Ch. 19
"Alright, everyone, time's up. Pencils down."
The soft clatter of pencils being set down on wooden desk and the shuffling of papers echoed through the classroom. Ms. Devon strode up and down the rows of desks collecting the test papers.
"I'll be grading these throughout the day, so you will have the results of both tests before dismissal. Now, let's get ready to head to the cafeteria. We're going to spend the rest of the afternoon on our projects, so if there's anything you need to get from the art room or library, be sure to do so this afternoon."
The lunch bell rang and Ms. Devon nodded at the class.
"Get your lunches and coats and I'll see you back here in forty minutes."
One by one, the class of children gathered their packed noon meals and winter clothing and filed out of the room toward the cafeteria. Once inside, they splintered off into groups to sit at the various tables scattered through the spacious room. Some of the kids set their winter clothes on their chairs and joined the line of kids who bought the hot lunch served by the school while others sat down to eat right away.
"I still can't believe Dylan faked being sick today," Tessa said as she took a seat next to James.
"I dunno; sounds like something he'd do," Ricky said as he opened his lunchbox from where he sat across from the two.
"That's what I thought," James replied softly. "Especially after last night."
James's friends fell silent at this, having already been informed of the older boy's words towards James earlier that day. After a few minutes, Ricky shrugged and reached for his sandwich.
"Dylan's an idiot!" he declared.
"Ricky!" Tessa tried to look shocked, but couldn't stop the grin spreading over her face as Adam and James also suppressed laughter.
"What? He is! Only an idiot would be mean to you, James."
"Well, he was mean."
"See? Toldja!"
"And I don't think he's sorry."
"I don't think Dylan knows how to be sorry, James," Tessa said softly.
"I don't think so either," James admitted. The little boy sighed as he unwrapped his own sandwich. "And I think Dylan's playing sick so he won't get in trouble for what he said last night."
"I guess." Adam frowned, his dark brown eyes looking almost black under his fringe of black hair. "But how long is he gonna play sick for? Think he'll do it tomorrow?"
"Maybe." James thought about this. "We only have a half day of school, so he may not want to bother."
"My sister doesn't want to," Tessa said with a smile. "Katie's been begging Mom to let her stay home tomorrow."
"Do you think she will?"
"No. Katie has a history test tomorrow and she just doesn't want to study."
"Just like Dylan!"
Another round of laughter rippled through the kids and James actually found he felt better. With a smile, the little boy bit into the chicken salad sandwich, savoring the rich chicken, onion, and mayonnaise on the chilled bread. The cozy chatter of lunchroom continued on around James as he and his friends ate with most of the talk concerning tomorrow.
"My project's almost done. I just have to finish the written part."
"I have to add the wheels on my cart."
"Dad says he's getting what I need at the hardware store."
"My mom's going shopping for some stuff for me too. And she's gonna make my favorite stew tomorrow."
"Yeah, it's gonna snow tomorrow, right?"
"Right," James spoke up. "Centipede said we're going to have to stay inside all Saturday because the weather's going to be really bad. And it's going to get so cold tomorrow afternoon that people could freeze if they stay outside too long."
"Oooh, I hope Dad builds a big fire."
"Me too. Oh, Tessa?" James turned to his friend. "Let's try to go to the library tomorrow before we have to go home. I want to get a few new books."
"Yes! And did you hear the new book in the Royal Adventures series came out?"
"I know. I'll ask Mr. Grasshopper if I can get it once the weather's better. He always lets me get new books."
"I can't wait to see what's going to happen in this book. Do you think we'll get to go back to the Island of Nublar?"
"I hope so. I thought the Komodians would be villains, but when they came to fight with Prince Farin and Princess Kaela, that was amazing."
"And Lord Gregor's army was so scared, half of them surrendered right then."
"'A coward to the last,'" James quoted. Reaching into his lunch bag, James reached for the small packet of chocolate biscuits Mrs. Ladybug had packed for him. Pulling one out, James snapped it in half and offered the slightly bigger piece to Tessa. Smiling, Tessa took it and replied,
"We never abandon our friends."
Tapping the piece of cookie together like toasting goblets, James and Tessa shared out their desserts as the lunchroom chatter swirled around them like snowflakes on a winter breeze. James glanced out the cafeteria window at the dim winter sun, knowing that said sun probably wouldn't make another appearance until Sunday, if that. For an instant, James felt a flicker of pity that Dylan wouldn't get to enjoy it, but that pity vanished just as quickly as he realized that Dylan wouldn't have wanted to enjoy the fresh air and sun anyway.
Well, James hoped Dylan was enjoying himself because he doubted Dylan would have much to enjoy after today.
In that regard, James was both right and wrong.
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As far as Dylan was concerned, not being able to run about in the winter sun was no great loss. As soon as James and Centipede left, Dylan set about making himself comfortable, which was not hard as the couch was soft and his quilt warm. But the best part was that the remote control was in his reach and Mrs. Ladybug was too busy washing the breakfast dishes to pay him much attention. Dylan turned the TV on and flipped through the channels until he found what he was looking for. He knew from experience that there was an especially great show on around this time and it had just as much action as the shows during the afternoon.
Settling back, Dylan nibbled from the plate of crackers Mrs. Ladybug had given him. The older boy scowled a bit, wishing the crackers were cookies, but maybe he could have cookies later. Grandma always gave him cookies and chocolate milk when he stayed home from school because she knew that made him feel better. And anyway, he was sick, so he should get whatever he wanted.
Satisfied with that idea, Dylan failed to notice Miss Spider coming down the stairs. She paused in surprise at the sight of both Dylan and the working television, but her gaze quickly fell on Mrs. Ladybug waving to her from the kitchen. Miss Spider passed by the couch, but Dylan paid her no mind. On the screen, a group of men in a seedy bar were playing cards and one of them had a knife. Dylan grinned; he couldn't wait until he could go to a club like that with a knife in his pocket. Hmmm, maybe he'd ask Grandma for a knife once he was able to go home. Yeah, that'd be great!
Mrs. Ladybug left the kitchen and passed through the living room to collect her own winter coat.
"I have work until roughly 5:00, but if you start feeling any worse, Dylan, let Miss Spider know and she can call me."
"Uh-huh." Dylan didn't look up from the television. One of the men was going to get stabbed soon, he was certain of it.
"And try to get some rest. You'll need it."
Dylan ignored her, not wanting to miss the fight that was sure to break out.
From the kitchen, Miss Spider watched Mrs. Ladybug leave before turning her attention to Dylan. Like the others, she knew the older boy was in no way feeling ill, but if Dylan wanted to be treated as though he were sick, she was happy to play along.
"How are you feeling, Dylan?"
"Bad."
"Perhaps you should try and rest, like Mrs. Ladybug said."
"I am resting. I'm laying on the couch."
"You should sleep."
"I wanna watch TV. That'll make me feel better." Dylan stretched out on the couch, pulling his quilt around him as he watched the two men on the screen begin to scuffle. Hah, the guy was getting stabbed! Good; Dylan hoped there'd be more fighting. But first...
"I'm hungry!"
"Oh?" Miss Spider frowned. "I thought you were feeling too sick to eat."
"I can eat cookies and chocolate milk."
Miss Spider smiled. "I am sorry, Dylan, but Mrs. Ladybug said you were feeling too nauseous to eat breakfast this morning. Children who are sick should not eat sweets nor should they have milk. I can make you toast and jam if you would like."
"Noooo," Dylan whined. "I want cookies and chocolate milk."
"If you are sick, you cannot have them. You are sick, yes?"
"Yes!"
"Then you cannot have cookies and chocolate milk."
"No fair!" Dylan crossed his arms and pouted. "Grandma lets me have them."
"I am sorry, but I must follow the advice of a doctor. For now, though, I think you should rest."
"But-"
"Of course, if you are feeling better, I can still take you to school. I will be happy to explain to your teacher why you are late."
"What? No! I'm sick."
"I am certain," Miss Spider replied with a smile Dylan didn't like. "And since you are sick, you must eat carefully. If not toast and jam, some soup and crackers. Let me know if you wish for anything like that." With that, Miss Spider breezed back into the kitchen to fix herself a late breakfast.
Dylan scowled as he turned back to the television. Stupid bugs; even when he was sick, they wouldn't be nice to him. Well, okay, he wasn't sick, but he had to make them believe he was sick. And... well, he was able to watch TV now, so that was something. Dylan kept pouting though; he really wanted cookies and chocolate milk. But if he kept asking for them, the weird spider would make him go to school. Ugh, if Grandma was here, she'd give him cookies and chocolate milk and he wouldn't have to worry about going to school. Stupid bugs; he hated living here! And stupid James, too; they'd give him cookies.
The television cut to a commercial and Dylan was surprised to see a woman on TV carrying a tray of pancakes and juice to a boy in bed with a broken leg. The older boy stared at the commercial, hardly noticing that it was an advertisement for maple syrup, but very interested in the mother waiting on her son. Huh, Dylan thought, maybe if he said he'd broken his leg, he'd get cookies and chocolate milk and ice cream. But he didn't know how to fake that and anyway, wouldn't he have to get a shot for that? Dylan didn't want a shot.
But...
Dylan grinned as he sat up and called,
"I want toast and jam! Lots of it!"
"You have changed your mind?" Miss Spider entered the living room again, a surprised frown on her pale white face.
"Yes. My stomach hurts and you said toast will make me feel better!"
"Indeed it will. But please remember to ask nicely next time. What kind of jam would you like? We have strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry."
"All of them. And I'm thirsty too. I want juice."
"Manners, Dylan."
Dylan groaned and flopped back onto the couch. "I don't feel well," he moaned in his best weak voice. "I need toast with lots of jam."
Miss Spider sighed. "Very well; I shall make that for you. But just because you are sick, it does not mean you are excused from being polite."
"That's what you think," Dylan muttered, a grin sliding its way across his pudgy face. Oh, yes, today was going to be a good day indeed and Dylan planned to make the most of it!