Chapter 8: The Dream, Part 2

Once again, the scene melted away. When it came back, Danny was sitting in Lunchroom Courtroom, which was like a courtroom, except it was in the cafeteria and it had teachers instead of a judge and students instead of a jury, accused, and accuser (I don't know the official names).

"Order, order," the gym teacher said, pounding the empty Cola can on the oversized bottle cap. "We have come here today to discuss the case of the dust bomb that killed our fellow student, Wilson Dixon, because of a severe asthma attack he had. We are also here to punish whoever I think released it."

A couple kids shifted uneasily in their seats. The gym teacher droned on. "I accuse...Arnold Argon (the main bully in the school), Dick Spoo (the quiet kid) and, accused as a group...."

"Danny Fenton and Tucker Foley."

Everyone around gasped. Sam began sweating. Danny stood up. "But we didn't do it!" he said.

"That's what they all say," the gym teacher said menacingly. "Usually, this would be settled in lunchroom courtroom. But Wilson's parents want more. They want real court. So, two days from now, we're all going to the local courthouse to settle this matter."

"What happens to the dude who ends up guilty?" Tuck said.

The gym teacher stared. "Well... he gets the small penalty of a month in jail plus five years in Juvenile Hall. Any questions?"

"Yeah," Danny said. "Who's stupid idea was it to make such a ridiculous sentence?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Dixon. They thought children like that should be locked away, and... they're the parents of the dead, they should be respected."

The gym teacher smiled. "Now, all of the accused must find a lawyer to defend them. It can be anyone. And Danny and Tucker can't choose each other."

As the school filtered from the lunchroom, Danny and Tuck held back.

"What are we gonna do?" Tuck's past counterpart said hurriedly. "I know that almost anyone in the school would sacrifice a finger to defend us, but how do we know if their evidence is good?" Danny thought for a minute, and then smiled. And then, he said the second bravest thing he had ever said in his 6th grade career:

"Well, if the people that want to probably don't have good evidence, then...how about we get somebody who doesn't want to."

"You mean..."

"Yeparronie." The scene melted away...

"Whaddya mean you want me to be your lawyer?"

The scene had come back. Danny and Tuck had just asked the most unlikely person in the whole of Marmel: Sam.

"Listen," Danny said. "Remember back at Jen's party when you-"

"I thought we agreed that that day never happened!" Sam shouted angrily.

"I know that, but remember that thing you had to prove? You did it with excruciating detail! So can you? Pleeeeease?" Tuck said.

Sam thought for a minute, then smiled. "I hate to say I told ya so, but I TOLD YA SO!"

"What?"

"I told you that you would be begging me for help someday!" she laughed bitterly.

"That's not the point," Tucker said. "So...will you do it?"

Sam thought again, and then smiled. "Okay." The scene melted away again...

Danny woke up. That was some dream, he thought. He checked the clock. 6:00. Thankfully, it was Saturday.

He sat in bed and thought over the dream he had just had. It had described every detail of the incident, except for the courtroom, which had been long and boring. But from what Danny remembered, Sam had become friends with him and Tuck that day.

Then he realized- Sam was his friend, and she was going through a hard time. He had to find out what was going on, and see if he could make it better.

He snuck downstairs, picked up the phone, and called Tucker.

"Hello?"

"Danny, what?" Tuck said sleepily.

"Listen: Sleepover. Tonight at 7. Don't invite Sam."