Mr. Terupt Falls Again (16 page)
Read Mr. Terupt Falls Again Online
Authors: Rob Buyea
F
ADE IN: It’s project time. Students are spread out all over the classroom, some working on the floor, some at their desks, some alone, and others with partners. JESSICA works at the classroom computer. We see MR. TERUPT walk over to JESSICA and pull up a chair to confer with her
.
MR. TERUPT
So, what are you working on?
JESSICA
Well, I have two important pieces that I’m preparing to write. One is the wedding announcement, and the other is the wedding invitation. I’m going to look up examples of both to get ideas for how to structure mine.
MR. TERUPT
Sounds good. Your excellent planning is impressive, and it’s
one of the many reasons you’re a strong writer. I can’t wait to see what you produce.
JESSICA smiles. MR. TERUPT begins to stand up
.
JESSICA
Mr. Terupt … wait.
MR. TERUPT sits back down
.
JESSICA
I know Ms. Newberry’s first name is Sara, and yours is William, but I was wondering if you knew her parents’ names. I’ve noticed that parent names appear on wedding invitations.
MR. TERUPT
A funny thing—names. I can’t stand it when people mispronounce Terupt. I hate it when they say “Tr-upt” instead of “Tare-upt.” And I really hate it when they make some stupid remark like “Tr-upt, as in interrupt.”
LUKE
(while passing by)
If they spent time with us last year, then they’d know it’s Terupt, as in dollar word.
MR. TERUPT and JESSICA laugh
.
MR. TERUPT
I hope Ms. Newberry is prepared for her new last name.
JESSICA
She doesn’t want anyone else’s.
MR. TERUPT smiles big
.
MR. TERUPT
Her mother’s name is Sandra and her father’s is Hank.
JESSICA
(eyes on her journal, jotting down info)
And your parents … just in case.
JESSICA VO
It took no small amount of courage for me to ask that question. This was my chance to learn more about the man I didn’t completely know. More about my Sam Westing.
MR. TERUPT
My mother’s name was Natalie and my father’s was Owen.
Both JESSICA and MR. TERUPT are quiet, letting the word “was” hang in the air. MR. TERUPT rises and moves on to the next student
.
JESSICA VO
No family. Mr. Terupt had no family in the hospital waiting room, or at his bedside. No family pictures surrounding his desk. His mom and dad were no longer alive. When were they taken from him? I wondered.
I
was sitting at the computer next to Jessica one day during Writers’ Workshop, researching ideas for centerpieces on the guest tables, when she started asking Mr. Terupt about the names of Ms. Newberry’s parents. And I was right there when she asked him for the names of his parents. And he answered, “My mother’s name was Natalie and my father’s was Owen.”
I stayed quiet along with Jessica and Mr. Terupt after he spoke those words. Then he stood and moved on to somebody else. Jessica stared at her computer screen for a while before finally speaking. She knew I was eavesdropping, and I’m sure Mr. Terupt knew too. After all, he has always encouraged us to listen in on his nearby writing conferences. He says we can always learn from them.
“His parents are dead,” Jessica said matter-of-factly.
I nodded.
“That answers one of my questions about him. Now I know why he was all alone in the hospital. He’s got no one else.” Jessica and I both stared blankly at our computers while she talked, but she knew I was listening.
“I wonder how old he was when they died,” she said. “I can’t help it. I want to know more. That’s why I want to write the announcement and invitation. I want to know Mr. Terupt.”
Jeffrey came over to us then.
“Hey,” he said. “I just got done conferencing with Terupt, and he told me to come and talk to you guys about my idea. He thinks it’s a good one.”
Jessica and I looked at him and shrugged.
“My mom bought a video recorder to take movies of Asher. She wants to capture the special moments on film so they last forever. The
special
moments. So that got me thinking about the wedding.”
“We should make a movie of this whole process!” Jessica yelled.
“Exactly,” Jeffrey said. “So I asked Terupt and he said he’d buy the video recorder for us, and I thought I could run the camera while you act as the director.”
“Yes!” Jessica agreed. “Yes! What a great idea! Let’s do it.”
Then Jessica looked at me. “Anna, I need a favor.…”
So the short story is, I inherited the task of writing the invitations and announcement because I knew what to do after eavesdropping on Jessica’s conference. I was fine with that. I got Danielle to help me, and Jeffrey and Jessica started plans for the movie.
I
was already worried that Mr. T wasn’t going to fail me, and then he really put a wrinkle in my grand plan with his wedding announcement. I
had
to help with that project. It was for Ms. Newberry and Mr. T. Their wedding was flat-out way too important for me not to get involved. Besides, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to be the DJ. I had all of Richard’s equipment. I’d put on a party they’d never forget.
But even though failing school seemed unlikely, I wasn’t giving up. That’s why I told the admissions lady at Riverway exactly how I felt. My father had scheduled the tour and interview without asking me. He assumed I’d be going there like all the men in our family before me. But he was wrong.
“I appreciate your time today, but I won’t be attending Riverway,” I told Ms. Dawson, the admissions lady interviewing me.
“Oh?”
“I can’t leave home. I’m sure you hear that a lot, but it’s different for me. I’ve got someone I need to keep an eye on. Someone I need to be there for.”
We talked some more and then Ms. Dawson said, “Well, Peter, you seem pretty set in your decision. Tell me, why are you even here?”
“I haven’t exactly told my parents yet. I haven’t had the chance, and my father scheduled this visit and interview today without ever asking me how I felt about it.”
“Oh,” she said again. “I see.”
“Could you not contact my father about our talk? I’m not ready for him to find out yet.”
“We mail out our decision letters in March. He’ll find out then, but I won’t tell him beforehand,” Ms. Dawson said.
“Thank you,” I said. We shook hands and I started toward the door.
“Peter?”
I turned around.
“Good luck.”
I nodded and left. I had a long and quiet ride home with Miss Catalina, our au pair. I kept asking myself the same question over and over. How was I ever going to tell my father? Maybe I’d start by asking Danielle to put me in touch with God.
february
F
ADE IN: The classroom is bustling with activity. Students are working all over the place but we can tell the organized chaos is normal routine
.
JESSICA VO
Readers’ Workshop became a time for students to work on either independent reading or wedding work. Naturally, everyone chose to do wedding work despite the fact that Mr. Terupt had given us a wonderful reading assignment.
CUT TO: Days earlier in the classroom. MR. TERUPT stands at the front
.
MR. TERUPT
Okay, gang. We’ve got a lot going on right now, so trying to do another class novel is not the best idea. However, that
does not mean we aren’t going to be reading. I’m going to ask you to be very independent and responsible for the next few weeks—even more so than usual. You have two major assignments to complete. You’ll need to decide which to work on during class time, and which to save for home. One task is obviously your wedding work. The other is a very special journal assignment that goes along with your reading.
JESSICA smiles and sits up straight. What could be better than a reading assignment?
MR. TERUPT
(continued)
One of the best things about reading is when you connect. By connect, I mean something you read allows you to relate to a character or reminds you of something you’ve experienced. Or what you read might remind you of something else you’ve read. When you have meaningful connections, you tend to really enjoy what you’re reading, and it helps you understand the text at a much deeper level. If you connect with a character, then you’ll be able to tell me how that character feels because you’ll have felt that way, or if you are reminded of a different story, then you might be able to make smart predictions. For your assignment, I want you to focus on connecting with your chosen book. I want you to write in your journals about the meaningful connections you have. Then pick your best connection and explain how it helps you understand the story at an even deeper level. And if you
really
connect with your story, then you might also be able to tell me how it helps you in your life.
CUT TO: Back to the classroom and Readers’ Workshop/Wedding Workshop. JEFFREY is following behind JESSICA with his video camera in hand. THEY approach PETER, over by the lizard tank
.
JESSICA VO
I love reading, but my wedding work was something that had to be done in school. I couldn’t very well make a documentary of the wedding process if I didn’t film it while it was happening. Peter was going to be our DJ for the reception, but I wanted to ask him if he’d be willing to help me with part of the documentary. After filming, the footage would have to be edited, then music would be added. That was the part I thought Peter could do.
JESSICA
Hi, Peter. Mind giving us an update on your wedding work?
PETER continues to stare into the lizard tank
.
JESSICA
Peter, is everything okay?
JEFFREY puts down his camera and leans closer to peer inside the bog
.
JEFFREY
(glaring at Peter)
What did you do?
!
PETER
(glaring back at Jeffrey)
I didn’t do anything! Don’t blame me!
JEFFREY
Then what happened?
!
PETER
I don’t know.
JESSICA
Guys, calm down.
JESSICA holds her hands out like two stop signs, one pointed at JEFFREY and the other at PETER
.
PETER
You really think you’re something special because Mr. T started you on wrestling, don’t you?
PETER pushes past JESSICA’s stop-sign hand
.
JEFFREY
What are you talking about?
PETER
Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve heard you talking about it. I know you got that pretty mat burn on the side of your head from wrestling with Mr. T. You’re his little pet.
JEFFREY
That’s what you think? So you killed the lizards?
JEFFREY pushes past JESSICA. PETER plants both his hands on JEFFREY’s chest and shoves him. JEFFREY grabs the back of PETER’s head and pulls him to the ground
.
