Cole examined his paper that he had finished for Mr. Lars' class before setting it into his binder. He was getting his lunch with Blake and Tim as they usually did while also doing some school work as they ate their hamburgers, fries, and salad. Blake suddenly looked thoughtful.
"Cole, could you get us some of that Jello before we go?", he asked.
Cole shrugged and headed off to get some bowls before Tim looked Blake's way curiously.
"Why did he have to get us Jello?", he asked, "Special occasion?"
Blake suddenly tensed, but quickly slapped on a straight face.
"Yeah, because the test for our classes is coming up and we were going to compare scores to see who buys the popcorn and soda at the cinema."
Tim looked more at ease, but then curious again.
"Whoever has the best score or who has the lower score?", he asked.
Blake thought for a moment.
"Lower score sounds fair to me.", he answered.
Cole then showed up with a few bowls of Jello and the boys got into it. The flavor was cherry with whipped cream across the top. Cole then looked deep in thought.
"Guys, do you have any idea what kind of special assignment Mr. Lars takes certain students on when they do well?"
Blake and Tim shrugged.
"I don't know.", Blake stated, "Maybe it's a trip to the library or something."
"Or an extra credit project in some kind of setting.", Tim suggested, "Mr. Lars keeps this to himself and springs it up when it's time to see who's going."
Cole got more interested.
"Wow, now I really have to pass this test we're studying for.", he stated.
As they finished up dessert, Cole heard the familiar sound of Hal and his buds walking in with their black biker boots. Cole tensed as he prepared for the usual session of Hal bragging and trying to put others down with Greg and Drake putting in their own opinions.
"Is that a paper? I wouldn't use it for tissue paper."
"You tell them Hal."
"Yeah."
Cole sighed as he got up with Blake and Tim to go dump their trays hoping to avoid Hal and his buds, but needless to say, they ran out of luck yet again.
"Oh look guys, it's Mr. Shakespeare, Dr. Dolittle, and Super Nerd."
Cole sighed heavily as Greg and Drake spoke their opinions.
"Get any diseases you plan to share, Doc?", Greg teased clearly aiming for Blake.
"Does that computer come with a "Self-help" app or just factory condition?", Drake shot Tim's way.
Cole could see that Blake and Tim didn't take the comments lightly, but Hal's comment to Cole made Cole almost lose his cool.
"No story ideas to make a name for yourself?", Hal shot his way, "Or do you just duplicate other works and alter it so it's yours?"
Cole tried to put it out of his mind as he, Blake, and Tim started leaving, but Hal wasn't going to let him leave without getting one more word in.
"I bet I can write a better story for Mr. Lars than you ever could."
Cole paused and turned looking super annoyed.
"I'm not interested in competing with you, Hal.", he stated firmly.
/
Hal looked amused.
"Oh look boys, Shakespeare is too scared to think he can-"
"Wrong conclusion.", Cole snapped cutting Hal off, "I'm not going to compete with you, but the reason why is not because I'm scared of you. You're just not worth it."
Hal gave a smirk.
"Oh, I'm not good enough for you?", he asked before sounding firm, "Okay Shakespeare, I'll show you!"
He turned and left with Greg and Drake behind him, but Cole was feeling better as he, Blake, and Tim made their way to the library. Mrs. Wilson was around, but she smiled as she looked the trio's way.
"Hey boys, how is your day?", she asked.
"Just thought we'd get some extra study time before our next class.", Cole stated.
Cole went on ahead, and Tim went off to the library database while Blake stayed behind for some reason.
"You okay there, Mr. Wolfen?", Mrs. Wilson asked sounding concerned, "You seem troubled."
"What do you mean?", Blake asked trying to cover his insecurity.
Mrs. Wilson looked firm. Something was up and she wanted to find out what. Blake finally lost his nerve and felt like confessing.
"Okay, I'm just a little worried about Cole.", he stated.
"In what way?", Mrs. Wilson asked raising an eyebrow.
Blake suddenly felt the shock and fear he felt only a few days back.
"Okay, when my class went to the hospital for a little in-the-field experience, I kind of snuck a peek into Cole's medical file."
Mrs. Wilson looked firm again.
"Don't you know that kind of information was private?", she asked.
"I know.", Blake answered, "But how was I supposed to know that Cole had a-"
"Blake, you coming?"
Blake suddenly caught himself when he heard Cole's voice.
"That Cole had a what?", Mrs. Wilson asked.
Blake suddenly felt like he should probably not tell Mrs. Wilson what he found since he recalled what the doctor told Cole's parents when they were leaving.
"What matters is that we keep Cole as comfortable as possible."
Blake then turned to Mrs. Wilson and thought of an excuse quick.
"That Cole had a… doctor's appointment for… a flu in his youth."
Mrs. Wilson looked at Blake like he was crazy so Blake knew he had to back up what he said.
"Well, a flu usually isn't so bad, but maybe Cole might catch some illness and I want to read up in the symptoms in case it happens again so I know what to do."
Mrs. Wilson looked at ease and wrote down some book titles on a paper before handing it to Blake who took it graciously and headed for the books.
"Phew, that was close.", he thought to himself, "I need to work on keeping my mouth shut or I'll shoot it off when I shouldn't."
He soon saw Cole reading and tried to look sure as he came over grabbing some medical books from the shelf on his way over.
/
By the time the next class session started nearing, Cole was feeling like he was set. He'd turn in his paper a day early and hopefully, Mr. Lars would allow him to take part in the special assignment that was being spoken of around campus. He then felt like he had to take a bathroom break and so he made his way to the restroom so he could get his business out of the way. Luckily, he only had to go number one and since it wouldn't take long, he dropped his books and bags near the door and went to the urinal. After a quick run and a washing of his hands, Coel froze as the slight sound of a zipper caught his ears. He turned fast and saw a hand closing his backpack and Coel wasn't happy.
"Hey, what's the big idea?", he asked.
He got to his backpack as he noticed Hal running towards Mr. Lars' classroom and Cole gave chase. He had just gotten there when he saw something that made his blood boil: Hal turning in his paper to Mr. Lars looking like he had written it himself.
"Here it is Mr. Lars.", Hal said proudly, "My entry paper."
Mr. Lars looked unsure as Cole came over and then saw his own handwriting.
"Excuse me, but that was my paper.", he said firmly, "I wrote that thing all week."
Hal looked Cole's way accusingly.
"Don't listen to him, he's clearly overworked."
"I am not.", Cole insisted.
"Enough!", Mr. Lars snapped.
Both Cole and Hal stopped as Mr. Lars looked sour.
"There's only one thing that can break this up and prove once and for all who is honest: both of you write a short story in the ten minutes that remain before class.", he said firmly, "And don't even think of seating beside or around one another while this is going on. I want each of you on opposite sides of the room."
Cole seemed fine with the arrangement, but Hal looked a bit nervous though Cole could see he was trying to cover it up. As they took their seats, Cole got out his pencils and a blank paper and got to work. Hal was doing the same though he seemed to be having a case of writer's block as Mr. Lars observed as if Cole and Hal were inmates in a prison yard. By the time the rest of the class showed up and saw what was going on, Hal and Cole had finished and turned in their papers. Mr. Lars observed closely over each one.
"Hmm….mhmm…decent allegory…nice imagery…"
Cole tensed as he silently prayed that Hal wouldn't take credit for his work and he was praying that the paper he had written would make the grade for the special assignment. Hal looked sure of himself, but Cole sensed he was nervous also. Mr. Lars then smiled and turned to Cole.
"Congratulations Cole, your paper won out."
Hal looked shocked and Cole brightened.
"What?!", Hal asked, "How?! I deserve this class!"
"Your short story clearly was made up on the fly and while that may pass in common schools, I'm another story.", Mr. Lars explained harshly, "Besides, if you must be reduced to plagiarism, you don't deserve to know the art of writing and don't respect it. Now get out of my classroom or I can have Mr. Kirby and Mr. Ford escort you out."
Hal looked Cole's way angrily, but obliged with Mr. Lars' instructions and left. Mr. Lars looked less sour as he turned to the rest of the class.
"Let this here be a lesson.", he said keeping his firm tone, "Now if anyone would like to write a five-page essay on why plagiarism is the wrong thing to do, get to your desks and SIT DOWN!"
/
As the class got into work, Mr. Lars beckoned Cole to come up to him and with the look he was giving, Cole knew better than to argue. As Cole came up, Mr. Lars' expression softened, but only so much that Cole didn't feel interrogated.
"It was nice of you to stand up for yourself back there.", Mr. Lars stated, "Hal had no right to take your paper and if you couldn't recognize your handwriting, than I wouldn't have believed you."
Cole tensed, but kept listening.
"You're getting far in this class Cole.", Mr. Lars continued, "I am pleased to say that you have a good chance of going on the special assignment I will be taking after the test tomorrow."
Cole felt a bit surprised, but felt like he should say something.
"Does that mean that it'll be graded?", he asked.
Mr. Lars raised an eyebrow.
"Does the lion hunt without his mane?", he asked.
Cole knew the answer and knew it was the answer to his question. Mr. Lars went back to keeping an eye on the class as Cole went back to his desk. Since he had some free time, Cole decided to get a head's up on the following assignments while reflecting on his past adventures. A familiar song came to his mind as he started remembering it as he got into his other work.
"Don't lose your way with each passing day. You've come so far. Don't throw it away. Live believing, dreams are for weaving wonders awaiting to start. Live your story. Faith, hope, and glory. Hold to the truth in your heart."
Cole remembered his first visit to Littlefoot's world and the first encounter with Sharptooth, the journey to the Great Valley, and all the events that played out with it before continuing.
"If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die. Dreams see us through til forever. Where clouds roll by for you and I. Souls in the wind learn how to bend. Seek out a star, hold on to the end. Valley, mountain, there is a fountain, washes our tears all away. Words are swaying, someone is praying. Please let us come home to stay."
Cole then remembered his second visit with the chasing of the egg-stealers, Chomper hatching, and even the time Chomper's parents came and even though they were frightening, Cole felt that was expected. They were predatory after all and all predators were designed to be scary (in their own unique way).
"If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die. Dreams see us through til forever. Where clouds roll by for you and I. When we are out there in the dark, we'll dream about the sun. In the dark we'll feel the light. Warm our hearts, everyone."
Cole then reflected back to his previous visit and the memory of Hyp, Mutt, and Nod alongside the drought, the raging fires, the rescue at the tar pit, and even the release of the water so that the Great Valley could prosper again. Cole sighed as the chorus of the song kept going in his mind.
"If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die. Dreams see us through to forever. As high as souls can fly, the clouds roll by for you and I."
/
By the time that class had ended for the day, Cole headed out to find Blake and Tim already waiting for him.
"Hey, how was class?", Tim asked as the trio headed towards the mess hall.
Cole looked unsure.
"Hal tried to steal my paper to pass off as his own entry to Mr. Lars' class.", he admitted, "Luckily, I caught him and Mr. Lars had us both write a short story to see who was telling the truth."
Blake looked surprised and then interested.
"Did you beat him?"
Cole nodded smiling.
"I did.", he answered, "By the way, what is dinner tonight?"
Tim looked a bit uneasy.
"I'm thinking it's beef stew with bread rolls and salad."
Blake looked firm for a moment.
"Actually, it's clam chowder.", he answered.
Cole brightened as clam chowder was pretty tasty to him. Still, as they filed in when dinner was being served, they noticed Hal, Greg, and Drake already around. Though this time, Hal looked happy to see Cole.
"Hi Shakespeare.", he said with a smirk.
Cole tensed, but felt he needed to say something.
"We're just getting our dinner.", Cole stated.
"I know.", Hal answered, "Greg, Drake and I are about to go get ours. At Golden Corral."
Greg and Hal chuckled as the trio exchanged high-fives and left. Cole, Blake, and Tim were happy they were at least off campus for once when they were having dinner.
"Geez, beat Hal out for getting my paper stolen and suddenly, he rubs the fact he's going out to dinner.", Cole muttered.
Blake and Tim silently agreed, but Cole had to use the restroom shortly after they finished.
"I'll meet you at the dorm.", Cole told them.
Blake and Tim headed off as if understanding while Cole went to the bathroom. He was just finishing up and washing his hands when a sound came to his ears. It sounded like singing only there was something about it that was so beautiful, so serene, so heavenly. He paused and then he noticed some magical shimmering in the mirror above the bathroom sink.
"Again?", he asked, "Another adventure?"
As if to answer him, the mirror shimmered again and the music grew louder as if whatever was making the music was just behind the walls. Cole looked to see if any of the charms on his necklace were glowing, but none of the four were.
"Must be a new one.", he decided, "Well, another Don Bluth adventure and another riddle to solve while I'm there."
He saw the shimmering in the mirror now enveloping the surface and Cole reached out to touch the mirror. Cole also felt himself growing faint, but he was too excited to care and by the time his hand made contact with the mirror, he disappeared leaving no trace behind.