Free Friday Barnes 2 by R. A. Spratt Page B

the Vice Principal, contemptuously. ‘Whenever there’s trouble at this school, you’re always in the middle of it. You’ve engineered his disappearance, haven’t you? No doubt with the help of your terrorist connections!’
    â€˜I don’t have terrorist connections!’ protested Friday.
    â€˜Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?’ argued the Vice Principal.
    â€˜Yes, I would, because it’s true,’ said Friday. ‘Instead of wasting time accusing me, why don’t you try looking for him?’
    â€˜Of all the impertinence!’ exclaimed the Vice Principal.
    â€˜I’m not being impertinent,’ said Friday. ‘I’m being practical. I can see the whole staff is here, which tells me that none of you have had the initiative to organise a search party yet.’
    The teachers looked at their feet and muttered amongst themselves.
    â€˜You should get on to it,’ continued Friday. ‘Obviously the school grounds should be searched. But the Headmaster also likes taking early morning walks in the forest, where he can secretly indulge his chocolate Rolo habit, so you should search there as well …’
    â€˜No need,’ said Melanie. ‘Look! It’s the Headmaster.’
    Everyone turned. In the distance they could see the Headmaster being carried up the driveway by a large vagrant.
    â€˜Who’s that carrying him?’ asked the Vice Principal, squinting into the distance. ‘Is it someone from the school?’
    â€˜It’s Malcolm!’ exclaimed Friday.
    â€˜Who?!’ exclaimed the Vice Principal.
    â€˜He’s Friday’s vagrant friend,’ explained Melanie.
    â€˜I don’t believe it!’ said the shocked Vice Principal.
    â€˜Oh dear,’ said Friday, ‘I’m glad I’m not you, Vice Principal. You’re going to get in trouble for this.’
    â€˜But I didn’t do anything!’ he protested.
    â€˜Precisely,’ said Friday. ‘When the Headmaster didn’t turn up, your thoughts immediately went to conspiracy theories instead of doing what a normal person would do – show concern for a missing co-worker.’
    â€˜How dare you!’ yelled the Vice Principal.
    â€˜Even now,’ said Friday, ‘you haven’t rushed down to assist him.’
    The Vice Principal glared at Friday then took off jogging down the driveway towards his employer, followed by the more athletic members of staff.
    Friday noticed that, just a few feet away, Mr Pilcher was about to start his ride-on lawnmower. So instead of jogging after the teachers, she and Melanie got Mr  Pilcher to give them a ride. Friday got to the Headmaster first.
    â€˜Are you all right?’ asked Friday as the mower skidded to a halt on the gravel and she was thrown off the front onto her hands and knees.
    â€˜No, I am not,’ railed the Headmaster.
    Now that she could look closely at him, Friday could tell that the Headmaster was in a state. He was dishevelled, muddy, sweaty and his trousers were torn at the knees. Most significantly of all, the tubeof Rolos in his pocket was unfinished, a testament to just how distressed he was that he had forgotten his chocolate friend was so close at hand.
    â€˜What happened?’ asked the Vice Principal, lumbering to a panting halt. ‘What’s he doing here?’ The Vice Principal pointed at Malcolm.
    â€˜Carrying your boss,’ said Malcolm.
    â€˜I fell in a hole,’ said the Headmaster.
    â€˜Literally?’ asked Melanie. ‘Or are you talking about a figurative or metaphoric hole?’
    â€˜No, a literal, real hole in the ground,’ yelled the Headmaster. ‘Some vandal dug a hole right in the middle of my favourite walk.’
    â€˜Like an elephant trap in a Tarzan movie,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Are you calling me an elephant?’ demanded the Headmaster.
    â€˜No,’ said Friday, ‘I was just