Chapter Fifty Three
(Hey, y'all!
In the previous chapter, Mr. Trunchbull said that the main reason why he made every student and Toon, except for Slimy, Flasher, and Sleazy, go through a hard physical education was because of this: He doesn't like Mondays.
Obviously, after Mr. Trunchbull said that, Beatrice talks about a sixteen-year-old individual shooting some people at an elementary school. That actually was a real event.
On January 29th, 1979, a sixteen year old girl named Brenda Spencer shot and injured eight children and a police officer but killed a principal and a custodian at public elementary school with a .22 caliber rifle. (Since Spencer lived across the street from the elementary school, she was actually at home when the shooting occurred and she shot her victims from her bedroom while watching everything from her bedroom window.)
When a journalist called Spencer on the phone, he/she asked her why she was opening fire on the children and teachers at the school.
Brenda Spencer's reply was:
"I don't like Mondays."
After that, Brenda Spencer was arrested.
Then, later after that, the 1979 school shooting became an inspiration to a new wave Irish band, the Boomtown Rats. They wrote a song about the shooting and they titled it I Don't Like Mondays. The song became very popular during the summer of 1979. (I've actually listened to the song. It's pretty good, in my opinion.)
*Realizing that I've rambled on my fact like Beatrice*
Sorry, I rambled and got off-track.
Y'all can go ahead and read the chapter.
Enjoy it and life (and the summer for those who are enjoying their summer vacation) as it goes!
-imaginarytoon1)
Beatrice:
Smarty ran up to me as I walked with Mr. Trunchbull, the other students, and the Toons down the hall that led to the outside area of the gym.
"What the heck was that all about?" He hissed at me.
"I went out of control, that's all." I replied. "I have a tendency to do that when I'm angry."
"Did you not hear what I've said earlier? I told you wait for the right time."
"Yes, I heard you but you weren't very specific. You told me to wait for the right time without any details."
Smarty widened his eyes and then, he began to think about what I've said.
"Okay, so I wasn't 'pacific' on details." He said. "Maybe I thought I explained it all to you but I actually didn't. Do you want me to explain the details?"
"That would be very helpful." I replied.
"I meant that you should until it's the right moment for Mr. Trunchbull to be in his good mood."
I looked at Smarty in confusion as Cressida exclaimed when she, Greasy, Wheezy, Psycho, and Stupid came up and walked with us,
"And since when is Mr. Trunchbull in a good mood?"
Smarty looked at Cressida and was about to answer. But she interrupted him and gave Smarty an answer that was just about to come out of his mouth.
"Mr. Trunchbull is never in a good mood, even if he likes to take over the physical education periods." She said.
"You're right." Smarty replied. "He's never happy."
"And now, it's my turn to talk to Beatrice."
She aimed her eyes at me and I listened to her exclaim as we walked outside.
"Are you nuts with what you just did?!" Cressida exclaimed. "You can't have Mr. Trunchbull involved in a race! Even though he only did shot-put, javelin, and hammer-throw in the Olympics, or so I've heard, Mr. Trunchbull can be very fast and very strong. He can beat you real easily."
"Well, I can't turn back now." I replied. "I've already made the bet with Mr. Trunchbull and he's accepted to be a part of the race."
"Good luck, Pretty Girly." Psycho said.
"Be careful." Wheezy and Smarty said in unison.
"I'll be careful." I said.
Then, a thought came to me.
"Is there anything else that I must remember?" I asked Cressida.
"Mr. Trunchbull may say some things that can bring your determination and confidence down." She replied. "Try to aim your focus on winning the race but don't be like that hare from the Aesop story."
I nodded.
"Got it." I said. "I'll keep those in mind."
Then, in my mind, I cheered in joy. I was so happy that Cressida mentioned a character from a piece of literary work. YES!
Anyway, Cressida said,
"Break a leg, Beatrice."
"Thank you." I replied.
"*cough*! That's not a *COUGH* good way of saying 'Good luck'." Wheezy said.
"Actually, 'break a leg' is a theater term and it's another way of saying 'Good luck'." I said to Wheezy.
"Ooookay." Wheezy replied awkwardly as he slowly pulled out a cigarette out of his hat.
Now, I am going to cut the walking time to the point when I'm stretching my legs on the football track.
As the rest of the Toons and the students walked up to the bleachers, Greasy walked to me and since I was sitting down as I stretched my legs, I looked up at him as I squinted through the coming and going sunlight.
"What's up?" I asked Greasy.
Instead of replying, Greasy walked into my space and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into another hug.
Is Greasy upset about something? I thought.
"Greasy, are you all right?" I asked.
Again, instead of replying, Greasy placed his left hand under my chin before tilting it up so that I can look at him in the eyes.
"Please be careful." Greasy said to me. "You're still a winner to me if you lose."
"I'll remember." I replied.
Then, Greasy pulled me into another hug.
"Be careful and good luck." He said before he unwrapped his arms and left.
I stood up and took a deep breath and walked to the starting point of the race.
Mr. Trunchbull walked and stood on my left side.
"Remember what I've said about cutting through the track, Mr. Trunchbull." I said and bent down to a runner's position.
"I hope you lose." Mr. Trunchbull said to me.
I ignored him as I tried to think of something that can help me focus on winning the race.
Fear is one of main motivations that make a person run really fast. I thought. I know a few things that I'm afraid of. Hmm...I know that I'm afraid of cinnamon…and I'm also afraid of…my mom when she's angry. I KNOW! I'll pretend that my mom is chasing me with a canister of cinnamon in one hand! That will help me run faster and even help me ignore any mean remarks that Mr. Trunchbull may give me!
As I focus on my motivation, I watch Slimy, Sleazy, and Flasher walk and stand on the side lines of the track. They each pulled their own pistols out of thin air and clicked the hammer of the pistols after aiming them at the sky.
"RUNNERS READY?!" Slimy shouted.
After a brief pause, the students and the Toons who were watching counted down out loud simultaneously,
"FIVE…FOUR…THREE…TWO…ONE..."
Slimy, Flasher, and Sleazy fired their pistols.
*BANG*! *BANG*! *BANG*!
Mr. Trunchbull and I took off running.
Thinking of my motivationally fearful thought, I sprinted a little bit as the clouds covered up the sun as Joan Jett's Bad Reputation played in my head.
Mom and cinnamon…I thought. Mom is coming after you with a canister of cinnamon.
By the time I turned on the curve of the track, I heard everyone, minus Mr. Trunchbull, Sleazy, Slimy, and Flasher, cheering for me and shouting, "GO, BEATRICE, GO!"
Then, Cressida shouted,
"RUN LIKE THE WIND, BEATRICE!"
That was unusual to me because whenever I'm a part of race, activity, or event that involves competition, very, very, very few people, who watch me participate in something, would cheer me on but not really out loud (It's true that during the baseball game that I tried out when I came to Zelkova, I felt a little weird when Greasy and the rest of his team cheered me on out loud in my life.).
As I was using the idea of pretending that my angry mom is chasing me with a canister of cinnamon, I began to absorb the cheering from my supporters into my mind to help me keep going and to remind me that nothing and no one, not even Mr. Trunchbull, is going to stop me.
I looked behind me and to my relief—well, sort of,—Mr. Trunchbull was six feet away from me. He was running hard and he looked really angry.
Immediately, I looked away and focused on trying to win the race.
Angry mom with cinnamon. I thought as I sprinted to the starting point of the track. Students and Toons cheering you on. They're your motivators. Win the race. I'm still a winner to some even if I lose the race.
After crossing the starting point, everyone who was sitting on the bleachers cheered loudly…as the clouds covered up the sun and thunder began to rumble.
I looked up at the sky.
It was dark and gray. The cotton clouds moved slowly over Zelkova and the football track.
Rain or shine, I thought, I'm going to finish the race!
I have already crossed the starting point of the race so I just have to run around it a couple more times.
Something hit me on the top of my head and another object landed on my glasses.
After exhaling, I turned my head to the other students and Toons.
"IT'S ABOUT TO RAIN!" I said. "IF ANY OF Y'ALL WANT TO GO BACK INSIDE, Y'ALL CAN GO AHEAD!"
Then, I sprinted to the curve and looked back at Mr. Trunchbull.
He was really far behind me and…he just crossed the starting point of the track.
"RUN LIKE THE WIND, BEATRICE!" Cressida yelled.
"JUST KEEP RUNNING!" Psycho and Greasy shouted in unison.
I smiled at Cressida, Psycho, and Greasy as the rain began to pour down.
Then, I looked back at Mr. Trunchbull.
He was WAY far behind.
That was good.
I was almost to the curve when the rain started pouring really, really, really hard. My hair was getting drenched with raindrops and my glasses began to look like a couple of disco balls because of the raindrops covering the glass parts. Even my clothes were getting really wet and they began to stick on to my skin.
The track was getting really wet and I nearly slipped on the track after I turned on the curve.
I looked back at Mr. Trunchbull.
He was still far behind…and he just slipped and fell down on the track.
Maybe I am going to finish the race.
Man, oh, man, I'm making history here at Zelkova.
I am probably going to be the first student to beat the meanest principal of the school.
"I'M GOING TO GET YOU, BIRCHWOOD!" Mr. Trunchbull shouted in the rain.
"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ME BY A LONG SHOT!" I exclaimed as I crossed the starting point of the track.
Everyone who was sitting at the bleachers cheered and some of the Toons and students shouted,
"ONE MORE TIME!"
"RUN LIKE THE WIND, PRETTY GIRLY!" Psycho shouted.
I no longer had to think about pretending that my mom is chasing me with a canister of cinnamon. I decided to focus more on the cheering and support from the other students and Toons to help me win the race.
I look back at Mr. Trunchbull.
He's now turning on the curve of the track.
Wow, Mr. Trunchbull's tough!
But I am not letting him stop me.
With an amazing amount of speed, I sprinted and turned on the curve of the track.
"KEEP GOING! DON'T STOP!" Greasy and Wheezy shouted in unison.
I continued to run on the track…and all of the sudden, everything started to feel like it's going in slow motion…
