Chapter Fifty Four
Greasy:
"It looks like Beatrice is going to win the race." Cressida said to me.
"Yep." I replied.
I looked at Mr. Trunchbull.
He's very, very, very far behind, which is very good for Beatrice.
Speaking of Beatrice, I looked at her with a smile on my face.
I have a feeling that she is going to do well.
…..
Beatrice:
…As soon as the ball of my left foot hit the track, everything suddenly went back to normal motion…and an extremely sharp and a very painful feeling shot up my leg when my eyes were focused on the finish line (which was immediately stretched across the starting point of the track where the race began).
I immediately stopped running and scrunched my eyes tightly in pain.
"Ow." I groaned through my teeth.
While the cheering and shouting was quickly ceasing in the rain, I aimed my eyes at the doors that led to the hallway and the gymnasium. I slowly limped off the track.
…..
Greasy:
I watched Beatrice in shock and concern.
"What's going on?" Wheezy asked.
"PRETTY GIRLY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" Psycho yelled.
"The finish line was right in front of Beatrice!" Smarty exclaimed.
"Why did she stop?" I asked.
I didn't wait for anyone to answer.
Along with Cressida and Psycho, I walked off and away from the bleachers and took off running after Beatrice.
She was limping and both of her hands were on her left leg.
I ran faster when…
…..
Beatrice:
I was halfway in between the football track and the school when I slipped on my left foot and fell in the mud.
I screamed in pain.
If I can't walk towards the doors, I thought, I might as well crawl towards them as I am dragging myself in mud.
I took my hands off my left leg and I grabbed the ground with a tough grip.
Splashing footsteps were heard as I dragged myself on the muddy ground.
"Beatrice!" Greasy called. "Beatrice, are you all right?"
Gritting my teeth in pain, I replied,
"My leg is cramping! It really hurts! I'm sorry that I didn't run to the finish line!"
"It's not your fault. I would've done the same."
"BEATRICE!" Cressida shouted. "You need help getting up?!"
I slowly got back on my right foot and I replied,
"I got it!"
I was almost on the concrete ground when I fell down again. I almost fell down on my cramping leg.
Lightning flashed in the sky and thunder rumbled.
"Do you need to go to the nurse, Beatrice?" Cressida asked.
"I'm afraid so." I replied as I slowly and carefully got back on my feet.
"Are you going to make it?"
I nodded as I made my way to the doors.
"Where's the nurse's office?" I asked Cressida.
"It's two doors away from the gym on your left." She replied.
After clenching my teeth in pain, I said,
"Thanks."
"Beatrice?" Greasy asked.
"Yeah?" I asked back.
"Here's your dog tag."
I looked at Greasy and he handed me my dog tag.
"Thanks." I said as Cressida walked over to the doors and opened them.
"OUT OF THE WAY!" I heard Flasher shouted.
"MOVE IT! MOVE IT!" Slimy and Sleazy shouted in unison.
I pressed myself against the wall of Zelkova and as Slimy, Flasher, and Sleazy ran into the school, they shouted,
"TRUNCHBULL HAS WON THE RACE! TRUNCHBULL HAS WON THE RACE! LONG LIVE THE TRUNCHBULL! LONG LIVE THE KING OF ZELKOVA!"
The cramp made me abandon the race and Mr. Trunchbull won…that's really awful news to everyone.
Thinking about making everyone upset as Greasy and Cressida turned their backs on me, I limped into the hallway and began to hop on my right foot despite of how wet my shoes are right now.
As I carefully but quickly hopped down the hall, I began to think about how I've angered everyone who was watching me and Mr. Trunchbull running around the football track. Every student and Toon who supported me during the race was counting on me to win and look where I am right now. I have a cramping leg, I am completely drenched with rain water, and I am covered with mud after falling in a mud puddle.
I guess I must've disappointed everyone…maybe except Greasy.
"BIRCHWOOD!" I heard Mr. Trunchbull shout from behind me.
My mind tells me to run but instead of doing that, I limped and hopped on my right foot.
Unfortunately, I didn't go very far.
The pain increased ten-fold in my left leg and I fall down on the floor, landing on my cramping leg in the process.
"OW!" I exclaimed.
But I decided not stop where I am now.
I wrap my dog tag around my right wrist and began to crawl on the cold floor of the hallway.
Suddenly, I felt someone's hand on my left shoulder and I gasped in fright as I stopped crawling.
To my horror, it was Mr. Trunchbull.
And, ohhhh, boy, he sure is mad despite of winning the race.
"YOU DON'T NEED TO RUB IT IN, MR. TRUNCHBULL!" I exclaimed. "YOU WON! I KNOW!"
Mr. Trunchbull clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth.
Then, he grabbed me by the collar of my wet and muddy shirt and picked me up off the floor.
"As I have mentioned before, Miss Birchwood," Mr. Trunchbull hissed, "there are two types of human beings, the winners and the LOOOOSERS." Then, he narrowed his eyes as he brought his face closer to mine. "You're a loser, Miss Birchwood…and you always will be."
"That's not a nice THING TO SAY!" I exclaimed.
"SHUT UP, YOU LITTLE EARWIG! I'm going to let you go on this one but I'm going to warn you, Miss Birchwood. If you continue to display your inappropriate behavior in my school, then I'm going to give you a week-long suspension."
My eyes widened in shock.
WHAT?! I thought. O…M…GOSH! I'VE NEVER BEEN SUSPENDED!
"I expect you to behave after you come back from your suspension period." Mr. Trunchbull said. "If you don't, you will be expelled! Do I make myself clear?"
"CRYSTAL CLEAR, MR. TRUNCHBULL!" I exclaimed.
Then, as soon as I said that, Mr. Trunchbull smiled evilly.
"Have a nice day." He hissed.
Immediately after saying that, Mr. Trunchbull dropped me and I landed on my cramping leg.
Mr. Trunchbull took off running down the hall and I watch him run as I crawled my way (I mainly used my hands to crawl) to the nurse's office.
As I made my way to the nurse's office, I decided that during my class periods, even lunch time, I am going to hide in the girls' restroom (and maybe the library) and meet up with Miss Honey after school.
Greasy might want to meet me after school...
….Eh, tutorials will have to wait for a few minutes.
They will have to wait until I done talking with Miss Honey.
Okay, I know that skipping classes is not the right thing to do but I am just too humiliated to show my face in the school after losing the race.
I am now beginning to feel tears running down my cheeks as I think about what the other students and Toons would say to me…and as the pain in my leg increases even more.
