Herman by Andrew J Roberts (early readers .TXT) 📖

Tom spun around at the sound of the Ferrari exhaust. He saw the White Ferrari come up the hill and pull in to park right next to where he was standing near the student’s car park. The yellow and black ‘L’ plate on the back window seemed unusual on such a fast sports car so Tom wasn’t sure what to expect. There were some rich kids at school but no kid could afford a Ferrari. At least that is what he thought. As he watched, a tall guy got out of the car.
“Hello. I am Herman and you are Tom,” the tall guy said. He had a big smile and was waving at Tom even though they were standing quite close together.
“Um, yeah. I’ve seen you before. Nice car,” said Tom as he looked over the car.
“Yes, I like the sporty cars. I am new student. I am in your Physical class.”
“I think you mean Physics,” said Tom. He recalled that Herman had just started at the school. He had a few classes the same as Herman and the teacher had introduced Herman in each one. They said he was from Latwania which was a very rich country and the students may like to look it up and learn more about Herman’s home. Tom hadn’t bothered.
“Yes, we have the pretty teacher, Miss Green. You like to see her topless, yes?”
Tom was surprised by Herman’s remark. “Umm, well...I s’pose. Do you always...Hey watch out!” Tom was pointing at the Ferrari behind Herman as it had started to roll in reverse down the hill.
For a second both boys stood shocked at the thought of a several hundred thousand dollar car rolling away to wreck itself. Then they started running after it. Herman must have left the handbrake off.
“You must have left the handbrake off,” yelled Tom.
“No, I think I not pull on the clicky lever that hold car,” replied Herman.
The car gathered speed as it headed downhill. Tom was suddenly too horrified to even attempt a reply. He knew at the bottom of the hill was the teachers’ car park and his English teacher’s Lexus. He wasn’t sure which would be worse, a wrecked Ferrari or a really annoyed Mr Maskell.
The boys slowed to a jog as the car accelerated. As they watched, the car sped down the hill, but just missed the Lexus’ left wing mirror by a millimetre. It continued racing past the other teacher’s cars just missing each one and continued up the other side of the small valley. It slowed as it reached the limit of its momentum. Then it started forwards back down the smaller hill towards them. As it reached the valley again, Tom sped forward to reach it. He pulled open the door and jumped in to pull on the handbrake. The car stopped.
Herman was smiling again. “Thank you my new friend Tom. That was eggs icing, no?”
“I think you mean ‘exciting’. More like horrifying.” Tom was breathing fast. “It could have hit Mr Maskell’s car,” said Tom.
“No, it miss,” said Herman slightly confused.
“No, it could have... Oh never mind. You’d better park it again. And pull on the hand...lever thing this time”. Tom was realising he was going to have some difficulties communicating with Herman. But then he wasn’t sure he wanted to spend much more time with Herman anyway.
Tom waited while Herman parked the Ferrari. Both boys walked towards the school together.
Later, Tom saw Herman over to his left in their Physics class. Miss Green had an experiment set up. She was talking about potential and kinetic energy but Tom was not listening. He was more interested in the wooden track and wooden block car that she had set up at the front of the room. It looked a bit like the Hotwheels track Tom played with when he was young and he saw that the little wooden car could race down the slope and up the other side.
“And who can tell me how we would work out how far the car would travel up this slope.” Miss Green was pointing to the track. Tom slipped down in his chair just a little lower so he didn’t get asked.
“Miss, miss.” Tom looked to his right to see that Alan’s hand was up. It always went straight up for every question the teacher asked.
“Herman.” The teacher pointed to Tom’s left. Tom spun around and saw that Herman had his hand up. This is going to be interesting, he thought to himself with a small grin.
Herman spoke. “Miss Green, the toy car is like my real car. You know Tom and I were just talking about seeing you topless...”
Tom’s eyes widened and he let out a gasp of air. The class started to laugh.
“What??” Miss Green was struggling to believe what she had just heard.
“Tom and I. We were talking about you topless when my car started racing...”
“Herman, go to the Headmaster’s office,” Miss Green interrupted him.
“But, I want to tell you about my car. It like your little toy one. It go very fast...” Herman had his hand flat with palm face down and was moving it like the car going down the hill.
“Go now. Go and tell the Headmaster what you just said to me.” Miss Green was pointing toward the door.
Herman got up and left the room with a confused look on his face.
“So you were just telling her about how your car was rolling down the hill and how you could work out the distance travelled by measuring it.” The Headmaster looked as confused as Herman. “So why did she send you to me?” he asked.
“I not know. She just get angry and point to door. She bit crazy maybe?” Herman said.
“Look, I’ll speak to her later. You’d better get to your next class.” The Headmaster opened the door for Herman.
“Crazy,” Herman said to himself quietly as he left.
“Tom!” Herman called out to Tom as he crossed the Quadrangle. Herman caught up to him.
“Herman, why did you say that to Miss Green?” asked Tom.
“But I just try to tell her about my car and she go crazy,” said Herman.
“But you said that bit about seeing her naked.”
“No?” Herman thought back. “I talk about her car but not see her naked. Tom, I am starting to think whole school is going like the crazy...”
“You said you liked to see her topless,” Tom interrupted.
“Yes, her car. It is the topless. It is the sporty Mazda, without the roof. The topless.”
“Oh man,” Tom suddenly realised. “You mean a convertible. She has a Mazda MX5 convertible. Herman you need to work on your English.”
“Tom, this has turned out to be the happy day. Before I think whole school maybe the crazy way, but now you offer to teach me English. We are the good friends, yes?” Herman was smiling again.
Tom sighed.

Publication Date: 12-18-2010

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