Free This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall by Gordon Korman Page A

for nothing.”
    â€œAnd you’re supposed to be so smart!” Cathy scoffed. “Make sure he does see you. Go to his office and report that the work is done. When he sees you he’ll feel like a first-class heel. You two are the most pitiful sight in the world!”
    A few minutes later the boys walked across the road and back to their own campus. On the way, they began to discuss their next move.
    â€œI don’t know,” said Boots. “I think we’d better give up. We’re never going to get rid of George and Elmer and get back together again.”
    â€œWe’re not giving
anything
up,” Bruno said stubbornly.
    â€œBruno,” Boots argued, “this time we came awfully close to getting expelled. Nothing is worth that.”
    â€œI have one more plan,” said Bruno. “As I always say, when all else fails, be an angel.”
    â€œAn angel?” Boots echoed.
    â€œYeah. You know — good behaviour, good grades, the whole bit. We’ve got two weeks until exams. If we can make a good showing, I bet we’ll get put back together again as a reward.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea,” Boots finally agreed. “It might even work. At least it won’t get us into any more trouble.”
    â€œAll right, then. Let’s do it,” Bruno decided. “I expect straight A’s from you, Melvin.”
    â€œThe amount of time I’ve spent washing dishes,” grumbled Boots, “the only thing I’ll be able to get an A in is home ec!”
    â€œStraight A’s,” Bruno repeated. “See to it!”
    The two boys walked along in the damp grass until they came to the Faculty Building. Boots tried the door. “Rats,” he said. “How come it’s locked?”
    â€œBecause it’s only seven o’clock,” Bruno replied.
    â€œOh. Well, so long.” Boots turned to leave.
    â€œWhat do you mean ‘so long’? You heard Cathy: The Fish has to see us. We’ll have to go to his house. I didn’t get all muddied up for nothing.”
    â€œHis
house
?” Boots asked in dismay.
    â€œHis house,” said Bruno calmly.
    Bruno and Boots walked across the campus to a small cottage with a white picket fence and climbing roses. Bruno rang the bell. The door was opened by a small dark-haired woman in a flowered dressing gown. “Good heavens!” she cried. “Whatever happened to you?”
    â€œGood morning, Mrs. Sturgeon. Mr. Sturgeon told us to repair the damage to Miss Scrimmage’s gardens,” said Bruno. “We just came to report that we’ve finished.”
    â€œIf you’ve finished,” Mrs. Sturgeon exclaimed, “what time did you start?”
    â€œHalf past five,” replied Brunno in his most pitiful voice.
    â€œWithout breakfast? Come in at once!” Mrs. Sturgeon bustled them ahead of her into the kitchen.
    When Mr. Sturgeon came down for breakfast he found the boys established in
his
cosy kitchen, eating
his
porridge with Bruno seated in
his
favourite chair. As he entered they jumped to their feet, raining mud all over the clean white floor.
    â€œGood morning, sir,” they chorused.
    â€œEr — good morning, boys,” said the Headmaster. He sent a puzzled look in the direction of his wife and got an angry glare in return.
    â€œThe coffee’s not ready, dear,” she said coldly. “I’ve been too busy with these poor boys.”
    Mr. Sturgeon looked at the bedraggled pair. “To what do I owe the honour of this early morning visit?”
    â€œWe just came to report that the work at Miss Scrimmage’s is completed, sir,” said Bruno, “and Mrs. Sturgeon very kindly asked us in.”
    â€œAll done, you say? That was awfully fast work.”
    â€œWe wanted to get it finished quickly, sir,” said Bruno smoothly. “We do have exams to think about.”
    â€œYes — er —