Part XVIII
Sunday, 24th December
Danny threw a glance outside the school window as snow fell pass, for once glad he wasn't a part of the family Santa debate but still wished he had been anywhere else beside school. He looked back inside the room to see Mr. Lancer typing away at his computer at the head of the classroom. Sam and Tucker sat at desks beside him, all working on the same test.
The last month had been a whirlwind of events all starting with helping Nishlin and his crew reaching the Ghost Zone. That happened a few days after Dani had made it aboard. Danny, Sam, and Tucker didn't make it back to Earth until December 8th. Because of the nature of what had happened, they had all agreed to tell only that the three had been kidnapped and abandoned somewhere out west, slowly making their way as best as they could back home. They had to spend a few days in a hospital, recovering from the month long decontamination that had happened to them, while police officers tried to learn more about where they had been. Danny felt bad about lying to them about what had happened, but he still smiled, knowing his parents were fully behind him and supportive.
It wasn't until the 20th that they got back to school, Lancer promising to teach them through break to help them catch up. Sam was a bit mad, missing most of Hannukah, the last day being yesterday, but her family had decided to move it so it overlapped with Christmas.
Danny looked back at his test, finishing the last question before going back through the page.
A knock at the class door got Danny's attention to see the new substitute poking her head in. "Excuse me," the elderly Russian woman started. She glanced at the three students, stopping on Danny for a moment before turning her eyes back to Mr. Lancer.
"Yes, Ms Konstantinov," Lancer said, turning his chair to the woman still half hidden in the doorway.
"I have hope the children would not mind a Sachyelnik surprise," the elderly woman said, stepping in with a bowl of nuts and berries.
"Let them finish their tests, Ms Margarita," Lancer said, giving the woman a smile. Lancer turned his attention back to Danny and added, "They've been through enough this year."
The end