Overtime (2 page)

“Hey, it’s little Bo Peep, with some of his lost sheep,”
Liam said.

“No. It’s Little Miss Muffet, with his tuffet friends,” Thomas said.

“No. I got it. It’s the Pink Sweater Gang,” Jake said, and his friends broke up.

If it had been anyone but Jake, Charlie would have laughed too. The Rebels’ sweaters last year had been a bit pink. Fortunately, their sponsor had come through with new ones this season.

Pudge pushed Charlie to the left. “Zachary’s over there,” he said.

Zachary was waving his arm overhead. “I had to fight off about twenty angry grade twelves to save these seats,” he said, as they filed in.

“Well, as you know, we’re far too important to waste our time waiting for an assembly,” Scott replied.

Zachary put Scott in a headlock and gave him a noogie.

“If you pull hard enough his head comes off,” Nick said.

“Do you think they’ll announce the Champions Cup tryouts?” Charlie said.

“We should’ve started practices already,” Pudge said. “Last year the team was picked by this time. Why the wait?”

“It’s gonna be tough without Alexi,” Charlie said.

Alexi was an awesome goalie, but his family had moved in the summer and he was going to another school.

“And as much as it kills me to say it, it’ll be tough to win if Jake and his crew don’t play,” Pudge said.

“I’ve been thinking the same,” Charlie said. “Is it
even worth asking them?”

Pudge rolled his eyes. “It’s never worth talking to them.”

There was a rumour that Jake and his buddies were not going to try out for the Champions Cup junior team. That would make it easier on Charlie because he wouldn’t have to deal with them — but hurt their chances of winning because they were solid players, especially Jake.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Scott announced in a deep voice. “I give you … The Assembly.”

Principal Holmes had walked onto the stage.

“Hey, move over guys,” Matt said, pushing in next to Charlie. The other students in the row grumbled at having to squish over. “What did I miss?” he asked.

“Nothing. We just got here too,” Charlie said.

Principal Holmes shuffled to the mic. “Welcome to the special assembly,” he began.

The students kept chatting. He cleared his throat into the mic, which only seemed to encourage more talking and to increase the volume.

“I think I should help Holmesy out,” Scott said. “I’m probably the most popular student here. The kids listen to me.”

“What do you have in mind?” Nick said.

“I think a day off is in order,” Scott said.

“I gotta hand it to you — you might have the greatest mind in education today,” Nick said.

“I really need your attention,” Principal Holmes pleaded.

“Yeah, and I really need a club sandwich,” Scott said, “but I ain’t gettin’ one.”

“I really need help with my math …” Nick said.

Suddenly the cafeteria got quiet. William Hilton had stepped onto the stage.

“Can we have your attention, please?” Hilton said in an even tone. “We have a very serious situation facing the school that Principal Holmes needs to tell you about.”

Principal Holmes cleared his throat again. “Thank you, Mr. Hilton. Unfortunately, students, I have a difficult announcement to make. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will have no choice but to close Terrence Falls High School in November.”

Charlie’s jaw dropped. His mind was sent reeling. Was this for real? Closing? It made no sense!

Principal Holmes ran his fingers through his hair.

“There’s little I can do about it,” he said. “I have been in meetings with the school board and the trustee for the past week. Unfortunately, our roof has developed leaks, and there could be severe damage if substantial repairs are not carried out, especially if the snow is allowed to collect. It means we will be dividing the student body into six groups, and each group will attend one of six designated high schools.”

“We don’t want to go to another school,” someone called out.

“I understand your disappointment,” he said, “but I’m afraid my hands are tied. A letter will be going home with each student today to explain the situation to your parents. The bussing schedule and locations will be posted at the main bulletin board tomorrow …”

Everyone began talking at once.

“Please hold it down,” Principal Holmes said. “We must simply make the best of it. We need to work together to make this an efficient transition. Now please listen closely for the activities that will have to be
cancelled for timing or budgetary reasons: the jazz ensemble, jazz quartet, and senior jazz band will still participate in the Ralph Sanderson High School Jam Session on October twenty-second, but the string quartet, both junior and senior, will unfortunately not be able to go to the String It Up Jamboree Festival in December.”

There was a big groan from some of the students, and one shouted, “That’s not fair.”

Principal Holmes turned a page in his notebook. “Please understand, this is difficult on everyone. Music classes will …”

“How could this happen?” Scott said.

“Why didn’t they fix the roof over the summer?” Nick said.

“It’ll be awful going to another school … and buses …” Charlie said. “I can’t believe grade ten is ruined. What if we all end up at different schools?”

His friends stared at him. He’d said what they were thinking.

“We’ve gotta think of a way out of this,” Charlie said fiercely.

“… and the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams are cancelled, along with the Champions Cup teams, and also …”

Charlie felt all the energy leave his body. No Champions Cup! No grade ten at Terrence Falls High. This was crazy.

In a daze he listened to Principal Holmes rattle off the programs and events that would have to be cancelled. Finally, Holmes ended by saying, “Unfortunately, we have to divert our entire budget to the roofing issue, and
there is simply not enough money in the kitty this year to do the things we normally do. I really am sorry. Again, the lists for bussing and schools will be posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway tomorrow.”

Hilton reappeared on stage. He whispered in Principal Holmes’s ear.

“Okay. Certainly. You’re right. We should do that now,” Principal Holmes said. Hilton lowered the microphone neck and Principal Holmes leaned towards it. “Your Fundraising Committee president wants to say a few words,” he said.

Charlie had never paid much attention to student politics. “When did we get a fundraising committee?” he asked Pudge.

“No idea,” Pudge said. He seemed confused as well.

A girl stepped up to the microphone. “My name is Melissa Witherspoon,” she began. “I was a grade eleven rep on the student council last year. We only learned of the school closing this morning, like you. We need to act fast, because if we don’t, the school will close in November and all of us will have to go to other schools. For those of you in grade twelve, that means not graduating from Terrence Falls and no prom. For the rest of you, the repairs may take longer than expected, and you could lose another year.”

Charlie looked around the cafeteria. Every student was sitting upright, staring up at the stage. He could tell they were as shocked as he was.

“There is a way to save our year. The school board can do temporary repairs to get us through the winter. Then they can finish the roof off in the summer over the vacation. Principal Holmes has allowed us to form an
emergency committee made up of student council members from last year, with Mr. Hilton as our advisor, to spearhead the fundraising effort. We have to raise the money for the temporary repairs. The school board won’t pay for that.”

“How much?” a student demanded.

Melissa paused and took hold of the mic again. “It’ll cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

A gasp sounded from the students.

“I know it’s a ton of money,” she said. “But there are seven hundred fifty students at Terrence Falls. If we all pull together, along with our parents and the community we can do it. At least we have to try.”

One hundred and fifty thousand dollars! Charlie remembered the Rebels’ car wash fundraiser last year. They’d made five hundred dollars, and were lucky to do that.

“We don’t have time to hold the regular student council elections,” Melissa said. “We’ll do that once we save the school. For now, we want you all to think of as many fundraising ideas as you can. Think of anything. Over the next two days you can present them to the committee. We’ll pick the best and get started.”

Principal Holmes shuffled to Melissa and took the mic. “Um … yes. Thanks. I’m hopeful the fundraising will be successful. But we must also prepare for the worst. As I said, look for the bus schedules and school assignments on the main bulletin board.” He cleared his throat. “Please make your way back to your classes in an orderly fashion.”

The students rose from their seats. A million thoughts raced through Charlie’s mind. “How unlucky
can we get?” he said, as much to himself as his friends.

“At least we don’t have to worry about losing to Chelsea in the Champions Cup this year,” Scott said.

“It’s still a huge rip,” Charlie said.

“I wonder what schools we’ll have to go to?” Zachary said.

“Hey,” Nick said to Charlie. “You’re late every day, and you can walk here. What are you gonna do when you have to catch a bus?”

“It means I have no choice — we’re going to have to raise that money or die trying,” Charlie replied.

“Nobody can live forever,” Scott said. “I’m in.”

“Me too,” Pudge said.

“Do or die,” Zachary said.

“We’ve been through tough times before,” Charlie said. “Last year we organized the Rebels by ourselves, and won the Championship. This year we’re gonna save the school.”

“Rebel Power!” Nick said.

“Go Terrence Falls!” Matt said.

“I think I’d better go look for a part-time job,” Scott said.

Charlie laughed, and they all joined in. He actually felt better too. It was a massive amount of money, but maybe, if they came up with some great ideas, they could pull it off.

Maybe.

Charlie followed his buds towards the stairs as they made their way back to the cafeteria at lunch. He passed the second floor window and looked down wistfully at the concrete pad that was surrounded by small rocks on three sides and a hill on the other. It was their ball hockey rink — not theirs exactly, but the school’s. They had started playing there at the end of grade nine, at lunch and after school, and what had started as a few mellow games had morphed into some serious five-on-five battles.

It had started to get aggressive, and Principal Holmes had threatened to ban all ball hockey, until a kid named Dalton began to ref. He drew up some rules and posted a schedule, and the problems had disappeared for the most part. Charlie looked out again. Darkening clouds were threatening rain, which was probably why no one was there. But Tuesday lunch was the grade tens’ turn to play. He stopped by the window.

“Boys, just to let you know — I see an empty hockey pad at the back of the school. I know we were gonna play after school, but … it makes me sad to see it all alone like that,” Charlie said.

“That’s just plain wrong,” Nick said.

“It’s more than wrong,” Zachary said. “It’s evil.”

“We need to do something about it,” Pudge said.

“But there’s the small matter of lunch,” Scott said.

Scott’s appetite would be a difficult hurdle to overcome. The kid liked to eat. “You can eat after science,” Charlie said. “There’s five minutes between classes.”

“Besides, you need to practise because you really suck at ball hockey,” Nick said. “And I mean really.”

Scott looked at his lunch bag. “I’m sorry, old friend. Duty calls. To the pad!” he cried.

He turned and leaped down to the landing. They raced after him, taking the stairs three at a time. Charlie was at the back, laughing, and looking for a way to sneak inside and get down first, but he was too far back and Pudge was cutting him off.

“Curse you, Moretti,” he said. “I shall have my revenge.”

Charlie turned the corner and jumped, figuring he could take the entire flight in one leap and get past Pudge. What he did not figure on was Principal Holmes walking up the stairs, and Scott, Zachary and Nick screeching to a halt. Pudge had managed to grab onto the banister to slow himself down. Charlie was in midair and could do nothing but crash straight into Nick and Zachary, sending all three to the ground.

“Gentlemen! What is the meaning of this?” Principal Holmes said. “Are you fighting in the halls?”

“Not at all,” Scott said. “We were just in a hurry to get to the library.”

“Sorry guys,” Charlie whispered as he helped Zachary
and Nick up.

“The library is the other way,” Principal Holmes said.

“We were running to the cafeteria to eat lunch, so we could get back to the library,” Nick said.

Principal Holmes rubbed his chin with his left hand. “I admire your enthusiasm for your schoolwork, but we cannot have students jumping down stairs on top of each other.”

“I agree,” Scott said. “And we’re very disappointed in ourselves. Aren’t we?”

“We are,” they chorused.

“Don’t let me see this again,” Principal Holmes said.

“You won’t,” Nick said. “It’s my fault, though. When I get a math problem in my head, I get carried away.”

“I admire your sense of responsibility,” Scott said, “but as your math tutor I really should have kept you calm and focused on the numbers.”

“Now that you mention it,” Nick said, “you are really to blame.”

“On the other hand, you did make a good point,” Scott said. “You were behaving badly, and I am rather shocked.”

Principal Holmes looked tired. “I think I’ll continue to my staff meeting,” he said flatly, and walked past them and up the stairs. When he was out of earshot, Nick put a hand on Scott’s shoulder and said, “I knew there was a reason my math mark was so low.”