"It's just," She leaned in to whisper in the principal's ear, "It would be terrible if the superintendent found out what happened to the money from the PTA bake sale. Gambling is such a terrible addiction. I don't know if they would forgive someone, even though the money was eventually "found"..."
The principal's eyes went wide. Flustered, she puffed and tugged at her sleeves for a minute.
"So, Fran." Mary said, speaking aloud so Billy could hear her again, "Is there any way you could arrange this for us? It would mean a lot to the students." She smiled a wide innocent smile.
"Well, I- The sixth grade class was going to go. But they been planning this for over a month and-" Mrs. Burber's face was turning a darker and darker shade of red as she spluttered out each word.
"I understand. When people plan things, and set aside money, they can be really upset when those plans get changed suddenly. You know, I think there's something I should-"
"Okay, okay!" The principal shouted, crumpling into her chair behind her desk like a kicked puppy, "The sixth grade class can... go to the zoo or something. Your class will go to the aquarium this weekend. Just, just please... take Billy and go."
"Thank you for your help Mrs. Burber!" Mary's grin shone like the sun. She grabbed Billy by the sleeve and pulled him up. He seemed dazed by what had happened, and docilely allowed her to lead him out of the office.
After walking for a few minutes, Billy turned to her and said, "Ms. Mackillop?"
"What Billy?" she asked, still smiling the same bright smile.
"That was frickin amazing!"
"Watch your language Billy." She scolded him. Secretly she was kind of pleased at the praise. The old woman liked to put on airs, and it was nice to take her down a peg. Still, she'd hoped to use the PTA money secret for something a little more important than this. But, it didn't really matter.
Somehow she knew this was the right thing to do. She'd go to the aquarium, and she'd figure out what was going on. If she confronted him, Alex would have to answer her questions. Maybe she would even apologize.
In her mind, the chill breeze of the ocean air began to warm.
The principal's eyes went wide. Flustered, she puffed and tugged at her sleeves for a minute.
"So, Fran." Mary said, speaking aloud so Billy could hear her again, "Is there any way you could arrange this for us? It would mean a lot to the students." She smiled a wide innocent smile.
"Well, I- The sixth grade class was going to go. But they been planning this for over a month and-" Mrs. Burber's face was turning a darker and darker shade of red as she spluttered out each word.
"I understand. When people plan things, and set aside money, they can be really upset when those plans get changed suddenly. You know, I think there's something I should-"
"Okay, okay!" The principal shouted, crumpling into her chair behind her desk like a kicked puppy, "The sixth grade class can... go to the zoo or something. Your class will go to the aquarium this weekend. Just, just please... take Billy and go."
"Thank you for your help Mrs. Burber!" Mary's grin shone like the sun. She grabbed Billy by the sleeve and pulled him up. He seemed dazed by what had happened, and docilely allowed her to lead him out of the office.
After walking for a few minutes, Billy turned to her and said, "Ms. Mackillop?"
"What Billy?" she asked, still smiling the same bright smile.
"That was frickin amazing!"
"Watch your language Billy." She scolded him. Secretly she was kind of pleased at the praise. The old woman liked to put on airs, and it was nice to take her down a peg. Still, she'd hoped to use the PTA money secret for something a little more important than this. But, it didn't really matter.
Somehow she knew this was the right thing to do. She'd go to the aquarium, and she'd figure out what was going on. If she confronted him, Alex would have to answer her questions. Maybe she would even apologize.
In her mind, the chill breeze of the ocean air began to warm.
