn't looking. "Not since I got up this morning - about six!" Margie managed another smile, and looked at his face, not glancing downward, "No wonder you hurt- sounds like you - you know, still have a lot left - do you?" He sensed she was in someway enjoying the experience. His bladder felt better, but his stream still continued strong, and he knew she could hear it. His fear is that she would might look down and see his exposed parts. She didn't, despite the protracted time it took him to complete emptying his bladder. Finally, the stream abated. He used both hands to close his pants. He looked at her. "Thanks", he said, the only word he could use to express gratitude. They went back to the corridor. as he was about to leave her for his next class, she asked him, "If you're going to be here two weeks, what will you do tomorrow? You don't want to wait this long again, do you?" "I don't know, yet", he replied. "Meet me here at the end of third - I'll think of something. OK?" "OK" he replied, heading off to class. Eddie got through the rest of the day with further difficulties. After school, he returned home on the bus. He did not discuss his experience with Margie with anyone. He was far too embarrassed. But that night, he thought about it at length. How did she really feel about it? Would she tell her girl friends? Had any other girls noticed? Were they secretly laughing at him, too embarrassed to ask for a bathroom? Tuesday morning came. He again went through the same ritual. Other boys still teased him on the bus, but girls were a bit more casual now. At school, Jenny met him, friendly but, he thought, quite official. She openly talked to him about school matters, but shared almost nothing personal. He actually was finding it a bit easier to talk to other girls, who had less official connection to him. At the end of third period, he left Jenny's company and returned to the corridor spot where Margie had left him Monday. Would she come back? Eddie had doubts. Perhaps he could do the bush trick by himself, but alone, he would likely attract attention, and he really needed a lookout to warn him if anyone approached. Suddenly his concerns disappeared, as Margie arrived. She smiled at him, giving no sign of her purpose in seeing him. "Ready?" she asked, in a relaxed way. He knew what she meant. "I guess so", he responded, trying to be nonchalant. He started toward the exit they had used the day before. She nudged him slightly, "No, not there. We need to go somewhere different, or someone will catch on. You feel better today?" "Yeah, it hasn't been as long. You know, it's nice of you to do this - I really don't know what to say!" She escorted him to another exit, on the side of the school. A wooded area lay in the distance, with no one in between. She commented, "I sometimes go through those woods when I go home - there's path that takes you to the bus stop for the city bus on the other side of the patch of woods - good for when you leave late and miss the school bus. But I never see anyone in there, so I don't think there'll be anyone there to see you." She motioned for him to follow her to a large tree perhaps thirty feet from the school building. "Let's go on the other side of the tree. If you face away from the school, towards the woods, no one can see you. I'll stay on the side of the tree and watch out for you. OK?" He positioned himself behind the tree, facing the open area and the woods beyond. She stood looking toward the school, a couple of feet from him. If she turned, she would be able to see him, but she kept looking toward the school. "Can you do it?" she asked. "Yes - you - you won't look, will you?" he asked, a bit anxiously. "No - I won't - I promised yesterday, didn't I?" He knew she had, but he was unsure whether the promise continued to today. Quickly, he opened his pants, and began to pee behind the tree. She continued to talk to him. After a short time, he was finished. It didn't take as long as yesterday. He fastened his pants, and came alongside her. "That was quicker - and I hardly heard you do it!" He blushed a bit at the suggestion that she had heard something, and apparently had enjoyed it. They returned to the school. Without more conversation, Margie disappeared and Eddie went to his next class. By the end of the day, Eddie was feeling the need for bathroom relief again, but it wasn't so difficult to wait until he got home. He thought quite a bit about Margie, but shared nothing of his encounters with her with anyone else. Wednesday, he had almost the same experience with Margie. She led him to the same tree and was his lookout. By now, he no longer felt a need to find a suitable bathroom or ask about one. He was quite satisfied with what Margie was doing, which spared him from the discomfort he would otherwise experience, and allowed him to avoid discussing his bathroom needs with anyone else. He seldom saw Margie except for the one encounter they planned each day, and the one class they shared together after lunch. If he chanced to pass her at any other time, she scarcely acknowledged him. Thursday he got off the school bus at Huntington in a drizzling rain. It continued to rain, in increasing amounts, as the day drew on. As the end of third period approached, he was feeling concern that Margie would not be able to escort him to an outside location today, and if he tried to get to the tree location he would surely get soaked. Margie met him, cheery as always. After the intense embarrassment of their first meeting, she was becoming comfortable with him. And so, in his way, was he with her. "Hi!" she greeted him. "Hi! You know, it's going to be wet outside today, and I ..." Margie cut him off. "We won't go out today - I have another plan. You ready?" He nodded assent. Margie led him up a flight of stairs to the top floor of the building, then to the end of a corridor, but there was no exit. The corridor simply had an empty small room on one side, where a few bits of furniture were stored. As classes were only at the other end of the floor, no one was around. "This is your bathroom today!" she announced. He looked at her, questioningly. She reached into the school bag she was carrying, and retrieved a quart jar in a brown paper bag. "I don't know how much you have in you, but I hope you don't have to let out more than this. Can you do it in here?" she asked, handing him the jar. "I'll stand at the door and yell if anyone comes. Hurry!" He took the jar, turned his back to the door, opened his pants and began to pee into the jar. It didn't take him too long, and soon he had emptied himself. The jar was a little over half full of light yellow urine. He turned to her, the jar in his hands. He tried to hold it in both hands in a way that concealed the contents. She looked at it, "Can I see?" she asked, reaching for the jar. To his embarrassment, she held it up, looking at it. "It's the same color as mine!" she announced, as though she had expected a boy's pee to look markedly different. "You didn't have too much in you this time! Glad you don't have to wait until it hurts?" "Yeah - sure. That first day was pretty bad. Say - what are you going to do with the jar?" "Take it into the girls' room and empty it! Or would you rather not have your pee in a girls' bathroom?" She looked at him in a curious way. No, he was not going to object. She took the jar, restoring the lid and placing it in its brown bag, then disappeared down the hall. When he saw Margie in fifth period, she barely showed any sign of recognition. He wondered if she had really disposed of the jar as she had said she would. But then, he reflected, she had kept her word about not looking; probably she had emptied the jar the way she had indicated. Friday was a dry day, and Margie was able to take him to the place they had first used, behind the bush. He reflected that this was the one place where she really stood beside him, almost touching, as he relieved himself. Again, he wondered if she would look downward to see him pee, but she kept her eyes ahead. They would not have another encounter until Monday. Monday and Tuesday, Margie took him to the room they had used for the rainy day. Each time she noted how full the jar was, and again commented on the color. He felt his modesty intruded a bit by her interest in seeing his pee, but he was so indebted to her at this point that he hesitated to complain. Wednesday they went to the tree on the wooded side, and again on Thursday. As their Thursday encounter ended, he observed that his two weeks at the school would end on Friday. She acknowledged it, "You know, Eddie, I've really liked this. It's been pretty special. I'm glad you came here!" "Thanks, Margie, but you've been so nice - you made it nice to be here. I'd hate to go through that first day again. I'd like to say thanks to you - I wish there was something I could do for you to show it." Margie thought a bit. "Well there might be, if you wanted to. Tomorrow is our last day. Would you go with me after school to catch the city bus home? I'll show you the place. We could have a walk together." "OK - you showed me the path. My folks won't mind me being a bit late -they won't be home anyway. It'll be neat!" Margie thought a moment about her suggestion. "There's something else you could do, if you really wanted to thank me, but I think maybe you wouldn't want to!" "What?" Eddie inquired. "Remember the first day, when you got so - so that it hurt?" "Yeah - it did hurt!" "Real bad?" "Yes, real bad. You know it did!" "Would you be willing to get that way again? I mean, if you didn't have to wait that long?"