Preperations are under way for Johns elementary school graduation party. In September he is going to middle school with Virgil, and Alan is starting kindergarten. Gordon managed to pass the third grade, despite missing nearly 2 months of school at the start of the year.

Jeff saw that Chad and Dave were expelled for their unprovoked and vicious attack on Scott, and after the truth was revealed, that she was a vain, narcissistic little bitch, who wanted Scott to hurt his little brother, Bella switched to a new school.

Gordon has barely gotten into trouble since his new principal started, a few detentions is a small price to pay for a happy child, and Jeff has found himself slipping back into his old ways of laughing off Gordon getting into trouble again. He wasn't grounded for the incident where he threw his history teachers text book out the window, even when it landed in a puddle and Jeff had to pay to get it replaced.

So it comes as a shock to his grandma on the final Monday of the school week when she is called to collect him.

Gathering Alan up she drives over to the school.

"Mrs Tracy, thank you for coming on such short notice, come on into the office and we can have a little chat before we decide what to do" Mr Morgan tells her.

This can't be good she thinks!

"We will take Alan down to the kindergarten class and he can meet his new teacher and have a play"

Okay, this really can't be good! If Alan is being banished.

She follows him into the office. It's an even bigger surprise when she realises Gordon isn't in the office.

"What is this about? What has he done now?!" She has to ask. Even though she isn't sure she wants to know!

"He's on strike Mrs Tracy, Gordon and Billy are leading their fellow third graders on strike. Apparently they don't agree with some of the changes we are looking to implement next year. Mr Morgan tells her.

"What changes?" She replies.

"Changes to the detention policy which would allow individual teachers to place children in Saturday detention without having to run it past me first, currently anything more severe than no recess I have to sign off on before a Saturday detention can be authorised. Your grandson seems to think teachers will take advantage of it to unfairly punish kids for being kids. They are also objecting to the removal of afternoon recess in favour of longer classes in the afternoon. They are out in the court yard picketing, they even made signs and won't back down until I do!" Mr Morgan has his head in his hands and is rubbing his temples.

"These changes are necessary to ensure a decent education is had by all, at the moment there is too much acting out going on, I need to be able to maintain discipline, but at the same time I can't deny being proud of them for standing up for their rights and beliefs."

"So you want me to take him home?" Grandma asks.

"Actually no, I was hoping we could work together and get them back into the class room! With only a week left of the school year there is no point giving them detention."

"What did his father say, he's on the school board, surely he would have been advised of the changes?" She asks.

"Yeah he signed off on them a week ago, and I think that's how Gordon found out about them, as they were supposed to be a secret until next year."

Other parents are starting to arrive now as the messages spread that their children are refusing to go inside.

There is a mixed reaction, mainly fury but also an admiration for them for going out there and standing up for themselves.

Determined to show a united front they all go out into the playground together.

By now they have been joined by the students from other grades, and are starting to take over.

John is also out there, which is a genuine surprise for his grandma, she heads over to him her eyebrows raised at him.

"John? I didn't think you would agree to participate in this little protest?" She asks.

"Gordon is my brother, and all I do is let him down, time after time I have not been there for him when he needs me. And besides this is a cause I agree with, you can't take away little kids recess for longer lessons, studies have shown that children concentrate better with shorter lessons and more frequent breaks." He tells her seriously.

"What research?" She asks him smiling.

"My research!" John tells her. "Join us grandma, help us fight this injustice"

"Let me talk to your brother, where is he anyway?" grandma asks.

"Come with me and I will see if I can get you an appointment" John replies.

"An appointment?!" She splutters, trying hard not to laugh.

"Yes, he's a very busy man, grandma" John tells her.

Gordon is sitting on top of the jungle gym surveying his kingdom, when he is joined by Ginny, one of the girls In his gang.

"Gordon, your grandma is here and she would like a word. I can book her in for this Thursday at 2:15, but I think if I tried that she will possibly ground you for life" she tells him.

"Of course, let her up. I have a 5 minute window" Gordon tells her generously.

Grandma is already half up the ladder when Ginny tells her Gordon has agreed to see her. "Smart decision kiddo" she thinks.

"What's going on Gordon?" She asks.

"Grandma! Have a seat, I have a 5 minute window then I have an appointment I can't miss with a 5th grader who wants to join my protest team" he tells her proudly.

"Gordon..." She starts. Unable to continue as she literally has no idea how to handle this!

"Yes, grandma" he replies politely.

"Gordon, come down and we can discuss this civilly, Mr Morgan is making these changes to improve the education system here. Surely you want to get a proper education" she tells him.

"No he isn't. He is doing it because he was promised a pay rise if grades improved. I heard daddy talking to him on the phone the other day after he went to that big board meeting. They think that by taking away our freedom and letting teachers put us in all day Saturday detention for breathing without permission will improve our attitudes and study habits. But it won't grandma, it will just make us hate being here even more than normal." Gordon insists. His method is right. Standing up for his right to protest.

"Let me talk to your dad see if I can talk him into giving this some more thought" she tries to appease him.

"Promise?" He asks her. He's not doing this for himself. He's doing this for his fellow students.

"Promise" She tells him, placing her arm around his shoulder and pulling him in for a hug.

"How do I get down from here?" She asks him.

"Slide!" Gordon replies grinning, pointing to his designated exit.

"Okay fine, I will meet you at the bottom in 10 minutes when the bell rings." She tells him.

Grandma has not been on a slide in years, and is really glad she wore jeans and not a skirt!

"How did you get on?" Mr Morgan asks when she is back on the ground and they're safely tucked away in the office where they can't be overheard.

"I said I would speak to his father again. He has valid arguments and if I have to join him up there everyday until his demands are heard I will do!" She promises.

"I agree with him too, but this wasn't my decision" he replies.

They're interrupted by the bell ringing.

"I will see you tomorrow Mrs Tracy" He tells her, holding the door open for her to leave.

"Good night Mr Morgan" she replies.

*TB*

Jeff can't believe his master plan for the school is being blocked by his own son! And worse both John and his grandma are on his side! Virgil and Scott join in at dinner. Both agreeing with their brothers. These proposals aren't fair.

"But I can't do a u-turn because I am being pressured by my own children!" Jeff protests at dinner, which was delivered by their local pizza parlour.

"But why not? Why not just ask us what we want?" Gordon asks, subconsciously picking off the pepperoni from his pizza slice. He's genuinely curious.

Jeff eyes up Gordon, realising just how much his squid has grown up in the last 12 months. The hell he has been through has forced him to face his worst fears. There is an air of maturity about him now, especially in his eyes. Which at this moment are firmly fixed on his fathers.

"Okay," Jeff tells him, he will play along, "What is it you want, sensible suggestions only please!"

"Food in class, classes outside when it's warm enough, a better sports department, teachers who don't threaten you with detention if you breathe too loudly, 5 minutes longer recess in the morning and afternoon, a new jungle gym and less homework" Gordon replies.

"And you think that this will improve the schools grades?" Jeff asks.

"It will! Daddy, classes are too long, and they're so boring. Today we had maths and spent an hour doing long division, 25 minutes in and my head hurt from having to concentrate so much. So I got bored and flicked bits of paper into George's hair for the rest of the lesson. It's okay, I didn't get into trouble, no one noticed!" He tells him.

"Just because no one notices you misbehaving doesn't mean it is okay to misbehave!" Jeff tells him. He can't help but laugh. He also can't believe 5 minutes ago he thought Gordon was maturing!

"Look leave it with me, and I will have a chat with the board and see what we can come up with. I can't guarantee your alternative proposal will be agreed Squid, but I promise you everything you are saying will be considered."

"Dad? Why don't you let the kids decide?" Scott asks, interrupting. "Listen to them, honestly I thought your proposal stank! I would have done exactly the same as Gordo if it was suggested at my school!"

"Me too!" Virgil adds, "by the way I wrote down all of Gordon's suggestions for you, they're really not that bad!" Virgil hands the paper to his dad and gets on with eating his dessert.

Jeff knows he is beaten here, taking the paper from Virgil he changes the subject.

"So John, are you ready for graduation?"

"Yeah, I can't wait, next year is going to be amazing I can't wait until I'm in a school without Gordon!" He grins.

Gordon responds by poking his tongue out at him.

"A year earlier than scheduled too, I'm proud of you Johnny" Jeff tells him sincerely. "You have worked really hard, you have earned this"

"Thanks dad" he replies happily. John isn't used to such high praise, he knows his family love him, but sometimes it's just easier for him to keep his head down and quietly get on with life.

*TB*

Alan has been strangely quiet all evening, since they got back from the school. He didn't like his afternoon in kindergarten and doesn't want to go back in September. The kids were noisy, the teacher shouted a lot, and it was terrifying. And what if Gordon was right about the monster in the gym. He wasn't going to find out, Alan was not going back!

He is still quiet when Jeff is putting him to bed, a few hours later. He snuggles into his side while his dad reads him his current favourite book; where the wild things are.

"You okay Allie?" He asks.

Alan shakes his head, and bursts into tears.

"D-d-daddy it was awful!" He cries.

Jeff has no idea what he means. Embracing his youngest child, holds him in his arms and let's him calm down.

"What was awful?" He asks.

"Kindygarden" Alan replies trembling.

"What happened Allie?"

"It was noisy and the women was shouting at everyone, and daddy I am not going back!" Alan insists.

"Oh Allie, it's okay to be scared, everyone gets scared on their first day. But you'll love it once you get used to it, and you will make so many friends. Like your brothers have. And it will be different when you go in September because everyone there will be in the same boat as you, and they'll all be scared. But guess what?"

"What?" Alan asks.

"You'll be able to help them be brave as you have already been there!" Jeff tells him.

"Really?" Alan says. His tears have almost stopped now.

"Really! Now let's get you comfortable so you can get some sleep" Jeff gets up from the bed and tucks him in.

"Good night Allie" He tells him, flipping on his nightlight and leaving the door slightly open for him.

"Night daddy" he replies. Wrapping his arms around the alligator he got from the aquarium, who despite Gordon's teasing is still named Allie-Gator.

*TB*

"Mom what do I do?" Jeff asks her. "This was a well thought out plan. Approved by the board and ready for implementation at the start of the next school year. But how can I go ahead with it if the kids are all on strike?!"

"Jeff. Listen to them, because I agree with the boys. Your proposal stunk!" She replies grinning.