Free Amber Brown Sees Red by Paula Danziger Page B

janitor.”
    Barforama ... Skunkorama .... This class is turning into Stinkorama.
    Mrs. Holt drops some tissues over Alicia’s barf so that we won’t have to look at it.
    I think I hear her mumble, “I should have called in sick today.”
    An announcement comes over the loudspeaker. “This is your principal speaking.”
    Mr. Robinson sounds like an airplane pilot.
    “I just want to keep everyone informed of the situation.... Since this is Friday and we will have all weekend to try to eradicate the problem and get rid of the smell ... we have decided to call off school for the day.”
    Our class starts to cheer, to whistle, to stomp their feet.
    Even Mrs. Holt is applauding.
    I can hear other classes making noise.
    “Quiet!” Mr. Robinson screams into his microphone. “Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Or we’ll cancel plans to close the school.”
    It quickly quiets down and he continues.
    “You will not be dismissed for a long time, though ... so teachers will continue with classes ... except for gym classes, which will be canceled ... and, teachers, unless there is an absolute emergency, please send no more students to the nurse. Her room is filled ... and no more janitor requests unless there is an emergency ... he is very busy. Now to explain the procedure: We must personally contact each parent, guardian, or backup person on your records to let them know that you are to be picked up if possible or bused home, if someone is there to take charge. We also have to locate the bus drivers.”
    “We’re going to be here all day.” Jimmy Russell puts his head down on his desk.
    “I can take care of myself,” Vinnie Simmons says.
    Yeah, right, I think.Vinnie is the kid who, in kindergarten, wanted to eat his chicken pox.
    Mr. Robinson continues. “Since there are only two regular phones in the front office, we will also be using the fax machine phone ... and several teachers will be using their car phones and portable phones. It will take a while to reach all parents and guardians or backup people.”

    “ ‘Backup people’ sounds like singers who sing behind the stars,” Roger Hart says.
    “He means the name of the person who is to be contacted if your parents or guardians cannot be reached,” Mrs. Holt explains.
    “Maybe they also sing backup in a band,” Bobby Clifford says.
    I wonder whose name my mom put on my records as backup. It used to be my friend Justin’s mother, but they’ve moved to Alabama.
    I wonder what’s going to happen to me.
    This morning, my mom said that she was going to be at an important all-day seminar. My dad is so far away. My Aunt Pam is in California. I don’t think that they will call them ... and anyway, what are they going to be able to do?
    I write a note to Brandi.
    Can el go to your house today? My mom’s at a business meeting
    She looks at the note and makes a face.
    Writing a note, she passes it to me.
    el was just going to ask you if el could go to your house my mom said she had a meeting wasn’t listening .... and my clads away on business. What are we going to do? Do you think we’ll have to spend all day here with the skunks??????????
     
    After I read it, I look at Brandi and we cross our eyes at each other.
    Mr. Robinson says, “Now, teachers, classes, proceed with your classwork until further notice.”
    “Take out your books,” Mrs. Holt says.
    “What about the math test?” Hannah calls out.
    “Shut up,” the rest of the class tells her.
    “Mrs. Holt. Tell them that they can’t tell me to shut up,” Hannah whines.
    For a minute, it seems like Mrs. Holt is going to tell Hannah to shut up ... but instead she just sighs and says, “Hannah, I’m the teacher in this room. I’ll make the decisions. This is not a good time to test you. Now take out your books.”
    Tiffani Shroeder raises her hand. “Mrs. Holt, I’m worried.”
    “About what?” Mrs. Holt asks.
    Tiffani, the vegetarian who belongs to animal rights groups, says, “Mr. Robinson says that