Chapter Three

One year later (9 year olds)

Leo went to wake up the kids and saw Kathy in Morts bed again. He didn't see why she kept sleeping in his bed since her bed had been fixed over five months ago. He went over to the bed and moved Kathy back to her bed, so Ashley wouldn't notice. Kathy opened her eyes and looked at Leo.

"Go to sleep,'' Leo whispered,'' Lessons have been canceled today. We are planing something really cool, though.''

Mort woke up and looked around. He saw Leo, got off his bed and sat down on Kathys bed. Leo shook his head and left the room. 'The other kids can sleep in,' Leo thought.

"Boring,'' Kathy sighed,'' Want to play cards?"

Mort nodded his head and Kathy grabbed the cards out of her bag, that she had brought with her. They started to play gold fish, since it was really the only game they knew how to play. It was only about 7:30. They played until the other kids were getting up. Kathy won two times and Mort won five. The other kids went over to Freds bed, for their secret meeting.

"Look at them,'' Susie said,'' It's sick.''

"We need to do something,'' Frank said,'' Like a prank.''

"How about we just beat them up,'' Fred said making his hand into a fist.

"You got beat by her,'' Katie said,'' How are we suposed to do that? She can throw us acrossed the room.''

"There are eight of us,'' George said,'' Only two of them.''

"George is right,'' Kim said,'' We must do this.''

"All agree?" Fred asked putting his hand in the middle of their circle.

Everyone else put their hands in too. Fred nodded and they went over to Kathys bed. They looked at the others, then turned back to their game. Fred was about to say something.

"Save your pity words,'' Kathy said,'' We don't want to hear them- got any threes?"

Mort shook his head, then held up five fingers. Kathy handed him her fives. The others just stared at them for a second. Fred took the cards from them and through them in the trash.

"Enough with the stupid games,'' George said,'' It's time-''

"To get beat,'' Kathy finished looking at George.'' That would be a very stupid idea.''

Fred grabbed Kathy by the shirt and pulled her off of the bed. Mort quickly got up and punched Fred in the face, giving him a bloody nose.

"Stay away,'' Mort hissed.

Fred held his nose and ran out of the dorm room. The other kids backed off. Mort helped Kathy off the floor. Kathy grabbed the cards out of the trash and they started to play again.

"Got any twos?" Kathy asked.

"Gold fish,'' Mort said,'' Got any tens?"

"Gold fish,'' Kathy said,'' Got any-''

Just then the door opened and a very angry Ashley walked in. She walked over to Kathys bed.

"What did you do to Fred?" Ashley yelled looking at Mort.

Mort didn't answer. Leo walked in just in time to see Ashley slap Morts face.

"No wonder he won't talk,'' Leo snarled walking over to the bed.'' If you keep treating him like that he'll never get better.''

"He deserves it,'' Ashley said,'' Did you see what he did to Fred.''

"He was going to beat us up,'' Kathy said,'' So were the others.''

"Self defense,'' Leo said,'' There is nothing we can do or do I need to read you the rules?"

"Fine,'' Ashley said,'' I'll let it go, now.''

Ashley walked out of the room. Mort was crying and Kathy was trying to get him to stop. Leo sat down on the bed.

"It's okay Mortimer,'' Leo said,'' She's gone.''

Mort didn't stop crying. Kathy began to hum. Leo watched her for awhile.' I feel tired,' Leo thought. Kathy stoped and looked at the now sleeping Mort.

"It worked,'' Kathy said,'' I can put people to sleep, is that- Leo?''

Leo had moved over to Morts bed and had fallen asleep. Kathy looked at everyone else, who were all sleeping.

"Oops,'' Kathy sighed.

Fred came back into the room. He looked at everyone, who were sleeping, then at Kathy.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Fred shouted,'' ASHLEY.''

Ashley quickly ran into the room and looked at everything.

"She did something,'' Fred said,'' Look at everyone, even Leo.''

"I didn't mean to,'' Kathy said,'' I only wanted to put Mort to sleep. I didn't think it was that strong.''

Ashley was walking over to her.' She needs to be slaped,' Ashley thought. Kathy started to hum again.' I feel sleepy,' Ashley thought falling on the floor, fast asleep. Fred had pluged his ears. Kathy stoped and looked at him.

"What happened to her?" Fred demanded.

"Nothing,'' Kathy said,'' Just go to sleep. Everyone else is sleeping.''

"I don't want to-''

Kathy started humming again. Fred didn't have time to cover his ears.' Tired,' Fred thought going to his bed and falling asleep, before he got on it. Kathy stoped and looked around.

"Stupid humming,'' Kathy said.

"What?" Mort asked opening his eyes.

"Nothing,'' Kathy said, looking around at everyone.

They were waking up, except for Ashley and Fred.

"What happened?" Leo asked,'' I felt so tired.''

"Sorry,'' Kathy said,'' I didn't mean to put all of you to sleep. I just wanted to put Mort to sleep. I hum people to sleep, it's really cool.''

Ashley woke up and got off the floor.

"Well,'' Ashley said, noting knowing what just happened.'' Time for a surprize.''

Many people cheered. Fred got off the floor and cheered with everyone else, even though he didn't know why they were cheering. They followed Ashley and Leo out of the room and into the gym.

"We are singing today,'' Ashley said, then looked at Kathy.'' You're not going to put us to sleep are you?"

"No,'' Kathy said,'' It only happens when I hum.''

"Good,'' Ashley said,'' I'll sing the song first.

The time has come for us to be

It is our destiny.

Sometimes peopletake it away, and we start to take

Then I think it's all afake,

But then I remember the good olddays

The hot sun, your face.

You remind me of so much more

But what am I living for?

I can't stand people looking at me

Can you set me free?

All I want is to be with you

But you don't have a clue,

I wish it would go away

And I would do as I may.

''Lets learn that verse first,'' Ashley said and everyone stared at her.'' Do I need to repeat it?"

Many kids nodded and Ashley repeated the verse. They sang as a group next. Nearly everyone messed up on the words.

"Okay,'' Ashley sighed,'' That's enough for today. We will do this next week.''

Everyone quickly ran out of the room, whispering about how stupid the song was.