Chapter Fifty Two

Beatrice:

Immediately after I shouted 'STOP' at the top of my lungs, every student and Toon stopped what they were doing and looked around in confusion.

Mr. Trunchbull froze in the middle of the gym and looked around with a giant frown.

"WHO SAID 'STOP'?!" He shouted.

I released my grip on the rope that I climbed on and after a few seconds, I landed on the gym floor with my feet.

Everyone, except for Mr. Trunchbull, looked at me.

"I'm the one who said 'stop'!" I exclaimed as I walked towards Mr. Trunchbull.

He whirled around and looked at me with his giant frown present on his face.

"Who are you?" Mr. Trunchbull asked.

I took a deep breath and as everyone gathered around to watch me talk to Mr. Trunchbull, I said,

"My name is Beatrice Birchwood and I am questioning this phys. ed period."

Mr. Trunchbull's eyes widened and his frown grew deeper.

"Oh, yeah." He said bitterly. "I remember you. You're the one who gave Bruce a glass and cheered him on when it wasn't necessary."

"Yes, I am the one." I replied. "But before we get off-topic, I would like to ask you something."

Mr. Trunchbull crossed his arms as he asked,

"What is it?"

"Why are you making us skip our classes and go through several sessions of physical education?!" I exclaimed.

"I'm making every one of you do that because of two reasons and for two reasons only! One, I am punishing everyone, even you, for supporting Bruce Bogtrotter while he was stuffing his face with cake when they're supposed to think that he's not going to make it. And two…I don't like Mondays."

My eyes widened and I frowned.

"That's a very lame excuse." I said. "Plus, someone else already used that excuse a long time ago and she went to jail."

"Where did you hear that?" Mr. Trunchbull asked.

Although a lot of students, some Toons, and a couple of teachers warn me about not expressing my knowledge in front of Mr. Trunchbull, I decided not to bottle up my knowledge.

"I heard that from an article that talked about a sixteen-year-old individual who shot some people at a school just because she doesn't like Mondays." I explained.

"Okay, so maybe I don't like Mondays but what you just said made me remember why I don't like children." Mr. Trunchbull replied.

I gasped in disgust.

"Really?" I exclaimed. "Do you think that we're growing up to be killers? That's—"

"Children have no values or manners." Mr. Trunchbull interrupted. "They are stupid and have no sense of acting like grown-ups. In this world, there are two types of people. There are the WINNERS and the LOSERS. Everyone in this gym is shriveled, foul-smelling, weak, and useless. You are losers, everyone…and you always will be."

I watch every Toon and student frown and exchange mumbled conversations as I frowned in disgust.

"You really like your job, do you?" I asked.

"I enjoy insulting children and Toons." Mr. Trunchbull replied. "I have the power to say whatever I want."

I shook my head.

"I rather follow a principal with kind words and justice than a dictator with a foul mouth, a dislike for students and Toons, and make everyone follow the rules and system in fear." I said. "I don't like the way you run this school, Mr. Trunchbull."

"You are just a child, Miss Birchwood." Mr. Trunchbull said. "This is a gymnasium, not a playing area. Enough games, Beatrice. I am going to have your name added to my lists of people who I can't stand and who need to be disciplined more."

Man, Mr. Trunchbull really likes to discipline children.

But what I've said earlier is true.

I don't like the way Mr. Trunchbull is acting like a dictator.

It's wrong to run a school like that.

I even clenched my jaw at Mr. Trunchbull's last sentence.

No, I'm not going to give up.

I'm about to do the unthinkable.

I'm thinking the unthinkable.

After taking a deep breath, I asked to Mr. Trunchbull,

"You really like to discipline children and Toons, don't you?"

"I really do." He replied.

"But I don't like it."

"I know. You have displayed your dislike. What are you trying to do to me, little girl?"

"I am about to have a bet…and you're involved in it."

All of the students and Toons gasped in horror.

"What is she doing", "What is she thinking", "Is this girl nuts", "Oh man, she's really brave". I hear the Toons and students whisper.

"What's the bet, Miss Birchwood?" Mr. Trunchbull asked and crossed his arms.

"You like physical education and discipline and I think otherwise." I replied. "How about you and I have a race…at the football track outside? We run around the track three times and we'll see who the winner will be after crossing the finish line. If I win the race, you will no longer make every student and Toon ditch their classes for a physical education period with no specific plans."

Mr. Trunchbull aimed his eyes at the ceiling in thought.

"Hmm." He said.

Then, he smiled a very familiar evil smile at me.

"I like the sound of this bet, Miss Birchwood." Mr. Trunchbull said. "But what happens if you LOSE the race?"

I sighed but I display a determined look on my face as I said,

"If I lose the race, then you can discipline every student and Toon to your heart's content."

"That sounds good, Miss Birchwood. I like the sound of the possibility of you losing. May I have at least one or two demands in this race?"

"As long as I also have my demands also."

"You list your demands first."

I took a deep breath to keep myself calm.

"When we're running on the track, you mustn't cut through the track. That's cheating. If you attempt to get in front of me by cutting through the track, I'll automatically be the winner, no questions asked." I said. "What are your demands?"

"I want you to remove that dog tag of yours right now." Mr. Trunchbull replied.

I raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Why do you want me to do that?" I asked with suspicion in my voice.

"I don't want to be responsible for any injuries that you might receive and if you do that, I will take off my whistle." Mr. Trunchbull said.

I sighed and reluctantly took off my dog tag.

"Who wants to hold on to my dog tog?" I asked the witnessing Toons and students.

"I will." I hear Greasy say.

After walking through a sea of students and Toons, Greasy walked up to me and I handed my glowing dog tag to him.

As soon as Mr. Trunchbull took off his whistle, he blew into it and Slimy, Flasher, and Sleazy burst into the gymnasium.

After some of the students and Toons opened up the circle for Slimy, Flasher, and Sleazy to walk in, Flasher asked,

"Shall we take this girl (me) to the Chokey?"

"No, Flasher." Mr. Trunchbull replied. "I want you, Sleazy, and Slimy to escort Miss Birchwood to the football track."

As soon as Sleazy, Slimy, and Flasher grabbed my arms and attempted to drag me out of the gym, I tugged my arms out of their hands and said,

"I can walk by myself, thank you!"

The three weasels looked at Mr. Trunchbull and he said,

"Let her do what she wants. She's just a brat."

I frowned at Mr. Trunchbull's comment as I began to walk out of the gym with the rest of the students and Toons.