Chapter 10: Decisive Action
KP, however, wasn't about to let the incident go without dealing with it at cheerleading practice. Ron had showed up and gotten changed before the rest of the squad, as usual. As was his habit he then grabbed a dry mop and swept the area where the squad would be practicing. The Middleton High Gym saw a lot of activity during the day and the slight loss of traction caused by just a little bit of dirt or water could be disastrous for a cheerleading squad performing high-end gymnastic routines or pyramids. He then grabbed a few practice mats and laid them out nearby, in case they were needed for new tumbling routines. He had just filled up a mop bucket with a disinfecting solution, for the mats, when the rest of the squad showed up. Kim called them all together. Mrs. Johnson, the faculty coach for the squad, stayed back and let Kim take care of things.
"Okay everyone," she snapped once the squad was assembled, "we all know about the little incident in the Lunchroom today. I've let this petty bickering and back stabbing to go on LONG ENOUGH! I am doing something about this right now. Bonnie, Ron, both of you come out here! Ron and Bonnie tiptoed nervously out to Kim.
"You first," Kim marched up face to face with Bonnie. "If I EVER catch you using the term 'loser', 'dog', 'idiot' or ANY derogatory term to describe ANY member of this squad, on school grounds or at a school function you are OFF this squad! Do you understand me?" Bonnie managed a weak nod, her eyes very wide.
"And for you," Kim spun and faced Ron, "If you EVER use the term 'ivory tower', 'Snobville', or any other insulting term for this squad YOU are off this squad! Do YOU understand me?"
"Completely." Ron replied.
"I have already spoken to Coach Winters. This rule stays in effect for both of you even if Ron leaves this squad. If either of you makes a scene like you did today, you will be either suspended or expelled from any team either of you is on. Am I clear?"
Both Ron and Bonnie nodded.
"Now for everybody else," Kim spun to the assembled squad, "there will be no more incidents like today in the Lunchroom from anybody here. This squad has won the last eight major competitions we have entered and I WILL NOT HAVE US TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN! We've got a good squad and I will not let personal conflicts break this squad apart. We, myself included, have all been warned. Mrs. Johnson will either suspend or expel me if I act up and I will do the same for any of you. DO YOU ALL UNDERSTAND?"
Stunned nods from the entire squad.
"I hope that we can all be friends but if we can't I'll have to settle for us all being civil to each other. I don't care what you think about me; or what you call me off of school grounds and away from school functions. But the minute we start representing this school, Miss Manners comes into play. Can we all agree to this?"
Everyone nodded.
"For you over there," she addressed the half-dozen or so students who had assembled to watch the squad practice. "Some of you have already showed an interest in trying out to be the mascot. I want to assure you that this little drama is NOT typical for our practices. Something happened and I had to deal with it. Bonnie, please return to your seat. Ron, please continue to clean the mats."
Kim relaxed and resumed her normal tone. "Now it's time for rumor control. You prospective mascots will also want to hear this. Our current mascot joined the wrestling team and is pretty good at it. Coach Winters and I have agreed to share his services as long as he isn't a varsity wrestler. Coach Winters has stated that if Ron makes the varsity squad he will either become a full time wrestler or quit the team. Ron has already indicated that he will choose wrestling over cheerleading in that case."
Several of the squad gave small, surprised gasps. Ron wondered if they were surprised that he was good at something or indignant that anybody would choose anything over the squad.
"Ron," she continued, "has offered to help train his replacements in order to prepare for the time that he might leave the squad. So now that the rumors have been addressed I have one last action to take with regards to the verbal sniping. I heard a whole lot of giggling and gossiping from this squad during the incident in the Lunchroom. Obviously everyone has just too much energy if we're wasting it on encouraging that sort of behavior." Kim favored the squad with a truly evil grin. "This practice is going to take care of that." The squad sucked in a collective breath.
"As for you prospective mascots," she continued, "watch the current mascot at work. Once we're done, ask yourself if you really want to put yourself through this." Ron stifled a groan. This practice wasn't going to be fun for anybody.