High School Odyssey
I've just updated Chapter 30 of Allies and Rivals III
Chapter III
The Meetings
A. An Assembly of Loyal Notables
The City of Townsville, on the basement of the Rowdyruff's home…
"Great shot, York!" Brick complemented as his friend and follower was able to put four billiard balls into holes in one shot. "But not good enough!"
York smiled as he made another shot, but this time, the ball missed the hole by a fraction of an inch.
"Too bad," laughed DeLancey as he took his shot but he missed his chance when the ball missed the hole.
"So, Brick, what is it again that you want to tell us?" asked Jenkins as he watched the two play.
"Yeah," Boomer added. "I bet it's about Anthony and Blossom. Ready to admit I'm right, huh?"
"I say we destroy Anthony!" said Butch. "Then there would be no problem!"
"Butch, keep your enthusiasm in check," said Brick as turned his attention from the two billiard players to his brothers. "We're not destroying anyone—yet. Besides, destroying his reputation right now might boost Blossom's chances at higher positions, don't you think? Blossom we'll get plenty of sympathy if we do that."
"But we don't need to," Boomer argued. "Anthony's no threat! She's in love with him! I repeat! He's no threat! She isn't using him for her own purposes!"
"Look, I've already explained to you why I think you're wrong! Blossom is not head over heels with Anthony! That's the plain truth! I saw it! I met her earlier, and she didn't give any hint!" Brick explained. "No, everything I saw during our meeting says that she's only using Anthony."
"But Brick, don't you think—" Jenkins interjected.
"Look, I'm tired of arguing. I've made my position clear, and it's clear that you can't find any counterargument. Now, I'm know I'm right, and that's how we're going to act," said Brick.
"Damn it! You're just lucky!" DeLancey shouted while smiling at York. "Next time, I'm going to beat you!"
"Same old story every time," said York, "never changing, like your winning streak."
"Well, I'm glad you two are finished, because it's time to strategize," Brick said. "Now grab a seat so we can begin."
The two nodded and took chairs and sat on opposite sides of a rectangular table. On the table are dozens of cans of soda, and about ten boxes of pizza.
Brick noted that his two brothers, and his closest friends and allies and confidants and followers are all present. On the left side of the table is Boomer, Edward York, and Peter Jenkins. On the right side of the table are Richard Hook, Lincoln DeLancey, and Butch. He sat on the head of the table, signifying his status as leader.
York, Jenkins, DeLancey, and Hook are all close friends of the Rowdyruff Boys for at least eight to nine years, ever since they were little kids. However, the friends of the three didn't start out as friends. When the boys went to school the first time, Brick wasn't looking for friends. He was looking for boys who could serve as henchmen, subordinates, and assistants. They were to be above all, loyal to a fault to them, and a willingness to follow the boys on the road to hell. But they also would be competent, if not brilliant, decisive, and intelligent to be effective. They must be able to advance the interests of the Rowdyruff Boys. They must be able to command the loyalty of masses of other kids to their own persons.
It took weeks for Brick, Boomer and Butch to comb the school for boys their age who would fit those descriptions. Of course, the entire student body admired them, but they wouldn't have incompetents, timid people, not intelligent, kids who value upholding principle more than loyalty, in their circle. Quite by accident they discovered Richard Hook, a geek who has already a network of spies and informers on the entire grade and lower, who although has zero charisma and has no command abilities, is totally loyal, and can give valuable information to the boys. York, Jenkins, DeLancey and the others on the other hand, were observed for weeks before Brick decided to call and invite them to join his inner circle. It was like an initiation to a fraternity. There were initiations, tests, and loyalty oaths, and hazings to be accepted into the inner circle. Most of those whom he invited quickly accepted, and soon became the capable, competent, intelligent, loyal subordinates that they were expected to be. As time went on, the closest subordinates and supporters became the best of friends to the Rowdyruff Boys.
As a result, though Blossom remained vastly more popular and seemed to outclass Brick on every possible category, Brick was more influential and powerful on the school campus and outside it. The Rowdyruff Boys had a network who are organized like an army, who, not only would take orders from Brick, but more importantly, would take orders from underlings whom Brick, Boomer, Butch, or any of the higher boys in the inner circle appointed to head the rank-and-file followers of the Rowdyruff Boys. The four boys in the meeting at the basement with the Rowdyruff Boys are the highest and most important members of the inner circle.
The six boys, all fifteen years of age, sat around a table, listening intently to Brick. "First of all, I know you have doubts on the validity of my theory regarding Blossom Utonium and Joseph Anthony. However, that point is moot, since what you believe wouldn't matter. Now, all of you will make the assumption, and act on the assumption, no matter how wrong you think it is, that Blossom is only responding to Anthony's advances to promote herself and to gain advantage over us. Anthony is also using Blossom, while pretending to act like he likes Blossom, to ward off Peter G. Van Lamber Velt's challenge. Now, this assumption won't be challenged whatever you might think. Is that understood? Is there any objection?"
He looked at the faces of the boys he was addressing, and although there were several worried faces, none uttered an objection.
"Second, I will like to thank Hook for ascertaining the exact votes each of the two candidates," Brick continued. "Van Lamber Velt has forty-one, and Anthony has forty-five. And we have the remaining fourteen, so we hold the balance of power. Whoever we support would be the next school council president. Now, our objective is to make sure Blossom doesn't get any higher position than second-year representative."
"So we throw the nomination to Van Lamber Velt," Butch threw in. "We go to him, make him promise not to appoint Blossom in anything in exchange for our support, plus a few goodies thrown our way."
"Good idea, Butch, but maybe, just maybe, we can pry Blossom and Anthony from each other," said Brick. "Imagine, we'll co-opt Anthony. I mean, we can make better offers than Blossom could ever give. I mean, I control the margin of victory! What can Blossom offer?"
"So it's Anthony if he drops Blossom like a hot potato, and if not, then it's Van Lamber Velt," said York.
"Yup!" said Brick. "Now, let's go on to the nutty gritty details. DeLancey, you've set up a meeting between me, and Van Lamber Velt, and Anthony on Monday, right? Well, you go and meet with them. Say I'm busy or something. Make up any excuse."
"But I promised that you'd be there!" DeLancey protested. "They want to meet with you! Personally!"
"Well, tell them that you represent me, that whatever you say is binding upon me, that I authorized you to make decisions for me, etc. etc.," said Brick. "Tell them that talking to you would be in effect like talking to me. Now, in the meeting, I want you to be non-commital. Say anything that would please them, but don't make any promises. Above all, find out what he is willing to offer. How much does he want to offer? And above all, hint what you think I would like they would do to Blossom. You know what I think. But be careful when talking to Anthony. We both know he is using Blossom, as Blossom is using him, but he doesn't know that we know that. Act as if you know nothing about it, okay?"
DeLancey nodded. "So you want to tell me to tell him that—"
"No, no! Don't tell me what I think you want to tell Anthony and Van Lamber Velt. Just keep it to yourself. Tell me when it's over," Brick replied.
"Okay, I get it," said DeLancey with a grin on his face.
"York, your job is to assign at least three people to shadow and follow Anthony," said Brick. "Pick three boys, or if you want, girls. They must not know each other as spies, and they will report separately to you, so that if one of them were caught, they wouldn't rat on the others, understood? And you will report to me what they told you."
"Yeah, sure. And I've jus the three boys for you, its—" York replied.
"It's enough! Don't tell me their names! I don't want to know!" Brick replied.
"But wouldn't it be better for you to know who I'm going to assign—"
"No! That way, if Blossom asked me point-blank if I know anybody that is spying on Anthony, I could honestly say that I don't know anyone spying, which is true, because you didn't tell me," Brick replied. "Is that clear?"
"Yes Brick," said York. "Is that all?"
"Yes," said Brick. "Jenkins, your job would be to find out if any of the eighty-six delegates pledged to Anthony or Van Lamber Velt can be amenable to switch sides. Try to see if they can be bribed, sweet-talked, or something. Try throwing some bones their way to induce them. And, if possible, don't overtly threaten them."
"Well, okay, but could I have a copy of the list of delegates?" asked Jenkins.
Brick gave him a copy of the report Hook gave earlier. "Butch, you're job would be to decide how our meager cash could be budgeted in the most efficient way. How much do we have at hand?"
"About a hundred dollars," said Butch. "But I could easily get two hundred more."
"Well, good," said Brick. "The rest of you, if you need money, go ask Butch. Now, Hook, your job is simply to spy on Van Lamber Velt, and find out anything useful, got it?"
"Yup!" the diminutive five-foot-three bespectacled Richard Hook asserted.
"Okay, that's it for now," said Brick.
"How about me?" asked Boomer. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Nothing, for now," said Brick. "Any questions?"
"Um yes," asked Butch. "Aren't we going to spy on Blossom too?"
"Nope!" said Brick. "She's my friend, and my ally. Nope, there will be no spying on her."
"But we might as well spy on her, after all, we're going to follow Anthony around," York protested.
"Anthony is nothing to me. But I don't want to ruin my friendship with Blossom," said Brick.
"But how can I spy on him if they are on a date! Then I'd have to spy on Blossom too!" York reasoned.
"Okay, that's an exception," said Brick. "Now, any other questions? Good! If all goes well, Blossom would soon find that all her well laid plans would go town the toilet!"
"Well, now that the meeting is over, could we have some more fun?" asked Boomer.
"How about another game of poker, anyone?" Butch proposed, showing them a pack of cards.
B. Making a Known Secret
It was Sunday, September 17, at about six in the afternoon…
Joe Anthony was standing outside the Utonium house. He was carrying red roses on his hand to give to Blossom. He was wearing casual clothes—jeans, sneakers, a short-sleeved shirt and a jacket. His hair was combed nicely.
He was about to knock, but before his hand hit the door, the door suddenly opened and a gloved hand suddenly pulled him inside.
It was Blossom.
"Blossom—" Anthony, said, surprised, but Blossom suddenly put her hand over his mouth. "Quiet!" she said putting her finger on her lips to emphasize her point.
Blossom was wearing a pink dress that reached to just above her ankles. She was wearing high heeled shoes, and was carrying a purse. All in all, Blossom dressed as if she's going to a formal dinner.
But right now, Blossom has got a concentrated look on her face. Looking left and right, she, using her great strength, literally dragged the stunned boy to her room. When they were both in, Blossom locked the door, then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Blossom—" Joe protested.
"Not so loud! The others might hear you!" Blossom said, again covering his mouth with her hand. "Speak only in whispers."
"Blossom, what's going on here," asked an exasperated Joe Anthony in whispers.
"Oh I'm so sorry for all this commotion," said Blossom. "But it's necessary. Did you tell any of your friends about our date?"
"Well, I wanted to surprise them, so I didn't tell them yet, but I'm going to tell them tomorrow," said Joe Anthony. "In fact, I never told anybody about us—yet."
"Good. Don't tell them. In fact, don't tell a soul in the world," said Blossom. "I never told anyone except Bubbles, and I already had her word that she won't tell anyone."
"But why all this secrecy?" asked Joe. "It's all too confusing."
"Look, am I right that Peter G. Van Lamber Velt has challenged you for the nomination of the party for President, and that you only have forty-five votes, and he has forty-one?" asked Blossom.
"Yes, but how do you know that?" asked an astonished Joe.
"Doesn't matter how, but the remaining balance, about fourteen votes, is in Brick's hands, am I correct?" Blossom continued.
"Yes. Wow Blossom, I never knew you knew so much. How exactly—"
"Look, Brick told me, and—"
"Brick, but why would he—"
"I don't know myself," said Blossom, "but he did. And he doesn't usually lie to me. True, he usually keeps things from me, but he doesn't lie. Now, the thing is, you want to win the nomination, right?"
"Look, I don't want to discuss politics, because that's not the reason—" Joe Anthony explained, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"Joe, listen, and shut-up!" an impatient Blossom snapped, thoroughly surprising the older boy. "Whatever will happen, whether we like it or not, politics will follow us, especially if Brick holds the balance of power. Now, I like you, and I want you to win so you'll be happy, but you can't win if you don't do what I say."
"I don't understand—" Joe replied.
"You will. Just listen. It seems that you can't get the implication of all of these to us," Blossom replied.
"Don't worry about it," said Joe. "I've got a meeting set-up with Brick tomorrow to discuss the matter."
"Great! Now, I'm sure as hell that Brick is also meeting with Peter, your rival," said Blossom. "He told me he is going to swing his vote to whoever offers him the most."
"So I'll throw him a bone to satisfy him," said Joe. "I've done this all the time. What's going to be different now? And what does it have to do with us?"
"Look, Brick and I are rivals, and he is going to make damn sure that whoever showed some favors to me, and whoever, if he finds out, will offer me a higher spot in the student council than second-year representative, will lose," said Blossom. "So we must keep our date, and our relationship a secret until you win. You must never even give a hint to anyone that we're dating. Brick has spies everywhere in school. Keeping us a secret from Brick would be tough, but doable."
"But why?" asked Joe.
"Because he'll vote for Van Lamber Velt if he finds out!" Blossom replied. "Because he'll think that I'm using you to further my own career! And I don't want to make him even think of that! And if that happens, you will lose. I guarantee you that. You will lose."
Joe couldn't believe what he was hearing and how he was meekly following her. Her personality, her voice, her manner, even her conservative mode of dress, her reputation, and her power, all conspired to make her dominant in the conversation, and Joe grappled with words to match hers.
"Now, the next thing Brick will do is to try to bribe your delegates from voting for you to increase his power," said Blossom. "What you should do is to send some of your subordinates or followers, you do have them, right?"
"Well, kinda," Joe replied hesitantly.
"Well, then tell them to monitor your delegates so that they won't be bribed or pried away from you. Crack the whip! Make sure they stay loyal!" Blossom directed.
Joe nodded.
"One more thing. Is there anything you can do to patch up your differences with Peter? I mean, if you can make an arrangement with him so that he will drop out of the race, then Brick's influence would be eliminated. Could you meet and talk with him about the matter?"
"I'd rather swallow a rattlesnake than talk to that goddaned bastard," Joe replied. "I won't talk to him, and I'd rather lose than deal with him!"
"But consider!" Blossom replied.
"No! I hate that sonofab!tch!" Joe replied, "and I won't talk to him! No, I won't make any sort of deal with him! Listen, I will do anything you ask, but I won't make up with that bastard!"
Blossom was irritated, but could see that her friend hated his rival with a passion, and that no amount of reason would convince him to open his arms and embrace Peter G. Van Lamber Velt, no matter how advantageous it would.
"Well then, the only thing left to do is win Brick over," said Blossom, shaking her head. "Well, first of all, don't mention my name or anything else relating to me when you talk to him, unless he mentions it first. Keep the discussion about what you're going to give him, and don't veer off. When he asks about me, keep your answers vague, so as to give much wiggle room. Remember one thing. If you make a promise, make sure you can keep it. Brick isn't too keen on broken promises made to him, and unlike others, he can make you pay dearly for it. Offer him, say, the Vice-Presidency, or even the Treasury, if possible. Or you could give him the editorship of the school paper if possible."
"Okay, but what about the others whom I promised those positions?" asked Joe.
"Well, just remember that without Brick's votes, you can't win," Blossom bluntly told him.
"Well, okay," said Joe.
"Look, I'm sorry I came off like this on you. I really wanted to avoid discussing politics with you, and I want to be neutral, but I know that if I just ignored it, it would cause your defeat, and I would be responsible," Blossom explained.
"So what are you suggesting? I mean we keep this a secret?" asked Joe Anthony.
"Precisely," said Blossom.
"One question," asked Joe. "Do you think Brick, is you know, jealous of me?"
Blossom suddenly laughed very hard. "That is so patently ridiculous!" she said between laughs. "You know, he is a cold-fish, just like me before I met you!"
"Are you sure?" asked Joe. "Because maybe that's the real cause—"
"No, no, no! First of all, he never was shy on me. He is frank, and blunt, though he exhibits great tact. Second, he never ever even tried to court me, or give any hints whatsoever, during all those times I was still single," said Blossom. "We have been alone, only two of us together, and he never ever made any moves, or said anything, or hinted anything. He simply either ignored me, talked to me purely about business, and about events. We're childhood friends, and we're like brothers and sisters. You don't have to worry! Brick wouldn't even think about it! He thinks that I'm ugly!"
"Oh I see," said Joe. "So I guess our date is cancelled, I mean, with all the secrecy and all. Well, I just want to say, that I really like you, and—"
"Who says our date is off? I just said that Brick musn't know about it," said Blossom. Blossom opened the window of her bedroom, then grabbed Joe Anthony by the waist. Seconds later, both teen-agers were high in the air flying at nearly lightspeed from Townsville.
Anthony's screams of fright could be heard if they were flying below the speed of sound. He was frightened as he never before experienced being picked up and flown at very high speeds across the country.
Finally, after about thirty minutes, they landed in a street of a town unfamiliar to Anthony.
"What did you do that for?" Anthony asked, who would have dropped to the ground from the momentum if he wasn't held by Blossom.
"Oh I'm so sorry," Blossom apologized, blushing and being as demure as possible. 'I hope I hadn't scared him off by my antics,' she thought. "I just wanted to make sure that nobody would see us together by flying so fast that nobody would even notice us as we passed. It's one of the perks of being a Powerpuff Girl. That way, we can still date!"
Anthony stood up his full six-foot frame as he regained his bearings and shook off his dizziness. He looked at Blossom. At a glance, Blossom, standing there, looking at him adoringly, seemed your average next-door-girl. She was short, about five-feet and one inch tall, made taller by four inches by her high-heeled shoes. She has a waistline of about eighteen inches, highlighted by a thick stylish belt around it. She was wearing a pink dress that reached to her shin, midway between her knees and ankles, and was wearing stockings. She dressed conservatively, her dress covering her shoulders, and with short sleeves. She really isn't the sort of girl to show off her body just to attract boys.
The net effect is to even make Blossom more beautiful than she already is. Her long hair carefully fixed with her bow, which she never discarded, plus the natural beauty of her face took most boys' breath away. Blossom never cared about it as evidenced by the fact that she never flirted with anyone before, but she is vain and likes to hear complements about how beautiful she is. While not the most beautiful of the Powerpuffs—Bubbles holds the title—she is overall more attractive. At fifteen, she had literally thousands of male admirers. It's just that she doesn't care about them. Plus, she likes looking really feminine and demure and ladylike. You almost never caught her wearing pants except in gym.
But now, Anthony knows that is just the exterior. Underneath her pretty face is an iron will that is always determined to have her way. While Joe Anthony certainly knows he is smarter than most students, Blossom is far more intelligent, more clever, more devious, and sharper than Anthony could ever hope to be. All of it showed in their conversation in Blossom's room, where Blossom quickly dominated the conversation, leaving Anthony with little to say or object to, as all her conclusions seemed so logical, so practical, so appealing, so smart, that any objection that he might have had remained unspoken as he feared he might look stupid.
And her demure petite appearance, unlike that of Buttercup, betrayed an enormous physical strength that she possessed, and powers that he could never have. Joe Anthony then realized, right there and then, why so many boys were afraid to even court her—all of them felt intimidated by Blossom. Joe Anthony resolved to never try to make her angry, or to disagree strenuously. He would no cards to play if he did.
Blossom, at this time, was fully aware of this, and she was trying to keep him from being intimidated at her presence and winning him over to her by acting as she thought a normal girl would.
Anthony then remembered the red roses still one his hand. A couple of petals fell on the flight but it was still intact. "Oh I forgot, these are for you, as only someone as beautiful as you could receive such beautiful flowers," he quickly replied.
Blossom took the flowers, smelled, and smiled, batting her eyes at Anthony. "Oh thank you, Joe, it's so wonderful of you!" she said, pretending to dance on street around Anthony as she held the flower, then suddenly falling on Anthony, and he was obliged to catch her. "Oh I'm so sorry, it was so clumsy of me," Blossom apologized, managing a blush and quickly standing.
"Well, where are we exactly?" asked Joe.
"Oh, we're in Kansas City, Missouri," said Blossom. "I went here last summer, and I decided that it would be lovely to spend our date here."
"Well, let's take a walk, shall we?" Anthony offered, offering his arm to Blossom, who took it, as they walked, side by side.
C. Van Lamber Velt's Offer
It was September 18, Monday…
It was 12:30 at the school cafeteria. An eighteen-year-old boy senior, about five-foot-nine, with dark brown hair, was having his lunch. He was eating in his table alone, though by choice. He told his friends that he wouldn't be eating with them this day. Peter G. Van Lamber Velt kept looking at his watch and kept looking at the door as if he was waiting for something.
"Mind if I join you?" a fifteen year old sophomore, holding his tray filled with food. He was about five-feet-eleven-inches tall, with jet black hair.
"Linc?" asked Van Lamber Velt, surprised. "Where's Brick?"
"Brick? I'm sorry! I know I promised you that he would meet with you today, but it seems that something turned-up. Please excuse him, he's a hero, and he has many responsibilities," Lincoln DeLancey explained as he took his seat opposite Peter.
"So what happened?"
"Oh I think there's a robbery at a store near the edge of the city," Linc explained. "Don't worry about it. I was authorized by Brick himself to speak for him, and whatever I said and agree today with you will be binding upon him. In short, I can speak for him, Pete."
"Well, I'll be blunt," Peter began. "I am short of the necessary votes to beat that bastard, Joseph R. Anthony! I know that your boss Brick can supply the remaining ten votes I need to win. I am offering Brick to be my Vice-President, and I'm offering his people the posts of Chief Editor of the student Paper, the student council treasury, and the seats for first year student representative. If you want to ask for more, go ahead. So, is the offer enough for you?"
"That's great! And I will accept on behalf of Brick," smiled DeLancey, "but first, I have to see what Anthony is offering. If he offers more, then sorry, I'll have to support him. But if his offer is less than yours, then the job is yours!"
"Fair enough, Linc," said Peter. "However, I want a meeting after your meeting with Anthony. I want to know what he offered you, so that I could even make a better offer."
"We'll see," said DeLancey.
"By the way, Linc, you never told me what's he's asking me in exchange for his support," said Peter.
"Oh he keeps it close to his heart," said DeLancey.
"He never told you?" asked Peter.
"Oh he did. But it's a secret," said DeLancey.
"Ah, a secret! I don't suppose, that if I somehow knew of this secret, and I 'coincidentally' offer it to him, he would immediately back me over Anthony?" asked Peter.
"Oh yes, very much so," said DeLancey.
"So, can you tell it to me?" asked Peter.
"Oh I can't. Brick will kill me if I told you," said DeLancey.
"Oh come on! You're his friend! You like him to be happy, do you? Now, let me ask you, will he be happy if I gave it him what he wants," Peter replied.
"Nope! Sorry!"
"How about a hint, Linc?" asked Peter, persisting.
"You'd want that, would you? Well, I guess I could tell a hint," replied DeLancey.
"Okay! Well?"
"It has something to do with Blossom Utonium," DeLancey whispered.
"Oh! I get it! Brick wants a date with Blossom," said Peter, also whispering. "But I can't deliver that to him, Linc."
Delancey guffawed incredulously at the suggestion. "Ha, that's a hoot! No, no! Brick doesn't need any help in that regard," said DeLancey. "Okay, before any rumors spread, I'll tell you. You know that Blossom and Brick are rivals for power since they were little kids, right?"
"Well, that's the first time I've ever heard of that," said Peter.
"Oh yes. Now, Brick is afraid that Blossom will suddenly get a head-start on him, you know, that she'll get a higher position in the student council before him," said DeLancey. "Pete, don't try to understand it. That's just the way those two are. What he's afraid of is that one of you, if you win, might appoint Blossom to something higher than a slot as second-year representative. Now, if you really want Brick's support, just promise him you won't appoint Blossom to anything, or even recommend her for appointment or election."
"Oh I see," said Peter G. Van Lamber Velt. "So I'll just promise him not to appoint Blossom, and I'll get his vote?"
"Pretty much, and throw in those positions you mentioned earlier as freebies to curry favor to him. You know, the editorship, the treasury, the things you mentioned before? But don't tell him that I mentioned this to you. Brick will kill me if he finds out I told you this. Just casually mention it, or find someway to tell it without suggesting too much that I had anything to do with it. As far as I'm concerned, I never told you anything about Blossom. Brick never gave me instructions to tell that to you, and officially, you never heard me say what I just said. If you suggest that to Brick once you meet him, I never would have figured out how you found out about it," Linc DeLancey explained.
"Oh I see," said Van Lamber Velt. "Okay, I'll promise I won't appoint Blossom to anything. So what are you telling Brick?"
"Well, I'll tell him your offer, about the Vice-Presidency, and the other positions you mentioned," said Delancey.
"Linc, you really are something," said Peter. "Now, can you arrange a meeting between me and Brick so that I could make an offer he can't refuse?"
"Oh I will, but it would depend on Brick," said DeLancey. "But I'll do my best!"
D. Anthony's Offer
Later, at five-thirty in the afternoon…
Joseph Anthony was leaning against a tree, on the forest just outside the school perimeter, playing some games on his cell phone, occasionally looking at his watch, expecting a meeting of some sort. He and Blossom pretended to ignore each other during school hours, though several times the two "accidentally" bumped into each other or ended up on the same place alone.
Anthony was about to give up on the meeting when he saw someone approach.
"Linc? Where's Brick?" asked Joe.
"Sorry Joe, something came up. The Mayor suddenly called him and his brothers on some secret emergency," said the approaching Lincoln DeLancey.
"Goddamn it! Guess the meeting's off then," said a disappointed Joe Anthony.
"Well, it's not. I didn't come here to just tell you that, you know," said DeLancey. "I've come here to act as Brick's representative, to bargain in his name. Anything I do here has his approval, and I, in his behalf, can accept and reject your proposals."
"Whoa! Who granted you so much power! Well, congratulations, Linc! It's not everyday that an ordinary student like you speaks for the male leader of the Ruff-Puff Alliance himself, the great Brick!" Joe Anthony said, shaking the delighted DeLancey's hand.
"Well, thanks. So, I gather you know the deal. You only have forty-five votes, Van Lamber Velt has forty one, Brick controls fourteen, and whoever Brick throws his support to, wins. So, what are willing to offer Brick?"
"You're quick to the point, I see," said Joe. "Okay, here's my offer. The treasury, and entire freshmen, and junior slots for School-council representatives. Plus, a bribe of five-hundred dollars payable within the year," Joe started.
"Oh please! Don't insult Brick," said DeLancey. "He's the son of the richest man in Townsville, or even the state itself! Richer than Morebucks even! Five hundred dollars is only chump change to him."
"Okay, so no bribe," said Joe. "To continue, I'll also leave up to Brick the choice of who will be the editor of the School paper. You see, the current editor is a friend of that stinkin' bastard Van Lamber Velt, but we all know that he's going to be replaced at the end of the election by whoever won it. Plus, he can fill the entire newspaper staff with his choices. Also, except for the Vice-Presidency, which I will fill with whomever I want, the rest of the positions I would pick, but I would give Brick a veto on anyone he doesn't like. Plus, once I get the top job, I'll give half of the student jobs available to Brick's followers. And I'll show a bias towards Brick and his people when I have decide something that is close to heart to your friend."
"That is certainly much," said DeLancey. "You're really generous!"
"So, are you going to take it?" asked Joe.
"Well, I'll still have to meet Van Lamber Velt, to see if he can make a better offer," replied DeLancey. "If he can make an offer to top yours, then he'd get his votes. If not, then Brick will back you. However, I'd doubt he'd top you, except for one thing."
"What's that? I mean, how can he be more generous than me without sacrificing himself as a burnt offering to Brick?" asked Joe.
"Oh wouldn't you like to know?" replied DeLancey.
"Come one, Linc! Fight fair! Do you really want a thumbsucking asshole idiot like Peter G. Van Lamber Velt take the helm? Why, he'll sell you down the drain the minute he gets the office, and he'll laugh at your asses if you came to claim his promises! No, dealing with a coyote would be more reliable than dealing with the dung of a hyena that Van Lamber Velt is! With Honest Joseph R. Anthony, what you hear is what you get!" Joe argued.
"I don't know. But if you want to know, well, okay. But it's a secret. Brick told me never to tell you this, because he doesn't others to know about it," said DeLancey. "If you offered it then it's almost guaranteed to make Brick back you. However, I can't deliver it to Brick from you since he'll know that I told you. He'll kill me if he finds out."
"Okay, I myself will offer it to him. Whatever it is," said Joe Anthony.
"Are you sure? Don't mention my name in the same sentence as that offer, or I'll be dead," said DeLancey.
"Well, okay. Now what is it?"
"Well, it involves Blossom Utonium," said DeLancey.
Joe Anthony paled at hearing her name, as he nearly fell on the ground when he leaned back towards the tree he was leaning before only to lean a little to the left and into empty air.
DeLancey observed Anthony's reaction and smiled.
"What do you mean about Blossom? Does Brick like Blossom, and is he going to take her away from, er, I mean, for himself?" asked Anthony.
Suddenly, DeLancey laughed hard—very hard as he had to clutch a nearby tree just to prevent himself from falling to the ground.
"What's so funny?" asked a flummoxed Anthony.
"Oh I'm sorry, the idea that Brick wanted Blossom as his girlfriend is so ridiculous, so out of this world, that it beggars the imagination! You see, Brick and Blossom are like brothers and sisters! They are like cats and dogs. And they grew up together. As all natural brothers and sisters, they see romance with each other as quite unnatural. I mean, imagine you wanting to have your sister as your girlfriend? Plus, they fight most of the time. And I have observed the two ever since they were kids, for nine years, and I have never ever seen anything suggesting romance between those two!" DeLancey explained. "Besides, Brick thinks Blossom is ugly, even though she's obviously very beautiful, and calls her ugly to her face! I don't know how those two get along, but they do."
Joe Anthony breathed as sigh of relief, and color returned to his face. "So Linc, what does Brick want from me that involves Blossom?"
DeLancey smiled as he leaned back on the tree. "Well, you know that those two are rivals. Brick and Blossom had been competing and trying to outdo the other for the past nine years. Now, Brick fears that either you or Van Lamber Velt, if they win, will give some important office to Blossom, and hence, Blossom will outshine Brick. All you have to do to get Brick's automatic support, is to promise him that you won't appoint Blossom to anything."
"Is that all?" asked Joe Anthony.
"Well, remember that you didn't hear nothing. I didn't say anything about Blossom. Officially, I never told you this. Look, don't tell others, or Brick, what I told you, because Brick will be peeved and really angry with me if I told you that. I suggested it a while, but he said not to mention it, because it would look bad if he himself offered it. However, if you offer it yourself, it would be different, as he would be accepting it, not be the one to suggest it, and it would be less bad from his standpoint. However, do me a favor. If you ever use this information, don't tell anyone you found it out from me, Joe," said DeLancey. "I did you a favor in telling it to you, and do me a favor in return by not mentioning my name to Blossom's in a single sentence."
"Well, that certainly is interesting," said a Joe Anthony deep in thought. "Well, I might, I might not promise something about Blossom. But I'll call Brick or you when I've made my decision."
"So you won't make that promise about Blossom yet?" asked DeLancey.
"No. I'll still think about it!" said Joe.
"Well, think hard, but remember, you could lose out to your competitor, Peter G. Van Lamber Velt," said DeLancey, with a hint of both a warning, and a threat. "Well, it's nice talking to you. I'd love to chat with you, but I gotta go."
"Well, thanks anyway," said Joe Anthony.
E. The Unexpected Meeting
Lincoln DeLancey walked through the forest to get to the road on the other side of the woods, and hence, home. He was walking about twenty minutes when he saw two boys, both, fifteen, talking with each other. On closer examination, it became clear that one of those boys was a fellow named Edward York, while he was unable to identify the fellow whom York was talking too.
"Ned! Ned York!" DeLancey shouted at York.
York turned to his left, and saw his fried. He waved as DeLancey approached him.
"So, how's is it going?" asked DeLancey.
"Well, nothing much, Linc. Okay, Bill, you can start," said York, talking to the boy DeLancey still hasn't identified.
"Well Ned, like you instructed me Sunday morning, I followed Joe Anthony. First, I waited outside his house, pretending to walk around, then, when he went out I followed. Well, first, he went into his friend's house, Marlo Wilson. He stayed there for a couple of hours, then he went to a flower shop where he bought a couple of roses. Then, he went to Blossom Utonium's house, where I lost track of him that day," said Bill.
"The next day, which is today, he basically went around in school. He just did what he's been doing all this time, except that he bumped Blossom a couple of times, and they found themselves alone a couple of times, though they pretended that it was just an accident. They would have fooled anybody else, but I was following them, and it's clear that those two were a couple," finished Bill. "Then, I followed Joe to the forest this afternoon, and I saw he and you talk about something. After that, I ran to report to you, Ned, to report on Joe's Anthony's doings."
"Linc, this is William Harvey, but call him Bill," York introduced. "He's one of the spies I sent to tail and shadow Joe Anthony. Bill, this is Lincoln DeLancey, my friend, and one of Brick's inner circle of friends."
"Nice to meet you," said Bill as he shook hands with Lincoln.
"Likewise," said DeLancey.
"Well, off you go now!" said York.
"Bye fellas!" shouted Harvey as he ran from the two.
"Well, that confirms it," said York.
"What do you mean?" asked DeLancey.
"He's the third spy whom I met in the past hour. I met them separately, and as Brick instructed, they didn't know each other. All of them gave the same story, so we're quite sure what Joe Anthony did."
"Well, that's good," was all DeLancey could say.
"Hey, could I borrow some of DVDs?" asked York.
"Sure Ned," said DeLancey. "Come with me to my home so you can take your pick."
"Thanks," said York.
"Well, you found out anything yet?" asked DeLancey.
"Well, Linc, I found out lots of things. I have found out what Joe Anthony had been doing yesterday and today."
"Oh I see," said DeLancey. "Well anyway, as for me, Anthony made a better offer, but as you know, he remained vague about not appointing Blossom. Van Lamber Velt offered far far less, but he definitely promised not to appoint Blossom to anything."
"Well, I guess it's Van Lamber Velt then," said York. "That's what matters to Brick, anyway."
They chatted about other matters as they slowly walked home.
They finally arrived at DeLancey's place about a half-hour later.
DeLancey was surprised when Brick, Butch, Jenkins and Hook were on the living room, sitting on the sofa, eating baked cookies, reading some magazines.
"Brick, Butch, Dick, what are you doing here?" asked DeLancey.
"Oh DeLancey, I'm glad you finally arrived," said Brick. "As usual, your mother baked excellent cookies! York, glad to see you here. DeLancey, how'd the meeting with Van Lamber Velt and Anthony go?"
DeLancey went and sat on the sofa. "Well, let's see. Van Lamber Velt offered you Brick, to be Vice-President, and his offering us the posts of Chief Editor of the student Paper, the student council treasury, and the seats for first year student representatives. Anthony offered more. He told me that he'll offer the treasury, and entire freshmen, and junior slots for School-council representatives. To continue, he'll also leave up to you, Brick, the choice of who will be the editor of the School paper. Plus, you can fill the entire newspaper staff with your choices. Also, the rest of the positions he would pick, but he would give you a veto on anyone you don't like. Plus, once Anthony gets the top job, he'll give half of the student jobs available to our followers. And he'll show a bias towards us when he have to decide something that is close to our interests."
"Whoa! That's huge!" said Hook.
"Wow! When Linc told me Anthony offered more, I'd ne'er thought that he'd give the whole house away!" said York.
"Hey Brick, I call the dibs on the treasury!" Butch shouted. "Brick, please make me treasurer of the Student council. You know I'm best at keeping and making money."
"Okay, Butch, you can have the treasury," said Brick. "Now, are they willing to give what I want?"
"Oh that one! Well, in regards to Blossom never—" DeLancey.
"DeLancey, stop! I don't want you to tell me! I never explicitly told you what I want from them, but we know what it really is," said Brick. "And I don't want to hear it from your mouth."
"Okay, Brick. Well, Van Lamber Velt is willing to give what you like in the matter," DeLancey began.
"And Anthony?" asked Brick.
"Oh, he said he's going to think about it," said DeLancey, "then he'll try to meet you so he can say his decision."
"Oh I see!" Brick exclaimed. "He's going to think about it. Well, we must find out his decision before we can do anything else, don't you think? York, tell me your report please?"
Edward "Ned" York, then told Brick what he told DeLancey earlier.
"Thanks York," said Brick. "And finally, Jenkins, will you tell them what you told Hook and me a while ago?"
"Well, okay. Well, I sent a couple of kids to inquire whether or not we could acquire more delegates to tow Brick's line. Well, I learned just this afternoon, that I could only persuade and bribe a maximum of seven delegates to vote for you, Brick. Three from Van Lamber Velt, and four from Anthony. The others, my people told me, won't vote for you unless the candidate they were pledged to withdraws," said Jenkins. "So you have has no chance of winning if he decides to run, which fortunately for us, you won't."
F. Blossom's Reaction
Joe Anthony was walking slowly from the forest after his meeting with DeLancey towards the school. He was supposed to meet Blossom but the pink puff wasn't to be found anywhere.
Suddenly, he heard the rustles of the leaves as the wind blew. Suddenly, he felt a strong force pick him up at high speed. There was a blur, and then he found himself at the middle of another forest with Blossom standing before him.
"Whoa! Where are we?" he asked Blossom.
"Oh, we're in the backyard of Dr. Edwards' house, but we're far enough that they won't notice us," said Blossom.
"Oh Dr. Edwards' house," said Joe Anthony, till the implications of what he had just heard sunk in. "Dr. Edwards house!" he nearly shouted.
"Don't shout! They might hear you!" Blossom cautioned.
"But Brick, and Boomer, and Butch is there," complained Anthony. "They might see us, and then they'll think we're in cahoots, then our game is up."
"Oh don't be a sourpuss!" Blossom scolded. "Well, how did the meeting go?"
"Well, mostly good. I threw a lot of goodies to Brick, but Linc—"
"Linc DeLancey?" asked Blossom. "But I thought—"
"Brick was busy, so he sent Linc to talk with me," said Joe. "Anyway, he said that he would have to talk to Van Lamber Velt, that bastard, to see if he would offer more. Anyway, he told me that there is something that would almost guarantee Brick's support, and my nomination and election for student president."
"Well, what is it?" asked Blossom eagerly.
"Well, you'll be shocked," said Joe.
"Well, let me guess. You won't appoint me to any position in the Student Council," said Blossom.
"But how did you—"
"Oh please! I know Brick like the back of my hand! It's too obvious," said Blossom.
"So what do you think I should do?" asked Anthony.
"Oh give it to him," said Blossom. "Promise Brick you won't appoint me to anything. Oh Brick will win, and he'll gain much, but I've lost before and I've come back many times to beat him time and time again. And Brick, I predict, won't long enjoy his spoils unless he gives a big chunk of the pie to me!"