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Untitled Document
RubyRainbow333: Super Detective.
I slunk through the halls, a spy with a mission.
That mission: to obtain more information about these unjust grades.
I tiptoed around the front office, careful not
to betray my presence by bumping into anything. Silently, I thanked my lucky
stars that the office carpet muffled the sound of my hooves so well.
The bell that started homeroom rang. At this
moment, Indigo was in my homeroom covering for me. But she could only cover
for so long. I had to put my spying skills to good use.
Principal Sterns walked out of his office for
his morning coffee break. He opened the door wide, unobservant because of an
obvious lack of caffeine. Swiftly through the dark, I raced towards the door.
It was closing! I wouldn't make it!
Panicking, I squeaked. Startled, Mr. Sterns
jumped, flinging the door wide open. Nearly invisible in the shadows, I slipped
past the principal and into his office.
"Who made that squeak?" Sterns growled. "Come
out wherever you are!"
Terrified, I hid in a corner in the principal's personal office. Mentally,
I scolded myself for squeaking. But at least I was inside in one piece.
Eventually, Mr. Sterns assumed that the squeak
was his imagination. "I've been hanging around children too long," he growled.
"I need a vacation." Five minutes later, he returned with his coffee. "Time
for another meeting," he grumbled. By that time, I had crouched underneath the
dusty, cobweb-covered desk where I could hear everything and record everything
with my portable tape recorder.
Sighing with weariness, Mr. Sterns sat at his
desk. His feet came so close to me, I feared they would kick me. Carefully,
I scurried out of his way.
"Mr. Sterns, Principal Growler of Golden Jubjub
High School wants to see you," Drawled the secretary. Golden Jubjub High School
is where Golden Jubjub Elementary School students go after they graduate. There
is no middle school.
"Send her in," Mr. Sterns droned.
Principal Growler was a blue Grarrl, wide around
the middle and aged. Her scales were losing the luster of their youth, and she
moved stiffly. Her voice croaked when she talked. Most people said that she
was too old to keep up with rambunctious young teenagers. But she refuses to
retire, and denies her age.
"Rumor has it you've found a new way to keep
your students in line, Sterns," Ms. Growler croaked.
"You could say that. But just when I think I
have the scoundrels in line, they go and write a newspaper on me. Have a seat,
madam." Mr. Sterns gestured towards a chair on the other side of his desk. Then,
another pair of feet threatened to kick me.
"What can you do about it? Children will be
children. Just tell me about your new policy, Sterns."
Quickly, I turned my tape recorder on. I didn't
want to miss a word of this.
"I'm raising the standards for some of the more…
unruly students. Ones like that Sapphire girl, forever whining and crying in
class. And Indigo, with the nerve to edit a paper. And that other child, Ruby.
Such a temper. Totally disruptive."
"Hmm… I don't know about this. It seems like
you're dragging some of your smartest students down."
"I'm not dragging them down, Growler. I'm helping
them. They'll never get anywhere in the real world without a bit of discipline."
Total shock gripped my emotions. Unruly? Since
when was starting a newspaper "unruly?" And Sapphire's tears aren't her fault.
She's just hypersensitive. It's her nature.
I had stumbled onto a story that was worth the
front page. This was hard-core news.
Then, as if from far away, I heard a bell. Wait!
I did hear a bell! A bell to end homeroom period! I had to get out of here!
Luckily, Mr. Sterns and Ms. Growler left to find some misplaced folders, and
I could dart out. I was five minutes late for my first period class, and I got
a detention. But it was well worth it.
* * *
That afternoon at the Pizzaroo, I talked to Indigo about my discovery.
"'The nerve to edit a paper!'" the blue Gelert
raged. "Of course I've 'the nerve to edit a paper!' I shouldn't be penalized
for this!"
"I know, Indi. But this is beyond our control
for now."
"I'm so sick of this! Ruby, get your tape recorder.
Let's take it to the superintendent. We have proof. We can get Mr. Sterns fired
or something!"
I reached into my jacket pocket and felt my
face go pale. "Er… Indi? I think I left the tape recorder in the office."
I could see my friend restrain the urge to throw
pizza in my face. "Ruby…"
"It was a careless mistake. I know. It'll never
happen again."
"Ruby, I'm not saying this to you as a friend,
but as your boss. Get that tape recorder. We could reveal a major scandal!"
"Yes Editor Indigo!" I snapped a quick salute
at my supervisor and trotted to the school.
The normal school day was over, but the school
was still open for anyone who had to join after-school clubs or detention. I
had to be a spy again, so I tried to make myself invisible. Creep quietly, don't
turn attention to yourself, don't look anyone in the eye. It's very hard for
a rainbow Uni to do, but I could do it.
Swift and silent as a night wind, I crept my
way into the main office. From there, I peered into Principal Sterns's office
and saw… my tape recorder lying on his desk. Only one problem. Mr. Sterns was
sleeping in his leather chair, leaning back. His feet were on the desk, leaning
against the tape recorder.
I found a rectangular paperweight that was the
same size and shape of the tape recorder on Mr. Sterns's secretary's desk. All
I had to do now was make the swap without waking the principal.
I snuck into the office, fighting the urge to
run back in fear. The fate of the Golden Jubjub depended on me.
Carefully, I touched the tape recorder. Carefully,
I slid it to the right. Slowly, oh so slowly.
Mr. Sterns gave a snort that just about made
be jump through the ceiling. But I kept my cool and slid the tape recorder some
more… and some more… I lost all track of time. Five minutes could have been
five hours. But finally, it was nearly out.
Swift as a wink, I picked Mr. Sterns's feet
up and placed them on the paperweight. Another snort. But the principal did
not wake.
The tape recorder was free, and the Golden Jubjub
was free along with it.
And I had proved my worth as a journalist.
Giddy with relief and pride, I trotted out of
the office, and accidentally kicked the bookshelf.
Hold it right there, Ms. Ruby Rainbow!"
To be continued...
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