Just wanted to tahnks those who are reading adn especially those who take the time to review. Also, thanks to BL Davenport and Hiliary Davenport who gave me a few nudges through this chapter which is in bold print. I've been out of school a long time and needed to borrow their input. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 11
With only a couple weeks of school left, Jesse knocked on the boys door, then Daisy's as he went to make coffee.
Luke had been awake before Jesse knocked after spending one of the tamest, most boring Sunday's he had in years. Luke managed to roll to his side without putting too much weight on his still sore hips and behind. He got dressed, tapped Bo on the foot, "Let's go Bo."
Bo grumbled.
Luke said, "Come on you only have to do this a couple more weeks."
"A couple more too long!" Bo grumbled especially having to set down all day.
"Yeah, like I needed reminding of that. Thanks." Luke said as he went to the kitchen.
Jesse waited for all three 'kids' to get in the kitchen before he advised, "Ya'll need to hurry up or you will be late."
Luke took a leisurely sip of coffee, "We've got plenty of time. We don't leave until 7:40."
Jesse looked over his own coffee cup and said, "The bus runs at 7:10."
"The bus!" Bo exclaimed they hadn't any of them rode the bus since Luke got his license. "We can't ride the bus that's humiliating when everybody knows Luke has a perfectly good car."
Jesse said, "Beauregard you all will ride the bus to and from school the rest of the year. Anymore sas and you can head on out to the woodshed now."
Luke grimaced as he closed his eyes. Riding the bus today would be bad enough but Bo had just made sure that they all rode it the rest of the year and he likely wasn't done yet.
Bo opened his mouth to say something then his sore behind rubbed against the counter and he thought better of it staying quiet instead.
Luke also managed to step on the toe of Bo's boot hoping that he'd get the hint.
Daisy waited until she saw Bo was going to stay quiet, "Uncle Jesse I'm scheduled to work after school. The boys always bring me home to change and then take me to work."
Jesse said calmly, "Take your clothes, ride the bus, and change at the Boar's Nest. I'll be by to pick you up."
Daisy's eyes flew open wide in disbelief. She hadn't ever known Jesse to ground them like this. Sure, they'd all been made to do extra chores or not be allowed to go out a night or two, but nothing like this.
Luke hadn't really wanted to take his car sporting all it's body damage, but he didn't want to ride the bus either.
Bo, who would be a Jr. next year felt this would be totally humiliating.
NARRATOR: Heck everyone in Hazzard who had a car or a license didn't ride the bus. If they didn't drive themselves they would ride with a friend. Even Enos drove to school.
Jesse added, "I did say you all would be riding the bus, not riding with anyone else. Got me?"
Luke knew Jesse had 'seen' right what he was thinking. He tried to hold in the sigh he felt, "Come on Bo. We got to move to get done and on that bus."
Bo didn't hold his sigh as he replied, "Yeah."
Daisy's mind kicked into over drive trying to think of all the extra stuff she had to take to school to have to get ready for work. She knew she'd forget something as she hurried to get her morning chores done so she could get ready for school before breakfast.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
No one knew who was more surprised when the Hazzard County bus turned the bin just before the Duke farm and saw the three young Dukes apparently waiting to board it. The driver did a double take and nearly half of the few students, who hadn't managed to get a ride or talk their parents into not sending them the last few days of school, nearly hit the floor as the brakes were applied at the unexpected location.
Luke, being a Senior, knew he could go to the back of the bus and get either back seat he wanted without any problems from the young students or the driver.
As he boarded the driver, who had been driving for Hazzard County since Luke started school, school gave Luke a 'knowing smirk' and said, "Guess what I been hearing is true?"
Luke sighed and started to flop into the seat behind the driver, but realized before he hit the seat that he may want to slow his descent down before hitting the seat. He sat more gently as Daisy and Bo made their way further back in the bus seeing friends to set with. "Depends on what you've been hearing."
Not only was the bus driver a bus driver, he was also a member of Hazzard's Volunteer Fire Department and drove weekends for Tri-Counties Ambulance service. So if it happened in the Tri-Counties, Terry knew it. He started by saying, "Heard you were up at the lake and your foot got a bit heavy."
The statement had enough truth to it that Luke knew he'd heard something, but he was obviously fishin' for details. Luke decided to just basically agree, "Something like that." It was too early in the morning and the hard seats on the bumpy dirt road wasn't helping his behind or his mood.
Terry wasn't done, "So if the car is so fast, how did ol' Rosco catch you?"
"I was out of the car and in the middle of 'discussing' with the other driver how I nearly get ran off the road and even though he is the one who ended up in the ditch he decided to jump me after I helped get him out of the ditch." Luke explained, then added, "I didn't see Rosco until he grabbed me."
Terry nodded, "So how bad is your car?"
"It's not. Body damage is about it. I'm just glad I hadn't gotten it painted yet." Luke said.
Asking the obvious, "So why are ya'll riding the bus?"
Luke shrugged and replied, "Two words, 'Uncle Jesse'. I figure you better get used to stoppin' for us for the rest of the year."
"Wow!" Terry replied as they pulled up to the school, "That unhappy?"
"Yes." Luke said as he stepped off the bus.
01~~~~~~~~~01
Leaning up against the wrecker near where the students parked and unloaded from the buses was Cooter Davenport who had graduated the year before. He had missed church on Sunday and hadn't seen hide nor hair of a Duke since Daisy and Bo picked up Luke's car Saturday afternoon. Since he had to drop off his younger sister and cousin, LB, at school he decided to wait until the Dukes slide in in Luke's Torino to see exactly how much trouble his friends were in. His question was pretty much answered when the bus pulled in and the Dukes stepped off it. He called to the older Duke, "Luke!"
Luke knew the voice behind him as he turned away from the school and back to his friend.
"Come on, I know the Torino ain't in that bad a shape that you couldn't have brought it to school." Cooter said as more of a statement than a question.
Luke replied, "No, you are right about that."
"So, why the bus?" Cooter asked.
Luke sighed, "Uncle Jesse's idea."
"Ooouuhhh, that bad?" Cooter asked.
"Worse." Luke replied.
Cooter let a low whistle fly and said, "Do tell."
Luke tried to make the long story short, "We've been limited to the farm yard all weekend and now the bus for the rest of the year."
Cooter smiled, "Well, I'll be pickin' the others up after school. I can give ya'll a ride home."
Luke smiled, "Thanks, but that would only get us all in deeper."
"He'll still be out workin' when ya'll get out of school. He'll never know." Cooter said.
Luke had tried to out fox Jesse like this before and it usually ended badly, "I'm much obliged Cooter, but I'm still havin' considerable trouble settin' down now and it's just not worth the chance for me. I'm in enough trouble now."
Cooter grimaced. He had been a guest in Jesse's woodshed before and knew exactly what Luke meant. "Ok, but I'll be here if you or the others change your mind."
Luke waved his hand as he headed off to class. He really didn't need a call to Jesse from the school about him being late for class. He headed off to his first class and found his seat as the last bell rang. Taking his seat Luke knew this day was going to be longer than he wanted from the feeling he was getting from the hard seat he was setting in.
Just then Luke heard a couple of girls behind him saying, "Did you hear, ... Luke and Ralph were racing, ... Rosco took them to jail."
The other female replied, "You are kidding?"
"No, ... I heard it from, ... who heard it from, ..." The first said.
The second added, "Well, you know Ralph and Robin have been tight for awhile now."
"Yeah, I heard that! Also heard there was a big blow up with Luke and Robin last week." The first girl said.
It seemed Luke was only hearing the important parts of this conversation.
From somewhere behind a piece of paper flew onto Luke's desk but it wasn't crumpled like garbage it was a neatly folded note. Opening it Luke read...
ML., Did you hear that? I've know the guys have been racin' each other for awhile now. Maybe we need to check it out? C.
C., Yes I heard it! Also, heard they spent the night in jail and no one has seen any them except in church on Sunday. ML.
ML., Wonder why they were there over night? I bet Mr. D wasn't happy about it, which is why he ain't been out. C.
'C., Wonder how hot L is after a night in jail and all weekend at the farm? Bet I could cool him down. ML'
Luke tucked the small paper in his shirt pocket. He had an idea who ML was and planned to see her after class.
Mary Lou Pringle seen her note intercepted and nearly died when Luke read it and put it in his pocket.
Claire Rogers never seen the note intended for her as class started.
As class started, Luke realized the seat that he'd set in all year was a lot harder than what he remembered. He changed position and tried to listen to the teacher.
Miss Stacks was saying, "The Electoral College consists of the popularly elected representatives (electors) who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election."
Luke already knew how the voting process worked. He had researched it himself before voting in his first election earlier in the month. He thought the lesson was ill planned as it would have been useful a couple months ago while the campaigning for President and other offices was going on. He changed position again and looked at the clock. There was still thirty minutes left in this class and six more to go.
The teacher continued, "The election for President and Vice President is not a direct election by United States citizens. Citizens vote for electors, representing a state, who are the authorized constitutional participants in a presidential election."
Luke changed position again, then thought of the note in his pocket. He got it out and re read it. Then, began to write, "If you are interested in watching the races, come on up. I can think of several ways to cool down..."
Mary Lou seen Luke take out the note and begin writing on it. She was trying to get Claire's attention to try to get the note from him since Claire was in front of Luke and closer that Mary Lou.
Luke tuned out as Ms. Stacks continued, "In early U.S. history, some state laws delegated the choice of electors to the state legislature. In many states electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be President, but in practice pledge to vote for specific candidates and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candidates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors." *****
He continued to write on the note, "First, we could ..."
Ms. Stacks had seen Luke shifting in his seat much more often than normal and now he was writing something that she didn't think was class notes. As she talked she walked around the room and confirmed that Luke was writing on a folded slip of paper. She stopped in mid lecture and as Luke was still writing unaware she was standing behind him looking over his shoulder.
The class looked up to see why the teacher had stopped talking. Mary Lou nearly crawled under her chair.
Only then did Claire see why Mary Lou had not passed the note back yet. Luke had it.
"Mr. Duke ... " Miss Stacks, who had been a spinster all her life held out her wrinkled hand for the note. "I understand there are only a few more days of class before you all to graduate. But, you all haven't finished with classes yet."
Luke turned to see Miss Stacks hand waiting on the note. If he hadn't known he'd be in far worse trouble he'd have sworn right there. Thankful that he hadn't finished his sentence on the note before handing it over to her.
Miss Stacks normally had the person caught with the note read it out loud to the class, but she had found that sometimes it wasn't such a good idea in high school.
The class was eager to hear the note as they knew that Miss Stacks normally had students read notes they were caught with.
Miss Stacks said, "Since you all know all about what I was lecturing on put your books and notes away and get out a sheet of blank paper."
A chorus of, "Ah's." and a few, "Thanks Luke." were heard as the class did as they were told.
Miss Stacks went to her desk and began asking questions as she read the note, then promptly blushed as red as Hazzard's fire engines. Glad that she had not had the Duke boy read this to the class. The quiz consisted of only ten questions so if the student missed more than three they would not pass the quiz. The last question was asked as the bell sounded. "Turn in your quizzes. Mr. Duke, Miss Rogers, and Miss Pringle please stay after class." With a class this small Miss Stacks had checked the rooster and determined no one else with the initials on the note in the class. As the rest of the class thinned out she began, "I know the last few days of each school year it is difficult for students to pay attention with the nice weather and other activities, which makes disturbances of this nature even worse. She handed each an index card with their name and todays date on it. Report to lunch detention for one week and her signature.
Both girls were on the prom committee and worked on decorations at lunch as the prom was Saturday night. Both started to voice an objection but were cut off by the teacher. "And furthermore, parents will be notified. I should have you each denied the right to graduate and have to repeat the year but my power doesn't extend that far. I am also requesting you each see the school counselor."
Luke gritted his teeth and hoped to make it out of the classroom before he exploded. He did NOT need this sort of trouble. Jesse would have one more fit! He took the index card summonings him to detention and left the room. He was nearly ran over by Bo who had History from the same teacher the following class period.
"Luke? What are you still doing here? You are usually long gone before I get here." Bo said.
Seeing the several teachers in the hallway Luke wisely bite his tongue and said quietly, "This."
Bo read the index card. "Oh Lord."
Daisy was walking by them and heard Bo's remark, "What's wrong fellows?"
Bo handed her the index card. Daisy looked at Luke wide eyed, "Luke! What did you do now? Aren't you in deep enough with Uncle Jesse?"
"Yes, I was, but it looks like I'm gonna be in deeper by the end of the day." Luke said, then added, "The old battle ax is calling him."
"Christ!" Bo exclaimed. He knew all too well how much trouble Luke was in with Jesse and the law and now school. "What did you do?"
"Picked up a note that landed on my desk, read it. It was about me so I decided to answer it." Luke said.
It sounded reasonable to both his cousins, until he added, "Then, I got caught answering it." He was met by groans and grimaces from Daisy and Bo.
"Thanks ya'll I needed that sort of encouragement." Luke said as the girls exited the class room.
Claire Rogers said as she saw Luke, "Thanks for making us miss decorating for the prom."
Luke said, "I didn't start that note."
Claire huffed and went down the hall.
Mary Lou gave Luke a look and started to tell him off for getting caught with the note, but when his eyes met hers all she could do was blush crimson then bolt down the hallway.
Daisy said, "I've got to get to class ya'll. I hope we do something in gym that don't involve setting down."
Bo frowned having just came from gym class, "Hate to tell you it's Health today and the bleachers are hard as rocks."
"Thanks, Bo I needed that." Daisy said as she hurried off.
Luke said, "I better get too."
Bo walked in and set his books down and waited until the last minute to take his seat. He may not have gotten as many licks as Luke did but he was none too eager to take his seat either. The bell rung and Bo reluctantly took his seat.
Miss Stacks came in and said, "Open your books to page 200. Today we will be exploring World War I."
Bo opened his book with a sigh. History and war stragety was Luke's thing not his.
Miss Stacks began, "World War I was a military conflict centered on Europe that began in the summer of 1914. The fighting ended in late 1918 in western Europe and by 1922 in eastern Europe."
Bo was already bored and began fidgeting in his seat from the combined hardness of the seat and the soreness of his behind.
Miss Stacks took notice of the younger Duke boy acting much like his older cousin in her previous class as she continued, "This conflict involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (centered around the Triple Entente) and the Central Powers."
Bo frowned and checked the clock. Well over forty minutes of this class left. He changed position again.
Brodie was setting behind him and asked as the teacher talked, "Did Luke really get arrested Friday night with Ralph Green?"
They had all played ball against Ralph and knew of him.
Bo barely managed a slight nod, 'yes'.
"Wow! Really?" Brodie said. "I heard it was for a fight?"
Bo nodded, 'yes' again and leaned back to add, "And racing and Rosco charged Luke with DUI."
"Oh, man! He'll loose his license sure as the world!" Brodie said.
"Maybe not." Bo said.
"More than 70 million military personnel, ..." Miss Stacks said as she saw Bo Duke shift in his seat again and say something to Brodie Smith. She paused, and both boys acted as if they were now paying attention, so she continued, "including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history. More than 15 million people were killed, also one of the deadliest conflicts in history. The war is also known as the First World War, the Great War, the World War (prior to the outbreak of World War II), and the War to End All Wars.*******
During Miss Stacks lecture, Bo had changed position several more times and continued to whisper to Brodie.
Miss Stacks had seen the conversation between the two boys, she also knew that the class was more interested in their conversation than her lecture. She sighed. She hated the last few weeks of school for this reason, "Close your books, put up your notes and get out a clean sheet of paper."
Bo and Brodie had not realized they had been caught talking in class.
After the quiz, Miss Stacks said as the bell rang, "Mr. Duke, Mr. Smith please come up here before leaving." She handed each an index card with the the date, their name, her signature and they were to report to lunch detention for one week." She added, "I was going after this class to call your uncle about Luke, I guess I can now make one call for you both."
Bo sighed and swore to himself. This was not going to be good.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
Several minutes before the lunch bell rang the classroom speakers came to life, "Lucas Duke, Mary Lou Pringle, Claire Rogers, Beauregard Duke, Brodie Smith report to the office."
Greatful to get out of the hard seat early Luke picked up his books and started out of the room. He saw Robin grin as he left followed by Mary Lou and Claire. The two girls were not used to being in trouble of any sort let alone in trouble with the elder Duke boy. Luke wondered as he got to the hall way what Bo and Brodie had done.
Bo heard Luke being called to the office and wasn't at all surprised to hear his and Brodie's name also called. As they entered the hallway, he said to Brodie, "Looks like we're going to end this year off on the wrong foot."
"Looks like." Brodie shrugged.
The three boys were no stranger to this sort of trouble and the girls knew it. Mary Lou shyly reached for Luke's arm just before getting to the office, "What's gonna happen?"
Luke tried to be reassuring before Bo and brodie arrived, "Miss Stacks, your parents, Uncle Jesse and Mr. Jack will probably want to have a nice long talk 'about us'. We usually don't get much say so in these meetings."
Mary Lou was both relieved and worried by Luke's information.
As the five entered the outer office, Luke said to Bo, "What did you do?"
"I'm not rightly sure. In the middle of class Miss Stacks pulled a quiz and as class ended she gave me an index card like yours." Bo explained.
"Great!" Luke fumed. Now it wasn't only him in trouble but Bo as well. Jesse would not be happy at all about this turn of events.
Just the the principal's secretary came out of the back office, "Luke, Principal Jack will see you now."
Leaving his books, he went to the inner office. He hoped he could control his mouth during this meeting or he knew he'd pay for it later.
Jesse, Miss Stacks and Principal Jack were seated as he came in. "Take a seat Luke." The principal said.
Though he'd rather stand Luke took a seat in a much more comfortable seat than he'd been in all morning. He was given a copy of the note that he had been answering in class. "Does this look familiar to you?"
Luke sighed, "Yes, Sir."
"Tell me why it does." Mr. Jack said.
Jesse was frowning already as Luke said, "I found it on my desk as the bell rang in 1st period today."
"Who wrote it?" Mr. Jack asked.
Luke replied, "I have no idea."
Jesse's frown deepened. He knew what Luke was trying to do.
Miss Stacks added, "Sir, in my first class there is only one person with the initials 'ML' and 'C'."
Luke quickly ran the students in his class for a loop hole, but the teacher was right.
Miss Stacks added, "I know that the end of their senior year is close at hand but I will not have my classes disturbed."
Mr. Jack asked, "What do you suggest?"
Miss Stacks said, "I'd like to see all three of them made to repeat the entire year."
Jesse could see her point up to now but that was taking things way out of proportion.
Mr. Jack said, "Thank you for you opinion Miss Stacks. I'll talk to the others and get back to you all."
After several long minutes of meetings Mr. Jack called Luke, Jesse, Miss Stacks and both girls and their families inside. "I have no other choice but to agree with Miss Stacks that you three were involved in disturbing her class. As you each know Miss Stacks recommends you each to repeat the 12 th grade." He paused. "I think that is a bit severe. I have checked the prom rooster and find only Miss Pringle and Miss Rogers on it. Mr. Duke are you planning on attending the prom?"
Everyone, especially Jesse was surprised when Luke replied, "No, Sir. I don't."
"I see, well it would not be fair to make the ladies miss something like this if you aren't planning to also be there. We'll just go with the lunch detention for this week and I take it there will be no further disruptions in class?"
The three seniors replied, "No. Sir."
Mr. Jack replied, "You can report to lunch detention now."
Jesse added, "I'll see you at home."
Luke only nodded as he turned to leave the room. He far dreaded seeing Jesse at home more than he did the lunch detention even though he didn't look forward to setting through another hour at a desk.
Bo was called in as Luke was getting his books. Luke gave him a 'good luck' glance as he left the office for detention in the counselors office.
Mr. Jack looked at Bo and told him to take a seat. Bo grimaced from the idea of setting anywhere but did so. "I'm told that you and Mr. Smith were disrupting Miss Stacks class."
"Mr. Smith?" Bo frowned. He didn't know a Mr. Smith, then it hit him, "Brodie?"
Mr. Jack nodded, 'yes'.
Bo replied honestly, "He asked me about somethings that happened this weekend. I answered him, but didn't think we disturbed the class."
Miss Smith spoke up, "Whatever the conversation, young man, the class was more interested in it than World War I."
Jesse and Bo waited outside the main office while they talked to Brodie and his mother, then returned as Mr. Jack informed them that he expected no more trouble from them the rest of the year and they could report to detention.
Jesse also reminded Bo that he'd see him at home.
Bo walked into the counselors office to join Luke in detention. The conversation he walked into surprised him.
Luke was casually leaning against a desk saying, "Coach I swear, all I was doing was writing on the note. I had no intention of passing it in class. It landed on my desk before class started." He explained to the counselor and coach on detention duty this week. Luke had played ball for him and got alone well with the man.
Coach replied, "Ok, so tell me the rest of the story about what I'm hearing that went on this weekend."
"I really hate small towns." Replying sarcastically, "You do remember Ralph Green, the Defensive End for Placid County?"
The Coach still remembered the games dating back to Luke's first games for him as a Sophomore. The season ended as he recalled with Luke with several broken ribs and Ralph being taken from the field by ambulance. He grimaced, "I remember."
Luke added, "Well, he challenged me to a race by the lake..."
Coach added, "You couldn't pass that up?"
"No." Luke said with a pause. "There had been several others racing all evening and I had been watching, but that was something I had to do. It seems the Sheriff had gotten a call about the racing and happened by after the race, which ended me winning and Ralph in the ditch after he tried to put me there. We all worked to get his car out and after it was out he called me a cheat and swung on me."
The coach knew the young man in front of him. He whistled long and low. He held up his hand and said, "Say no more." he could picture the following events. "Well, find something to do until next class."
Luke had seen Bo standing just outside the door, "I think your office is going to be mighty crowded, Coach. The office was full when I left."
Coach looked up to see Bo standing there and Brodie behind him. "How many more can I expect?" he picked up the keys to his classroom across the hall.
Luke replied, "That should be it unless your getting the girls too."
Coach shook his head and started to his classroom, "Get 'comfy' I'll be back."
Luke and Bo layed their books down on two desks in the first row, Brodie flopped down in the third seat and asked his two still standing friends, "Why do I always let ya'll get me into stuff like this?"
Luke had actually found the corner of Coach's desk to lean against ratter than setting anywhere, "I was no where around, Brodie."
Bo said as he walked to the window watching the rest of the school enjoying their free time outside, "Hey, it was you who was talking to me."
Mary Lou and Claire were followed into the room by the coach and the girls' counselor, Mrs. Dixon, who just happened to be Miss Stacks sister.
Coach felt Mrs. Dixon staring a hole through him which pressured him to 'control' his students more than he normally would have, "Guys separate and take a seat."
The guys knew that they would have been far better off if Mrs. Dixon had not came into the room with the coach. Luke, was used to being the spokesperson and un-official leader at times like this, motioned to Bo and Brodie as he took the first seat in the first row.
Bo barely held in his sigh and moved his books to the last seat in the row.
They had all been here before and knew what the coach needed from them to 'save face'. Brodie moved to the back seat in the last row.
Mrs. Dixon instructed, "Ladies, there is a seat up front in the last row and on center row center seat available."
Neither of the girls were used to being in any trouble, let alone detention, but Mary Lou made the first move toward the first seat in the last row.
Claire moved to the seat in the center of the room.
Mrs. Dixon said as she went to his windows and pulled the shades, "Coach I appreciate you taking these girls. I do need to make copies for my next class but I will be by often to check on them."
Coach nodded. He did not miss the fact that Mrs. Dixon would be by to check 'on him'. As Mrs. Dixon left the room, he advised, "Sorry ya'll but you know how she is. Find something to look busy."
Luke sighed. He would have rather stood in a corner somewhere as to be setting at a desk for the entire lunch brake.
Claire and Mary Lou both opened a book they had with them to a random page to look busy, but had no real intentions of reading the information. They were more concerned about their mothers wrath when they got home after reading the note they had been posting, even before Luke had started to reply to it.
Brodie flipped open a book then propped his head up for a lunch time nap.
Bo turned to a blank page in his notebook, starred at the page for several minutes the started to sketch something.
Luke when to the Coach's desk thumbed through his magazines on his desk took on and went back to his seat. Luke opened his notebook, layed the magazine in it then opened a text book in front of his notebook.
Bo noticed that both Mary Lou and Claire were now blaming Luke for their being in trouble, so he decided to try his luck at getting Claire's attention since she was closest to him.
Claire not only figured that she was in way too much trouble already, also couldn't see herself as a senior, giving a sophomore any attention.
Luke was reading a Mopar magazine article about the Hemi engine, when he heard footsteps in the hall. He closed his notebook covering the magazine then the others seen why he had taken that seat in the classroom as he turned slightly to get Bo's attention snapped his fingers and pointed to Brodie.
Bo managed to get Brodie's attention, who seat up and flipped a page in his book as Mrs. Dixon stepped through the door.
The sight of the five appearingly studious teens didn't fool the veteran teacher for a second. She stepped to Luke's desk, picked up the text book in front of him, scanned the page and asked, "So tell me about Robert E. Lee."
Brodie, Claire and Mary Lou's eye's nearly bugged out of their heads.
Bo shook his head slightly. He could not believe Luke had been that smart.
Luke acted as if he were thinking really hard, before answering to both Mrs. Dixon and the Coach's surprise, "Just before he Virginia succeeded from the Union, President Lincoln asked Lee to command the entire Union Army. Even though Lee didn't like their decision, he had to follow his home state, where he served as a senior military adviser to President Jefferson Davis." *********
Mrs. Dixon handed Luke the book back and walked out of the room.
Coach finished his sandwich and walked to the doorway, looked down the hall, after seeing that Mrs. Dixon was gone, he asked, "Luke how did you do that? I know you wasn't reading the text book."
"I like reading about the Civil War and I've read that information before." Luke said as the bell to return to class rang.
The rest of the day went by fairly calm, but Luke was still hearing some talk about Friday night even as he, Bo and Daisy got off the bus at the farm. The first thing the three noticed was Jesse's pickup was home. He was usually never home when they got home from school. Bo groaned, "Ut-oh."
Luke sighed and said sarcastically, "This day just keeps getting better."
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
The above information was taken in part from the following locations:
***** Note: Above was taken in part from Wikipedia ref Electorial College information. .org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)
******* Note: Above was taken in part from Wikipedia ref World War I information. .org/wiki/World_War_I
********* Note: Above was taken in part from Wikipedia ref World War I information. .org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee "In early 1861, President invited Lee to take command of the entire Union Army. Lee declined because his home state of Virginia was, despite his wishes, seceding from the Union. When Virginia seceded from the in April 1861, Lee chose to follow his home state. Lee's eventual role in the newly established Confederacy was to serve as a senior military adviser to ."
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