Okay I'm soooo sorry about the delay with the updates, but let me make it up to you with two chapters. Don't forget to review and thank you to those who have been reviewing! Enjoy :p
"October 31st, snooping for the scoop. Recording number 48" Randall crawled out of the janitors closet- his usual hiding spot decked out in his 'press' hat, with a recorder, a pad of paper and a pen in hand. "Hmmmm who shall we interview first?"
By now most students were aware about the stolen frogs and as the self-proclaimed breaking news expert of "The Spiro T. Ag-newspaper, Randall knew he had to be the first to get the scoop.
He looked around the hall to find a good reliable source or at least someone who wouldn't beat him up if he wrote a fictitious article.
"Hustler kid?" He watched as the school's number one salesman explained his return policy to one of his customers.
"Well if you're not satisfied with my means of business you can take your business to one of the many other students hustling merchandise from their trench coats!"
"Maybe not... best not to get on his bad side incase I run out of cookies. Who else? Who else?" He questioned as he walked by a dark and gloomy corner.
"Oh I wouldn't pop that zit if I were you."
Randall turned around to see a shadow emerge from the corner and greet a group of kids.
"How bout Butch? No.. only a fool would believe his tall tales."
"Swinger girl?" He shivered when she walked by, she's had it out for him ever since second grade when he told Mrs. Finster that she brought a can of WD-40 to school. She did bring it to fix a loud swing, but it was still against the rules, a snitch gotta do what a snitch gotta do.
Randall spotted Mikey and Gretchen cleaning up. He hid in the doorway of a classroom and surveyed the scene.
A dim light bulb appeared above his head. "Hmmm the leader of the protest. A few words from him would be extra moist."
"You gotta stop talking to yourself snitch!" Lawson pointed out as he left the classroom that Randall hid in.
Immediately after the news of the stolen frogs broke out Mikey began to rid of any evidence of the protest, he and Gretchen were in the middle of taking down a banner when Vince caught up with them.
"Hey buddy I went down to the cafeteria early and scored some butter-scotch pudding- your favorite."
"Thank you but I don't have much of an appetite right now." They finished taking down the banner and Mikey began tearing it to shreds.
"Wow I never though't I'd see the day." Vince put a calming hand on Mikey's shoulder. "I'm really sorry this didn't work out, but you sure all our work was in vain?"
"I'm afraid so, the administration said it could take a few weeks to get another batch of frogs, by then the student body will most likely have forgotten about the protest. On the bright side, any day now you should be receiving your acceptance letters to one of the performing arts schools that you applied to."
Mikey slumped down to the floor and sighed. "But Gretchen that doesn't help the frogs."
"Well it saves one frogs life." Vince pointed out. Gretchen and Mikey shot him a dirty look. "Sorry I'm no good at being optimistic."
"No you are right Vince." Mikey looked up at his friends with newfound hope. "One less life will be sacrificed... And who knows maybe a few kids will remember the protest and opt out of the dissection. If we can save at least one life then I say it was all worth it."
"There he is!" Vince shouted and pulled Mikey to his feet. "There's the happy-go-lucky guy we know and love. Now come on why don't you take a break from cleaning."
"Good idea Vince, we could all use a break. Now I have to go help Mr. Flynn prepare a study guide for the upcoming math test. I'll be back to help you after lunch." Gretchen waved the two goodbye.
"She calls that a break?" Vince laughed. "I gotta go too but I can lend you a hand later, take it easy big guy." Vince left for gym class leaving Mikey alone.
He looked around at the scattered remains of the protest and shook his head. Even with the help from his friends it was going to take all day to clean. But they were right he needed to take a breather and collect his thoughts.
"Soooo Blumberg." Randall caught Mikey's attention.
Mikey's optimism was really being tested today. "Hello Randall." He muttered in a less than enthusiastic tone.
"So I heard about the great frog heist, and I know how passionate you felt about the cause, so I ask you this- who do you think stole the frogs? and what do you think their motivation was?" Randall held his tape recorder up to his interviewee.
Mikey sighed. "I honestly don't know Randall, and I don't wish to comment any further." Mikey turned away from him and headed to his next class, but Randall wasn't giving up yet. He kept up with Mikey's pace easily seeing how he was much smaller and more agile than the gentle giant.
"Hey hey I'm trying to help you out friend!"
"He's not your friend Weems!" Tj yelled from behind.
"Well if it isn't the test stealers, last I recall you two aren't too chummy with Mikey here either."
"That's none of your business! Now leave him alone or else you and Madame Fist are going to get pretty chummy." Spinelli rolled up her sleeve exposing her weaponry.
"Alright alright! I'll lay off him, but I will crack this story." Randall turned off his recorder and retreated back to the whole he crawled out of.
"Yeah and if you even think about bugging him again your story won't be the only thing that gets cracked!"
"Thank you Spinelli, I really need to get my mind off of the protest and his investigation wasn't really helping."
"No problem." Spinelli smiled at him.
"Is there anything we can do for you man?" Tj put his hand on Mikey's arm since he was far too short to reach his shoulder.
Mikey's response was cut off by the school's intercom cutting in.
"Can I have Michael Blumberg to the Principal's office please, that is Michael Blumberg to the Principal's office, thank you."
