Part 9

"Either you are very accident prone or you like to quarrel or you are a victim of bullying", Wes said as he calmly helped Thad patch himself up. Thad's brothers were watching in anger and disgust as they saw the dark bruises and the scratches on their brother's body.

Wes was massaging some places and they stopped to ache so badly. They had snuck past their parents when they got home, because Thad asked them too. He was sure their parents would never understand and then blame him for his torn clothes. Wes was far more understanding. Thad was blushing a bit when his brothers looked over his body in that way. He cried out when Wes put a hand to his side.

"I think you have some cracked ribs here Thad", he said gently. "Don't worry about it… Just lie down and rest for a bit. Everything will be better tomorrow."

"But I'm not really tired", Thad said as he suddenly found his duvet over him.

"Maybe so but I am sure you all need to rest."

"No we don't", Fred said he was still so angry so he spat the words.

"Temper, temper", Wes said calmly and snapped his fingers. Their duvets were pulled back. "Get into to bed and take a nap before dinner time. You all look tired. You've all been busy today. Some more than others."

Blaine blushed as Wes looked at him, for just a few seconds. His brothers didn't seem to notice anything, except Thad. He looked at Blaine before blushing and looking away. Blaine cleared his throat and took off his shoes before sitting down on his bed.

"Can't you just tell us a story", he asked their teacher as Wes took the cloth and bucket with now dirty water into the bathroom and emptied it into the toilet.

"Why", Wes.

"We're not sleepy but maybe we need to relax a bit", Blaine said softly.

"I don't", Fred spat. "What I need is to crack those jerks' heads open for what they did!"

"Temper, temper Fred", Wes said calmly as he entered and looked at the boys. "So get into bed, spit-spot."

"But-" Trent objected.

"Just lie down and relax if you are not tired. Everything will be better afterwards."

"Ow", Thad groaned as he moved slightly and Fred's face turned red in anger.

"Better from what?!" he yelled furiously. "Thad got hurt! Not us! There is no reason for us to rest! I'll rest when I've found Jesse St. James and torn him into two pieces! I'll rest when I make those jerks look like my brother does!"

"Temper, temper", Wes said sternly and looked at Fred. "Do you boys even know what happened?"

"They beat up my brother! What more is there to know?!"

Fred was livid.

"Temper, temper", Wes said again.

"Stop saying that", Nick yelled, also angry. "You don't have a family so you don't know anything about these kind of things!"

"I know everything", Wes said calmly.

"No you don't", Trent yelled. "You take for granted that we can just let something like this go!"

"I know you will."

"No!"

"Temper, temper."

"Stop saying that!" Jeff yelled.

"Your short temper will be your downfall Jeffery Banks", Wes said calmly and walked up to Thad with his medicine bottle. He sat down on the side of the bed.

"Will that help against the pain", Thad asked him.

"A bit", Wes said and poured up the red liquid. "But a nap will do the rest. Open."

Thad obeyed and felt strawberry taste fill his mouth. He looked at Wes.

"But I'm not tired", he said. "It just hurts."

"Well sometimes rest will help you heal faster", Wes said and got up. "And sometimes it is even better if someone is there to cuddle you."

The words had just left his mouth when Thad found himself in Fred's protective arms. He smiled and cuddled close to his oldest brother. Wes turned to the other boys and put his hands on his hips.

"Into bed", he said. "Spit-spot."

Nick grumbled something but Jeff pulled him with him into Nick's bed so that the two could cuddle. Trent and Blaine cuddled in Blaine's bed and David… he refused to move from the chair he was sitting in, he wasn't even looking at Wes or his brothers. He was still so angry and was planning on sneaking out later to beat those jerks up. Maybe Fred could come along too. Wes watched them and picked up Thad's torn and dirty clothes and sat down in another chair and got out needle and thread.

"Isn't that things women do", Nick asked confused.

"Don't put genders on tasks Nicholas Banks", Wes said as he started to fix some of the tears. "Now go to sleep."

"I can't", Nick objected. "I'm still too riled up to go to sleep."

"Me too", Jeff agreed as did everyone else… but Thad and Blaine. Blaine really felt sleepy and Thad was already sleeping, breathing calm and holding onto Fred's hand, like he did when he was little and had a nightmare.

"We can't fall asleep even if we wanted to", Fred whispered, as he caressed Thad's head gently, like he did when they were younger and Thad had a nightmare.

"Suit yourselves", Wes said and was quiet. Nick, Jeff, Trent and Fred were sitting up and David turned to look at Wes. Something fishy was going on here. Wes wasn't looking at them but then started singing softly:

Stay awake, don't rest your head
Don't lie down upon your bed
While the moon drifts in the skies
Stay awake, don't close your eyes

As he sang the boys noticed how they suddenly got really tired. David was fighting hard to not nod off. Trent and Jeff were already lost causes. Fred was going too, because he was lying down again, hugging Thad close to him. Nick was swaying where he sat, looking dead tired.

Wes: Though the world is fast asleep
Though your pillow's soft and deep
You're not sleepy as you seem
Stay awake, don't nod and dream
Stay awake, don't nod and dream

Wes looked up from his work. Fred and Thad were asleep and Wes could see the bruises fade on Thad's face and arm. Fred was holding the smaller boy close, a protective air around him and a determent look on his face. Nick and Jeff were tangled together in sleep. As were Blaine and Trent. Wes turned to watch David and saw the dark skinned boy fast asleep in the chair. Wes chuckled.

"What utter nonsense falling asleep in a chair", he said. "A bed is much better." The chair started to walk across the room and up to David's bed. When it got there the duvet rolled back and the chair gently got David into the bed. The duvet covered him and all the lights in the room dimmed.

"Thank you", Wes told the chair as it walked back to its place. He then got up and opened the door, just as Tanaka was about to knock on it.

"The master wants to talk to you", he said. "It is about the boys' classes."

"I see", Wes said and walked out and closed the door behind him. "Tell Shannon to not cook for the boys. They've gotten a bit under the weather and are sleeping."

With that he hurried down the steps towards the office.


"You wanted to talk to me", Wes said as he entered.

"Yes", Will said and got up. "I want to change something in your curriculum, which I still haven't seen."

"Then why do you want to change it?"

"Because I want the boys to learn one important skill, that it has become clear to me that lack."

"Which one?"

"The power of speech, how to use it, how to talk in front of a lot of people, to be sure and convince people with your words. I want them to learn how to hold a speech. After facing off with my son the other day I realized they need to learn how to get their points across without shouting."

"What your son said very much summed up what he was feeling at the moment."

"It does not matter. What matter is that I want them to learn to never stand without something to say. They have to take after their father."

"Who is that then", Wes asked. "Because I can pretty much have you at a loss of words at any point I like."

"Montgomery you shall show me some respect", Will said but he had to fight to not yell. "You keep mouthing back to me and change my rules and what I say. You twist my words to suit your own purposes."

"Isn't that what being a lawyer and a politician is all about", Wes asked. "Something you want your sons to be? I am only giving them a role-model to follow."

"No… I… I mean… I want you to stop making me look like the villain. I want my boys to understand that I only want what's best for them."

"By locking them into a dark classroom when they have so much to learn from the outside world?"

"No, I am doing that to protect them. I had a call earlier today from Mrs. St. James. She told me that my son Fred hit her son and his friends. I told her she must be mistaken because my son would never do such a thing if it is-"

"Unprovoked or without good cause", Wes filled in.

"Yes well done we understand my son perfectly then." Will's eyes snapped open. "Did something happen that would have caused him to hurt another boy?"

"Your sons have spent all afternoon in the park, playing football with their friends, the Hudson boys."

"I can ask them about it", Will said. "Burt and Carole are good friends of mine and Finnegan, Kurt, Noah, Samuel, Jacob and Roderick are good friends of my son."

"Yes, Finn, Kurt, Noah, Sam, Jake and Rory are good friends with your sons."

"They would tell the truth because Burt knows when someone is lying to him and Carole has a firm hand when it comes to raising well-behaved boys. My boys need to learn that to some extent."

"They will, I shall make sure of that."

"Good", Will said. "We're on the same page then. So… what was it I wanted you to do?"

"Teach your sons how to get the cat to catch someone's tongue."

"Not the way I should have put it but yes. I want my sons to be able to render people speechless and-"

"Never get their tongues stolen themselves."

"Yes exactly. How do you think they will do?"

"Thad is already very talented with the English language. He could render people speechless with the big words he knows and the mass of knowledge he hide within his skull. Your son is one of the most intelligent people I have met."

"I know", Will said proudly.

"He needs to hear at times but other than that I have no worries about him. He might be nervous about speaking in front of a crowd, but he will get past it. All he need is a push."

"What of the others?"

"Fred is short tempered, as is Nick and Jeff so they mostly need to learn to be patient and stay calm in a debate. David takes everything personal so he must learn to stay objective. Blaine might have trouble to use his brains to render people speechless but his gigantic charm helps him do it anyway. Trent… well Trent will have problems finding the right words, but I can help with that. The crowd will not know what hit them." Wes turned to leave.

"Good", Will said and then something hit him. "Wait, what crowd?"

"They will never learn to talk to the masses if they just talk to themselves now will they?" Wes said happily. "They know each other too well so they can render each other speechless faster than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious."

"Say what?"

"Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious."

"Supercal… super… what?"

Wes just smiled and left. Will found himself confused and speechless again. This young man had a silver tongue and he used it to twist Will's words so that they suited his purposes and Will could not say anything against it. Like with the planks over the windows. He had informed Montgomery that they were there but never did say to not take them down. He had told Montgomery to keep the boys in for the day and he had twisted his words so that Will only meant before noon. The young man was not wrong when he said they went out in the afternoon because it wasn't day anymore. It was daytime. But that was not the same thing.

"I must be careful around this one", Will said and continued with his paperwork. "He's tricky."


Blaine groaned when sunlight hit his face and he sat up. He realized he was wearing his night clothes and wondered how that happened. He'd just lied down to take a nap after Wes helped patch Thad up. Blaine looked at Trent beside him and saw him in pajamas too.

"Huh?" Blaine asked and looked around. All his brothers were sleeping peacefully and then Blaine looked at the clock. It said 8. They had missed dinner! He slightly panicked because their father would be so angry. That's when the door opened and Wes entered, holding the door open for Mrs. Beiste. She was carrying two big trays with plates. She was struggling.

"Let me help you", David said and Blaine saw him run up to Mrs. Beiste and take one of the big trays.

"I… Thank you", she said and stared at David in confusion as he put the tray on the table.

"No worries Mrs. Beiste", he said and smiled. "Thank you for bringing us our dinner."

"Dinner", she asked. "But sweetheart it is 8 o'clock in the morning."

"What?" David asked in shock and noticed through the corner of his eyes how Wes walked up to Nick and Jeff and gently woke them up.

"Yes you and your brothers slept from you got home yesterday until now", Mrs. Beiste said. "You poor dears, you were all a bit under the weather Mister Montgomery said."

"Oh so he said that", David said and narrowed his eyes at Wes who'd now moved to wake Trent. Blaine was already up and moving towards the table.

"Yes", Mrs. Beiste said. "Your mother came up after dinner and checked up on you. She said you all looked so tired and pale. We let your rest because you needed it."

"But there was nothing wrong with us", Nick said as he and Jeff came over. Wes had by now managed to wake up Fred who slowly got out of bed.

"Well you were all sleeping really deep and Mister Montgomery said you were all a bit under the weather. You looked the part too." She laughed. "If that's not the case your teacher must have slipped you something!"

"Madame", Wes scoffed sounding insulted. "I would never do something like that."

"Dear I was only teasing you", she said and smiled before leaving. The six boys that were standing turned to him. Wes was gently helping Thad to sit up.

"What did you do to us", Fred asked with narrowed eyes.

"I did not do anything", Wes said and got up. "I sat there in my chair fixing your brother's clothes and you were all asleep by the time I was done."

"You must've done something", Nick said. "I remember you singing!"

"Was that a hypnotic song", Jeff asked. "Did you cast a spell on us?" He gulped when Wes flew up looking like a storm cloud.

"Jeffery Banks how dare you", he asked angrily. "How dare you imply I would use witchcraft to affect you boys?!"

"But you must have done something…" Fred said. "Did you do some trick?"

"Frederick Banks how dare you imply that I would use tricks like some simple charlatan?!"

"Uh…"

"Not another word about this now", Wes huffed. "I feel highly insulted. One more word about this and I'll call the police and sue you for slander."

The boys shrunk back in fright. Wes was really angry with being accused for doing something to make them sleep.

"I don't feel any pain", Thad suddenly explained and looked at his arms and felt his ribs.

"What", David asked and hurried over to him. Fred also hurried over.

"I don't feel any pain at all", Thad said and got up. "Are the bruises on my face still there?"

"No", David said and smiled. "Rest really did help!"

"And Mister Montgomery's miracle elixir!" Nick said happily.

"Excuse me?!" Wes asked sounding insulted again. "Are you implying that I'm a quack or witch that sells cheap elixirs as a hoax?!"

"No, no", Nick said and held his hands up. Today was clearly a day to watch what you were saying around their teacher. He was testy.

"Good", Wes said. "Now eat up and get dressed. We are heading for the park today."

"But we are dressed already", Jeff said. Wes looked at him up and down.

"If you intend to go to the park in pajamas and without anything on your feet you have another thing coming Jeffery Banks", he said. "Now hurry up, get freshen up and presentable, spit-spot.

Jeff looked at himself and stared. All boys that hadn't been in pajamas last evening, everyone but Thad, stared at their pajamas.

"This is weird", Fred whispered to Thad and David. Then he turned to his bed and saw his clothes lie on top of it in a neat pile. But was even odder… all beds were made! He turned to Thad's bed which he was standing by. It was also made! The whole room was clean!

"I did not mean you", they heard Wes call from the bathroom. But they knew better than to ask who he talked to... or what. They hurriedly changed into their clothes and then ate breakfast. David, Trent and Fred took the trays and dirty dishes down to Mrs. Beiste and when they got back they found their brothers staring at the places where they'd dropped their pajamas. They were gone! Nick carefully tiptoed up to his bed and lifted the covers. He found his pajamas neatly folded on the pillow. He put the cover down and turned to his brothers.

"Don't ask", Thad said and they hurried out to meet Wes in the entrance hall.


"Why are we in the park today", Thad asked looking at their teacher as they walked. Their teacher was carrying an old potato-crate.

"What's with the box", Jeff asked curiously.

"Curiosity killed the cat", Wes said calmly. "And we are going to the park to have a lesson."

"In what", Nick asked.

"Talking."

"We already know how to talk", Jeff said happily.

"You will learn how to say exactly what you want to say about a certain subject selected and analyzed by yours truly and you shall speak about whatever subject assigned you and you will convince me that you can describe it."

"What", Trent asked.

"He says that he'll give us a theme and we have to speak about it in a way that reflects what we really think about it", Thad said.

"Then why didn't he say so?!"

"Because his goal was obviously to make us speechless."

"You have such low thoughts about me today", Wes said and stopped in a big open space and put down the crate. "There a perfect spot."

It was plenty of people around and a lot of them were watching them. The boys recognized the Hudson boys and Thad saw his tormentors from the day before. But Fred and David sent those boys withering glares and they ran off. Rory Hudson ran up to them.

"Hello", he said. "Are you boys up for some rugby?"

"They have a lesson", Wes cut in before anyone could answer him. "Hurry along now, you are interfering and disturbing my class."

"Who's Sunshine", Rory asked.

"Our teacher", Nick said. "You better go Rory, he's testy today. Ow!" Wes had swatted him on the head with his papers.

"I can see that", Rory said with a big grin. Then he turned to Wes. "Lighten up dude! Come play rugby with us! It's the cleverest thing to do on a day like this!"

It was sunny but not so hot you couldn't do anything. There was a soft breeze and it really was a day you didn't want to be indoors. Which is why the park was full of people and it was Saturday so people didn't have to work today.

"Lighten up", Wes asked Rory. "Excuse me but do you think I'm a candle or a lamp that can light up the room? I am a person, not a thing that can create light. I am not a sun or a star. And what kind of word is dude? It sounds as if you are a brainless charlatan with no sense of politeness and grace when using it. Dude, I have never been so insulted in my whole life. I am a young man and a teacher at that. You shall refer to me as sir or mister. I am right now working and my students have a lesson in front of them. Why would I end it before it even began to go and injure myself? Rugby is a violent sport that today will harm four people in your family and I want no part in that, I can live without that guilt thank you very much."

"But… no one will get hurt", Rory said and Wes narrowed his eyes at him. "Sir."

"Yes they will Finn will stub a toe, Noah will get an elbow in the nose, Sam's lip will burst and Jake will twist his ankle. I do not wish to be part of injuring anyone and neither does my student, so now hurry along and stop interrupting my teaching or I shall make sure you rue the day you were born."

"I… uh.. what?"

"Rory just go", Fred said.

"But-"

"D", David began to say dude but Wes glared at him. "My friend you better do what Mister Montgomery said. We'll join you when we have spare time."

"Okay", Rory said and looked at Wes. "Good luck with that guy." With that he ran off and joined his brothers. They were going to play with some other boys from their neighborhood. The Banks-boys grinned innocently at their teacher and he snorted before turning to them.

"Let us begin the lesson", he said.


"This feels stupid", David said standing on the box looking down at his brothers. A big group of people was watching him as well. They looked… out of place. All of them were dressed in really odd and colorful clothes. Maybe they were from a circus.

"Is that really how you feel about books", Wes asked and looked up from his papers.

"No", David said.

"Then why did you say so?"

"I meant this whole situation", David said. "I fell stupid standing up here with nothing to say."

"You are saying quite a lot for someone with nothing to say", Thad remarked teasingly and Wes snorted with a small smile. David stuck his tongue out at his younger brother.

"Watch it smart-mouth", he said, fondly and Thad grinned. "Just because you have the word-bank of 50 people doesn't mean-"

"It's called vocabulary David", Thad teased.

"I said be quiet."

The people around him laughed and David blushed a bit, but Thad grinned happily. Wes cleared his throat and David turned to him.

"David", he said. "I told you to tell me a word or hold a speech about what you think of when you heard the word: books."

"You really want me to hold a speech about this?"

"Yes", Wes said. "You have a crowd so start talking."

"Fine", David said and took a deep breath. "When I heard the word books there is only one word that pops into my brain… and it's actually a name. When people say books I think of my brother Thad."

"Aw", someone in the crowd said.

"Now my brothers is the biggest bookworm in the whole wide world", David said and Thad blushed. "He reads and understands everything he reads… and he also lives it and I've experienced that myself and dude I'm jealous of you." Thad looked confused. "I mean to see what you see, experience what you do when you read those books. It's something I could only wish I was able to do. When I open a book I see letters and liens and boring, boring, boring… but when you do you see an adventure. You see a whole new life! Books are boring, but they're great too I mean they take you places and give you knowledge. But I only think about one thing when I heard the word books… and that's Thad."

He jumped off the box and Wes nodded with approval. The little crowd cheered and David felt proud. Next up was Thad and he stepped onto the crate nervously.

"Thad", Wes said without looking up. "Your word is… father. Speak about it or hold a speech."

Thad looked at his teacher and the other boys did as well. What was their teacher thinking? He knew what happened between Thad and their father. Thad bit his lip and looked at the crowd. Then he closed his eyes.

"Safe", he said. His brothers looked at him in confusion. "When I hear the word father I think safe." Thad opened his eyes. "Your father is there to protect you, all the time. He wants what is best for you, what he thinks is best for you and what will make you happy. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way but that's because he's worried you'll get hurt. I have a very clear of my father… I must've been five or six at the time. You know how little brothers are, they want to be like their big brother… well brothers in my case. I don't remember why but I was running to catch up with my oldest brothers and fell. I started crying but then… there he was. Father came and picked me up, comforting me and keeping me safe from harm, a warm, safe haven. I love my father, even if we argue and don't see eye to eye all the time. I feel sometimes that he doesn't understand me but… I know that he still loves me and only wants to keep my safe and sound… even though he has a hard time showing it. So when I hear the word father… I think: I'm safe."

Thad stepped down and his brothers stared in awe at him. Thad just shrugged. He did notice however that Wes put something into his pocket, but all Thad had time to see was some glass.

"Jeff", Wes said. "Your turn."

"Oh come on", Jeff whined. "How am I supposed to follow that?!"

"Not my problem", Thad teased.

"I'll get you for this shorty", Jeff grumbled. But stepped up to the plate. Jeff got to talk about football and he talked happily about it. Fred followed, talking about mother. Nick got to talk about stars and Blaine about secrets. He got quite flustered because he didn't know what to say or how to say it. But then he watched Thad smile at something Jeff told him. Thad had kept his torment secret, even his little brother kept secrets and then Blaine looked at Wes and smirked.

"Secrets", he said. "We all have them but when I hear the word I think of my teacher, because he has more than anyone."

Wes looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"Sundial", he just said and Blaine blushed before hurrying off the crate. "Trent your turn."

Trent stepped onto the crate, ready for anything.

"Your word…" Wes said. "Family."

Trent stared at him.

"I can't talk about that", he said. "We'll be here all day!"

"Then find one word to sum it up."

"I can't! That's impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible."

"For you maybe but for the rest of us a lot of things are!"

"Temper, temper."

"There you go again with those words", Trent grumbled. "What do you think about the word family?"

"It's not my job to do your job for you Trent", Wes looked up. "Say a word or talk freely. Spit-spot."

"I can't!"

"Of course you can."

"No!"

"Oi if Wes Montgomery says ya can do something ya can", a voice said and a young man that was pretty tall, with dark chocolate skin and long black hair that he had combed back came walking up to them. "Even if ya don' know it yerself."

The Banks-boys grinned because they recognized him at once.

"Hi Brett!" Blaine said happily.

"Whot", Brett asked and looked really confused. "Where?"

"That's you", David said and chuckled. "Brett Everett!"

"Brett", Wes asks confused. "What are you talking about boys?"

"Don't you remember", Nick asked. "The screever, he jumped into the books with us and got jealous of all those men touching you."

"Nicholas Banks I have already told you that I do not recall any of this nonsense. This is not Brett. This is my good friend Eric Everett."

"But that's Brett!" Jeff objected. "We met him in the park when we went into the books! He got jealous about Robin Hood and a few other kissing your cheek or helping you around!"

"I can't recall any of that", Wes spat. "A person of my standard would never do such a thing. Do I look like some low-life Casanova?"

"I 'aven't the faintest idea of what ye're talking about", Eric told the boys and grinned. "But it sounds like something that would 'appened with Wes around."

"Pft", Wes scoffed.

"Oh whot's the mattah Wessy", Eric teased and walked up to the shorter man. "You know I'm right."

"No you are not", Wes said coldly but then smiled. "It is good to see you Eric."

"You too love." The boys gaped as Wes let the young man kiss his lips. "Now what's the problem 'ere."

"Trent here doesn't have a word to say that describes family", Wes explained.

"Oh I got one!" Eric said happily and turned to Trent. "Trouble. If ya ask me family is only trouble."

"Oh Eric don't give him your wild ideas."

"Whot it's true."

"In your family maybe."

"Okay", Eric said and put his arm around Wes' waist. "Oh! I know! Lapeteforus!"

"Thad doesn't count", Trent objected angrily. "You made it up!"

"And where do you think words come from in the first place", Wes said and gave the seven annoyed boys a look. "Someone had to make them up."

"Do you have a word then", Trent asked and Wes smirked.

"Of course I do", he said and stepped onto the crate beside Trent and said calmly:

"Super... calif... ragil... istic... expialid... ocious!"

"That's not a word", Trent objected again.

"Of course it's a word", Wes said and jumped down from the crate. "And unless I'm very much mistaken, I think it's going to prove a rather useful one."

Wes looked around at the crowd before he started to sing:

When trying to express oneself it's frankly quite absurd
To leap through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect word

A little spontaneity keeps conversation keen

You need to find a way to say precisely what you mean

Wes looked at the seven boys and smiled as he sang:

Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious

Wes, Eric & crowd: Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay
Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

"But it doesn't mean anything!" Trent spat and Wes looked up at him since he was still standing on that crate.

"It can mean exactly what you want it to", he said calmly.

Eric & Crowd: Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay
Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Wes: When stone age men were chatting simply grunting would suffice

Eric: Though if they'd 'eard this word they might 'ave used it once or twice

"That's right", Wes said and nodded. Thad suddenly grinned and jumped onto the crate and stood beside Trent before singing:

I'm sure Egyptian pharaohs would have grasped it in a jiff
Then every single pyramid would bear this hieroglyph

Oh supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious

Say it and wild animals would not seem so ferocious

Wes: Add some further flourishes it's so rococcococious

Thad: Ah

Wes: Ah

Eric: Ah ah ah ah

Wes, Eric, Thad & Crowd: Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious
Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

David grinned and stood on the ground, hoisting Thad off of the crate as he sang:

The druids could have carved it on their mighty monoliths

"Oh, yes", Wes said smiling.

Nick: The Ancient Greeks I'm certain would have used it in their myths

Thad & Fred: I'm sure the Roman Empire only entered the abyss
Because those Latin scholars never had a word like this

All but Trent: Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious

Wes: If you say it softly the effect can be hypnotious

Jeff: Check your breath before you speak in case it's halitotious

"Oh, Jeff", Wes half-heartedly scolded and Trent grinned as everyone sang and danced around:

Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious
Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

Um-diddle-diddle-diddle-um-diddle-ay

"Of course, you can say it backwards", Wes said and everyone turned to him. "Which is suoicodilaipxecitsiligarfila crepus."

"He may be tricky, but she's bloody good", Blaine said and the crowd gasped, Eric covered Blaine's mouth. Wes rolled his eyes and then turned to Trent with a soft smile.

Wes: So when the cat has got your tongue there's no need for dismay
Just summon up this word and then you've got a lot to say

Eric let go of Blaine and put his arm around Wes again.

Eric: Just pick out those eighteen consonants and sixteen vowels as well
And put them in an order which is very 'ard to spell

Wes smiled kindly.

Wes: S. U. P. E. R.

Eric: R.

Wes: C. A. L. I. F.

Eric: F.

Wes: R. A. G. I. L.

Eric: L.

Trent & Thad: I. S. T. I. C. E. X. P. I. A. L. I. D. O. C. I. O. U. S.

"Clever clogs", Eric told them.

All: S. U. P. E. R. C. A. L. I. F. R. A. G. I. L. I. S. T. I C. E. X. P. I. A. L. I. D. O. C. I. O. U. S.
S. U. P. E. R. C. A. L. I. F. R. A. G. I. L. I. S. T. I C. E. X. P. I. A. L. I. D. O. C. I. O. U. S.

S. U. P. E. R. C. A. L. I. F. R. A. G. I. L. I. S. T. I C. E. X. P. I. A. L. I. D. O. C. I. O. U. S.

"Here we go!" Eric yelled and pointed at Trent who grinned and sang:

Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you'll always sound precocious

Supercalifragilistic

His brothers: Supercalifragilistic

All: Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious
Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious

Everyone around laughed and Wes turned to Trent.

"Okay Trent", he said. "One word to sum up what family means."

"That's easy", Trent said happily. "Supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious."

"My point exactly", Wes said and the crowd started to disperse. "Looks like today's lesson is finished. I'll give you an hour and a half to just relax and have some fun before we meet back at the classroom to go over your next assignment."

"Fine with us", Fred said. "Let's go play rugby with the Hudson-boys!" All seven boys ran off but Trent hesitated.

"Do you want to come Mister Montgomery", he asked.

"'e 'as bettah things to do", Eric said and put his arms around Wes.

"Oh", Wes asked and then his eyes widened as Eric promptly kissed him. Trent grinned as his teacher looked flustered. Eric pulled back slightly and moved his hands to Wes' waist and pulled him close. Trent sniggered as his teacher blushed, while Eric wiggled his eyebrows. Wes narrowed his eyes and slapped his arm. The older of the two just smirked and grabbed Wes' hand before pulling him away.

Trent didn't know what was going on with Brett, it looked like him after all. Maybe this Eric side was more open with his feelings than Brett. Eric dragged Wes away through the park. Trent ran to catch up with his brothers. Only to hear from their friend Sebastian Smythe, that kept shooting longing looks at Thad, that Finn had stubbed a toe, Noah had gotten elbow in the nose, Sam's lip had burst and Jake had twisted his ankle.

So they were a few men short in the game. The Banks-boys spread out and Sebastian made sure he was on Thad's team… and close to him all the time. But none of the Banks-boys thought about that. They thought about their teacher being right… how did he know that would happen?


TBC

Malurina - It's his job ;)