The walk to school on Tuesday was one filled with plans and ideas. CJ's conversation with her father tickled the back of her mind as she spoke but never came into the decision making plan. Steven was not going to help set it up but he would help get the supplies she was going to need.
The week passed quickly and CJ had chosen not to 'rearrange' anything until Friday, sort of saving up for the 'big' day. The two kids had talked endlessly about the inability for this prank to go "very" wrong. It was more for a laugh than anything else.
Thursday night CJ was starting to get a little nervous about pulling it off and not getting caught, last year's catastrophe playing over and over again like a movie stuck on replay. When Tony came to say goodnight he didn't see the flash of anxiety that crossed his daughter's face. She finally fell asleep having convinced herself that she wasn't going to get caught and that it would be fun.
Friday morning CJ got to school early enough to enter Mr. Gillis classroom, set a few things up and go to the office in time for regularly scheduled morning routine with the announcements. Good Mornings and Happy Halloweens were exchanged with Mr. Thompson and Miss Parkin before going to work. The closer it got to the reveal, the more CJ started to question if it was the 'right' plan. But it was too late now as she couldn't easily undo without being seen.
Just after the morning bell rang Mr. Gillis stormed through the office and into see Mr. Thompson carrying one shoe and wearing the other. Something was dripping from his hands. CJ had to suppress the laugh and smile that were trying to escape.
Mr. Gillis entered his classroom. He sighed. He had been a long month. At least the practical jokes had stopped this week; they were wearing his patience rather thin. He took off his over coat and pulled on his jacket he always wore in class. Toed off his over shoes and pulled his dress shoes over to his desk where he sat down ready to put them on. As he slid his left foot into his shoe he noticed an egg carton open with a sign. "I am one of dozen. Happy Halloween! "the sign read. In the carton was a little egg painted like a jack o' lantern. Confused by how it got there or exactly what the sign meant he slid on his right shoe, cracking egg number 2 as he did it. Egg oozed around his foot and he quickly removed it from the now slimy shoe. Hurriedly putting his hand into his jacket pocket to retrieve his handkerchief to clean himself up he broke egg number 3. Removing his hand from his pocket he found orange bits of shell that had also been painted.
Saying Mr. Gillis was angry was a bit of an understatement at this point. He was not in the mood to deal with all of this and didn't see why he should have to. Scanning the classroom he noticed several eggs on shelves, sills and ledges, all precariously set up ready to take a tumble should they be ever so slightly bumped. Without clearing the mine field of jack o' lantern eggs to took off to have a word with one Mr. Thompson.
The two men didn't bother closing the door as they discussed loudly what had happened to Mr. Gillis. CJ's ability to keep herself under control was being put to the test. She really didn't want to give away that she was involved. She took occasional sideways glances at Miss Parkin and then the open door. Miss Parkin realizing that CJ was able to hear all that was going on and figuring that wasn't the most professional quickly closed the door so that they would have a bit of privacy and lightly scolded CJ for listening in. "How was I not supposed to? The door was open and they were yelling." CJ defended herself in a harsh whisper.
Unfortunately CJ was only able to hear part of the description of what Mr. Gillis found before the door had been shut. Knowing her set up had worked she returned to the task at hand. She had put a lot of extra effort into this morning's broadcast, background music, jokes, spooky voice etc. And when CJ and the assistant of the day were through CJ entered Mr. Gillis first period class happy as a lark. She flashed a satisfied grin to Steven as she sat down. Without turning in her seat she perused the classroom looking for how many eggs had been cleaned up. By the looks of it they had all been found. No problem, the 2 most important had been found and that is what mattered.
Mr. Gillis simply sat at the front of the room, watching the students, no one said anything, no one moved. After what felt like an eternity Mr. Thompson walked through the door and stood perfectly still and calm at the front of the room scanning over the sea of faces staring back at him. CJ breathed deeply and slowly, everything was ok, no one could know, she was trying to convince herself of all of these things when Mr. Thompson finally spoke.
"Good Morning class. I am here to have a discussion about respect and responsibility." Mr. Thompson continued on that theme for several minutes not mentioning once the practical jokes and pranks of the last month. "Now it seems that one or more of you is having trouble with these concepts and is harassing our Mr. Gillis here by consistently pulling practical jokes at his expense. We have been ignoring these in hopes that those responsible will realize that they are inappropriate and stop of their own accord. Unfortunately this morning a culprit took things a little too far and has caused damage to Mr. Gillis' personal property and caused a big mess."
CJ sat still and quiet just like the rest of the class and tried to assess how they were reacting through her peripheral vision so that her reactions would mirror theirs. She felt she was doing a good job of 'blending' in. That was until Mr. Thompson continued his speech spending extra time glaring in CJ's direction. "I am going to go and wait in the hallway. I will be there for three minutes, at which time if the guilty party or parties have not given themselves up I will be contacting their father and explaining that it is not just today's events that we have issue with but the entire month. And since I am positive that the culprit's father has warned them against such actions, that is phone call they don't want me making."
CJ could feel his eyes boring holes in the side of her head as she sat stock still listening. He couldn't really be talking directly to her could he? But he had to be, she highly doubted anyone else's father would warn them against pulling stunts on Halloween. How did Mr. Thompson know, her father wouldn't have called him, would he? Actually she wouldn't put it past him.
Mr. Thompson walked out of the class and whispers and commotion broke out. CJ turned to Steven. CJ had learned from her Uncle Gibbs that a single look could say a lot. And right now looks across the room was all she had to communicate with Steven. His eyes were wide and he looked to CJ and then the door with his hands outstretched in question. CJ answered with a grimace. Steven quietly pointed to himself and then the door. Asking if CJ wanted him to go with her and take some of the responsibility as he was the one who had bought and decorated the eggs. CJ adamantly shook her head no. "Arrrgg" she said under her breath as she stood and followed after Mr. Thompson. By the time the door to the hall had closed again the class fell into deep silence.
Mr. Thompson was lazily leaning against the wall opposite the classroom door and smiled when CJ came to stand in front of him. "OH CJ" he said shaking his head "Come with me". CJ kept in step with the principal and they arrived to Miss Parkin's desk side by side. CJ gave her an apologetic grin. Miss Parkin really was trying to keep CJ on the straight and narrow and she didn't want the secretary to think that she didn't appreciate what she was doing for her. Mr. Thompson gestured for CJ to lead the way into his inner office. She took up her usual spot and stance in front of his desk, exhaled loudly and waited.
Mr. Thompson walked the long way around to be seated at his desk. Turning slightly in his chair and quietly observed the kid standing once again in front of him. What was it that made her think she could get away with it? They had suspected it was CJ 'redecorating' Mr. Gillis' classroom as the episodes had begun after their run-in out in the school yard. On Tuesday when Mr. DiNozzo had called to warn them he thought CJ might be up to something as Halloween was fast approaching Mr. Gillis and Mr. Thompson had set one of the school's cameras in the classroom. They had CJ on tape this time.
CJ only moved her eyes as she tried to assess how upset Mr. Thompson was. She figured that compared to last year the prank was pretty benign and so he probably wasn't as angry. He really didn't seem angry at all but she remained still and quiet waiting. The patience required to just stand there was not something CJ was good at but had become more practiced and really didn't want to be the first to speak. Minutes past before Mr. Thompson addressed her "CJ, what were you thinking? You have ALWAYS been caught, it has never ended well for you and yet here you are in my office having committed the same offence AGAIN."
No knowing the correct response CJ remained quiet.
Again the two stayed silent waiting for the other to speak. When Mr. Thompson realized that CJ was not going to elaborate on her side of the story he tried prompting again "What were you trying to prove?"
"Nothing" CJ said sounding dismal "I wasn't trying to PROVE anything…. I was just having a little fun… it was supposed to be funny… it isn't my… "
Before she had a chance to finish the sentence Mr. Thompson interrupted "I wouldn't go blaming anyone for not taking this well … as that won't look good…"
CJ pursed her lips, breathed in slowly and lowered her shoulders. "Sir I was just having fun, no one got hurt…. You'll be happy to know that I was VERY careful that anything I did wouldn't hurt anyone" and the charismatic smile sparkled.
"And that is why I am not punishing you at school CJ, I figure any disciplinary action that your father administers will probably be more of a deterrent then anything I would do."
The smile disappeared quickly. "Sir, that is not necessary, you don't need to call him at all, I don't mind whatever you see fit to do, sir… there really isn't a need to talk to him at all … I think you'd be a little hasty in jumping to contacting him… sir PLEASE do NOT call my father…show some mercy" CJ did not like to whine, plead or look weak desperate times called for desperate measures.
Mr. Thompson held up his hand to stop the rambling. "CJ, STOP. I AM showing mercy. I am not punishing you at school…."
CJ opened her mouth to protest and again Mr. Thompson held up his hand. "I have already called your father. He called at the beginning of the week to warn me you might be up to something" raising his eyebrows at CJ "and at that time I agreed to keep him apprised as to your actions throughout this week, being that it was Halloween and you have a bit of track record."
"You already called him?" CJ whispered slowly. Her head and shoulders sagged "you said that you would only call if the culprit didn't turn themselves in. I turned myself in."
"What I said was that if you didn't turn yourself in ….I would explain to your father about your actions of the last month." Mr. Thompson waited to see if CJ understood what he was saying.
"CJ I explained that you were responsible for our egg o' lanterns in Mr. Gillis' class… but that is all…"
CJ was floored… she didn't understand why … she was standing in the office not sure what to do or say next.
"CJ I was a kid once too… and believe it or not… I seemed to find myself in a spot of trouble every now and then… and like you I had a father who… well… I think you understand… I'm sure without the knowledge of the daily harassment to Mr. Gillis you will be sufficiently reprimanded… CJ Please stay out of trouble for the rest of the year… PLLLEEEAASSSEEE…" Mr. Thompson gave CJ as supportive smile and nod.
"Sir… is my father …. coming here?" CJ hesitantly asked.
"No… you get to wait until he gets home from work tonight… I'm not suspending you so you'll stay here all day… go back to class and apologize to Mr. Gillis before going to second period. Miss Parkin will give you a hall pass." With that Mr. Thompson paid attention to his computer monitor and followed CJ with his eyes only once she had turned to leave and shaking his head.
CJ walked numbly back to Mr. Gillis' classroom. Steven had once again taken CJ's belongings to the next class. CJ quickly and without emotion apologized to Mr. Gillis for her actions before turning on her heel and heading to second period class.