“That was gruesome.”
Tom was pulling a face as he spoke.
“Yep. I don’t like that section of the Library either,” I said under my breath.
The Librarian put another book on the shelf between us and the exit door.
Curious, we had visited the science display in the school library. Glass jars held the innards of different disembowelled creatures. Mice, frogs and fish with their entrails clearly suspended in liquid, stared glassily at students passing by.
Science was next. Not my favourite subject. Desperately, I was hoping I wouldn’t be adding to the collection of glass entombed animals we had just seen.
A perfectly shaped girl came bouncing around the corner as Tom and I entered the science laboratory. Tracey, the most popular girl in the school, beat us to the door.
I dropped my gaze, then wished I hadn’t. In her hand, Tracey was carrying a scapel. It meant only one thing. We were going to disembowel some poor creature.
Doubling over, I groaned. Mr Pearce, our Science Teacher, glared at me as I staggered to the entrance of the laboratory.
“What’s the matter with you, Richard?” he all but growled at me.
“I don’t feel too good, Sir.”
“You better sit in the Sick Bay. The Flu has been going through the school. Looks like you better stay there for now.”
Turning, I suppressed a grin as I strolled towards the Sick Bay. I had done it. I had managed to avoid hurting any poor animals.
Obediently, I sat in the Sick Bay, until I heard the bell. Then, I walked back down the corridor, heading towards where the buses picked us up.
Along the way, Tracey flounced in the opposite direction.
“Hello, Richard.” She smiled at me.
“Will you help me? I’m trying to stuff this cushion with the stuffing from this teddy bear.”
She thrust an old ragged teddy into my arms, and then used the scapel to cut him open. As the soft white wool came bursting out, Tracey gathered it and pushed it into a lovely patchwork cushion.
“Why weren’t you in Science today?” she asked me.
I stopped and thought for a second, deciding to not answer.
“Did I miss out on much?” I tried to sound casual.
“No. Not really. We were just doing revision before our exam next week.”
Tracey peered into my face. “Are you okay?” she enquired.
I could feel the smile on my face.
“So… the class just did text book work?” I asked her.
“Well. Yes.”
“And this scapel is from Craft?”
An odd look crossed Tracey’s face.
“Yes.”
I had been wrong. No poor creature had been harmed at all. Once he found out what had happened, Tom would never let me live this one down.
Liz's Everest 