11

James Wilson stared up at the aggressive senior standing in an intimidating fashion above him.

"I won't vote with you, Ben! I won't! You can't make me!"

"Why not?"

"I don't want to get into trouble!"

"No, you don't want John Dickinson to get into trouble, you effeminate twit!" Wilson's lip began to quiver and his eyes filled with bid salty tears. "Now... Take it easy, James. Don't cry. I was a little harsh." But before he had time to apologize, Wilson was running out of the room sobbing.

"Great job," Adams grumbled. "I hope you had better luck with Joseph Hewes."

"Not really. He said he would vote with us only if Edward Rutledge votes with us. And I also talked with George Read. His exact words were 'No! No! No! For the last time, NO!' I don't know what we can do, John."

"Maybe I can help," a voice said from behind. Both boys turned to see Senor McKean. "I like your articles, Juan Adams. I think you're talented. I hope you don't mind that I've been eavesdropping. But I'm pretty sure I can help you get a vote from George Read."

"Really?" Adams gleamed, hopefully. "How?"

"This oughtta do it." He reached under his desk and pulled out a large rifle. Both boys stared at it, paralyzed with fear. The whole school was aware that Senor McKean was into hunting and guns. But they never thought he would go so far as to bring a rifle to school.

"Ummm... Senor McKean... Isn't that against the law?"

"Ha! I'm not going to shoot him. I just thought that it might scare him into voting with you!"

"Not that. I mean... Isn't it against the law to have a gun in school?"

"Oh that... If you won't tell I won't tell. And if you do!" He pointed the gun at Adams' pale, trembling face. "I'm just joking. But don't you boys worry about George Read. The little jerk annoys me anyway."

"Thank you," Adams said, smiling through his teeth. He stiffly walked away, followed by Ben.

"'Thank you?' That's what you say when a teacher offers to threaten a kid with a gun?!" Ben whispered violently.

"That's how desperate I am, Ben! Anyway... Now that that rather traumatizing experience is done with... We still have Rutledge, Hewes, Hall, Dickinson, and Wilson. Let's both try to persuade Rutledge. If we get him, we'll have Hall and Hewes in the bag as well."

"I take it you convinced Samuel Chase?"

"Well... Not really. We have his vote though. I promised him a year's supply of marshmallow peeps if he voted with us."

"Good thinking. But peeps are expensive. Why didn't you try something cheaper like store brand spaghetti-os or something?"

"My original offer was to pay him off with circus peanuts, but he didn't bite. I guess even he has his standards."

"Ok. Well, we better go down to the theater. Rutledge is probably at rehearsals."

"Great. I get to see Rutledge is a sequined leotard. That's just what I need right now." Ben looked at him inquisitively. "Not really! Why does everyone think that I have some weird man crush on him?"

"Because, as he tells us every day, HE'S BEAUTIFUL!" Adams frowned and walked towards the door. Mission: Man in tights.