Free Fabulous Five 032 - Class Trip Calamity by Betsy Haynes Page B

for a moment. "So what you're
saying is, she thinks drinking is cool and that looking cool will make her more
popular."
    "That's pretty much the way I figure it," said
Randy. "And I guess she thinks that if she's popular, maybe the stuff at
home won't hurt as much."
    "How can she think that?" Jana asked in
astonishment.
    "Look at what happened at Shawnie's party," said
Randy. "The more some kids made idiots of themselves, the more other kids
cheered them on."
    Jana sighed, but she didn't say anything for a moment. Then
she told Randy what Funny had said about Laura and her father. "In a way,
I know how Laura feels," she admitted. "It's really awful when you
love someone and they won't pay any attention to you. I've been trying ever
since I was three years old to get my father to pay attention to me."
    "At least you were too smart to try to handle your
problem the way Laura did," said Randy, ruffling Jana's hair.
    "Yeah," said Jana, "and you know what else? I
almost feel sorry for her."
    "Me, too," said Randy, "but I just don't know
what else to say to her."
    Jana shook her head. She didn't know, either.
    Just then she heard someone calling her name. Dekeisha was
running toward them, and she looked upset.
    "Jana! Randy! Did you hear about Laura?" Dekeisha
stopped beside them and grabbed her side, bending over to catch her breath.
    "Sure," said Jana. "She threw up in the Statue."
    "That's not all," Dekeisha gasped between puffs
and pants. "She got sick again in the ladies' room in the base of the
Statue. Miss Dickinson was in there, and now she knows. "
    "What?" exclaimed Jana.
    "That's right," said Dekeisha. "And the
teachers and chaperons have called a big meeting of everybody from Wacko over
by the picnic tables. Come on. We'd better get over there."
    Jana glanced toward the picnic area. Kids were streaming
there from every direction. She exchanged worried glances with Randy, then fell
in step with Dekeisha as she headed that way, too.
     
    "Can I have everybody's attention, please?" Mr.
Neal called out over the noise of the crowd when most of the Wakeman
seventh-graders had assembled by the picnic area. Just about everyone quieted
down, but a few boys near the back weren't paying any attention. "Listen
up, back there, okay?" he yelled. This time everyone stopped talking.
    Jana's heart was beating a mile a minute, and she squeezed
Randy's hand. He looked down at her and smiled reassuringly.
    "Something disturbing has happened today," began
Mr. Neal. He gestured to include the adults standing beside him, two other
teachers, Mr. Naset and Mrs. Clark, and the assorted parents who were along as
chaperons. Some nodded, a few frowned, and all of them looked very serious.
    "It has come to our attention that some of you brought
alcoholic beverages along with you and were drinking on the bus."
    There was a buzz of astonishment in the crowd as everyone
tried to look shocked and innocent. Jana noticed Shawnie, who was standing near
the grownups, shrugging and pretending to be totally amazed. A few kids farther
back smirked, and some giggled.
    Looking around, Jana spotted Melissa and Tammy over to one
side, but she couldn't find Laura anywhere. Was Laura still sick in the ladies'
room, Jana wondered, or was she just too embarrassed to come out? Just then
Jana realized that Miss Dickinson wasn't with the parents and chaperons,
either. She must still be with Laura, Jana thought uneasily.
    "This is something we will deal with more fully at
school on Monday," Mr. Neal was saying, "but for now, I'd like all
the girls to go with Mrs. Clark and all of the boys to go with Mr. Naset and
me. We're going into the rest rooms, and when we get there, I'd like you to
form a line and each one of you to go to the sink and empty anything that's
left in your thermos—no matter what."
    Murmurs raced through the group, and Mr. Neal held up his
hand for quiet again.
    "We're not going to ask any questions, but we want to
make certain that every single thermos