CHAPTER 5: VENGEANCE!

Sometime after the assembly, Broderick was carrying a large potato sack. He looked around to see if anyone was around. When he didn't see anyone, he made a beeline towards Ox's locker. Snickering, he grabbed a key that he somehow stole off the janitor and unlocked Ox's locker, which was how he was able to get into it in the first place. Before he could place the first potato in, he was interrupted by a seemingly-enraged Ox.

"SO YOU'RE THE ONE WHO KEPT PUTTING POTATOES IN MY LOCKER!" Ox bellowed loudly.

"Um… uh…," Broderick stammered. Before he could say anything else, Ox grabbed him by the back of his collar and hoisted him up like he weighed nothing. Some of the other kids came out and watched the scene unfold.

"WHY DO YOU DO THIS, BRODERICK?!" Ox yelled. "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PLAY PRANKS ON YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS?! DON'T YOU WANT FRIENDS?! DON'T YOU WANT PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY LIKE YOU, RATHER THAN DESPISE YOU?!"

"I'm sorry, Ox!" Broderick pleaded. "I was just having fun with you. I won't do it again! I promise!"

"JUST LIKE YOU PROMISED NOT TO TEASE 5 ABOUT HIS BEING GAY?! JUST LIKE YOU PROMISED NOT TO SLIP A FROG INSIDE SALLY'S MILK?! JUST LIKE YOU PROMISED NOT TO DO ANY OF THE CRAP YOU'VE DONE BEFORE ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND REPEAT YOUR DAMN MISTAKES AGAIN WITH NO REMORSE?! YOUR PROMISES ARE EMPTY LIKE YOUR HEAD!"

"SOMEONE, HELP ME!" The principal came over.

"What's going on here?" he asked.

"Oh nothing, sir," said Ox, still holding up Broderick. "Just was asking Broderick why he acts the way he does. And why he has to be a jerk to all of his fellow students."

"That is a good question, Oxford," the principal replied. "Carry on." And the principal left. (He was obviously in on the plan)

"YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING!" said an exasperated Broderick.

"NO ONE CAN HELP YOU, 'ROTTENRICK'!" sneered Ox. "PREPARE TO DIE!"

At this point, Broderick was on the verge of tears. "PLEASE, OX!" he wept. "I PROMISE NEVER TO PULL ANY PRANKS ON YOU OR ANYONE ELSE AGAIN! I'LL NEVER MAKE FUN OF 5 FOR BEING GAY OR CALL HIM OR HIS BOYFRIEND QUENTIN SISSIES AGAIN! I'LL STOP PLANTING POTATOES IN YOUR LOCKER! I SWEAR!"

"YOU PROMISE?"

"S-S-S-Scouts honor!"

"Will that suffice?!" asked Ox to someone. And at that moment, the principal, followed by 5, Quentin, Sally, and the rest of the gang walked out from their hiding places.

"Well done, Oxford," said the principal. Turning to Broderick, he said, "I hope you learned something today, young man. To treat others with respect. You only get respect when you give respect."

"Yes, sir!" assured Broderick. "And I meant everything I said! No more pranks or disrespecting others."

"Very well," said the principal. "You will receive two weeks of detention…"

"WHAT?!"

"…UNLESS you apologize to those you wronged. Starting with 5 and Quentin."

Broderick was forced to swallow a healthy piece of humble pie at that moment. He walked over to the couple.

"5, Quentin," Broderick began, "I'm sorry for teasing you two about being gay and everything. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Let's start over on a clean slate, Broderick," said 5. "Being gay aside, you'll see we're not really that different."

"I can do that." And Broderick shook 5 and Quentin's hands. He continued to apologize to everyone he wronged or teased. And, while he was spared detention, he wasn't completely off the hook. The principal made him peel the potatoes he planned to put in Ox's locker that day for the next day's lunch.

NEXT CHAPTER: A BIT OF SAD NEWS