I don't know how the other kids weren't scared at all. Most likely because they were used to this. They'd probably gone through the routine many times. Especially Tyrone. I mean, he's repeated 8th grade three times, and is almost always in trouble.

But I…well, to be honest, this was the only time I'd been in "trouble." And to top it all off, I had done nothing!

Anyways, one by one, we all marched into the darkness. Ernestine stepped in behind us and shut the door, making it so dark that even a cat wouldn't see. I heard myself gulp. I had shut my eyes when the door had opened and I walked in. I opened them again. It was still black.

Was this how the other kid had disappeared? Who had also, done nothing to be in trouble with the school law enforcement force?

Then, I heard a deafening crash which made me jump and…okay, this is embarrassing…now don't laugh…well, look. I was scared and…well, I had to let something go! Okay, maybe I did wet my pants. I told you not to laugh!

But I had to remind myself that I was here because of my unconditional loyalty to Larry. Sure, he certainly hadn't really tried to defend me, but…well, you know.

Anyways, a light went on. First thing I saw was a bright glare from the bulb. Ernestine had the cord in one hand hanging down from the ceiling. Then I saw the reason behind the crash. Behind her, Tyrone had managed to crash into some of the janitor's buckets. And he was tangled in a web of mops.

"Get up!" she ordered him, as if it was a crime of humanity to trip over something. Then she said to us, "All of you, in line!"

We all stood shoulder to shoulder, facing her. She looked us over, like a warden. She kinda reminded me of one. She even had a moustache! No kidding. Seriously. Really. All right, don't believe me if you don't want to!

"You!" she yelled. That made us all jump. She pointed to a tall boy from the upper 6th grade. He let out a whimper.

"No talking!" she yelled at him. All right, this was going too far. I had planned on defending myself, but when she said that, it pretty much killed what little bravery I had in me. Anyways, she handed him a broom. And he fell to the floor with it. You see, he was Plateosaurus, and they're not used to handling things with their front legs, even though they are bipedal. Another girl and I were handed sponges and spray bottles. Well, they weren't really handed to us. More like shoved.

Like when a bad guy shoves a gun into the main character's hand and is forcing him to kill his best friend.

A girl from the upper 7th grade was handed a dustpan and whisk broom. "You clear off the tables and clean up after Broom Boy."

See what I mean? She didn't even mention his name! Well, I didn't know him either, but…Owen! That was his name. I think he was on the school's film club or something. Just a FYI.

Then she said to him, to Owen, "And since you like buckets so much," she said with an evil smile, "take this!" She handed him a bucket. "As soon as the others clear a row, you mop the floor."

Ernestine opened the door of the dark room and …aah! I'd never been so happy to see the cafeteria. And there was rays of sunshine coming in! Thank goodness it wasn't cloudy.

"Clean up this place until sparkles just like a new mirror. Then you are to report to the vice-principal." Oh, no! Not again.

By this time I was so scared that I had lost all speaking, thinking, and communication abilities. For 's sake! This was supposed to happen to 4th graders! Not middle schoolers! And certainly should not include 8th graders. Although this was probably a walk in the park for Tyrone.

Anyways, I did as I was told. Which isn't too common. Most of the time I'm the one giving orders to others. I looked around the tables for pieces of food. And it wasn't so easy. I had to get myself into stinky chicken grease and ranch dressing mixed with milk and ketchup. Blech! I got nauseous again. I really wished I didn't throw up. If not, I would never stop cleaning.

I really wished she had made us disappear. I didn't care if I had been kicked out all the clubs. If I had disappeared, I wouldn't have to be tortured! This was going to take hours! I would probably miss dinner. I was beginning to think that we might find the disappeared kid amongst all the food. Aha! I said to myself. This is how she makes kids disappear. By never leaving.

The girl with the dustpan started sweeping trash from the sides of the tables. Owen walked to the end of the row, carrying the bucket with him. I followed behind, sponging the tables. This was the worst day in my life.

We all whisked and broomed and cleaned and washed and sponged and wiped and I don't know what else. Ernestine had just told the vice-principal, Mr. Allen that we would all be going to his office. "Yes, the King too! I can't believe it. I'm trying to be as cruel as possible. You know what? I think all the power has gone to his head. It must've had; he didn't have room for reasoning."

Was she calling me an idiot? Well, that didn't matter. All I was wondering was how much trouble I'd get myself into. I kept thinking all this as I squeezed the sponge into the dishpan. The water turned greenish brown and gave a moldy smell. I felt my face getting green.

After several rows, my arms ached and I felt like I couldn't do this anymore. Then, things really got bad. I got two kicks in the same stone, so to speak.

Tyrone had decided to be a smart-aleck, and threw some trash on purpose so I'd have more to pick up. But before I could do anything, the girl with the whisk broom and dustpan raced towards him at top speed. Tyrone was throwing trash everywhere as if his life depended on it.

I waved my hand as if warning them to stop, but I was invisible to both. Then, I realized…they're on a collision course….and I'm in the middle! Holy cow!

Before you could say "Look out!" it happened. CRASH! Oh, it was awful. The worst crash in the history of middle schools! Before I knew what had happened, the sick green water had splashed on my feet and the floor…and…huh?! The lunch lady's feet?

I looked up…she stared at me. I looked around as if to spot the criminal but I was now alone. All the others had gone back to their positions…and some jerk had stuck the mop in my hands!

Ohhhhhhh boy….

Now I was really going to get it hard.

Oh man. Now what was going to happen? Was there anything left to happen? I'd pretty much had enough with all this. Not to mention that I was now the most hated kid and that Lilia had abandoned me forever.

Ernestine told all the other kids to go to see the vice-principal. "Not you!" she yelled at me. She made me clean up the mess that I had not created. If I ever got out of here alive, I was going to…when I got my hands on Tyrone I was going to…

Never mind.

By the time I'd finished, all after-school activities had ended and much of the staff and faculty had left home. When I walked down to see Mr. Allen, I saw the clock. It said: 5:45 pm. Yesterday at this time, I'd been out with the guys eating at Arnold's. We'd been having a great time.

I waited out in the hallway, while it was my turn. Finally, Tyrone stepped out. Just before he left, he looked at me. "Oh, yeah. I forgot something. There's something I need to tell you…you're a pervert!"

Great! Now the Chief School Bully was in on the whole thing. What'd I tell you? Well, here we go. I walked into Mr. Allen's office. I felt just like a soda that had lost its fizz. I stood before him as he arranged some papers. Then he looked at me, his eyebrows upside-down, forming a V.

"I must say, Spiny, that I am surprised at your behavior. And quite disappointed."

Here was my chance. Now I could tell him the whole thing. "But, you see, I…"

He held his hand up. "I don't want to hear it! I always expected you to set a good example for everyone. Instead, you commit a serious misconduct and put yourself in cafeteria brouhaha."

Brou-ha-what?! What the heck was that? Was that even a word?

"So, Mr. Anderson tells you you'll be cleaning the cafeteria, the bathrooms, the gym, the hallways, the science lab, and the library for the rest of the year."

Ouch. This was really hurting.

"And as for me…well, I want to confess. I was the one who suggested that you be removed from the school newspaper team." HUH?!

"But, I…"

"Spiny. I said I didn't want to hear anything. Look, everyone slips up once in a while. Part of growing up is learning how to deal with our mistakes." You're kidding, right? Being blamed, mocked, abused, punished, and humiliated relentlessly for something you didn't do is part of growing up? And just where had I "slipped up?"

Now I'd have to be mopping nasty green-brown water for three hours every week day for the rest of the school year—all because I had done a noble deed and had tried to save my friend from all this. A friend who didn't even deserved being saved.

Well…I decided that the best thing was just to leave and go clear my head to try to forget the whole thing. So, I got on my bike and rode down to Arnold's.

Thought I might have a chocolate shake or something. You know, they say chocolate can calm down your nerves when you're worried or scared? But it makes some people hyper. Well, I guess it works for some one way and for other another way.

Anyways, I walked in but this time, there wasn't a massive mob of girls running at me. Actually, when I went in and sat down at my usual booth, everyone stood up and went to sit down in seats that were further away.

Great…this was really getting worse. All I needed was for the waiters to refuse to serve me. And that's exactly what happened. No kidding. I called Arnold and asked him to bring me a chocolate shake. Mind you, I said please and in a pleasant tone of voice. But no. He said, "I don't serve perverts! Go make it yourself!"

Well! And you know I thought of going to make it myself, but before I could even stand up, he said, "And don't go near my kitchen!"

Eesh!

I couldn't believe all this.

But I just had to. I had to bear with all this and keep supporting this.

But what I was afraid of was that I would give in under this pressure and betray the trust that Larry had put in me.

How long would this drag on? How much more would I have to take?