Recess – The New Girl

Chapter 2 – Ashley C

They spent most of Recess discussing the plan, TJ made a few modifications but they all agreed on it. Becky would join the Ashley's as Rebecca and gain their trust whilst setting up the clubhouse to collapse. Next Monday, the gang would get everyone to gather around the clubhouse whilst Becky snuck in and out the clubhouse and joined the crowd just before it collapsed. Under a promise from Mickey that she would make sure the clubhouse was empty before it collapsed the plan was agreed upon. Ok, they had a game of kick the snitch in the can first and then agreed on the plan.

That night Rebecca invited the Ashley's around to her house to see her collection of clothes and fashion magazines. They stayed for four hours and nearly drove Becky insane with their constant chatter and "Scandalous" every other sentence. Somehow she remained sane and after the Ashley's left, she rang up the only sane Ashley at 3rd Street.

"Hello," Spinelli's mum's voice grated on Becky's ears.

"Hi," said Becky, "Is Ashley there?"

"Who is it?" said Spinelli's mum.

"Becky," said Becky.

"Ashley smoochums," said Spinelli's mum, "Someone called Becky on the phone."

"Yeah, yeah," said Spinelli coming to answer the phone, "Hey Becky, or is that Ashley C by now?"

"Tomorrow," said Becky, "This week is going to drive me nuts, they say I've got the new kid tests to go through."

"Oh boy," said Spinelli, "If they're pushing for the tests your in trouble."

"Why?" said Becky, "It can't be all bad."

"No kid in history has passed the new kid tests," said Spinelli, "Either it's a competition against the best of the best, or it's something so challenging that no sane kid would even try it."

"Good job that one of the qualities the Ashley's look for is insanity then," said Becky.

Spinelli burst out laughing on the other end of the phone.

"Still," she said when she recovered, "No kid has ever passed a new kid test, and you've got to be the best to pass them."

"Then I guess I'd best be the best I can be tomorrow then," said Becky, "They say that if I don't pass, I can't be an Ashley until another new kid turns up."

"Or until you contest that you shouldn't be the new kid," said Spinelli, "That's how Gus got rid of the title."

"I'd best get what I'm wearing tomorrow sorted," said Becky, "I think I may want to wear something other than a skirt tomorrow."

"I think so too," said Spinelli, "I still have Miss Grotkey's homework to do anyway."

"I'd best get that done too," said Becky.

"Don't worry too much," said Spinelli, "She'll go easy on you until you get settled in."

"Yeah well," said Becky, "See you tomorrow, hopefully I'll remain sane for the next week."

"See you tomorrow," said Spinelli.

Next Day: Recess

"And do you promise to follow the law of the playground and uphold me as its rightful leader?" said King Bob.

"I do," said Rebecca. It was Rebecca, no one could even dream of calling someone dressed like that Becky. The plain clothes she'd worn most of yesterday were now replaced with top quality designer clothes.

"Then place your hand into the test picker and choose your test," said King Bob, the Ashley's were huddled close by looking at Rebecca as she placed her hand into a helmet filled with pieces of paper. She pulled one out and handed it to King Bob.

"The test of balance!" proclaimed King Bob.

"Oh no," said Ashley Q, "That's like, the hardest test."

"What do I do?" said Rebecca.

King Bob walked Rebecca over to one of the bars coming off the Jungle Gym.

"Simple," said King Bob, "Walk across this bar."

"And the rest," said Rebecca.

"When you are halfway across," said King Bob, "My men will start throwing dodgeballs at you."

"Sounds easy enough," said Rebecca.

"In your own time," said King Bob.

Rebecca placed a foot on the bar and allowed the Becky part to take control.

"Stupid shoes," she thought, "They're no good for something like this." She took a second nervous step onto the bar before finding her centre of balance, "Best let them think I'm having trouble," she thought faking a stumble.

TJ and the gang waited with baited breaths, the entire plan hinged on this test, she failed, and it was all over.

"I can't watch," said Mikey and Gus covering their eyes as she stumbled again.

"I have to admit," said Gretchen, "The Ashley's were right for once, this is one of the hardest tests."

Rebecca took another step forwards and stood still to take a breather before the halfway mark. Suddenly she broke into a quick walk maintaining her balance perfectly. A dodgeball shot straight at her but she deftly jumped back a little to allow the dodgeball to shoot past in front of her, the jump also put her back behind the halfway mark rendering her safe for the moment.

"It's going to take more than speed," she thought, "Lets see them hit this then." She shifted her balance a little and prepared to go. It was a bit narrower than she'd like but it had to do.

"She's cartwheeling now," said Spinelli commentating for the benefit of Gus and Mikey, "The throwers are confused but she can't stay balanced forever can she."

"She doesn't have to," said Gretchen, "By the time she loses her balance she'll have rolled off the end of the bar."

Gretchen was right, by the time she'd have lost her balance she had rolled of into the arms of the waiting kids.

"I believe that's a pass," she said after she'd recovered, she was still a bit dizzy, but at least she thought straight.

King Bob was talking with one of his advisors on top of the jungle gym, he looked a little frustrated but turned back to the crowd around Rebecca.

"Since it was never specified how she should go over the bar, and since she did get all the way across," said King Bob, "I proclaim this to be a glorious pass."

"Well," said Ashley A stealing King Bob's spotlight, "With that we Ashley's have some news too."

"Yeah," said Ashley B, "As you know, we Ashley's are always on the lookout for the most fashionable kids in 3rd Street."

"And until recently," said Ashley Q, "We thought we'd never find someone more fashionable than us."

"But we are now proud to proclaim that we have a new member for the Ashley's," said Ashley T, "Rebecca come up here please."

Rebecca made her way up to the top of the jungle gym for the second time that day.

"Yes everybody," said Ashley A, "Before you is the newest member of the Ashley's, formally known as Rebecca Carlson, she will now forever be know as Ashley C!"

You could have heard a pin drop in the playground there was that much cheering at this piece of news.