Prescott Academy

PRESCOTT ACADEMY

Do you wanna have some fun?

I had just put away my belongings in my room at my new school when a group of noisy boys appeared in my open doorway. One kid in the front spoke up, “do ya wanna have some fun?” I was a little shocked that he hadn’t even introduced himself but I replied, “maybe later. I’m kind of in the middle of settling in. I’m Josh Farris.” “Oh we know who you are, we’ve been expecting the new rich kid. I’m Ben Harper. I’m Head Boy for the 3rd Floor. I’m the guy you need to know if you need anything.” Josh chose not to respond but the two boys with him were shaking their heads in agreement. “Great Ben, I’ll keep that in mind but if you’ll excuse me, I have to go see the Head Master about my class schedule.” They stumbled away in a tight little group mumbling to each other walking away.

“Odd,” I was thinking as I headed to see the Head Master.

I noticed two buildings had plaques hung over the doorways entrances. Stewart Dipple Hall was the first and the other was named Kendrick Kirkwood Hall. They were the academic studies buildings. Further up the pathway, I saw a large sign hung from a heavy iron post. sign reading Prescott Academy Administrative Office. I smoothed my hair back with my hand before I stepped into the hallway. Immediately to my left,I saw the door that read Head Master Walter Prescott. Prescott? I guess this place was named after him or someone in his family.

Just a week ago, Portman High School in Portman, Texas was the school that I had just been expelled from. A typical small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. I became the latest subject that the town gossips latched on to. I was a happy, normal Junior attending Portman High School. My life quickly changed when I accidentally walked in and witnessed a student, a poor homeless girl, stealing money from a teacher's purse. I had returned to the empty classroom to retrieve a book that I had forgotten. Mara was homeless and lived with her mother and three younger siblings in a variety of shelters. Her mother was having difficulty finding work. My mother was told this by the gossiping ladies. Anyway, I walked up to Mara. She was holding a good sum of cash in her hand. She saw me and panicked. I grabbed her wrist to stop her from fleeing and also just to talk to her. The teacher, Mrs. Clay, happened to walk back into her classroom at that very moment. I snatched the money from Mara’s hand and quietly whispered, “let me handle this.” She looked surprised but didn’t say anything. Mrs. Clay saw her open purse on top of her desk, saw me with a handful of money and ordered us both to have a seat and she called the school principal. To make a long story short, I took the blame. Mrs. Clay agreed not to press charges but I was expelled for a month. This started gossip immediately. My father was outraged. I lied to him while still trying to protect Mara. She was having a hard enough life without adding this. My family felt disgraced. and my father quickly arranged to sign me up at Prescott Academy. He has a friend who had some connection to the school.

So here I am. I knocked softly on the Head Master’s door and heard a male voice telling me to come in. I turned the knob and stepped into a plush office. “I’m back here, come on back.” The voice said. I stepped into a door located a few steps to my right. As I walked in, a man stood up from behind the desk and reached out to shake my hand. I shook his hand as he introduced himself as Walter Prescott III. “Hello sir, I’m Josh Farris.” I said as he pointed to a chair beside me and he sat down. Mr. Prescott was a tall man and looked like a football linebacker. I realized I was gawking at him and I muttered, “sorry, and sat down.” He pulled two leather folders from his desk. He kept one and passed the other folder to me. “Well, Josh, I’m very pleased that you chose to join our school. We have a lot to offer, I think you’re going to enjoy it here.” I relaxed the tight grip on my folder. Mr. Prescott gave me an overview while flipping through the pages of his copy of my folder as I followed along. It had basics about the academy, map of buildings, classrooms, library and the cafeteria marked. He went through my classes and pointed locations on my map and the gym. He then covered basic policies for the students. He explained cell phones must be left in the dorm rooms in a lock box provided in each student's closet and could only be used after school hours and on weekends. He gave me my five digit code for my lock box. Apparently, this was a big problem as he explained there were no exceptions. Students caught with a cell phone out during school hours would have their phones confiscated. He pulled out a key and unlocked a drawer and showed me at least 20 cell phones were in the drawer. I told him I understood and there wouldn’t be a problem. I meant it because I had promised my parents that I would do my best at this school and keep a low profile. It was now dinner time and I was starving. I found the cafeteria and stepped in the line. A large number of students were already seated. The food looked and smelled good. They were serving a lasagna dinner. I scanned the room for a place to sit. Students were staring at me. I just kind of smiled and nodded my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ben stand up and point at a seat beside him. I had a bad feeling about him so I acted like I didn’t see him and sat at a table a couple of rows over with my back to him. Two boys were already seated there. “You don’t mind me sitting with you, right?” They both had food in their mouth but shook their heads no. The smaller of the two, a red headed kid with lots of freckles, said “no you’re welcome to sit here.” I introduced myself. The boy with the red hair said he “I’m Sam Cooper and this is my brother, Kevin, we’re twins.” I could see the resemblance. Kevin was a little bigger and his hair was more blonde than red. “Fraternal twins,” Kevin said as he saw me looking at their differences. We chatted throughout our meal. They seemed intelligent and friendly. I liked them right away. Sam said, “our dorm room is right across the hall from yours. Have you met Angus Fleming yet?” “Who?” I asked. Sam continued, “Angus Fleming. He’s your roommate.” I had noticed someone else’s belongings and I knew I’d be sharing a room but I’d forgotten about it until now. “He got detention so he has chores in the stables. I think today is his last day.” Sam explained. We talked about the school. Kevin explained how the bell system worked. Bells would ring at different times and were used to signal things like when we had to clear the cafeteria and head to our dorms. Sam added that we didn’t have to go to our rooms right after dinner and that we could hang out in the Rec room until the last bell rang at 8:00pm. That was about two hours away. We went the Rec room where the twins said it would be a good time to meet some other boys from our floor. Sam and Kevin introduced me to several of the guys sitting on sofas watching TV. Ben had been watching TV while I was going through the introductions. He spotted me and the twins and walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder like we were buddies. “You can save my introduction. I was the first to meet Mr. Farris when he first arrived earlier today.” Sam cleared his throat and told Ben, “good to know Ben. We certainly don’t want to waste your time.” Kevin made a little sweeping motion with his hands as if he was shooing Ben away. Ben’s buddies joined him. They were like Ben’s shadows, glued to Ben wherever he went. We all snickered when Sam turned away and ignored Ben. Ben’s face turned a bright red, and he hissed, “listen new boy, you better not press your luck! Remember, I’m Head Boy and I know everything that happens around here.” “Good to know Ben, see you later.” I told him as I leaned in toward Ben showing him I was not intimidated. Ben harrumphed and turned and left with his shadows. I turned back to Sam and Kevin, “who does that guy think he is?” Kevin replied “he thinks he runs everything and everybody here. Be careful. Ben has the ear of Mr. Bell and he can get you in trouble. He lies and no one trusts him.” “Who’s Mr.Bell?” He’s Mr. Prescott’s Assistant, Sam replied and added, "he's a nightmare and sneaky just like Ben.” The 8:00 PM bell sounded and we started toward the stairs. I had walked up almost halfway and I realized that I had left my academy folder on the back of the sofa downstairs. I yelled up to the twins, “forgot something. I’ll be up in a sec.” I retrieved my folder and headed back toward the stairs. I stopped short when I saw Ben and his partners in crime stopped halfway up to the second floor. They didn’t see me. I quickly stepped back behind a large potted plant by the staircase. I could clearly hear their conversation. Ben was talking to the others, “ Wanna have some fun?” I don’t like this new guy, Josh. He thinks he’s too good for us. I heard he got into a bunch of trouble for stealing at his old school and that’s why his father sent him here. I’m sure he got his lock box code earlier. In the morning while everyone’s asleep, we go get all of the cell phones in Prescott’s office. Old man Bell told me where the spare key to that drawer is hidden. The codes for everyone’s lock boxes are in there too. We sneak in, get the drawer key, take all the cell phones and get Farris’ lock box code, we relock the drawer and put the spare key back. Then after Farris goes to breakfast, we put all the cell phones in his lock box. When Prescott misses the cell phones, the first person he’s going to think of is Farris because of his history. He’ll get expelled and he will be out of our lives.” The other boys nodded in favor of this plan then noticed the time. They hurried off to their rooms. I waited until they were out of sight and hustled up to my room. In bed I was thinking of some way to foil Ben’s sinister little plan. After just a few minutes, my room door opened and a tall, lanky kid with curly black hair and dressed in pajamas came in and walked over to the bed across from me. He turned on his lamp. I could see his hair was wet from the shower. He hadn’t seen me. I sat up and turned on my lamp. “What the hell?” He yelled obviously startled. “Sorry, I’m Josh Farris, your new roommate.”

“Dude, you scared the crap out of me!” He gave a little chuckle as he sat on the side of his bed. “I’m Angus Fleming.” “Yeah, Sam and Kevin told me that you had to work late in the stables.” I said as I sat up a little higher against my pillows. We chatted a bit then I told him about Ben. I wanted to get his opinion about Ben’s plan.

Angus lit up with a great idea. “I know the perfect place outside of Prescott’s office where we can see everything that they are doing. Early in the morning we get there before Ben and his goons. We’ll have to get ready for our classes, plus, make our beds like we’ve left for breakfast just in case they check. I’ll show you where to hide. There’s a gap between some bushes under the office window. You will be out of sight. You can see inside and video Ben through the window. I’ll stand by the entrance in another bunch of shrubs and video all of them sneaking in and out of the office. Prescott always leaves his blinds pulled up so he can keep an eye on the grounds. As soon as we see them leaving the office, we run to the cafeteria. They’ll come into the cafeteria before the class bell rings. As soon as they spot us we have to rush back to our room. You’ll write a note that we can leave for Ben to find while I move all of the cell phones from your lock box into Ben’s closet.” I don’t understand why the note.” Angus laughed and said, “you know what Ben’s favorite saying is, right? He always says, “do you wanna have some fun?” We leave that on the note on Ben’s table. We grab the cell phones and go to Prescott’s office. I watched Ben get the office key. We don't have a key to the desk so we leave all the cell phones in Mr. Bell’s desk chair. We put the office key back and go to class.” Angus finished. “How did you come up with this? It’s incredible! I’m all in!” I replied. “Angus, I don’t want to get you involved. You just finished one detention. You sure don’t need another,” realizing Angus’ risk.

“No way, it’s my duty and besides that little creep, Ben, has gotten me in trouble before.” Angus said with a note of finality. “Ok, if you’re sure. Let’s get some sleep. We need to be ready by 6:00 in the morning.”

I told Angus goodnight, turned off my lamp and miraculously fell right to sleep.

The alarm on my phone went off and I saw that Angus was already up and dressed. He was making his bed. “Good morning.” I yawned, rubbed my eyes and stood up. I grabbed my clothes, opened the door quietly, glanced out to see that the hall was clear to the bathroom. I made short work of getting ready. Angus had made my bed by the time I returned. He handed me my cell phone. We very excitedly started Angus’ plan. Outside, we hid. They showed up in about 10 minutes. It only took a few minutes for them to get inside the office. Ben turned on the light on Mr. Prescott’s desk. I had to laugh at that. I was already videoing and could see them clearly, thanks to Ben. They finished quickly and headed out the door. I waited a few minutes then stepped out to find Angus. “Perfect!” Angus said and we hurried back to our building. At the back stairway entrance we saw Ben and company leave my room. They were laughing and joking apparently, quite pleased with themselves. Angus carried the cell phones to Ben’s room. Soon Angus stood as lookout as I placed my note on Ben’s table. We took the back stairs unnoticed and walked into our class in Dipple Hall. Sam and Kevin looked at us but I put my index finger to my lips and mouthed “later.” They nodded. I was anxious for the day to play out. On the way to lunch, we heard Ben’s name being called out on the loud speaker. He was instructed to report to the Head Masters office. The color drained from Ben’s face. Angus and I glanced at each other and gave each other a slight grin. Ben was absent from classes the rest of the day. Angus, the twins and I were seated having our dinner. We had just filled in the twins. Ben came in and headed straight to our table. “Hey there Ben. Have a seat.” I cordially invited him. He sat and he leaned over and angrily burst out, “ I know you did this, Farris.” Sam and Kevin said, “we promised to call mother tonight so we need to go.” That left me, Angus and angry Ben. “Ben, did you have a nice talk with Mr. Prescott.” “You know I didn’t. He found all of the cell phones in my closet. I also found your note. You think you’re pretty smart. I told Prescott that I was framed and that someone had put those phones in there. He asked me who would do that, clearly not believing me. I didn’t answer him because I wanted to talk to you in person. Prescott agreed to investigate further.” “Good boy, Ben! Now here’s what you’re going to do next.” I told him about the video and I said I’d be happy to show him after dinner.” He was speechless. I thought he might cry. “From now on Benno, you will not mess with me, my friends and you will no longer bully any of the other kids.”

“What?” He acted surprised.

“You heard me. Do we have a deal?” I asked sternly. “Yes, I guess so but…”. I cut him off. “No buts!” Ben was frozen, staring with his mouth open. I turned back to him as I was walking away. “Hey Ben!” He glanced at me, “what?” he asked softly.

I asked, “Do you wanna have some fun?”