Thanks to "Aaweth", "Levioooosaaaa52" or "attitude_chick", "NotAContrivance", and "LilVickiRyan" or "Miss Psycho" for reviewing! I really appreciate how you guys are sharing your comments about the story in each chapter!
Chapter Thirty One: Everything Comes Out… Part 2
Location: At Principal Prickly's Office, just a few minutes afterward
Principal Prickly was busy and laughing on the phone, "Yeah sure! I can't wait for the next game! I'll see you on the golf course right now." He hung up the phone, got up from his chair and picked up his golf clubs. The door slammed wide open and T.J. was there at the doorframe.
Prickly sighed having to deal with T.J., "Detweiler, I don't have time for another prank!"
T.J. yelled at Principal Prickly, "I'm not here for another prank! How could you do this?!? To all of us, you said you wanted to help us kids out!"
Principal Prickly brushed off T.J. and continued to get prepared to leave, "I don't know what you are talking about Detweiler. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to catch a golf game!"
T.J.'s teeth clenched up, closed the door, and blocked the door, he angrily snapped back, "Talking about?!? Look at the playground behind you! How could you let people demolish the playground AGAIN!?! And build those oil wells?!? How could you let them do that to us and accept their money?!? Whatever happened to you standing up for recess and standing up for kids like you did this September against the school board?"
Prickly was shocked that T.J. knew about the entire deal with the businesses and school. Principal Prickly noticed the anger burning in T.J.'s eyes and knew that T.J. knew everything about the deal he made with the businesses. He could see that T.J. felt ultimately betrayed since he knew how passionate T.J. was for recess. Principal Prickly set aside his golf clubs leaning on the desk and looked outside through the windows and sighed. The playful, bright, innocence of the playground he once saw seeing T.J. and his friends run off to after defeating Dr. Benedict was a distant memory. It was now a dark, dreary, pessimistic slop pile of rusting oil wells and polluted, oil slick, muddy dirt. He faced T.J. and took a seat. Prickly had to face T.J. but most importantly....himself.
Prickly quietly said, as T.J. approached him with concern, "Detweiler, to be honest with you.....the reason I allowed those oil wells to be built...was to help all you kids out."
T.J. replied, in a state of shock and anger, "FOR US?!? I mean we can't even play outside anymore! JUST LOOK AT IT! You know that we value the playground more than anything else! How can you say that?!?"
Prickly confessed, "The reason I allowed them is because I used the money to help the school out. I mean haven't you noticed the repairs, the new lab, the improved music room, the gymnastics room, even the entertainment room? I thought you kids would love all of these things! It was also a chance to improve our equipment and supplies. New computers, books,....everything. I mean I thought that just maybe....just maybe... you kids would actually look forward to school each day....that if school could actually be tender.....(Sigh)...Who am I kidding...."
T.J. felt how sincere and meaningful Principal Prickly was. T.J. looked around his office and noticed that he did not even invest the money into improving his own office. T.J. felt horrible for getting all upset toward Principal Prickly. He slowly walked up to his desk almost like a dog who felt ashamed. T.J. looked downward and slowly up; he slowly began speaking, "Principal Prickly....I'm sorry.....I had no right to say those things. I mean especially how you helped and saved me back when Dr. Benedict was here, and when you saved me from almost falling off my roof this September....I was just so sure that....that....(sigh)....man, I can't even say it..." T.J. thought back to when he heard Big Rob talk about bribing Prickly and looked at Prickly; it just couldn't have been true that Prickly would accept a bribe after what Prickly had done for him.
T.J. knew he had to finish, "...Principal Prickly....I know how much you care for us but you did not have to do that for us. We don't need a school to have the coolest things to make it fun."
Principal Prickly looked toward T.J. and softly said, "Really...?"
T.J. tried to cheer up Principal Prickly, "Sir, its the people that make the school fun! It's having great friends, caring teachers, and awesome principals like here that make school memorable....I mean yeah, we have our days, but it's all fun though...."
Prickly was surprised that T.J. would call him 'awesome.' Prickly curiously asked, "You think I'm awesome?"
T.J. smiled and slightly teased him, "Yeah, of course.....except for those lecturing assemblies and that tie." Prickly was wearing one of those cheap 99 cent ties. Prickly looked at T.J. and just blushed with laughter knowing that actually his wife gave that to him.
Prickly smiled and calmly said, "Thanks…Teej. I'll take care of this whole mess..."
T.J. glanced at Principal Prickly and walked off saying, "I should have never doubted your stand for kids....sometimes I forget that you, yourself, were one before..."
Chapter Thirty Two: All Is Calm…For Now?
Location: It's the next day (Friday) at the beginning of school
Mikey and Gretchen tried to find Spinelli but they couldn't find her anywhere yesterday and T.J. wasn't able to reach her either. Last night all the students of Third Street couldn't sleep easily, wondering what to expect from Ashley X the next day. Every kid had witnessed that Ashley X had a side that was terrifying and beyond sinister.
The next day all of the students took one slow step at a time nervously anticipating something disastrous, something horrible for them knowing how powerful Ashley X was. Ms. Finsters class finally arrived in the classroom, everyone except for Ashley X. The gang looked toward the clock and thankfully SAL 4000 was still not working. (The school had to contact technical support for them to come over since the damage was beyond what Hank and the other janitors could repair.)
T.J. saw Spinelli walk in the classroom slowly and she tried not to look at T.J.'s eyes after what happened after school yesterday. She cursed herself in her mind for being so emotional yesterday and putting a big scene since that wasn't normally like her. She became slightly embarrassed everytime the other five would look at her wondering if she was alright. She looked at Vince, she noticed that at least the night's sleep had somewhat calmed him down but he was struggling to get better from his guilt. She knew that Vince was already going through enough and her frustration toward him from yesterday melted. T.J. wanted to speak to Spinelli about yesterday but Ms. Grotke interrupted them.
Ms. Grotke naively called out to the class, (since she and the faculty had not seen Ashley X leave with the men yesterday), "Have any of you heard or seen Ashley X this morning?"
The gang as with the rest of school had no idea where Ashley X was. The gang finally knew the plan of Ashley X after discovering the documents in Ashley X's locker and after T.J. told them Prickly's view on the issue. The gang, as with the rest of the kids, was not looking forward to Ashley X. After what Ashley X had did to them yesterday, all the kids were upset over Ashley X and they were hoping she was not going to show up. Yet in the back of their minds, they had a creeping sense of fear of what Ashley X would unleash.
Ashley A, peeved began, "I hope that bratty Ashley X isn't around!"
Ashley B continued addressing the rest of the Ashleys, "Yeah! After all the things she has done to us....I hope she doesn't come back!"
Ashley Q tried to reassure the Ashleys, "Don't worry, my daddy is helping me to file a case against the little witch!"
Spinelli commented to the rest of the gang and whispered, "I actually can agree with the Ashleys...If she comes here, she gonna have to deal with Madam Fist!"
The hours passed and soon it was time for recess yet still Ashley X did not show up. The kids were emotionally restless because of the waiting. A combination of anger, fear, frustration, and dread boiled and churned inside of them. The class left except for the gang.
T.J. said to his group, "Today guys, we're gonna talk with Menlo. Maybe he knows what Ashley X is up to."
Vince aimlessly and weakly replied, "Yeah….we have to know what she's gonna do."
The gang carefully arrived at Menlo's desk knowing how irritated he easily gets. Menlo was busy typing away on his computer and glanced up to see T.J. and his friends. Menlo questioned and annoyed by the gang's presence, "What are you distractions doing here? Why do you people think that I'm not busy..."
Menlo's attitude ticked Spinelli off and she hit his desk with her fist and loudly said, "Look Menlo, we just have one dumb question for you to answer! Why is Ashley X absent?"
Menlo terrified of Spinelli but yet relieved that it was a simple question said, "That's it?!? Okay....let me....look it up....." Menlo hurriedly typed away on the keyboard searching through the computer system and files on Ashley X's attendance. He became suddenly quiet after a few mouse clicks and just said, "Wow!"
Gretchen asked, "What is it?"
Menlo replied, "Well actually you guys won't believe it but....it says on the computer records, that Ashley X has withdrawn from Third Street."
The gang gasped and could not understand it. Mikey began, "You mean Ashley X has moved to some other school?"
Menlo simply said, "It's confirmed so." The gang let out a nervous sigh of relief. Could it really have been possible for Ashley X to disappear from Third Street just like that? Spinelli hushed the gang.
Spinelli said, "Hey guys! Wait it isn't over yet!" The gang looked at each other and puzzled by what Spinelli was implying. She asked Menlo, "What about Tyler X? Is he still going here?" Suddenly the gang remembered the tall, tough guy who struck fear into each kid after what happened yesterday. The gang's emotions were on edge...listening and focusing on Menlo's every word.
Menlo plainly responded, "Tyler X has withdrawn from Third Street also." The gang immediately let out a huge sigh of relief and looked at each other thinking that maybe Ashley X and Tyler X both were gone for good since she was not expected to be at Third Street and therefore couldn't rule the playground anymore.
T.J. smiled in satisfaction, "Whompin Bobbula….Ashley X is gone! And if she dares to come back, the school will be ready for both of them!"
Vince elbowed T.J. and asked, "What about those oil wells and the SAL 4000?"
T.J. causally and confidently replied, "Don't worry Vince! I know Principal Prickly and I know he'll take care of it."
They were slowly filled with relief trying to actually believe that Ashley X was gone and that she actually left Third Street just like that! They slowly walked down the hallway and opened the playground doors. They could see the formidable, towering oil wells that were seven or eight stories high but despite that….inside they felt hope and that it was possible for things to get back the way they were. The gang could close their eyes and envision the playground again; that it was a dream that could come true.
T.J. smiled reflecting over it but he noticed Spinelli on his right side and knew that he had to speak with her about yesterday. T.J. faced the others and said, "Guys…tell the kids back in the cafeteria, the entertainment room, and everywhere else about the good news! That Ashley X is gone!" The four entered back into the school and into the hallways.
Gretchen, Mikey, and Gus were ecstatic to tell the kids in school, but they noticed Vince still plagued by his guilt. Gretchen told Mikey and Gus, "Guys, why don't you get a head start….I'll talk with Vince a bit."
Vince's eyes looked weak and exhausted by his emotional turmoil. Gretchen walked with Vince slowly and softly said, "Vince, you can't beat yourself up like this! It's not your fault…."
Vince looked at Gretchen with his bedridden sick looking eyes and ashamed broke up saying, "Gretch, I fought with T.J. and I did not trust him. T.J. can forgive me easily but I can't do that for myself. … I committed something that's inexcusable….I mean being friends with him for over 5 years and now this?"
Gretchen put her arm over Vince and tried to comfort him, "Vince….there are going to be times where our friendships will be tested. You remember how we all disliked each other after T.J. couldn't choose a favorite friend? Or how one of us gets off track, for example, how I was foolish in not really observing how the kids were suffering during the building of King Bob's pyramid? The thing is that as long as we are committed to our friendship to one other and value it….things will be okay. It's just that you did not know the whole story and we never have dealt with a kid as mean as Ashley X. It will be okay Vince, trust me, the way how you are feeling shows that you do really care about the friendship."
Vince and Gretchen gradually arrived to each of the rooms where the kids were and told them about Ashley X. Vince was feeling better from Gretchen's words and from seeing the hope and excitement of the kids relieved that Ashley X was not at Third Street. Vince was finally getting a sense of optimism that things were not as damaged as he thought. Vince felt that this optimism was the distant, solitary lighthouse that could barely be seen but yet it existed in a thick, dark, foggy, midnight darkness of guilt and pessimism.
------------------------------
After the four went back into the school, T.J. took Spinelli's hand and he wanted to speak with her deeply about how she felt. Spinelli was taken back by T.J.'s warm grip and looked at him strangely.
Spinelli questioned, "Uh, Teej are you okay?"
T.J. turned the question back onto her and asked, "What about you? After what happened yesterday…"
Spinelli rolled her eyes and knew that T.J. had cornered her. She blushed and nervously said, "Yeah, about that…I'm sorry for not doing more…"
T.J. stopped her and they both sat down on the concrete steps. She knew T.J. was going to say something important and did not continue speaking. The wind was gently blowing and the leaves were racing along the blacktop. He gently spoke, "Spinelli, when you told me that I deserved a better friend than you…there couldn't be another who's better. You've done a lot for me Spinelli…a lot… I mean just yesterday you were getting ready to fight for my side….I know that you had done everything you could do for me when Ashley X and Tyler X was here. Please don't worry about it….what's happened has happened…" He smiled to reassure her that he was not disappointed or upset with her in any way.
Spinelli felt awkward because usually that's how she felt toward him; how he was always there for her. She took a few moments and looked around the deserted blacktop and remembered all the events that happened there yesterday. She smiled back at T.J. and said, "Thanks Teej….you're always there for me too…."
T.J. wanted to tell Spinelli how much he liked her more than just a friend, but he felt it wasn't the right time since Spinelli need to feel better first Interestingly, Spinelli wanted to tell T.J. how she felt toward him since his caring, concern behavior reminded her of one of the many reasons why she had a crush on him in the first place. There was a moment…a pause….between both of them, but they did not feel it was right time to tell each other about how they felt since they were still recovering from the whole Ashley X ordeal.
----------------------------------------------------
Back at the secretary's office, Menlo was quickly trying to get his work done and Ms. Lemmon was out in the hallways giving detention slips to several kids at school. Suddenly and mysteriously, Butch walked in.
Menlo did not even glance up from his computer to see who was there at the doorway but he sighed harshly saying, "What is it Butch? Come to tell another of your ridiculous superstitious tales of the playground?"
Butch slyly grinned and knew how to scare Menlo easily. He quietly said, "Not really…I just wanted to state some…uh, conclusions for you."
Menlo finally moved his head to see Butch and in an annoyed, nasal voice he called out, "What?!? Conclusions?!? That your tall tales are nothing but the superfluous gossip of the playground that wastes time and efficiency?!?"
Butch rolled his eyes on how irritating Menlo was and he began in his creepy, cryptic voice, "Well, so Ashley X is gone then right?"
Menlo snapped back, "Of course she is gone! This computer system doesn't lie like you do!"
Butch cockily spoke, "True…she may be gone from this school….but I don't think it's the end of her. You know how those Ashleys are…they don't back down so easily…."
Menlo dreamily sighed, "Ah yes…my dear Ashley A….how her persistent nature inspires me to drive toward perfection. Ahh…"
Butch looked on either side and teased, "Riiiiggggghhhhhhttt, whatever Menlo." He then mysteriously and quietly announced, "All I wanted to say is that it may be over for us, but seeing what happened on the playground yesterday……it won't be over for T.J.'s gang."
Menlo froze up wondering what Butch was talking about or what he was implying, but before he could say anything Butch was already out of the door and the phone rang, preoccupying Menlo from catching him.
--------------------------
The four (Gretchen, Gus, Mikey, and Vince) spread the word to everyone at recess about Ashley X's withdrawal and soon all the kids were cheering and celebrating. It was a celebration that overflowed throughout all of the activity rooms and the cafeteria. The kids even planned to have a jubilant ceremony for King Freddie's return to the throne the next day. T.J. and his friends felt that this entire mess was finally over....after all the danger and drama....finally it seemed that this whole ordeal was all over and things were finally gonna be back to normal at Third Street. The gang was finally….finally starting to feel happy.
Chapter Thirty Three: One Last Card To Play
Location: Spinelli's Bedroom around evening time
The gang continued to celebrate and play all throughout the day. Even Ms. Finster allowed the kids, this day only, to bend the rules a little bit because she delighted knowing that finally she would be back in power. As the day approached to night, the hours passed.....and at around 6:45 PM just before Spinelli was about to watch television she received a phone call in her bedroom.
Spinelli picked up the phone and answered it, "Hello?"
In a monotone computer voice it mysteriously said, "Hello Ashley Spinelli!"
Spinelli was peeved a bit hearing her first name, but she had no idea who was calling, she harshly asked "What or who are you?!?"
The voice continued, "You think it's over....but it's not! Meet me by the playground at 11 PM tonight!"
Spinelli thought it was a prank phone call. She loudly replied, "Look Teej or Lawson or whoever you are! I ain't gonna be fallin' for anything." Spinelli was about to hang up the phone when she caught the voice again.
The voice said, "Uh Uh Uh! If you don't show up tonight, you can expect to wake up in the hospital...that's if your lucky... heh heh heh...remember the bracelet?"
Spinelli's mind was flashed with memories over the bracelet and she looked at her wrist. She knew who it could be on the other end of the phone line. She completely forgot that she was still wearing the bracelet Ashley X had given to her. Spinelli tried to take it off as hard as she could yet she received a stronger shock for each stronger pull. Spinelli knew it was pointless and more painful to take it off.
Spinelli spoke back, "Fine! I'll meet you there.....Ashley X!"
The voice changed into Ashley X's and continued, "Oh I have the Tylers, you know the Ashleys' younger brothers, here with me as well." Ashley X had kidnapped the Tylers just after school today and despite the efforts from the Ashleys' families, they had no luck in finding them. Spinelli could hear the grunting and struggling sounds of the Tylers trying to get away. She heard in the background Tyler B shouting, "Unhand me you pathetic labor class servant!" Ashley X turned away from the phone and yelled, "Shut those brats up!"
There was silence in the background…complete silence. Ashley X continued, "So somehow if you don't show up you can bet that I can make you responsible for whatever harm comes to them because everyone knows you don't get along with the Ashleys well and you know also that I am….an Ashley of many talents…" Ashley X snickered and went on, "If you tell or bring anyone with you. Don't expect such a great recovery for yourself, T.J., or your other friends!" Then finally there was a click and buzz. Ashley X hung up the phone.
Spinelli looked at the bracelet and then looked behind her at a picture of her friends. She did not want to involve her friends in this for fearing over anything bad happening to them and therefore she did not even inform them of the phone call. Spinelli couldn't believe how ironic things had turned out; that just yesterday she really wanted to destroy the Ashleys' businesses and now she would be saving their younger brothers. Spinelli would finally get her chance to go against Ashley X. She yearned and was impatient to get back at Ashley X that it could somehow compensate for her being so passive and inactive toward her back then. Spinelli knew tonight she had to completely end this mess...once and for all... and that the only way to do so....was to face Ashley X.
***************************************************************************
To Be Continued…
Stay Tuned! Because the next posted chapter…will be the last…