Short Story: Innocent Until Proven Guilty
By Jemma Auguste

An eerie silence blanketed the classroom. Not a sound was heard. It appeared that everyone was holding their breath. However, beads of perspiration could be seen running down the two dozen petrified faces. A muscle twitched nervously in my lower jaw. My eyes quickly darted across the room. It didn’t appear that anyone was going to confess anytime soon. Our class teacher Mr. Fanus paced the small width of the classroom and occasionally peered at us beneath his horn- rimmed spectacles. This torture was unnecessary. We all knew who stole the watch, but exposing the culprit came with a price. Everyone knew that no one messed with 'Chainsaw Changy’, a name Changy, the class bully, gave himself after claiming to have murdered over a hundred people. The last person who reported him had to be transferred to another school as Changy made his life a living hell. Suddenly a loud booming voice echoed in the classroom.
"I want whoever is responsible for this theft to speak up now or no one leaves until this watch is found,” ordered Mr. Fanus.
Still no one spoke. I quickly glanced up at the old black clock in the classroom. I couldn't believe that we had been in here for almost an hour. Soon it would be lunchtime. I knew that the teacher would keep us in here during the lunch break if the watch was not found. I couldn’t blame him. Mr. Fanus worshipped his prized Rolex watch. It had been given to him as a birthday gift from a rich relative who lived in England. This watch never came off his wrist. We once joked that it was most likely that he slept and showered with it. I breathed a sigh of relief as the bell rang. Maybe he would pity us and resume this interrogation after lunch. I was mistaken. Mr Fanus' lip curled into an angry snarl as he looked directly at us.
'' Let me know when you are ready to talk. In the meantime I’ll have my lunch," he growled.
I couldn’t believe what I heard. Was Mr. Fanus that cruel? I thought of the small cup of tea I gulped down this morning. I was in a rush so I had no time to eat the bakes and saltfish my mother prepared this morning. Oh how I wished I did. A familiar grumbling started in my stomach. I watched as Mr. Fanus bite deep into a double layered egg sandwich. He quickly washed it down with a Coke. To make matters worse, an unmistakable scent drifted into the classroom. A mist the chatter of students heading to the cafeteria was the scent of chicken roti, fried bakes and sausage, pizza, coconut cake and dhal.
I thought of my own lunch. Baked macaroni and cheese with fried wings.
Instantaneously my hunger turned into anger. Why should the innocent have to pay for something they did not do? I turned to look at Changy who appeared just as angry as I was, instead of the usual smirk on his face. He must have sensed someone was staring at him for he turned to look directly at me. I quickly turned away but not fast enough to see the animosity in his eyes. But surprisingly my anger did not waver. Why did we have to be afraid of Changy? After all we were just as big as him. He was the dumbest boy in the class and a lazy athlete.

I don’t know what compelled me to open my mouth, but the words flowed out on their own volition. “It was Changy,” I whispered.
Loud gasps were heard all over the classroom. My best friend Ken who appeared to have been rooted to a spot stared at me in disbelief.
"What did you say?" asked Mr. Fanus.
"It was Changy. He stole your watch. I saw him at your desk when you left the classroom," I spoke up.
Changy appeared to be more in shock than my classmates. For a moment, he just stared at me. He rolled one hand into a fist and jammed it into his other hand. He looked like a bulldog that had not been fed for days. It looked like my days at the school were numbered.
"Did anyone see Changy take the watch?" asked the teacher.
Of course, no one spoke. Changy's bag and desk were searched but no watch was found. Mr. Fanus then searched his pants and shoes, but still no watch.
All of a sudden the classroom door swung open. Mrs. Eleanor, the principal clad in a ruffled purple suit marched in.

“What are these kids still doing in here?” she demanded.
“Uh..ummm, I was investigating a matter,” he replied almost timidly. “One of these kids stole my watch.”
Everyone's mouth opened in shock as Mrs. Eleanor held up Mr. Fanus’ watch."Is this the watch that was allegedly stolen? You left it in the lab this morning."

Mr. Fanus now remembered removing it before mixing the substances for the experiment. His head hang in shame. I owe you an apology class, especially you Changy. You may go for lunch now. Finally this ordeal was over for the class but far from over for me.
Slowly, Changy was heading towards me. My legs felt like jello as I crumpled in my seat. My lips and throat became dry and I gripped the edge of my seat. Students dashed past me, but my appetite had suddenly vanished.
By now Changy was just a short distance away from me. I turned to look at the looming figure approaching me and with a yelp of terror I fled out of the classroom and sped towards the toilet. I hid in one of the stalls and prayed that Changy would forget about me. I was safe for now but what about the rest of the day? I could not stay in here forever.
"He's in here!" an angry voice squealed. At that moment I fainted.

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