A/N: This episode is hilarious! Had a lot of fun writing it!
I want to give a shout out to those who have liked my story and added it to their reading lists! I'm glad you like my story!
~B.C.
"Morning oxygen hogs. Time for another surprise locker inspection. Why, you ask? The superintendent says if I'm going to accuse you criminals of doing stuff, I need evidence." Principal Perry surveyed the crowd of students for her first victim. She pointed to a girl with red hair. "Lindsey! You're up." Lindsey shook her head but was pushed aside and Perry began rifling through the contents of the locker. "Stuffed animal? What is this, your prom date? Makeup, you already lost that battle sweetheart."
"You know what, I am so tired of Principal Perry and her power trips. How does she keep getting away with this stuff?" Bree asked.
"Just accept it. It's a lot easier once you let go of the hope. " Leo told her but I shook my head.
"But what she does isn't right." I argued as Principal Perry pulled out another item from poor Lindsey's locker.
"Ohh, pretzels! Jackpot!" I scoffed, which caught Perry's attention. "You're next. " I was quick to go guard my locker as she made her way over.
"I don't think so." I said with defiance. I blocked her attempts to get around me until she faked right and I fell for it. Perry laughed triumphantly while I glared at her.
"Principal Perry, this is not fair. You walk around like a dictator and treat the student body like prisoners." I told her. I know because I've been in prison, sort of...
"Aw you noticed. So good to be appreciated."
"This is no way to run a school." Bree said, backing me up. "And I think I speak for everyone when I say we're not going to take it anymore." I nodded showing I agreed with her.
"And by we, she means them. You and me, rock solid." Bree and I rolled our eyes at Leo. He needed to grow a backbone.
"Are you challenging my authority?" Perry asked Bree.
"She's sweating through her pantsuit, retreat retreat." Leo whispered behind us.
"Listen lipstick, I didn't command a ship in the merchant marines to take guts from you."
"I just think school would be a little more enjoyable if we were treated like adults." Bree said.
"And had more freedom." I added.
"Right, and then we could all ride unicorns to school and eat food that passes a health inspection."
"But it didn't have to be like this." Bree argued but Principal Perry wasn't convinced.
"Oh yes it does. I learned one thing from my mother to rule with an iron fist. And that salad takes up space where meat should be."
"Sounds like a lovely woman." Leo said.
"She isn't!" Perry said harshly and her attention was back on us, "You kids think my job is so easy don't yah." She said with a scoff.
"Well how hard can it be, you do it?" Bree asked, and some students ohhhhd. Including myself.
"You think you can do better? Alright, have at it. School is yours. You go ahead and be Principal for a day."
"What?" Bree asked, wondering if she's serious. Her, Principal for a day? I was as shocked as she was.
"Yeah, go ahead and be the nice principal. These maggots will eat you alive in two hours. You could have used your last breath to scream for help, but you should have used it to say I'm sorry." Bree didn't let Perry's words scare her and held out her hand.
"Alright, you're on, but if I'm going to be Principal for a day I'm going to need the keys to your office." Surprisingly, Perry was more than willing to hand her the keys. To no one's surprise, it had a cat keychain.
"Alright. But remember, no matter how loud the banging in the file cabinet gets, don't open it."
"What just happened?" Leo asked us as Perry walked away.
"Bree just became Principal. Awesome of you to stand up to her like that." I praised Bree and she smiled.
"Would you like to be Vice Principal?" She offered and I opened my mouth to say sure, but Leo interrupted.
"Hey I want to be Vice Principal!" He whined, even though two minutes ago he was leaving Bree and I to stand up for ourselves. But I guess I can cut him some slack.
"How about we both be Vice Principal. That way there's less work for me." I offered and he didn't have to think twice about it.
"Deal. Pleasure to work with you, Vice Principal Harper."
"Likewise, Vice Principal Leo."
Second period had just ended and we walked out of Perry's - I mean our office. Students were hanging out, doing anything they wanted. And they all looked cheerful.
"Wow, it's only been a few hours but look how much happier everyone is under Principal Bree." Leo said, amazed like I was.
"Well, that is just how I roll Vice Principal Leo. Isn't it amazing how much happier and more productive everyone is when they're given a little freedom."
"Let freedom reign!" Leo yelled dramatically. Bree and I looked at him weirdly and he shrugged before handing Bree a clipboard. "Oh, I have some paperwork for you to sign."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Oh just an approval form. Forcing all girls to be my friends."
"And for me to be allowed to skip my classes whenever I want." I added. Bree shook her head but signed the paper.
"What is going on here?" We all turned to see Perry start barking orders. "Stop talking on the phone! Spit out that gum!"
"Don't you listen to her! Put that gum back in your mouth!" The girl took the gum from Perry's hand and did so, making me gag. Bree walked over to Perry with a determined expression. "This is my school now. See how smoothly everything is running and how happy everyone is." Perry looked appalled by the cheerful atmosphere. To be expected. She was being proven wrong and it felt good to knock her down a peg.
"I know, it's disgusting! All these smiling faces. I haven't seen this many teeth since I kept dental records at the morgue." Bree ignored the comment and crossed her arms.
"Sorry Principal Perry, but I guess it is easy doing your job."
"Yeah." I said from where Leo and I were now sitting on the bench.
"Watch it McCallister!" Perry shot back. Laughing, I stood up.
"Ah ah ah, correction. It's Vice Principal McCallister. " I told her as I walked closer, "And if I'm not mistaken, you're not allowed to be here unless you're a student or faculty so I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave...Terry." Oh man, the look on her face when I called her by her first name. I smirked as Perry growled and I shared my smug look with Bree.
"This isn't over!" She exclaimed and she marched away but had to stop when her phone rang. "Ugh! What mom I'm at work!" Not a second later Perry looked down in shame and spoke more softly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice. Yes, I've been a bad girl." The three of us giggled as she glanced at us briefly, looking embarrassed.
The bell rang and we all high fived before Leo and Bree went off to make sure everyone was in class. I was going to go into the office and 'work' which for me meant just sit in Perry's chair and relax. Bree let me do this as long as I answered any calls and made sure no one tried to ditch school though I doubt anyone will as long as we are in charge.
I saw Chase and Adam walk through the front doors.
"Hey, where have you been?" I asked the pair, "You've missed your first two classes."
"Long story." Chase said, looking a little annoyed. "Why aren't you in class?" He asked. I chuckled.
"Oh, Perry made Bree Principal for the day. I'm her Vice Principal." I stated proudly.
"Seriously? Why would-"
"Hey Chase." Adam interrupted and we both looked at him. I became curious upon seeing that his clothes were extremely baggy. "I think when you zapped me you took off a little weight."
Huh? Before I could ask anything Chase answered him while heading over to the fountain to get a drink.
"Adam that's impossible, it doesn't work like that. The recalibration adjusts the ratio of your body mass to your body frame and- who am I kidding you stopped listening five seconds ago right?" He paused on getting a drink of water when no one answered. "Adam?" He and I looked around and were confused when we didn't see him. I was too preoccupied listening to what Chase was saying I hadn't noticed Adam disappeared. " Adam?" He said again.
"I'm down here!" A squeaky voice said and looking down our jaws dropped when there was a pile of clothing on the floor. Squinting, I saw something was standing in one of the shoes. Or someone. "Told you I was losing weight." Chase and I got down on the floor on our stomachs and gawked at a shrunken Adam. I couldn't understand what was happening. At least we were able to hear him with our bionic hearing otherwise we might have not noticed where he was.
"What the..."
" Chase what's going on? " Adam asked, obviously as freaked out as we were. Chase stuttered and was having a hard time processing this like I was.
"I-I guess I was in such a rush to recalibrate your chip I accidently forgot to enter the size parameters." He explained and I had a billion questions going through my mind. But now wasn't the time to ask them. "Which caused a glitch." He finished.
"I'm two inches tall and naked! Do something!" I was to in shock to realize that Adam was lacking in clothing and quickly got to my feet so I could look anywhere but him.
"I'll go look in the lost and found, there has to be something. You put him somewhere where no one can see him." I said to Chase. He seemed to be on the same mind track as I was and nodded without questioning my order.
To everyone's surprise, I did find something for Adam to wear.
"Really guys? A purple ninja outfit? You know purple isn't my color." He told us from inside Chase's locker where he was standing on a stack of books.
"There were only two action figures in the lost and found. This and power girls." I explained.
"And you do not have the legs to work that skirt." Chase finished and I heard a ring coming from the office.
"Ok, I have to go answer that. Chase, fix this before something goes horribly wrong." I said before rushing to the office.
I didn't see Chase or Adam when I walked back into the common area about an hour later. They must have gone back to the lab to fix the glitch.
Leo and Bree came over, looking confused.
"Hey, where is everyone? Why is no one in class?" Bree asked us. Leo and I shrugged.
"I don't know. I was napping-I mean working in the office." I smiled sheepishly when Bree gave me an annoyed look. But then our ears picked up the sound of music coming from the Cafeteria. Glancing at each other, we all hurried over to the closed doors and flung them open.
I had one word to describe what was happening. Chaos.
"Principal Perry?" Bree asked, seeing the woman playing cards with two students at a table.
"Who wants to know?" Perry stood up and when she turned to us we got a full view of her new outfit. Jean jacket, plaid shirt, a green hat worn sideways with the initials T and P on it. "The name is Terry. On the street they call me T.P because I clean up." I don't know what street she is referring to, but in my neck of the woods she'd be eaten alive with that name.
"What are you doing?" Bree asked angrily.
"Nevermind that, what are you wearing?"
"Well the more I thought about it, I figured if you got to be principal for a day it's only fair if I get to be a student for a day. Since you're such a big fan of freedom, I thought I'd show you what it really looks like. Bertha. Ruthie. Saddle up!" At opposite ends of the cafeteria, two lunch ladies were sitting in rolling chairs and each handed a baguette.
Bree, Leo, and I watched with open mouths as the chairs were pushed and the lunch ladies rolled towards each other. It was their version of a jousting match. After hitting each other with the baguettes, Bertha couldn't stop herself and ran into a trash can. Perry laughed.
"She just got loafed! If she gets hurt while you're Principal, you're responsible. Do you know what they do to Principals in prison?" She pointed at me, "Way worse than what you went through in Juvenile Detention." Anger bubbled up inside of me and I pointed my own finger at her.
"You can't threaten us! Vice Principal Leo?" Leo held his head high.
"My pleasure." He got closer to Perry, "You just got detention," he said calmly before becoming bold, "Squat mug!"
Perry narrowed her eyes.
"Do you really want to go there knowing I'm back to running this place tomorrow?" Leo's eyes widened and he shoved the clipboard in my hands.
"And I quit. You're on your own Bree." He scurried off and left Bree and I alone with Perry, who had her eyes on me now. I glanced nervously at Bree and had to make a choice. I didn't think about the fact that me being Vice Principal was temporary and anything I did would affect me tomorrow. I'm already on thin ice with Perry.
"Yeah, I quit too." I said and I ran after Leo.
I was wandering around the school to avoid Bree and happened to run into Leo and Chase.
"I don't know where he is. He could be anywhere."
"Who can be anywhere?" I asked and with one glance at his guilty expression I knew instantly what was wrong. "You- you didn't unshrink Adam?" I asked through gritted teeth and he laughed nervously and nodded. "Why?!"
"I wanted to get back at him for all the times he's made fun of me for being short!"
"Seriously? I thought you were more mature than that!"
"Of course I'm not!"
"Guys, I think I just saw a little purple ninja fall into that backpack." Leo said, "And there's a sentence I never thought I'd say."
We all ran over to the bench but the girl who owned the backpack left and was going to the cafeteria. Following her, Chase grabbed the bag and started taking stuff out of it. The girl looked at us like we were nuts.
"Random bag search." Leo told her. "There's been a series of crouton thefts at the salad bar. We're not saying it's you, but we're all thinking it."
"Got him!" Chase exclaimed and I followed him as we walked away from the girl who looked annoyed but we could care less.
Chase wasn't looking where he was going and accidentally ran into Perry.
"Dude, you almost spilled my third lunch." She said and Chase quickly apologized before taking a few steps away from her and opening his hands. But there wasn't a tiny purple ninja like we expected.
"Yeah, you got him." I said sarcastically. Then Leo got our attention and pointed the plate in front of Perry. Oh no. He's about to be eaten!
Chase ran over and ripped the burger out of Perry's hands before she could take a bite.
"Braver men have tried to take food from me. They ain't men now. "
"I won't let you eat my brother!" Chase told her and she scoffed.
"You vegetarians make me sick. It's a turkey not your brother. Now give me that bird, hippie!" Perry and Chase were now wrestling for the burger and I was about to go in and save Chase before Perry ripped his arm off.
"Drop the burger Terry!" Turning, I saw Bree.
"How about I drop you girly?" Perry retorted and Bree chuckled.
"I had a feeling you might say that. Which is why I brought in the big guns." Before I could wonder what she meant by that, a short, older woman threw the doors open.
"Theresa!" She shouted.
"Mother? What are you doing here?" My jaw dropped when I realized this was Perry's mom. I stepped out of the line of fire along with Chase because who knows what's going to happen next.
"This lovely young lady called and said you were causing trouble. What have I told you about wrestling for food?"
"That if you're going to do it you better win?" Wrong answer Terry. Her mom stalked over.
"Don't you sass your mamma." She said and the burger was taken from Perry and set on the table. Chase went to grab it but his hand was smacked away. "Hands off troll." Perry's mom looked to Bree. "I apologize for her causing so much trouble."
"She's not really the principal." Perry said.
"And you're not a child so stop acting like one." Her mom fired back and Perry groaned and stomped her foot... like a child. Her mom crossed her arms." Theresa, what do you say to Principal Harper?" She asked sternly. Perry through a small tantrum before muttering a sorry. "Big girl voice!"
"Sorry!" Perry said much louder. Nodding, her mom turned to Bree.
"I'm going to take her home and give her a good talking to."
"I think that's a great idea." Bree agreed and Perry was dragged out of the cafeteria by her ear, protesting all the way. Leo and Chase yelled when the burger was thrown into the trash can.
We all rushed over just as a container of spaghetti was dumped in.
"Thanks a lot, Ruthie." Chase told her sarcastically, and she just shrugged not realizing what she'd done. Rithie did however look at us weirdly when the boys started carrying the trash can to the door.
"I lost my retainer." All three of us said. Chase and Leo laughed nervously while I pushed them to walk faster out of the cafeteria.
"Can you super speed us to the lab?" Chase asked once we were outside the school.
"I can't believe I'm helping you dig through trash to find your brother. This has to be by far the most weird thing you've ever done." I said as I took a handful of spaghetti and dropped it on the floor, instead of the cyberdesk like Chase was doing. Who uses million dollar technology as a place to dump food in?
"Found him!" Leo exclaimed, "No wait, that's a celery stick. Found him! No, that's a chicken bone."
"Found him!" Chase picked up what I'm hoping is really Adam and hurried over to the capsule. "He was curled up inside a burrito."
I accepted a paper towel from Leo and we watched as Chase typed some stuff into the computer and to everyone's relief, Adam was normal sized again.
"Chase, I just had the most awesome dream. I was a tiny ninja in a land of butt giants!"
"And this is where I leave. I'm going to go wash my hands a dozen times."
I left the brothers in the lab to work things out. I had problems of my own to deal with. Bree was probably furious with me for quitting on her. I'll let her cool off before talking to her.