Mr. Terupt Falls Again (10 page)
Read Mr. Terupt Falls Again Online
Authors: Rob Buyea
CUT TO: MRS. WILLIAMS standing at the front of the room
.
JESSICA VO
We saw a lot of Mrs. Williams. Between last year and Jeffrey showing up with a baby this year, we’d been through a lot with her. We were special to her, and she had become special to us. That’s one of the things that can happen when you go through a tragedy together—everyone involved ends up closer. But for Mr. Terupt to take the time to formally get our attention, and for him to call Mrs. Williams’s news “an important announcement,” suggested something serious. I had no idea what was coming.
MRS. WILLIAMS
Good morning, everyone. It’s always nice to come and see this class. I’m here to tell you that Snow Hill School has been awarded a grant for what is best described as an exchange program. The state has awarded us money to use toward collaboration with the other sixth grades in our region. You will be getting together with the students from Woods View School two or three times this year.
LUKE lets out a sigh in exasperation. He gets surprised looks from many in the room after his out-of-character reaction
.
MRS. WILLIAMS
The first get-together will be in just a couple of weeks. At that time you’ll be required to work on projects in groups. Your groups should be made up of a few of you with a few of them.
LUKE
(not thrilled)
Why does the state want to pay for that?
MRS. WILLIAMS
Because we’re interested in giving you opportunities to meet and make friends with the kids you’ll be going to junior high school with next year. The state always likes to promote programs that ask students to work together.
LEXIE
(leaning over to Jessica)
This is our chance to meet some boys.
PETER
(while staring down at his desk, playing with an eraser)
We already work together in this classroom. Why do we have to do it with outsiders?
(under his breath)
It’s not like I’ll be in school with them next year anyway.
LUKE
What sorts of projects are we talking about?
JEFFREY
(grumbling)
Doesn’t matter.
MR. TERUPT gets up from his desk and walks to the front of the room and stands by MRS. WILLIAMS
.
MR. TERUPT
Luke, since we’re getting money from the state, we can do some bigger projects. You’ll like it, trust me. In fact, we’re going to be starting an oceanography unit in the next few days, and our first exchange project will be something special to go along with that.
LUKE’s face brightens. He rubs his hands together in a way that tells us he can’t wait to get started
.
LUKE
(excited)
Oceanography! Awesome! I’ve been thinking I might want to study marine science when I get older. Can you believe only ten percent of the world’s oceans have been explored? There’s all kinds of observations and discoveries waiting to be made!
CLASS laughs at LUKE’s dorky energy and excitement
.
LUKE
What?! I’m serious. I’ve been swimming a lot this last month to earn my Athletics Badge. You have to be a good swimmer if you want to explore the ocean.
LEXIE
Oh boy! Do you think you can wear that really cool Boy Scout shirt again when you get the badge?
LUKE
Sure. Okay.
JESSICA VO
Lexie’s sarcasm went right over Luke’s head. The poor kid probably
would
wear that ridiculous shirt again. He wasn’t always the sharpest knife in the drawer.
MR. TERUPT
(smiling)
Now, gang, remember how scared you were before visiting the Collaborative Classroom last year. This is no different. That turned out to be a great experience, and I’m sure this will too. Be positive.
JESSICA VO
Did Mr. Terupt really believe that? The Collaborative Classroom had been his idea. This was someone else’s. Other than Lexie, I’m not sure any of us were excited. I know the boys weren’t, that was easy to see, though Luke did perk up at the prospect of bigger projects.
MRS. WILLIAMS
(trying to appear confident)
Mr. Terupt’s right. Let’s be positive. I’m sure things will turn out differently than you expect.
MRS. WILLIAMS smiles and walks to the door. She stops and turns to wave
.
MRS. WILLIAMS
Have a great day, everyone.
CLASS
Bye, Mrs. Williams. You too.
JESSICA VO
I was feeling overwhelmed. I still wanted to learn more about Mr. Terupt, our very own Sam Westing, plus I had my research project to think about. My partner had me concerned. Lexie had gone from a normal-dressing sixth grader to a high school–looking girl with real lipstick and a “chill” vocabulary. She claimed it was part of her wardrobe research. She was learning how to be an actress. I think she was getting her information from the supermarket tabloids. I have a strong command of language, but even I hadn’t heard some of her words before, at least not how she was using them. Now, on top of all that, there was the exchange program to worry about. No wonder I had a lot on my mind.
FADE OUT
.
I
was looking hot. Totally. With these other sixth graders coming to visit, I was like, girl, you need to look your best. I wore my black yoga pants with a purple scoop-neck sweater that Lisa had given me. Lisa and Reena made me ditch the feather boas I loved to wear last year a while ago. They gave me a couple of scarves instead. According to them, scarves were the bomb in accessories. I wore the one that had some purple in it and I put on my favorite lipstick and some mascara. To put the finishing touches on my outfit, I added silver hoop earrings. Reena and Lisa would have approved.
That morning in school, I like, sized myself up in the girls’ bathroom. I was standing sideways looking in the mirror when Jessica walked in.
“Hi, Lexie.”
“Hey, girlfriend.”
“You’re looking … nice and grown up,” she said.
“Nah. I need something more. I have to look amazing today. We’ve got visitors coming.” Jessica watched as I
checked myself out. “I need more of a chest,” I said. “That’s what this sweater is all about.”
“What?” Jessica sounded shocked. I heard it in her voice. I loved it when I got to teach
her
something for a change.
“I need boobs,” I said. “Grab me some toilet paper, wouldja. And don’t be stingy. Get a lot.” I was tired of waiting for them to grow on their own.
Jessica brought me the goods. “What are you going to do?”
“Just watch,” I said. I wadded the toilet paper, pulled up my sweater, and stuffed my bra, first one side, then the other. I tried to even things out in the mirror. I cupped and squeezed and formed a nice pair. “Are they even?” I spun around.
“What?!” Jessica was even more shocked now.
“Jessica. Girlfriend.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “We can do yours too if you want.”
“No,” she said, taking a step back. “That’s okay.”
“Just tell me. Are they even?”
“Yes.” She paused for a second. “They look … fine.”
I inspected myself in the mirror again. “No,” I said. “They’re too small. I need boobs, not boobies. Grab me some more toilet paper, wouldja?”
“I’d be careful not to make it too obvious,” Jessica warned. “No bosom yesterday and suddenly a plentiful bosom today doesn’t exactly add up.”
“It’s no sweat. Nobody in our class will say anything. And like, our visitors won’t know the difference. To them, I’ll just be the hot girl.” I cupped and squeezed. “How do they look now?” I spun around again.
“Abundant.”
I
remember my brother telling me a long time ago that the kids from Woods View School always think they’re better than us. That was why I wasn’t real excited for this day. None of us were, except Lexie. One look at her and I knew she was looking forward to it. One look at her and I forgot all about my nervousness. She had definitely put time into getting ready. Her new purple sweater was something. She looked amazing.
“You can pop your eyes back in your head, Peter,” Jessica said. “They’re not real.”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“Lexie’s breasts aren’t real, Peter. Just thought I’d tell you before you started drooling all over yourself.”
Now I was mad. What was I doing gawking at Lexie? And how could I get caught? Lexie was my rival. She was a girl who farted, and there was no way I could like a girl who did that. It was way too gross.
I
’m sorry to say, but I hypothesized disaster for this exchange program. It was a lot like chemistry. If you take two chemicals and mix them together, what happens? Well, my hypothesis was tested and confirmed at our first Exchange Day. The result was a violent reaction. The data was conclusive. This exchange thing was a bad idea.
“Welcome,” Mr. Terupt said as our visitors arrived. “Please, come in and sit down wherever you see an empty seat.” He was standing at the front of the room. Once everyone was settled he spoke again.
“W-w-welcome to our sch-sch-school.”
What was wrong? Why was Mr. Terupt stuttering? I heard some of the visiting kids snickering and laughing. Laughing at my teacher. I felt hot. Anger surged through my veins.
Before I had time to think about it more, Jeffrey exploded
and tackled the jokester sitting next to him. One of Jeffrey’s forearms was planted under the kid’s chin and his other one landed right across the chest. He flipped the kid right over the back of his chair. Jeffrey jumped on the boy and pinned him to the ground. Luckily, Mr. Terupt got there just in time to grab Jeffrey before he started throwing punches. And believe me, Jeffrey was ready to let that kid have it good.
I didn’t budge. I was silently rooting for Jeffrey. How dare anyone laugh at my teacher.
F
irst that kid laughed at Terupt. Laughed at my stuttering teacher with his other punk buddies sittin’ around my table. Then he said, “What is this guy? A
retard
?”
I didn’t even think about it. I just reacted. I wanted to hurt him—bad.
